(Two days later, August 15th, 1820)


    Two days have now passed since Double and Kazu had formed their alliance, the two had continuously fought each other, learned each others strengths and weaknesses, and became more accustomed to using coordinated attacks.


    "You''re physically strong, in a fight getting hit by you even once will leave me sincerely injured." Kazu says, gripping his sword.


    Kazu had been exerting a lot of energy trying to get away from Double''s attacks. Double''s attacks were extremely threatening, and one singular hit from Double would be enough to wound Kazu heavily.


    Though Kazu promoted it, he felt that knowing the harm Double''s blows caused would make him instinctively react better, making his timing in battles even greater.


    "Your fighting style is a nuisance, what''s the point in having strong attacks if i can''t even get close enough to attack you?" Double asks.


    "Well...seeing as you don''t exactly possess a ability that can be used with variety, you''d have to find ways to make your style unique. You are a brawler, Double, your strength is your greatest ally. I believe you''ll be able to find something that works for you." Kazu says, smiling.


    Both Kazu and Double nod at each other, calm themselves, and take a seat on the floor trying to recover their energy from the spar they had just taken part in.


    "You know, we are very close in power. I see why you are so excited to fight Kashikoi. You are special in the fact that when put up against a stronger foe, you skyrocket in ability." Kazu says.


    "I wouldn''t say it''s excitement, for the first time in my life, I was scared of death...I begged for my life, and I hated it. I was pathetic, and I was...I actually regretted taking him on. It''s a feeling I don''t ever wanna have to feel again." Double says, tightening his fist.


    "Then I ask...why do you urge to try and fight him again so bad?" Joki asks, opening the door.


    As Joki enters the room, breathing heavily after finishing a training session, he overhears Double''s words, and concern comes over him like a sudden shadow, casting doubt and worry across his face.


    "Why do you wanna fight something that made you feel that way? Wouldn''t you want to leave it alone? I won''t sit here and say that I''m the happiest about this. I made the mistake of sending you out there the first time. I don''t want to make the mistake again, and this time...something terrible happens." Joki says.


    Joki begins to think back, he thinks back to a younger Kashikoi, full of exuberance and innocence. The image of the past played like a cherished memory, with Kashikoi waving and smiling warmly at a youthful Joki. A tear comes out of his eye, but Joki doesn''t cry, it was as if he had resisted the urge to cry, having a silent battle within himself.


    Joki takes a deep breath, and takes a knee to Double and Kazu who had been sitting down, and puts his hand on both of their shoulders.


    "You two understand the risks you are taking, and I want you to also understand that it''s not too late to turn back. We can leave Kashikoi alone, and venture off to do something else, handle something more...easier." Joki hesitantly says.


    "No...it''s as simple as that, Joki...you entrusted me to take on this battle. You may not want to admit it, but you asked me to do this because you didn''t have the strength to do it yourself. You had a pretty damn messed up way of throwing me out there with him, but still...I owe you one after you brought me in, and taught me everything I know now. I thank you." Double says.


    Joki takes a deep breath, and a frown comes across his face. Joki''s look said it all, that he knew the decision Double made was far from what he expected.


    Kazu''s silence told Joki that he was in agreement as well.


    "Then I wish you two the best of luck, you have my blessings. Do your best, and remember that you can also run back here if the task is too hard. I won''t shame you for it." Joki says.


    Joki sits down as he watches Double and Kazu both quickly dash out into the distance, like before, the deserted area hadn''t been far from the cabin, and Double and Kazu''s quick movements made it easier to get there.


    ''This feeling in my chest, and I''m already sweating before we even get there. If Kashikoi made a guy like Double beg for his life, then...'' Kazu thinks to himself.


    "Kazu...from what I can recall from what Joki told me, his abilities, he has more than one, and a Sakusei like mine, the ability to manipulate lightning, and the ability to implant fabricated notions into people''s minds." Double says.


    Kazu''s eyes widen, this had been the first time Kazu heard any of this, and in his mind. A huge sense of fear came over him, he wondered how this was going to be possible, if he had it in him to even fight anymore.


    "Why are you just now telling me this? Is it even possible to beat this guy? What are the limits on these abilities you just mentioned?" Kazu asks.


