“…Mhm..”

Hina opened her eyes and found herself staring at the sky. She silently looked around and saw Luka next to her.

“Oh, you’re awake.”

Luka got up off the boulder she was sitting on and walked over to Hina.

“Ugh?!”

Hina felt a sharp pain when she tried to sit up and groaned.

“You shouldn’t get up. You’ve been treated but you’re still not healed.”

Luka gently placed Hina’s head back on the ground. Hina lifted up her arm and saw that it was wrapped in bandages. She looked down and saw that her entire body was wrapped in bandages as well. She then looked at Luka and realized that she also looked like she was treated and had bandages under her clothes.

“Who treated us?”

“Momo. She’s amazing. Even though she was badly hurt herself, she still went around treating everyone before treating herself.”

Luka pointed to Hina’s right and there she saw Momo laying on the ground sleeping.

“She’s been sleeping for 5 hours and shows no sign of getting up soon.”

“That’s a long time….Wait! How long have I been out?”

“I don’t know but we found you over 7 hours ago.”

“Miko!”

Hina got up and ignored the pain that she was feeling.

“Where’s Miko?!”

“Calm down. Since you’re up, I’ll lead you there.”

Luka started walking away and Hina followed behind her after looking at the sleeping Momo and thanking her.

“What happened here?”

She said when she saw that there were craters and scorched earth all around them.

“They moved away from here some time now but the effects of their battle still remains.”

As Hina was going to ask what she meant, a couple caught her eyes.

“Aunty Sasha, Uncle Leon!”

She ran up to Sasha and Leon who were laying on the ground with their bodies wrapped from head to toe in bandages.

“They had the most severe injuries of all of us. Especially, Leon. Momo says that the fact that he’s alive is nothing short of a miracle.”

Luka stooped in front of Miko’s parents.

“He apparently covered his wife with his body and tried to shield her in a last ditch effort. He deserves respect if you ask me.”

“Don’t they need medical attention?”

Luka nodded.

“Momo could only buy them time. We can’t leave the battle until Miko and Tang decide the winner between them though.”

“Decide? Then they’re still fighting?”

Luka nodded and started walking again.

“I think it’s been more than 15 hours already since the Proxy Battle Royale began. So they should be fighting about half a day now. They fought all through the night into this morning without deciding a winner.”

“Seriously?!”

The two started walking up a small hill. Luka stopped when she reached the top and pointed down. Hina walked up to the top and instantly realized that she wasn’t walking up a hill.

“D-Did a meteorite hit this place?”

She was standing on the edge of a enormous and deep crater that stretched for several miles. In the center of the crater she could she two persons, a male and a female in the middle of an intense fight.

“Before you ask, the woman that looks like Tiamat is Miko. It’s apparently his new form.”

Luka said. Hina was shocked. She couldn’t imagine what kind of battle those two must have fought to create a crater like this.

“As the battle rages on, the size of the crater gradually increases.”

Luka said.

“Oh, Hina!”

Hina looked down and saw the others sitting and watching the battle on smaller cliff below her.

“It’s great that you’re awake.”

Sora jumped up to her and said.

“We can cheer on Miko together.”

“Go, big brother go! Kick his ass!”

Hina saw Tessa cheering loudly for Miko with Kristen beside her.

“Let’s go, Big Sis! Lets go!”

Kristen was just picking a fighting with Miko.

“Those two are actually worried sick.”

Sora said as he watched the twins.

“Their parents are in critical conditions and their brother is fighting for his life. The fact that they can cheer so passionately shows how strong they are.”

“……”

Hina looked at the twins and then at Miko who was fighting Tang and clenched her fists.

“Don’t worry. Miko will win and then we’ll all go home and celebrate.”

Sora and Luka nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile on the altar.

“Go, Young Master go!”

Members of Dragon Storm were cheering on their leader with everything they got. This included the executives like Bao Xue, who lost his granddaughter to Sora.

“Dammit! We lost even Fang! We can’t lose the Young Master too!”

Bao Xue gritted.

“Go, Young Master go!”

“…….”

Behind him, Alec was watching them with a sharp gaze. He showed a small smile before turning away. This caught the eyes of his sister, but she didn’t say anything and paid attention to Miko’s fight.

********

In the center of the massive crater, Miko and Tang were still going at it with no signs of tiring.

*Bam!*

Tang crossed his arms in front of him and blocked an azure flame blast from Miko. He then accelerated and entered Miko’s personal space before slamming both palms on his chest.

