After seeing the difference in power, Miko chose to take his demon form. Seeing this, Krul—

“Now this seems interesting!”

He rushed at Miko, who replied in kind. They cut the distance in an instant. They punched at each other at the same time. An explosion erupted as fists clashed. Krul was forced back. Miko chased after him. Crimson flames engulfed his fists. He punched and flames rushed at Krul. Krul extinguished the flames with a punch. Miko popped up at his side. He moved his hand in a circular motion.

“Demon Art: Destructive Wave!”

Krul was devoured by a spiral crimson light. The light tore through the earth creating a trench.

“?!”

Miko leaped back. A burning hand chased after him. A star appeared in the center of that hand. It fired a beam. Miko kicked away that beam. Krul simultaneously caught up to him. He slammed his fist in Miko’s face. However, he held his ground. He slammed his palm on Krul’s chest. Black light scanned over it.

“Black Ruin!”

Krul’s skin shattered and fell off his chest.

“Ahhh?!”

He screamed as blood sprayed from it. Miko punched his fleshy chest. Krul’s eyes widened with pain. He stumbled back. Miko chased him with a kick to his chest. A burst of flames erupted from the kick and burned his flesh.

“Son of a bitch!”

Miko ducked under a punch. He stepped in to counter with an uppercut.

“?!”

Krul punched down before he could raise. Miko moved his head. The fist passed his cheek and slammed into his shoulder. Miko gritted his teeth and rolled back.

“I couldn’t get a clean hit.”

Krul clenched his fist.

“I wanted to destroy that shoulder.”

Miko’s shoulder throbbed.

(This form grants me a higher regeneration rate…Even so, I can’t take too much of those punches.)

Miko witnessed as Krul’s skin began regrew. Miko took a deep breath and took a fighting stance. The crimson aura around him became fiery.

(This is different from my fight with Natasa. He has full control over his body and abilities. So there’s nothing I can take advantage of to make up for the difference between us.)

A crimson beast appeared behind him.

“If I want to win, I’ll have beat him fair and square!”

He kicked off the ground with a burst of flames. Krul stepped forward and threw a punch. Miko twisted out of the way and hit his chin with a knee strike. He stepped back and caught a punch with his hands. Krul swung his leg like a whip. Miko released his fist and ducked underneath it. A star appeared in front of him. It exploded and blew him back. Krul chased after him with a flying kick. Miko fired flames from his mouth. The flames forced Krul back. Miko’s body flickered. He popped up beside Krul. He swung his fist. Krul lifted an arm to block it. The punch never came. Miko opened his hand and flames and lightning dancing in his palm. Krul’s sight was overwhelmed with crimson. He was hit by an explosion of flames and lightning.

“Fuck! I fell for such a simple faint?!”

He propelled through the air with burns. He twisted his body to land safely. A crimson beam rushed at him before he could.

“Tsk!”

He kicked the beam away. He received a blow to his back. Miko twisted his fist in Krul’s spine.

“Ugh!”

Crimson flames erupted on his back. Miko grabbed his hair and slammed his leg in Krul’s back. Krul swung his elbow. Miko released him. Krul fell to the ground.

“You—!”

The moment he turned around Miko punt his head.

(Keep attacking! Don’t give him time to breathe!)

Miko snapped his fingers. Krul was blown away by an explosion. He pointed his fingers and fired crimson lightning through his chest.

(No mercy! No hesitation! Go for the kill!)

He turned his head towards Ishma and Regis.

“Come!”

They transformed into light and appeared in his hands like swords. They were engulfed in crimson aura.

“Hybrid Sword Style:…!”

He blasted off the ground.

“Demon Bull!”

He thrust the swords into Krul’s body. Krul was blown away with a sonic boom. His eyes rolled to the back of his head. Miko started sprinting. His swords ignited. Krul saw a storm of flames form around him. His feet skidded on the ground.

“Bring it!”

His aura swoll up. The flames around Miko took the form of a serpent.

“Hybrid Sword Style:….!”

He turned into a beam of light. Krul tried tracking it but it moved in a slithering fashion. It was as if it was a snake. Before he knew it, the terrifying jaws of the gigantic serpent were in front of him. Krul took a step forward and threw a punch.

“Hell Snake!”

Miko’s blades rushed at him. They clashed with Krul’s fist. A deafening sound reverberated. The fist stopped the blades.

“?!”

But it quickly got pushed back. The blades cut into his fists. Krul’s fist sizzled. He pulled his arm back and simultaneously leaped back. Miko followed him. He slammed his swords on his chest plate. An explosion erupted. Miko flew back watching a lake of flames open up in front of him. He was breathing heavily.

“Ishma, Regis, prepare for the next attack.”