    "Well...to be honest with you, I don''t know much about his lightning abilities, but when it comes to that second ability, we have to be able to sense when he''ll do it and stop him. In my previous fight, for even a slight moment, I was able to see how much aura he possessed. Joki told me that when sensing him, you''ll hear a sound like a clock ticking down, and when that happens immediately attack him, that''s how we know." Double says, turning back to look at Kazu.


    As Double and Kazu got closer to the deserted area, Double''s face had turned more serious than ever before, on the face of Double was a genuine expression of hatred, an extreme desire to hurt Kashikoi as much as possible.


    ''He''s serious...all those feelings that Double had, right now I can tell they don''t matter. All that matters in his head is handling Kashikoi.'' Kazu thinks to himself.


    Double and Kazu both finally arrive in the deserted area, and as they do, Kazu''s eyes widen at the sight he had seen. cities torn apart, and homes that once held multiple people destroyed.


    What caught Kazu off the most though was that now, there had been bodies, fresh bodies that show Kashikoi had murdered innocents recently.


    "Bodies...dead, and they all look the same too. People had been taken out left and right. He truly has no mercy for innocent lives!" Kazu yells.


    Double puts his hand on Kazu''s shoulder, signaling for Kazu to lower his voice. Out of shock, Kazu had lost his composure, and quickly got it back once Double helped him.


    "In a world like this, killing just becomes normal, seeing bodies just becomes normal. What bothers me is...what did any of these people do to him? Walk on this shitty ass land that he claimed for himself?" Double asks.


    Suddenly, out of nowhere, a lightning strike collides with the ground. As the lightning fades, they can see a beautiful white robe flowing as a man lifts his head up.


    Kashikoi had arrived, and coming with him was a sinister aura. A man that looked like he lost all of his humanity.


    "You actually came, but you didn''t come alone. Wasn''t it you who wanted to defeat me, to think you came with help is well, pathetic." Kashikoi says.


    Kazu and Double both stare down Kashikoi, and as they do, Double''s aura begins to charge up. Double takes an attempt to sense Kashikoi''s aura, but he can''t.


    "Idiots like you don''t get to call us pathetic, and you should watch those words, they''ll be embarrassing once you lose." Kazu says.


    Kashikoi smiles as he sees Kazu, and notices his sword. The sword Kazu had was basic, but Kashikoi knew Kazu was more than just basic. Kazu''s aura, and the confidence he boasted, intrigued him.


    "So, you would use such a tone wielding such a basic sword in front of me. Now I''m curious, is it because you are strong and you wouldn''t need a more advanced sword, maybe you''re weak, but even I know that isn''t true, what is it boy?" Kashikoi asks.


    "How about you take some steps forward and try to find out." Kazu says.


    Double continues to try and sense Kashikoi''s aura, and throughout all the failed attempts, Double succeeded once, for even a second he noticed Kashikoi''s aura, as it flashed for him.


    Double was different from everyone else, even possessing an aura that was higher than most people. It was extremely difficult for him to sense aura.


    "Double, what is that you are doing, you look pathetic. Planning something in front of me is a foolish move, particularly considering that you are aware of the gap in power between us." Kashikoi says.


    ''This is bad, I could only sense him for a small second. That''s not enough to be able to tell when he''ll use his second ability.'' Double thinks to himself.


    Suddenly, as Double begins to panic at the realization that he couldn''t completely sense Kashikoi''s aura. Kazu swiftly manages to clash with Kashikoi, beginning the fight.


    Double, and even Kashikoi, had been shocked by the speed in which Kazu appeared in front of Kashikoi, but Double was not so shocked, as he had already knew how Kazu was able to pull this off.


    "He moves quickly, but...at the same time, I didn''t see him move at all, it''s like he completely vanished alongside his aura." Kashikoi says.


    Kazu quickly throws his sword up in the air, and turns his back. Kashikoi sits there confused, not understanding Kazu''s plan.


    Suddenly, Kazu vanished, and Kashikoi looked both ways, and then eventually looked up and noticed Kazu was completely gone. Though, in that moment he had taken his eyes off Double, Double takes advantage and lands a punch to the gut of Kashikoi.


    "That boy, he doesn''t possess a Sakusei, but he can teleport freely like that? What is he?" Kashikoi asks, coughing blood from Double''s attack.