*Bam!*

Miko was blown away with his body spinning after being hit by a storm-like force. Lightning spears appeared behind Tang’s back and then was fired at Miko, who had just stopped himself from spinning. Seeing the lightning spears, Miko swung his arm in front of him and azure balls were fired to counter it. The moment the spears hit the balls they became distorted and disappeared. Miko’s muscles tightened up and then he accelerated with an explosive force; Tang watched him as he entered his range before accelerating himself. Miko threw a fast kick which Tang flipped over and landed behind him. Tang then spun around with water gathering in his hand and threw a punch.

*Bam!*

The water punch collided with Miko’s fist that was coated with azure flames. A burst of flames and water occurred between them blowing Miko back. Tang flew threw the stream cloud they created and threw lightning bolts at Miko. The lightning struck Miko and caused his body to freeze in place. Tang came at him with an excited smile on his face. Suddenly the fog surrounding Miko formed into a seven-headed lion beast and charged at Tang. The smile on Tang’s face grew wider and he smashed the lion into the ground with a single punch and leaped over its body.

*Bam!*

Miko kicked him in the face the moment he leaped and forced him back to the ground. The force of kick then forced his upper body into the ground, leaving him upside down with his legs sticking out. Miko grinned and then kicked Tang’s exposed back and forced him out of the ground and sent him flying. He then leaped after him. Tang flapped his wings and shot towards his direction and hit him with a headbutt that was like a lightning bolt.

The two crashed into the ground and laid out onto the floor breathing heavily and covered in wounds.

“Haha…Hahaha!”

Tang started laughing despite his body feeling broken.

“Hahahaha!”

Miko started laughing as well. The two laughed while bleeding from their wounds.

“I gotta say Miko, you’re far better than I hoped. I’m really enjoying myself.”

“I would be lying if I said beating the shit out of you wasn’t fun for me too.”

The two then started to smile without saying anything. This lasted for almost a minute before Tang slowly got up. He stumbled a bit but held his ground.

“I’ll be honest here, Miko. I think I’m reaching my limit.”

Miko also got up and was visibly weak-kneed.

“Me too. I’ve long reach the point were I can’t recreate my body or heal my injuries. The only thing that’s keeping me going is willpower.”

“I know the feeling.”

Tang grinned.

“But I don’t feel like stopping yet.”

“Ditto.”

The two faced each other and clenched their fists. They took a step forward and threw the strongest punch that they could manage.

*BAM!*

Their fists slammed into each other’s face and made their bodies to lean back. Their ears started ringing and their vision became dark.

“!”

But they still clenched their fists and took another swing despite being unable to see in front of them.

*Bam!*

Their fists hit the marks again. They clenched their other fists and threw them as well. Like before they hit the mark.

“……”

“……”

The two of started falling backwards, seemingly seconds away from falling.

“Grr!”

Miko gritted his teeth and held his ground. He stepped forward and threw a punch with his entire body weight behind it.

*BAM!*

His fist landed into the center of Tang’s face and forced him to the ground. Miko then fell to his knees with blood flowing down his face and him breathing heavily. Tang laid out on the ground and didn’t move.

*******

“He did it!”

Tessa and Kristen shouted and held each other while jumping up and down happily.

“Miko!”

The others were equally as excited.

“Young Master!”

Those in Dragon Storm started wailing when they saw Tang on the ground.

“Dammit!”

Xue Bao cursed while the others looked like they bit a bug.

“…….”

Nero sat quietly on his throne.

“You don’t seem happy.”

Kirika said to him. Just like him she didn’t look happy.

“Well, I think it’s obvious why.”

“Yo, Dragon Storm.”

Alec called out to Dragon Storm.

“Why didn’t Tang use his Regalia?”

“The Young Master doesn’t have a regalia.”

Xue Bao answered.

“He said that it would make things too easy, so he never chose one.”

“And you idiots believe that?”

Nero said.

“What do you mean?”

Nero didn’t respond and turn his attention back to the battle. Seeing that the others did the same.

*******

Tang laid motionlessly on the ground, but his eyes were wide open. He tried to speak but he couldn’t. He couldn’t move a single muscle in his body. All he could do was stare at the sky.

(Huh?)

That’s when he noticed.

(I can see colors again….)

A smile appeared on his face. To him something like the sky seemed like the most beautiful thing in the world. The greed inside him started to bloom.

(I wanna see more….I wanna see the brightest colors imaginable….I can’t go down yet….Not yet…There’s colors that I haven’t seen….)

Despite his body being broken, Tang still didn’t feel satisfied. He wanted to see more, experience more, he was like a black hole that would continue to shallow its surroundings.

