On the altar that Nero and the others were using to watch the battle unfold.

“Things are really heating up.”

Nero had an excited smile on his face.

“You’re really enjoying yourself.”

Alec said to him.

“Well, this is Miko’s debut on a global stage and it’s against three of his peers who all hails from powerful factions. How can I not be excited?”

“So you’ve realized that this battle is being watched from a far by quite a bit of people?”

“That’s a foolish question, Alec. Miko is the Dragna clan’s Proxy; whether he likes it our not he’s seen as the one bearing the clan’s future. So of course his every move is being monitored by all of the top dogs.”

Nero lifted his finger.

“I predict that the number of people secretly watching is in the thousands, and in this thousands you’ll find some of the world’s strongest.”

“If that’s the case, Miko has no choice but to win.”

“I doubt he cares about him being watched. He’s only focused on one thing at the moment. Everything else is meaningless.”

Nero smirked.

“Besides, he inherited my name, Gamiko. Victory comes naturally to us.”

*******

Meanwhile, Miko was alone after leaving Hina to deal with Biyu. He was heading in the direction that his instincts were telling him would allow him to arrive at his desired destination. As he walked, he recalled the fateful day that made everything eventually lead up to this battle.

It was the day that the Ranking Tournament for the Senior Division of Grim Academy started, on his way back to his dorm he was attacked by an unknown assailant. Despite his grandmother being there, Miko was still taken away and brought to somewhere he had never seen before.

“Yo.”

Miko heard a voice and turned around and was surprised to see a familiar face.

“Tang.”

Miko saw Tang sitting on a broken wall.

“You’re the one who brought me here? Why?”

“It seems that you haven’t been keeping in touch with your people in Renacido. Or it could be that they are purposely keeping you in dark. Either way, someone was being stupid.”

“What do you mean?”

Miko was on high alert. It wasn’t only because Tang mentioned Renacido but because he seemed completely different from how he was at the academy. He couldn’t sense that playful air around him anywhere.

“Well, whatever. That’s not important.”

Tang jumped off the wall.

“The reason I brought you here wasn’t just because of Renacido and Dragon Storm. This is a personal matter between you and me.”

(Did he just say Dragon Storm?)

Miko was more on alert.

“Oh, I’m the leader of Dragon Storm by the way. But that isn’t important.”

“I think that’s very important in my book.”

Miko signaled Ishma and Regis to take their sword forms.

“Do you remember when we both agreed that we will eventually kill each other?”

Tang spread his arms as if to welcome Miko.

“That time is now.”

*********

“Heh.”

Miko showed a self-mocking smile.

“Now that I think about it, my fate was sealed the moment I was brought before him….I was completely outclassed.”

******

Realizing that this wasn’t any time to play around or test the waters. Miko went for the kill from the finish.

*Bam!*

He rushed forward with everything he got and instantly cut the distance between him and Tang. He poured his power into his two swords and swung them at Tang without holding anything back.

“You’re too hasty.”

Tang smiled and leaped over Miko’s attack.

*BAM!*

The force from his attack blew away the surrounding ruins, but didn’t hit its mark. Miko immediately spun around and prepared to attack once again.

“?!”

The moment he turned around, he saw a palm thrusting towards his head. His instincts told him that taking that attack meant death, so his body reacted before his mind. He bent his back and avoided the blow.

*Bam!*

Despite hitting air, the palm still caused an explosive sound. Miko could clearly see the force that palm had after he avoid it.

“Tsk!”

He bent his back further and swung his leg up to kick Tang under the chin. Tang moved back and avoided it. Miko allowed his momentum to follow and ended up completely a backflip after missing his target.

“Amazing reflexes.”

Tang praised. Miko ignored him and decided to switch tactics. He threw his swords to the side and his body started pulsating like a heart and azure scales covered a large portion of Miko’s face. These scales spread to the rest of his body, covering his limbs. Miko then started to get taller. In a few seconds, he was over 6ft tall. His eyes darkened until they were as black as the night. His azure pupils became slit like a reptile’s and looked like a savage moon in the darkest night. His hair started moving like it had a mind of its own, as it hardened and became spiky and stretched down until it swept against the floor.

“Dragonite!”

Miko had decided to use one of his trump cards.

“Oh! I saw this during the tournament!”

Tang’s reaction to Miko’s transformation was similar to a child’s reaction when he saw a new toy commercial on the tv. This reaction naturally caused Miko to feel unease.

(No, it’s okay. This form grants me superior physical attributes. I can win!)

He pepped himself up and focused on defeating the enemy in front of him.

*Bam!*

He rushed forward with explosive steps and threw a kick at Tang’s head.

“Woah!”

Tang ducked under it and could hear the storm-like force it created.

“Incredible.”

He grinned and avoided another kick from Miko by leaping back. Before his feet touched the ground, Miko was already in front of him and was in the middle of attacking.

“Flowing Crane.”