    Kazu finally appears above Kashikoi, and as Kashikoi looks up, it had already been too late. Kazu kicks Kashikoi in the face, sending him back.


    "Double, I can sense his aura, for now...I can let you know whenever he''ll try and activate his ability, but...what I can''t do is do it forever. You have to learn it and learn it fast." Kazu says.


    Kashikoi swiftly jumps in to attack Kazu, but Kazu quickly teleports. Kashikoi looks where Kazu''s sword had been thrown, and laughs.


    "Fascinating, you can teleport to wherever you throw your sword. In all my research, I hadn''t seen anything like this. You''ve truly grabbed my attention boy." Kashikoi says.


    Kashikoi quickly kicks Double back, and leaps up to grab Kazu''s sword, forcing Kazu to reappear and become vulnerable.


    Kashikoi grabs Kazu''s leg and slams him down, but Kazu''s quickly caught by Double, who tosses Kazu and goes in for a strike.


    "Jyu-Oh-Sei, Dragon shock!" Double yells.


    Kashikoi promptly stands on guard, but to his surprise, Double had actually aimed his punch at the ground, creating a crater beneath him.


    ''They keep disrupting my ability, this isn''t a coincidence. Joki...you told these brats about me, didn''t you? Now this is interesting.'' Kashikoi thinks to himself.


    In the midst of the destruction Double had caused, Kazu manages to throw his sword out of sight from Kazu, and as he does this, Kashikoi turns around and notices Kazu''s sword is missing, forcing him to look around.


    Double quickly goes for a kick, but the kick is caught. The moment Double''s kick gets caught, Kazu teleports behind Double, leaps over his head, and lands a kick, the same kick he had landed before.


    Kashikoi gets sent back once again, and realizes that it''s impossible for him to defend against Double while Kazu is around. Kashikoi quickly puts his hand on the ground, and smiles.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    "Jigoku no kutsū, Zeus''s Fury!"


    Kashikoi slams the ground beneath him and creates a pillar of lightning. The pillar of lightning makes Double jump back, and as Kazu attempts to throw his sword in order to teleport away.


    Kashikoi''s plan all along was to get Kazu to throw his sword, he quickly blitzes over to Kazu, and punches him multiple times in the stomach, sending him flying back.


    "Kazu! Damn it." Double yells


    Kazu had been wounded, but not out, though, for the moment he would be out of commission. Leaving Double to fight Kashikoi by himself.


    "Seriously...he interested me at first, but now he''s just a nuisance. Each time he tries to throw that sword, I''ll beat him even worse. You on the other hand, we have unfinished business." Kashikoi says.


    Double stomps the ground, creating another crater, and looks Kashikoi in his eyes. Double''s strength had increased as he continued to fight Kashikoi, and as he realizes this, his confidence increases as well.


    "Jyu-Oh-Sei, Lion Tenkou."


    Double does a barrage with his fist and kicks. All the attacks would be quickly dodged by Kashikoi as he palms Double in the stomach.


    Double gets sent flying back, but he lands on his feet and flies in. Kashikoi begins to laugh, and as he does he begins parrying Double''s punches as his smile becomes wider.


    "Where is that smile Double! You should be happy, and bask in the glory of this fight. You have gotten stronger, you don''t care for anyone but yourself currently in this fight. You can''t lie to me either, your aura growing is proof of that!" Kashikoi yells.


    Kashikoi kicks Double in the chest, sending him flying once again, but Double still lands on his feet. Double resolves wouldn''t allow him to fall to the ground, each time he nearly did, he gets reminded of how he begged for his life, and that motivates him to keep going.


    "You''re wrong, my aura is growing, because right now, you are the only person I wanna kill. I want nothing but you dead!" Double yells, flying back in at Kashikoi.


    Double attempts to punch Kashikoi, but Kashikoi slowly notices Double slow down. It''s as if Double had been losing speed due to fatigue, or Double purposely slowed himself down.


    "His movements, is he crazy? Is he trying to throw me off like he did in our first fight? Quite the boring move." Kashikoi says.


    Suddenly, Kazu teleports in front of Double, and slices Kashikoi in his chest. Double had slowed down to give Kazu an opportunity to strike, and once he did, Kazu followed through successfully.


