“Regret? Your Era? Hahaha! Arrogance is just in our bones, isn’t it?”

Miko didn’t say anything in response to Natasa’s taunts. He started walking towards her.

“Hmph.”

Natasa walked towards him while clenching her fists.

“If you want me to believe your words then you gotta back it up with your act-”

Miko popped in front of her, floating in the air while twisting his body. He kicked her on the side of the head and forced her to stumble to her right.

“Haha!”

She laughed and threw a punch. Miko ducked under the punch and aimed his palm at her stomach. Natasa swung her knee up and he was forced to retreat. She accelerated towards him with a kick. He jumped over it and stepped on her head. He leaped off her head to avoid her tail that was going for his heart. She grinned and cut the distance between them. She threw dozens of quick punches at Miko who was still midair. Explosive sounds rang out and Miko was propelled back with his body curled up. He landed on the ground and his feet skid on the earth. Natasa popped up in front of him before he could come to a stop. She threw a punch and everything in front of her was blown away. Miko spun through the air along with large chunks of earth. He saw Natasa moving towards him with supersonic speed. He used the nearest chunk of earth as a foothold and launched off it. He moved through the cluster of earth fragments and approached Natasa. The two quickly entered each other’s range. They simultaneously threw punches at their enemy. With a thunderclap, all the chunks of earth were obliterated and shockwaves spread through the area blowing away all the rumble around them.

Miko was propelled back with his hand and fingers disfigured. He moved to the side to avoid a metallic tail. The tail moved like a whip, almost beheading Miko who had to duck under it. He poured power into his legs and blast off the ground and accelerate towards Natasa. She laughed and welcomed his charge.

“Crimson Equip.”

Crimson gauntlets appeared on his arms.

“If it’s a fistfight you want then I’m all game!”

Miko and Natasa threw punches that clashed with each other. The ground underneath them burst open in waves. Miko pulled his arm back while thrusting the other. Natasa blocked his punch with her forearm before countering with a punch of her own. Miko moved his head to avoid it. The force from the punch tore open a trench behind him. He threw an uppercut. Natasa backstepped, evaded it, and stepped in with a hook. Miko blocked the hook with his arms, Natasa then slammed her other fist in his stomach. Miko groaned and forced back down the blood that almost escaped through his mouth.

“What’s wrong?! Is this all you got?! I haven’t even gotten warmed up yet!”

Natasa started raining down heavy punches on Miko. Explosive sounds rang out with everyone that connected. Miko’s body rocked from side to side. He took a step forward and countered a fist with a headbutt that caught Natasa off guard. He followed up with a kick to her chin. She stumbled back; he pounced at her and slammed his fist in the center of her face. Her body bounced off the ground with a loud thud. He walked towards her.

“Warmed up? Like I care. Contrary to what you believe this isn’t a fight you’re gonna enjoy.”

Miko looked down on her with fiery eyes matching the color of the blood flowing down his face.

“I’m gonna make you wish that you were never born.”

Natasa slowly got up off the ground.

“You got one good hit and you’re being so condescending. You’re just the poster boy of arrogance aren’t you?”

She flew at him and hit him square in the face with a strong right. Miko stumbled to the side and spat the blood from his mouth.

“Arrogance? I think the word you’re looking for is hubris, honey.”

He pounced at her. She sidestepped him and evaded his punch and ducked under the elbow strike that followed instantly after. She slashed him across his chest with her claws and his blood splashed on her face.

“Isn’t it the same thing?”

She slammed her leg in his stomach and forced him back. She chased after him.

“At the end of the day, it means that you’re just an overconfident fool who doesn’t know his place.”

She swung her leg like a whip and hit him in the chest. A deafening sound rang out.

“That’s why hubris is the perfect word for me.”

Natasa’s eyes widened when saw that Miko had stopped her kick with his bare body.

“It’s because I don’t know my place why I can continue fighting.”

He grabbed her leg and started crushing it with a Herculean grip.

“It’s because I’m overconfident why I’m fearless in the face of death and even challenges him to try and take my soul.”

Natasa clicked her tongue. She jumped off her pivot leg, twisted her body, and swung her other leg with a whip. An explosive sound rang out and Miko’s head was forced to the side. She smiled but that smile quickly fell from her face.

“It’s because I’m a fool why I can openly defy the gods and declare my intentions of slaughtering them to their faces, thus forcing them to acknowledge my existence and fear for their lives.”

Natasa’s leg was forced back and Miko straightened his neck.

“You!”

She thrust her sword-like tail at his head. Miko released her leg and grabbed her tail.

“I got you now!”

She latched onto him and fired a blast of her mouth the blast caused a huge explosion that rocked the city. The grip on her tail was gone and she clearly felt what she was holding being forced out of her grasp. She was certain that she got a direct hit. She looked at the smoke cloud that covered everything in front of her with a smile.

“!”

The smile faded and her eyes widened when she saw a hand inches away from her face. The hand grabbed her face and forced her head into the earth. She saw the person who the hand was attached to emerge from the smoke. His body was bloodied to the point that you could barely see his skin and even his hair was burnt. He had an insane grin on his bloody face.