“………”

“…Ishma? Regis?”

Miko didn’t receive a response. His body started to tremble.

“Don’t tell me…”

“It’s exactly what you’re thinking.”

Krul emerged from the lake of flames surrounded by a red aura. There were no burns on his body. He lifted his fist with a smile.

“I sealed them.”

Miko immediately remembered Krul blocking his attack with his fist. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.

“I rushed ahead too recklessly.”

“Yeah, you did. You were so obsessed with defeating me as fast as you could that you ignored the possibility of me sealing your swords before you can win.”

Krul pointed at himself.

“All I had to do was tank your attacks and wait for you to slip up.”

“Miko messed up.”

Christensen spoke up.

“No Vita, no proxies abilities, down to one of his demon powers, and his swords are pretty much lumps of metal at this point. He backed himself into a corner.”

“That’s pretty uncharacteristic of him. Was he afraid to lose to Krul and panicked?”

Al-Shura frowned.

“No. He was afraid of something else.”

Momo answered.

“Miko can’t hold back the effects of his Irregularity for much longer. That’s why he panicked. His Beleth mode isn’t strong enough to beat Krul and most of his abilities are sealed….As things stand he has no other choice.”

Her hands started to tremble.

“He’ll have to use his Irregularity to get a shot at winning. But…”

“But if he does that his symptoms will worsen and there’s no telling what will happen then.”

Alec shook his head.

“No, it’s certain that Miko just like Krul will lose control.”

Krul continued to approach Miko.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“….Are you not attacking because you’re waiting to see the moment my will breaks? Do you want to break me mentally before you do it physically that badly?”

“Of course. Breaking someone who is considered to be the future pillar of the clan…”

A disgusting grin appeared on his face.

“Just imagine everyone’s face when you’re begging for your life. It’ll be the bes—!”

Miko cut his sentence with a punch to the face. He quickly followed up with a kick to the chest. Krul stumbled back.

“It’s useles—”

Krul was silenced by the sight of Miko’s skin peeling off and an azure fog flowing out of his body.

“I didn’t want to use this, but I guess I have no choice.”

Miko’s body exploded and his skin flew everywhere. The only thing that was left was an azure fog. The fog started moving in a circular motion. It spread across the land like water from a burst dam.

“Ugh!”

Krul felt like he was standing in a storm, as the azure fog brushed against him. His mind was becoming cloudy and he had a hard time composing a single thought. It was the same for those watching in the fight. Some had even forgotten their own names in the confusion. The arena naturally became noisy and chaotic.

“What the hell?!”

“My head?!”

“How are you guys alright?!”

Al-Shura looked at Alec, Momo, and Kirika.

“Because we’ve experienced it before. You guys let your guards down that’s why you’re suffering.”

Kirika answered.

“Don’t worry though. Those with high mental stability won’t be affected for long.”

Alec added.

“I don’t about know about Krul though.”

Krul held his head as he tried to calm his thoughts. A loud noise accompanied by pain cleared it for him. When he came to, his body was flying through the air. A foggy figure appeared in front of him. Before he could make out what it was, his body was filled with holes.

“Guh?!”

He vomited blood. His body was flung up into the air.

(What the hell is going on?!)

Attacks came from every direction. His body and blood danced in the air.

(What’s attacking me?!)

He focused his eyes until the world slowed down for him.

“?!”

He was so shocked that he was wondering if he was still confused. In front of him was a mass of azure fog; inside the fog was a silhouette with long-flowing azure hair and gleaming golden eyes. What caught him by surprise was the appearance of the silhouette.

“Tiamat?!”

“What the?”

“Her Grace is fighting Krul?!”

“Don’t be stupid! If that really was Her Grace, Krul would have been dead already!”

Meanwhile, the Clans’ Leaders and Guardians—

“So it was true. Miko can turn into Grandma.”

Andreas looked at the monitor with great interest.

“According to Nero, it’s because she’s the image of Chaos in his head. Even the voice is the same.”

Darwin added.

“What’s going on?”

Miko ignored Krul and punched him across the face.

“Ascending Satan 2nd Gate: Chaotic Ruler.”

Dozens of hands grew from Miko’s back. They rained down punches on Krul. He was sent towards the earth. Miko grew wings from his back and dove down.

“Don’t get cocky!”

A star formed behind Krul and stopped him. He lifted his hand in the air.

*Boom!*

Miko popped up beside him and kicked him on the side of his head.

(So fast!)

Krul swung at him. Miko attacked from the opposite side.

(Is he teleporting?!)

He spun around to attack him. Miko punched him before he could extend his arm. His head flung back. Azure static danced Miko’s body. He slammed his fist in Krul’s stomach.