(I want to continue fighting. I want to be blown away by the beauty of the world. I want to finally feel complete…)

Miko’s face popped up in his head which caused him to smile.

(With him I can be fulfilled. He’s the perfect person to make my dream come true. So there’s no need to hold back any longer.)

An insane grin appeared on his face and his body started glowing. A cloud appeared on his chest.

(I can go out like a firework! With one last bang that illuminates the world!)

“….Hm?”

A light pierced through the darkness that was clouding Miko’s eyes. He was once again able to see in front him. He saw Tang’s body glowing.

“Not yet! I can’t go down yet!”

Miko saw him struggling to get to his feet. His blood drained from his wounds and stained the ground. But he still stood up and looked down on Miko.

“Regalia: Final Hurrah.”

Tang’s injuries suddenly disappeared and he returned to full health. He was surrounded by a golden glow and now looked like a deity as he stood in front of Miko.

“Regalia?!”

Dragon Storm members were shocked to see Tang use a Regalia.

“I see. So that’s why he’s never used a Regalia.”

Nero spoke up.

“What do you mean?”

Alec asked him.

“That kid, he’s burning his life force in return for power.”

“What?!”

Xue Bao were shocked by what Nero said.

“The reason why you were convinced that he didn’t have a Regalia was because it was a parasitic type that’s living inside him. What you’re seeing now is him using that regalia ability; the power to convert your life into power. This most likely can only be used once. In other words….”

Nero smiled.

“Regardless of whether he wins or loses this fight, Tang will die today.”

“Young Master!”

The dragon Storm members became paled and called out to Tang in desperation.

“Burning your life so that you can have the greatest fight imaginable….Truly a last hurrah.”

Said Alec.

“Get up.”

Tang looked down on Miko and said.

“I can still fight so surely you can too.”

Miko showed a bitter smile.

“What a selfish train of thought.”

He struggled to his feet and felt his whole body ache like crazy.

“But I guess I have to live up to your expectations.”

The fog around Miko started moving violently and his eyes turned crimson. The fog around him then turned crimson as well and his silhouette body looked more intimidating.

“There. I overcame my limits just for you.”

Tang smiled.

“How kind of you!”

He threw a punch at Miko, but Miko ducked under it and hit him with a knee to the chest.

“Don’t mention it.”

Tang hit him on the side of his head with his elbow and grabbed him by the waist, lifted him overhead, and powerbombed him on the ground so hard that it burst open. Miko swept his feet off the ground with a sweeping kick and then continued the momentum, twisted his body and stood on his hands. Tang twisted his body when falling and landed into a handstand as well. The two used their arms to twisted their bodies while swinging their legs like they were break dancing and clashed their legs against each other.

*Bam!*

They quickly twisted the other way and slammed their legs on each other again. The two then started jabbing and blocking each other with their legs.

Miko twisted his body and landed back on his feet and kicked at Tang’s exposed sides. Tang pushed himself off the ground with his hands and then landed on his feet as well. He then charged at Miko and swung his claws at his neck. Several wind sickles flew towards Miko, who leaped out of the way and fired crimson lightning from his fingertips at Tang. Tang was surprised at first but countered by firing his own lightning from his fingertips.

*Bam!*

The Lightning’s clash and caused an explosion. Miko rushed through that explosion with his body on fire. He stomped the ground and cracks spread through it; the cracks then lit up and fire started flowing out of them.

*BOOM!*

The ground erupted like a volcano and a pillar of flames erected up in the sky. Tang was seen flying out of that pillar with burns over his body.

“?!”

Miko’s suddenly appeared in front of him covered in static. Tang threw a punch but Miko disappeared leaving a spark behind.

(I’m certain now!)

Tang spun around and thrust both palms forward, Miko was there doing the same and their palms clashed. Lighting surged from both of them causing an explosion that flung them both back.

(He’s copying my fighting style.)

Miko accelerated towards him and thrusting his hand out while twisting it causing winds to spiral around it. It was as if his hand had turned into a drill. That drill went straight for Tang’s heart but he moved out of the way with a side step and broke the arm with a kick to the elbow. He then followed up with another kick to head, which Miko blocked with his other hand. Tang smiled and jumped off his pivot leg, twisted his body and kicked Miko with his leg.

“Wha?!”

His kick was also blocked by another hand that came out of nowhere. He was then flung into the sky. He then saw Miko appeared out of crimson lightning bolt.

(This guy…!)