“Do you understand now why hubris is the right word to describe me?”

He moved his face closer to hers and forced her to stare into his eyes that were housing the flames of hell itself inside them.

“It’s because my pride won’t allow my fate to be in the hands of no one but myself. I alone dictate my destiny. Whether it be God, Satan, or the Apocalyptic Beast, anyone who tries to dictate it…”

Natasa saw terrifying black fangs appeared in Miko’s mouth.

“They will be devoured by these fangs that can tear fate itself apart.”

Natasa punched Miko off her and flew back to create some distance between them. Miko slowly got to his feet.

“From the look on your face, I take it that you’ve finally accepted what kind of battle this is.”

He pointed at her.

“This will be the most terrifying battle you’ll ever experience.”

“Shut up!”

The city started rumbling.

“You’re getting on my nerves.”

Her muscles tensed up. She took a step forward and pulled her hand back.

“Get out of my sight!”

She threw a punch and overwhelming force rushed forth. The ground lifted up like a tidal wave and rushed towards Miko. He threw a punch and it broke apart. Natasa threw another punch and an invisible force pierced through the debris in front of Miko and hit him in the chest. He was blown back with a fist mark engraved in him.

(She condensed her strength and fired it like an invisible bullet….)

He twisted his body and landed on his feet. He moved to his side and avoided an invisible attack before firing condensed force back at Natasa. She swung her hand and diffused his attack with ease. She threw a punch and Miko was hit in the face despite being far away.

(That was significantly faster than before.)

He held his ground and accelerated towards her. The tribal tattoos on his body burnt brighter than ever. His speed doubled as crimson aura surrounded him. Natasa started throwing lightning-fast punches. Explosions erupted all around Miko as he gave it his all the avoid the invisible bullets.

(I can feel it….All of the injuries and strain my body accumulated from nearly two days of constant fighting is finally started to take effect.)

He cut the distance with Natasa and clenched his fist. He threw a punch but Natasa was faster. He was punched three times before his punch could land. He was blown back with his body bouncing off the ground. Natasa lowered her center of gravity and blast off the ground to chase after him. She appeared above him while he was bouncing around and slammed her fist in his midsection, planting him into the earth. The ground burst open and a crater formed.

“Ah!”

Miko aimed a punch at her head. She moved off of him and avoided it. He sprung to his feet and was immediately kicked in the chest. His feet dug into the earth stopping him from propelling back. She pounced at him and swung her hand. He was hit by a shockwave and blown back with chunks of earth.

(The current her can mostly use physical attacks but with strength like that, it’s enough.)

He twisted his body and landed on one of the chunks of earth and blast off it and head towards her. He appeared in front of her in a flash that shocked Natasa. She threw a punch at his face while he was flying towards her. He twisted out of the way and grabbed her arm and flung her with a spin. She twisted in the air and landed on her feet. She immediately bent her back to avoid a flying kick. She spun around and threw a kick and it clashed with Miko’s leg. He moved back and ducked under her swinging her tail and moved in with a body blow. She hit him with a knee strike which he blocked with his hands. He was forced back with numb hands. Her body flickered and she attacked his side with a chop which forced him to the side. She followed up with an ax kick which Miko caught overhead. He threw her with a spin but Natasa’s tail suddenly extended and pierced through into his chest.

(A couple more inches to the right would’ve been straight through my heart!)

He pulled the tail out of his chest and it retracted. Natasa landed on her feet and immediately rushed towards him. Miko took a step forward and his vision blurry and he felt dizzy. This created an opening for Natasa. She crashed into him and flung him in the air. She started punching him preventing him from falling to the ground. The assault continued until Miko grabbed one of her hands and pulled himself towards her and headbutt her. An explosive sound reverberated through the area and the two fell on to the ground. Natasa quickly got up but Miko had a hard time getting up.

“Fuck…”

Natasa blasted him away with a kick. He crashed into the earth but somehow landed on his feet. His legs were wobbly and he was in so much pain that just breathing hurts.

“I’m almost there….But my body is stubbornly clinging to its fragility.”

Natasa rushed towards him with supersonic speed.

“Move, move, move!”

She threw a punch at his head and he bearly avoided having his head blown off with a sidestep. He punched her in her exposed side and blew her away. She quickly recovered and shot towards him again and hit him with a flying kick.

“Ugh!”

He stopped the kick with his body and it was like electricity ran through him. Mind-numbing pain also robbed him of his consciousness. However-

“I refuse to fall when I’m so close to taking the next step!”

He held his ground and forced Natasa back. The two trade punches and Miko stumbled back. Natasa hit him with a roundhouse to the kidney and his feet skid on the ground. She walked towards him and punched him across the face. He retaliated with an uppercut. She was forced back a bit before kicking him in the chest. He stumbled back.

“You’ve reached your limit, haven’t you? I can tell that your punches have gotten heavier but they’re slow.”

She easily avoided a punch and countered with an uppercut. Miko stumbled again.

“See?”

She accelerated and hit him with another punch which he blocked by crossing his arms in front of him.

“Limit? Shut up and come at me.”

“Hmph.”