“Chaotic Thunder Fist.”

*BOOM!*

A powerful burst of azure lightning devoured Krul and everything that was behind him, leaving a molten gouge in the earth. Krul laid in this gouge with severe burn scars. Miko popped above him. with six arms covered in azure flame. He thrust all six fists at Krul.

“Celestial Barrier!”

A golden shield blocked punches. Azure flames spread out and scorched the area. A golden beam pierced through the flames and Miko. A gaping wound was left in his stomach. That wound quickly healed up.

“I figured as much.”

Several more beams pierced through Miko’s body. Krul flew out of the flames and landed some distance from Miko.

“Looks like you can remodel your body to your like. That will explain why your physical prowess suddenly rivals my own.”

A burning red aura surrounded him.

“Looks like I have to take this a bit more seriously.”

Burning star marks appeared on his limbs on his chest.

“Blazing Star: 1st Form!”

He vanished leaving a burning trail. He popped up in front of Miko. He was punched three times before he could attack. Miko’s arms ignited and quickly turned to ash.

“?!”

Krul smirked and punched Miko in the face. Miko’s head flung back. His face was set ablaze. Krul kicked him in his side. His legs cut into Miko’s body with ease. Azure lightning blast him off, Miko.

“Hahahaha! How’s that?!”

Krul laughed while Miko’s injuries healed in an instant.

“I’m a Star God’s Son, so I’ll naturally have the ability to become a star myself. Stars are balls of burning gas, just like the sun!”

He spread his arms.

“You can’t touch me without being reduced to ash! So what are you going to do? Fight me from a distance?! Impossible. I rival if not exceeds you in speed and power. You’ll just be wasting energ—”

“Can you please shut up?”

Golden eyes locked on Krul within the azure fog.

“I’m barely able to keep myself together. Your bragging isn’t helping.”

Krul smirked.

“Then, shut me up.”

Azure energy surged out of Miko’s body.

“I plan on ending everything now.”

He turned into an azure beam.

“Let’s see what you got!”

Krul stooped and pulled his arm back. The azure beam turned into a dragon. Krul concentrated the burning aura around his fist. The dragon bared its fangs at him. He smiled and thrust his fist.

“Nova Burst!”

A blinding light rushed at the dragon. A devastating explosion erupted, even destroying nearby volcanoes. When the explosion faded, Miko was laying on the ground completely bloodied.

“After all your big talk this is the result?”

Krul walked over to him and stepped on his chest.

“Talk about a disappointment.”

“…….”

Miko silently glared at him.

“Looks like you’re far from admitting defeat, despite your pitiful appearance.”

He pressed his foot down on his chest.

“I doubt you’re the type to bend under torture too.”

Smoke came off his foot as it burned Miko’s skin.

“Alright. Let’s think of a different way to break you.”

He leaned over and locked eyes with Miko.

“How about I kill Momo?”

“?!”

Miko’s eyes widened.

“That idiot…He’s taking this too far as always.”

Ecko grumbled.

“I heard that she’s pretty much a cripple now. I doubt it will take much to kill her.”

Miko’s eyes started flickering between azure and black. Krul smirked seeing the look on his face.

“Maybe I’ll warm up by killing your siblings first. After all, you trapped them in here with me.”

Sophia looked at Momo.

“Momo, as his aunt, I apologize. We’ll definitely fix him again once this over.”

Sylvia and Slyphy bowed their heads behind her.

“Ah, it’s fine. You have nothing to apologize for. It’s just…”

Momo held her right hand. The triplets noticed that her Apostle Crest was a burning red.

“It’s just that I hope that you’ll have the chance to fix him.”

Krul pressed down on Miko’s chest.

“Since I can’t break your will by beating you, then I’ll just kill everyone you cared about in front of you.”

Krul showed a devilish grin.

“How does that sound?”

Miko glared at him in silence before sighing.

“Get off me.”

Miko grabbed Krul and casually threw him off him.

“Whoa.”

Krul lightly landed on his feet.

“You still had that much strength in you?”

Miko got up. He stared at the grinning Krul before sighing again.

“You people are foolish beyond help.”

“Huh?”

“I wasn’t talking about you. I’m talking about everyone in this arena, in this empire.”

His face and eyes were devoid of any expression.

“I’m genuinely trying to lead everyone through the path of survival, despite everything that has happened to me and my family. And what do I get in return? A bunch of ungrateful, stubborn people who are too fixated on the past and their pride to allow me to do what needs to be done.”

The arena broke out into an uproar. Even higher-ups of each clan wore frowns.

“….What does that have to do with our fight?”

“Everything. After all, I’m dealing with one of those egoistic fools, right now.”