    Kashikoi stood there stunned, and Kazu and Double did the same, not knowing what to think after successfully landing the strike.


    "I''ve been doing some thinking...I initially found that Boy''s ability amusing, but...now you have pissed me off. I also neglected one fact." Kashikoi says.


    Kashikoi swiftly rushes in, ignoring the strike Kazu had landed, and kicks Kazu right in the chest. Double wasn''t able to perceive Kashikoi moving, and because of that, he couldn''t protect Kazu from the attack.


    Kazu gets sent back, and all that''s left is his sword. Double stands frozen, and looks back for a moment, noticing Kazu is completely out of sight again.


    "The fact that you don''t belong here, this is a fight that has to do with us." Kashikoi says.


    Kashikoi begins laughing out loud, but Double quickly charges his aura to the max. Double had told the truth earlier, the only person he wanted to kill was Kashikoi, but Double had also worried about Kazu, now that Kazu had been taken out of the fight, Double could let loose as much as he wanted.


    "Yeah...this is a death match between just you and me. Nobody else!" Double yells.


    The two quickly clash fist, and as they do Double continuously whales on Kashikoi. Kashikoi had completely given up on trying to activate his second ability, and focused solely on his lightning manipulation.


    Kashikoi guarded himself, and Double lands a blow so strong it sends Kashikoi flying outside of the deserted area, and into multiple other cities.


    As Kashikoi flies through multiple buildings, he proceeds to put his hand in the air, and shoots out lightning strikes where Double was, but Double had already swiftly jumped to where Kashikoi was, and easily evaded the lightning strikes.


    "Stop using your lightning! You''ll kill multiple innocent people if you do that!" Double yells.


    "You lecturing me to stop using my ability, that punch alone, the impact of your punch sending me through multiple buildings. You did that with no regard of these people, you are just like me Double!" Kashikoi yells.


    Double throws a punch, but it''s parried, and Kashikoi punches Double in the face. Double takes the punch and spits out a tooth. Kashikoi smiles, genuinely impressed in Double''s durability that had increased so quickly.


    "I see now...your potential up close! It''s higher than mine! And at the rate you''re going, it could be even higher than Joki''s. It''s only been two days, but you are a completely new fighter." Kashikoi says.


    Double jumps back, and jumping from building to building. Cautiously avoiding any abrupt landings on the structures, not wanting to destroy any structures in his way.


    ''He wants to attack me, but now...I can perceive him, all I have to do is wait for him to come to me, and hit him with a huge blow, wait...what is that?'' Double thinks to himself, watching the lightning strikes Kashikoi let off begin to redirect back at himself.


    "Jigoku no kutsū, Kurai''s Divine Thunder." Kashikoi says.


    Kashikoi''s body gets struck by lightning with no impact. He gets Clad in a magnificent robe reminiscent of ancient Greek attire, the fabric itself takes on a regal shade of deep violet, interlaced with shimmering golden threads. The robe billows majestically, flowing with the crackling electricity that dances along its surface.


    Kashikoi quickly runs up, and punches Double in his gut, but as he does he had also coughed up blood. Kashikoi had exerted himself way beyond what he thought, and using Kurai''s Divine Thunder, he had caused harm to himself in order to give himself a huge power up.


    Double noticing this smiles, and punches Kashikoi in the face. Both fighters had been hurt, but Double stands where he is while Kashikoi jumps back, and as he does, his smile turns into a disturbing one.


    "From a kid! A kid! Alright then Double! I didn''t think it''d be possible for someone to grow this strong at such a rapid rate, but you''ve surprised me." Kashikoi says.


    Kashikoi appears in front of Double, but Double being able to see Kashikoi''s movements kicks him in the face, sending Kashikoi back.


    Kashikoi begins to laugh as he''s sent through even more buildings, and as he does Double continues to keep distance from Kashikoi.


    "Before when I took out your friend, you couldn''t see me coming, your eyes couldn''t follow my movements before. I didn''t think it was possible! You can perceive my movements Double! You can keep up with me, can''t you!" Kashikoi yells in the distance.


    Meanwhile, at the deserted area, Kazu begins to get up slowly, and as he does, he notices that Double and Kashikoi had taken their fight to the middle of the city.