Miko stomped Tang in the chest and the forced him out of the sky. It looked like a crimson lightning bolt struck the ground.

*Bam!*

Miko’s foot that was on tang was gruesomely broken at the ankle by a punch from Tang. His body fell towards his right before being grabbed by the face by tang who then slammed his head onto the ground.

(This guy is getting stronger as we fight!)

An insane grin was Tang’s face as his palm started glowing. Miko placed his palm on his chest and the two fired.

*Bam!*

Miko’s face was burnt clean off while Tang was blown up into the air with his skin disfigured. He fell on the ground with smoke coming off his chest. Even so, his smile couldn’t be any wider.

“Hahaha!”

He started laughing.

“Hahaha!”

And Miko did the same.

“This is the best! You are the best Miko!”

Tang sprung to his feet with a deranged expression. Miko’s raised off ground like he was being pulled by strings. He stood up with his face rebuilding itself, flesh by flesh.

“You took the words out of my mouth, Tang!”

The two accelerated at each other and threw powerful punches.

*Bam!* *Bam!*

They punched each other at the same time and both had to take a couple steps back. They grinned and took wide steps forward before exchanging blows again. This time they both stood their ground. Miko hit tang with an uppercut and tang replied with a right hook. Miko spat out a tooth before rising Tang off the ground with a kick. Tang held his stomach and then jumped and headbutt Miko when his feet touched the ground. Miko took a few steps back while shaking his head. Blood flowed down face as he smiled.

“Ahhh!”

Tang ran up to him and threw a punch which he sidestepped before grabbing his head and kneeing him in the face.

“Woo!”

Tang shouted as he stumbled back with a bloody face. Miko walked up to him and hit him with a strong right, knocking out his teeth. He replied with scratching Miko’s eyes, which caused him to scream.

“Son of a bitch! Where’s your pride as a martial artist?!”

“Motherfucker, this is a street fight. Not a dojo!”

*Bam!*

Tang sent Miko flew back with an uppercut. Miko landed on his feet and held his ground. Tang charged at him to give him another punch. Miko kicked him in the chin before he could. This rattled Tang’s brain and made him see all kinds of different colors. Miko wiped the blood from his eyes and walked up to him and gave him a left hook which flattened him.

*Bam!*

Tang swept him off his feet and pounced on top of him and started beating his face with his fist.

“Ahh!”

“Keh?!”

Miko’s chopped him in the throat and abruptly cut off his oxygen supply. Miko then held his head and headbutt him as hard as he could.

“…….”

“…….”

The two became motionless and then after a while Tang fell over. Miko then pushed him off him and stood up.

“Stand up, You bastard. We’re not done yet.”

Despite him saying that, Miko’s knees were shaking and his vision was blurry. One more hit and he was sure to kick the bucket.

“…….”

Tang slowly got up and held his fists up. He was rocking side to side as he stood.

“Last round.”

“Last round. After this, it’s good bye.”

Tang smiled.

“You know, I wonder if we could’ve been friends in a different life.”

Miko smiled and said-

“There’s no way in hell that could happen.”

“Yeah, I thought so as well.”

The two looked at each other in silence and took a big step towards each other and threw their last punches. Tang’s fist missed its target and only grazed Miko’s cheek, but Miko’s was head on.

*BAM!*

His fist landed square in Tang’s face and sent him flying back.

“…….”

As he was flying through the air Tang once again found himself staring at the sky. It was now even more beautiful than everything he could remember. As if the world was moving slowly, Tang felt like he wasn’t falling but instead floating in the air. His body felt light and the sunlight felt especially comforting. It was then that he had a thought.

(Ah, this is enough. I’m satisfied with this.)

He lifted his head and looked at Miko. He didn’t look happy or sad but there was a smile on his face. He turned his back on Tang and waved him goodbye. When Tang saw this he felt warm inside.

(I see…You’re probably the closest thing I had to a friend.)

He closed his eyes and spoke with a peaceful expression.

“If it was you that I met all those years ago, then maybe my life would have been different….Haha….who am I kidding?”

Tang’s body became ashen and it started crumbling away. A single tear fell from his eyes and hit the ground. By that time, his body had already turned into ash and blown away in the wind.

“You gave it your all and fought until you turned into ash.”

Miko looked up at the sky with a smile on his face.

“A fitting death if I say so myself….don’t you agree, Tang?”

“The proxy battle royal has come to end! As the last remaining fighter….!”

The gods’s voice rang out for all to hear. With a smile on his face and his friends running towards him, Miko lifted his arm in the air and roared.

“Miko is the winner!”