He moved to the side and gentle thrust out and pushed Miko’s arm. Suddenly Miko found his body leaning over the side against his will.

(He used my momentum against me!)

Tang bent his fingers inwards and thrust his palms on Miko’s side.

“Tiger Palm.”

*BAM!*

Miko’s body was forced off the ground like a feather and then was flung to the side by a powerful force.

“Guah?!”

Miko’s vision darken and he became unaware of where he was and what was going on. By the time he regained his senses, an unbearable pain assaulted his body. He felt like his entire left side of his body was destroyed and he couldn’t even find the energy to lift his head.

“Miko!”

He could hear Ishma and Regis voice before seeing them. They both looked at him with worried expressions.

“Miko, let’s run.”

That’s the first thing Regis said to him. He could see that she was very concerned for his wellbeing.

“What are you talking about?! We can’t run! Who knows where we are?! Everything has been set up by him, which means the only way out of this is to beat him!”

Ishma became angry. It was obvious that she was irritated by the current events.

“Are you going to run away, Miko?”

Miko saw Ishma and Regis take defensive positions to protect him, which made him realize that Tang was nearby. Despite not being able to see him, Miko knew that he had a smug expression.

“Dream on. I still have more cards up my sleeve!”

Darkness started seeping out of Miko. Miko’s skin started darkening and his appearance started changing.

“Ascending Satan, 1st Gate- Dark Lord.”

Miko’s body rose off the ground and his wounds started getting stitched up by dark threads bringing him to peak condition.

“With this, He should be feeling crippling fear that will leave an…opening?”

Miko was left speechless. Tang didn’t have even a slight change in expression. He was still smiling confidently.

“How? This form is suppose to make everyone feel fear even if it’s only for a short moment….”

Luka had also remained unfazed by Dark Lord’s powers but that was because she wasn’t in the right state of mind. But Tang….

“Could he not fear anything?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about but it seems that I’m should feel crippling fear in front of that form. Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I’m not the type to become crippled when facing something terrifying. It only excites me and get my blood pumping.”

Tang started walking towards him.

“It looks like your last trump card isn’t that great. So let me finish this and get to phase 2.”

Tang’s body started glowing gold.

“It’ll be over in a second.”

“Keep dreaming! Dark Army!”

A large army of dark beings emerged from Miko’s shadow and rushed towards Tang with the intent of crushing him. Tang kept calm and took a deep breath.

“Shenlong Style:…”

Tang suddenly disappeared from where he was.

*BOOM!*

Suddenly, Miko’s dark army was ripped apart by an invincible force.

“?!”

Sensing danger Miko used his strongest defensive technique.

“Dark Aegis!”

A giant black shield appeared in front of him.

*BAM!*

His shield was shattered by a godly palm which came directly for his chest. Miko instantly knew that he had no way to stop it.

*BAM!*

The palm slammed on his chest and knocked him out of Dark Lord and instantly returning him to normal. His chest then burst open and his bones became exposed. His chest was completely destroyed.

“Dragon Storm.”

Tang spoke as Miko flew into the distance and crashed through dozens of ruins before stopping at a broken wall.

“Miko!”

Ishma and Regis rushed to his side while Tang watched on. He had cuts and bruises on his body but nothing too serious.

“That dark army of his was tougher than I thought. They were able to injure me as I mowed them down. Incredible.”

Tang started approaching Miko.

“It’s my win, Miko. I guess that make me your superi-”

Tang’s words came to a halt when he stood near Miko. It wasn’t because of Ishma and Regis who were guarding him. It was something completely different.

“………”

Despite get utterly destroyed, Miko was not only still conscious, he was glaring at Tang. It wasn’t just a normal glare out of hate or frustration. This was glare that refused to back down. Tang had the feeling that if he went any closer Miko would pounce at him, even though that should be impossible.

“….You still wish to fight? Even after being completely outclassed?”

“…I…Haven’t lost yet…Cough!”

Miko coughed up blood and spoke with a bloody mouth.

“I’m still alive aren’t I?”

“?!”

Tang was shocked to see Miko actually trying to get up.

“No, Miko!”

“Stay down, idiot!”

Ishma and Regis prevented him from getting up.

“What…Cough!....What are you standing around for…..Our fight isn’t over yet!”

“……”

Tang found himself retreating back. When he looked into Miko’s eyes he felt like he was facing a mad beast.

“……”

He stood there in silence before smiling.

“Now that’s true fear.”

He laughed and then turned around and walked away. He found a wall and sat on it before making a call.

“Yo, Phantom. It’s me. How it’s going on your end.”

*******

Despite remembering his defeat, Miko had a smile on his face as if it was a precious memory.

“I guess everything that happened was all a learning process.”

He said.

“Thanks to that, we’re both here; stronger than before.”

In front of him was Tang who had a welcoming smile on his face.

“Hey, Miko. I’m glad that you were able to make it.”

The two then spoke in unison.

“Now let’s kill each other.”