    Kazu began checking his arm, but every time he tried to move it, he screamed out in pain. Kazu had landed badly on his left arm.


    "You know, it''s not like I can''t sense you...Joki!" Kazu yells.


    Suddenly, Joki teleports next to Kazu, and takes a look at his wounds, but Kazu instantly waves Joki to move as he gets up.


    "Double is holding his own, I don''t know what it is, but he''s able to grow so much stronger when faced with a stronger opponent. He''s able to keep up now, it seems like." Kazu says.


    "No...not even close, Kashikoi still has one ace up his sleeve, he could end this fight whenever he wants too. Kashikoi is way stronger than you think." Joki hesitantly says, his hand shaking out of fear for Double.


    "You wanted to fight me, and you are giving it your all right! Then I might as well do the same, but...I had an idea. I want that bastard Joki to experience the same pain I felt, he turned his back on me so many times, and treated me like an inferior. Double, you don''t know how that feels, you don''t understand what isolation is, so I don''t expect you to understand this, but maybe in the next life you will." Kashikoi says.


    Kashikoi begins jumping to the sky, and putting his hands in the sky, he creates a platform below him and stands like a god, looking down on his children.


    Double stops, and looks up, Kashikoi''s aura had charged to an unbelievable amount. Kashikoi begins shooting, lightning strikes onto himself even more, and as he does this, he begins to form clouds around not only the entirety of southern Virginia, but the entire world itself.


    "I would have lost...without a doubt in my mind, you two pushed me to a point where I lost it for a second. I will give you that much credit, and to make up for that mistake, I''ll destroy this entire world, and rebuild it in my vision!" Kashikoi yells.


    "Have you lost your damn mind, the entire world! You understand just how much chaos you are causing, and for one person. This is not even a battle anymore, you''re committing genocide!" Double yells.


    Kazu and Joki''s eyes widened in tandem, the unexpected turn of events leaving them momentarily stunned. However, Joki found himself locked in a state of paralysis, unable to formulate a response or discern the appropriate course of action. Kazu, on the other hand, swiftly redirected his gaze towards Joki, his features contorting into a visage of infuriation.


    Kazu gets up and slaps Joki in the mouth, and as he does, Joki begins to snap back into reality.


    "Don''t you see what''s happening? Double, and me, and the rest of this entire planet, are about to lose their lives. I don''t know if it''s possible, but you are the only one here that has the most strength. Are you really just going to stand there and risk the lives of billions over your fucking childhood friend?" Kazu yells.


    "I...I''ve never been in this position, listen, I need a moment." Joki says.


    "We don''t have that dumb ass! Look up, look at the clouds, the lightning forming in them. You can sense them, the entire planet is going to be doomed."


    As Kazu says this, Joki begins to think back, he remembers how Double yelled at him for not being able to act when Kashikoi had hurt him.


    Joki had only now realized that the role he plays in Double''s life was more than just a mentor or a friend. Joki was the only father figure Double had in his life.


    Meanwhile, Kashikoi''s lightning strikes began raining down, spreading throughout Virginia, people began running, some people even rejoiced in the chaos, believing that the tarnished world had finally come to an end.


    "What''s happening...is this the work of someone above? Is it finally our time to leave? This...is a gift." A random man says in the distance.


    Double quickly leaps towards Kashikoi, but instantly gets hit by a lightning strike, sending him to the ground. Double began running up the walls, attempting to stop Kashikoi, but each time he did, the lightning strikes continued to hit him.


    "I have to keep going...I can''t stop now, I''ll stop him, I''ll do whatever it takes!" Double yells.


    "Give up Double, this is it, there''s nothing that can stop an attack of this scale, it''s slowly spreading to other states, other countries, and soon it''ll be the damn world!"


    Double begins losing consciousness after taking multiple hits from Kashikoi''s lightning strikes, and as he does, Double looks up, and doesn''t have any regrets.


    "I tried...I tried my best, I got so much stronger too, but I couldn''t save everyone. I hope that this mess can be cleaned up eventually, I''m sorry..."


    Kashikoi begins to laugh manically as the entire area around him hears this in their final moments, and a lightning strike had been forming on top of Double specifically.