Miko looked up.

“Do you know why I organized this competition?”

“To prove that you’re the strongest.”

“You’re not right, but you’re not wrong either.”

He looked back down.

“I wanted to take control of this generation and unify it into a single unit, that will act as the future vanguard of the clan. That’s why I’m making us all fight against each other. I’ll have them face their flaws, overcome them, and grow through this battle. Those watching this must have seen multiple examples where the fighters evolve through battle.”

The spectators looked at each other. They all could think of at least a few instances when that happened.

“Are you saying that you’re trying to nurture our generation?”

“That’s right. Rin’s obsession with Kirika, Renatus's unwillingness to fight, Nen’s bottleneck, these are just a few things that need to be fixed for the future.”

“What a waste of time.”

Krul clenched his fists.

“You should’ve crushed them with brute force!”

Miko didn’t reply immediately and stared at him for a while.

“There was another reason why I set this competition up.”

“I’m sure it’s something dull.”

“Dull, huh? I guess you can say slaughtering members of the Three Clans is dull.”

“What?”

Miko’s words drew the attention of everyone in the stadium.

“My goal is to make the Dragna Empire a powerhouse that could withstand even the world’s destruction. To do that, certain things need to be done to build a solid foundation. One of those things is purging the clans of unneeded people, who will only cause us trouble in the future.”

Krul’s eyes widened. He burst out laughing.

“At the end of the day, you’re no different from me!”

“I never thought I was. If there was a difference, it would be the fact that you kill because you enjoy it while I’ll kill them because I believe it’s necessary. The acts are the same but the intentions are different.”

Krul continued to laugh.

“But what does that have to do with this competition?”

The moment Krul said that he and everyone watching came to the same realization. Seeing his face, Miko nodded.

“That’s right. My other goal in this competition was to purge you.”

“What is he saying?”

“He wanted to kill Krul from the beginning?”

Sophia gritted her teeth.

“So I was right!”

Miko continued.

“Me killing you wasn’t set in stone. If I saw that you had the potential to change then I’d switch to trying to tame you.”

“And I can’t be tamed, so you’re going to kill me?”

Krul laughed.

“Don’t kid yourself!”

“I never said that you can’t be tamed. In fact, I’m certain that I could do it with some help.”

“He can cure Krul?”

Shina and Lahmu’s eyes lit up.

“If that’s true then...”

“Tsk. So you’re taking the coward’s way out?”

Krul frowned. Miko shook his head.

“No, I’m going to kill you.”

“….Huh?”

Everyone became confused.

“But you just said you can tame me.”

“I can, I simply wish not to.”

“Ah, I see! You’re angry with me and because of that you want to kill me!”

Krul spoke joyfully.

“That must be it. Miko is allowing emotions to take control.”

“That’s not it.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Don’t lie!”

“I’m not lying. That’s not my reason for killing you.”

Miko pointed at the sky.

“If those in the audience don’t believe me, ask Momo, who shares an emotional link with me through her Apostle Crest, what emotion does she feel from me?”

Everyone looked in Momo’s direction. She was holding her right hand with a pale face.

“Momo, what do you feel?”

Alec asked. She slowly shook her head.

“….Nothing. I don’t feel anger, rage, happiness, or anything. Only numbness.”

Everyone’s heart clenched with her words.

“Reason? I have no reason, Krul.”

Miko pointed at him.

“I’m going to kill you because I simply feel like it. Nothing else.”

Miko pointed up at the sky again.

“I’m fed up wasting unnecessary energy on unnecessary people, so I’ll most likely do the same to a lot of you in the future as well.”

He lifted his head. His glowing azure eyes appeared on the screen, staring into the souls of all who saw them.

“Blame your incompetence for eventual demise.”

Krul stared at Miko blankly for a while. He suddenly burst out laughing.

“Hahahaha! You’re the greatest Miko! Truly one of a kind!... But aren’t you forgetting something?”

He pointed at himself.

“You have no chance at killing me! I outclass you in every way! And definitely not in that condition.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Krul.”

Miko ran his hand through his hair.

“The question isn’t whether I can kill you or not.”

He swept his blood-soaked hair back.

“It’s whether you can survive this.”

An ungodly amount of sinister energy flowed out of Miko’s body. It was so oppressing that it woke up those who were rendered unconscious by their battles.

“What the hell is that?!”

The sinister energy even sent chills up the spines of clans’ top brass, including the guardians.

As for Krul, he found himself staring into a vortex of dark and malevolent energy. He saw Miko walked out of the vortex wearing a wide smile.

“For some reason, my head feels so clear.”

His smile turned into a joker-like grin as he looked at Krul.

“So, who the fuck are you? And how would you like to die?”