Her body flickered and she aimed a low kick at his legs. Miko jumped over it. Her tail shot from behind her and aimed at his chest. He twisted and narrowly avoided it before aiming a punch at her face. He was punched first and was blown back. She chased after him. Miko blocked her kick and moved to counter.

“Ugh!”

But his body froze up. He was forced to the ground with a punch. He rolled to his feet but he was wobbling.

“Time to finish this.”

Natasa rushed at him and thrust her claws at his neck. Miko gritted his teeth.

“Ahh!”

He fell to his knees and narrowly avoided her claws. But he didn’t stop there. He lifted his head and screamed. He then slammed his head on the ground so hard the earth cracked open. Natasa was so surprised that she unintentionally flew back to create some distance.

“….He’s crazy.”

Miko stayed on the ground for a few seconds before struggling to his feet. Natasa cautiously watched him. His blood drained on the ground and stained the earth.

“Have you finally began to understand, you stupid body?”

She saw a terrifyingly deranged look in Miko’s eyes as he looked at his own body.

“You’re not the one in charge in here, Miko.”

He pointed at himself.

“I am.”

“….Is he talking to himself?”

Natasa didn’t know why but she could feel fear slowly creeping into her heart as she watched him. He slowly started walking.

“No one will stand in my way.”

His steps were sluggish and unsteady but for some reason every step made Natasa’s heart skip a beat.

“Whether it be gods. Whether it be demons. Whether it be beasts. Whether it be humans. I will destroy them all.”

Blood flowed into his eyes but he didn’t even blink.

“I won’t forgive anyone who blocks my path. Not even myself.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“If you’re in my way, Miko…”

“Are you sick in the head?”

Miko released his claws and point them at his own neck.

“I’ll kill you too.”

Insanity. That was all Natasa could see in swirling in Miko’s.

“Compassion is unnecessary. Love is meaningless. Mercy is for the weak. I will complete my mission at all costs.”

Before she knew Natasa started backstepping when she saw cracks appearing over Miko’s body. She gritted her teeth and rushed towards him and started raining down punches on him. Miko held his ground and threw punches back. Cracks spread through his arms as he exchanged punches with Natasa.

“Silence, arms!”

He forced her back with a punch and aimed a kick at her. She countered with her own. Blood sprayed out of his legs as cracks spread through them as well. Miko ignored this and started throwing a barrage of lightning-fast kicks at Natasa who had trouble blocking them all.

“Shut up, Legs!”

She ducked under his kick and slammed her fist in his chest. His chest tightened up and his heart started to ache. He slammed his fist over his chest.

“Be quiet, Heart!”

He flew at her without fear of her punches and kicks. He took them on and returned some of his own. His body creaked and he could feel his body being torn apart with every move he made. Still, he showed no signs of stopping.

“Hold out, my bones and muscles!”

He gritted his teeth and attacked with everything he had. Natasa had trouble keeping up with the barrage of attacks and started attacking him with her tail, using it to tear away at his body. He caught the tail in his mouth.

“?!”

This shocking move caused her to freeze up. Especially when she saw Miko ignore that his mouth was being slit open and continued to punch and kick her. He grabbed her head and headbutt her so hard his skull burst open. He stumbled back but refused to fall despite his body screaming for him to stop.

“Not yet, not yet! Don’t fail me just yet!”

He rushed at Natasa.

“I want to continue fighting!”

She rushed towards him almost desperately and traded punches with him. He stumbled back and was kicked across the face and lost several teeth in the process. A chill ran up Natasa’s spine when she saw the look on his face.

“He’s smiling? In this state, he can still smile?”

She started retreating again.

“Insane….”

Miko started approaching her with wobbly steps as blood and saliva drained out of his mouth.

“I haven’t had enough fun!”

Goosebumps cover Natasa’s skin despite having mostly scales. She stopped retreating and lifted her fists in front of her.

“You’re insane….You’re fucking insane!”

Miko’s eyes were completely crimson like the flames of hell were inside his eye sockets.

His hair slowly turned crimson and started moving like flames. The cracks had covered his body that was clearly falling apart. His skin started to fall off his body revealing a crimson silhouette underneath. He stopped approaching her and lifted his hands up in the air and shouted.

“SO STOP YOUR BITCHING AND MOVE, BODY!”

His body exploded and crimson light covered the entire city.

“Hahahahaha!”

A sinister laughed reverberated through the city. Natasa saw a demon emerge from the light. It had dark skin, crimson tattoos all over its muscular body, and long crimson hair that moved like flames. If Ryker was awake he would immediately recognize this devil.

That’s because Kristen had turned into this during their fight.

The demon, Miko clenched his fist.

“Success. I’ve finally acquired a demon body. As I thought, constantly pushing myself beyond my limits was the key. Demons get stronger from near-death experiences after all.”

He looked at Natasa who was pale.

“Did I frighten you? My bad.”

He took a step towards her and she took two back. He ignored this continued talking.

“It’s natural for you to be frightened after seeing that side of me.”

He grinned at her.

“But you know, you must be a bit insane if you have goals like mine.”

He showed off a bright smile.

“I’m sure you’ll understand after I make you wish that you were never born.”