    "Goodbye Double! You gained my attention, and my interest! That''s honestly all I''d give you." Kashikoi says


    The lightning strike strikes Double, but right before the lightning strike had any impact, it vanished, and alongside the lightning strike was all of the lightning in the area. Kashikoi''s attack had been cancelled completely.


    "What...?" Kashikoi asks.


    Joki begins breathing heavily, and as he does he drops to one knee. Kazu looks over, his face showing that of astonishment. Joki single handedly stopped Kashikoi''s world destroying attack.


    "It''s all up to him, I''ve done the best I can from here. Leave it all...to Double." Joki says, trying to catch his breath.


    "My ability, it just vanished, but I had enough energy left to finish it completely, that brat was on the ground, completely at my mercy. Who could have..." Kashikoi says.


    Kashikoi begins to remember, he had forgotten about the one person, the one person he had been trying to prove wrong, the one person who had the power to stop him.


    "This had to be Joki...Joki, damn it, even in my last moments, you had to interfere in what I had fucking planned. You can never let me have my own moment." Kashikoi says.


    Suddenly, below Kashikoi, had been Double who had used the rest of his energy to climb up the building, and had now been face to face with Kashikoi


    Double cocks back his arm, and his eyes begin to constantly fade from yellow to normal as Double was at his limit, but channels all the aura he had left into his fist, and lets off a final attack.


    "Jyu-oh-sei, Dragon shock!" Double yells.


    Double punches Kashikoi in the face, sending shock waves throughout the entire city. Double sends Kashikoi flying into the ground, behind the building he had once floated above.


    Kashikoi, still conscious, attempts to stand up, but his foot is quickly stomped on, as Double stands over Kashikoi.


    "Damn it...I guess I lost, get it over with, finish this." Kashikoi says.


    Double with no hesitation, puts his foot in the air, preparing to put his foot through Kashikoi''s face, but he''s quickly stopped by Joki. Joki had teleported to Double, and was quick enough to intercept Double''s actions, but this alongside stopping Kashikoi''s wide scale attack had taken everything out of him.


    "Double, he''s already about to die, his skull was fractured, and that attack he let off left his body beyond repair. Let me talk to him."


    The last person Kashikoi saw standing over him was Joki, who had a look of disappointment on his face.


    "What! You''re here to ridicule me, tell me I was wrong, and that I could have done better. Fuck off!" Kashikoi yells.


    "No, and even if I was, you saying that tells me that you''re already aware, you know that''s the truth of this situation. It''s no one''s fault that you''re in this situation other than yourself." Joki says.


    "You talk as if I had a choice, even when we were kids...you would always treat me as an inferior, that''s why I hate Double so much, that''s why I hate you so much! I hate to work my ass off to get where I am. I wasn''t born with that much potential, I had to work for it. you had been given a preordained blueprint, you were fated to be greater than me, so how could you judge me?" Kashikoi asks.


    "Listen to yourself? Judging you, I have not judged you at all. I simply stood back and watched you. Ever since what happened to us when we were kids, I only ever watched. I knew there was no changing you, and I wish I could have killed you sooner when I realized that, but I was too damn weak to do it myself." Joki says.


    Kashikoi hears this, and his eyes widen, he looks up and all he can see is a younger Joki. He began thinking back to memories of himself and Joki, remembering them fighting for fun, and walking together, knowing that no one could touch them as long as they stuck together.


    Kashikoi didn''t think Joki had been judging him, he believed in his heart that the moment Joki got the chance to confront him, that Joki would judge him, but all Joki can come forth with are regrets, and sadness seeing Kashikoi in the position he''s in.


    "I''m sorry, and I''m uncertain of my fate...and where our paths lead, but I''ve walked a meaningless journey thus far. Listen, I wanna say more, but I can''t talk any further. I''ve been a fool this entire time, I believed I had been hated by you, and that''s a reality I didn''t wanna accept. My only wishes are that you keep that boy safe. His potential Joki, that boy needs to be protected." Kashikoi says.


    "I know...I''ll make sure to keep him as safe as possible." Joki says.


    Kashikoi begins to lose his vision. Before losing conscious, he says his final words to Joki


    "I''m sorry...for not sticking behind you...Joki" Kashikoi says.