Solar Blood Masters (146)

Chapter 146 - Akai Kage

“And NOW, mighty warriors, glorious spectators! The battle CONTINUES! Ho Eastern versus Undying Valley! Round TWO!”

Muburt’s amplified voice boomed through the Grand Mound Arena and ignited another wave of cheers and jeers from the crowd.

Two figures materialized upon the central platform with flashes of light that had those weaker contenders shielding their eyes.

On one side stood Splinter Roc, holding his white katana aloft; his crimson tail feathers swayed gently. He was a picture of deadly elegance, a warrior whose mastery of the blade was renowned throughout Ho Eastern.

Opposite him, a figure shrouded in darkness materialized.

Akai Kage.

He was dressed in thick, black garments that concealed every inch of his form aside from two eyes. They glowed with an eerie, white light that had the spectators near the stage shifting uncomfortably. A large sword as dark as the void was slung over his shoulder, and an assortment of pouches and scrolls adorned his waist. He resembled a death god from the darkest realms, his presence radiated an aura of chilling finality.

“Akai Kage… Give that peacock HELL!” Pam Long’s boisterous cheer came from the Undying Valley platform.

Splinter Roc’s eyes narrowed. He pointed his katana at Pam Long, “After I’m done chopping up your friend, rhino, you’re NEXT!”

“Bold statement… from a pigeon.” Akai Kage’s voice made his very sword trembled. Then he acted,

“Shadow Slash!”

WHOOSH!

Without a word, he lunged! His sword came slashing downwards, and a powerful wave of black energy exploded outwards, its sharpness had Muburt scrambling off stage as he yelled:

“Begin!”

Splinter Roc flipped backward, gracefully avoiding the attack with millimeters to spare as a wave of darkness from that powerful slash had those front row spectators cursing their luck at being chosen to be there that very day.

“Primal White Blade!”

He retaliated instantly. A blinding white slash tore toward Akai Kage.

“Shield Kage.”

Darkness surged around Akai Kage that swallowed Splinter Roc’s attack as if it were a mere flicker of light.

“What?!” Splinter Roc was stunned, but he quickly recovered, for wasn’t speed and agility his forte?

“Lightning Origami!”

Dozens of glowing, white origami figures materialized around him and he commanded,

“Attack!”

The origami birds and dragons swooped down upon Akai Kage. Simultaneously, Splinter Roc dashed forward!

“Taste my blade, shadow creature!”

Akai Kage’s sword flashed, cutting through the origami figures with ease. He then parried Splinter Roc’s katana strike.

CLANG!

Sparks flew! Their blades locked.

They pushed, strained, their Solar Essences collided! The air around them distorted.

The two warriors then began a mesmerizing dance of death. Swords clashed and the platform trembled beneath their furious exchange.

Splinter Roc’s movements were swift. He was flashing his katana with blinding speed. His mastery of ‘Lightning Dao’ had enhanced his reflexes and amplified his speed to a point where those whose eyes were weak could only see a white glow dancing erratically.

Akai Kage, however, met his assault with an unwavering resilience. His movements were less flashy, more precise. His defenses were impenetrable. Each parry, each block, was perfectly timed.

He was a fortress of shadow, unyielding and stoic.

The crowd roared.

“That peacock’s speed is INCREDIBLE!”

“He’s landing blow after blow!”

“But… that shadow creature… He’s not even SCRATCHED!”

“Who will win?”

Their shouts and wagers fueled the warriors’ fury.

Splinter Roc’s katana began to glow eerily. Hundreds upon hundreds of duplicates materialized, each radiating white light as they twirled and slashed at Akai Kage from all directions!

“Thousand Cuts – Lightning Storm!”

He yelled.

Akai Kage was forced to defend. His fast moving sword was deflecting the incoming blades skillfully. His movements, while still precise, were now more frantic as those white flashes intensified and came closer.

Seeing an opening, Splinter Roc pressed his advantage. He closed the distance in a blink, appearing right beside Akai Kage!

“Take THIS!”

He brought his katana down in a powerful overhead swing, aiming straight for Akai Kage's right shoulder.

SLASH!

The blade connected! It ripped through Akai Kage's armor, tearing into his flesh! Blood splattered.

“YES!” A triumphant grin spread across Splinter Roc’s beak. But…

“Reverse Kage!”

Akai Kage shouted.

Before Splinter Roc could even savor his hit…

The wound on Akai Kage’s right shoulder vanished! And on his left shoulder, a geyser of blood erupted, and that wound Splinter Roc had inflicted… materialized there.

Then, as they both watched, the wound closed! Within a heartbeat, Akai Kage was fully healed!

“What the…?!”

Splinter Roc stumbled back, stunned. This defiance of logic, this instant regeneration was something he wished to have. Before his shock could turn to those dreadful possibilities of defeat…

WHAM!

Akai Kage’s sword slammed into his side, sending him hurtling backwards. Splinter Roc quickly recovered, he lessen the blow by deflecting. Then landed softly on his feet.

A deep cut marred his chest. Blood oozed.

“Damn…!” He glared at Akai Kage, “That bastard!”

Splinter Roc was now enraged. He thrust his katana into the platform, and with a roar that had those very foundations trembling,

“Earth Splitter!”

He unleashed his fury! The platform beneath them cracked. Jagged fissures snaked outwards, splitting the stone. And from those fissures…

…massive boulders erupted!

They hurtled towards Akai Kage.

He dodged. He weaved. He smashed them with his fists!

But there were too many! He was quickly being sealed in rocks!

And as he was distracted…

Splinter Roc vanished!

“Where…?”

Akai Kage looked around, but it was too late!

Splinter Roc materialized above him!

“DIE!” He plunged his katana downwards, aiming straight for Akai Kage's heart!

“Globe Kage!”

Akai Kage vanished in a puff of smoke!

The katana slammed into the ground.

BOOM!

The impact shattered the platform, sending debris flying, but Splinter Roc didn't panic. His Lightning Dao senses were tingling. He knew Akai Kage was nearby.

And then…

He felt it.

An oppressive weight settled upon him! His movements slowed. The air around him thickened, as if he were trapped in quicksand.

“What… is… this…?” His words were elongated and distorted.

“Slow Motion Domain, little bird. You’re trapped now. Your speed is useless.” Akai Kage’s voice came from all directions, mocking his predicament.

Splinter Roc struggled. He tried to move, to attack, but his body refused to obey. It was as if an invisible force had taken control of him.

But then…

CRACKLE! BOOM!

A wave of white lightning engulfed his form! It was his Lightning Dao, and with those potent energies swirling around his being, pushing back against that dreadful constraint, those very laws that governed the ‘Slow Motion Domain’.

Splinter Roc broke free!

“HAAAAAAA!”

He plunged his katana downwards, aiming straight for Akai Kage who’d materialized beside him, but who was smiling cruelly.

“Hand Kage!”

Akai Kage’s arms bulged. They were now thicker than tree trunks. He blocked the attack effortlessly. Then, with lightning-fast speed…

He grasped Splinter Roc’s neck!

And slammed him into the platform!

BOOM!

Splinter Roc coughed blood.

But Akai Kage was unmoved.

“Black Kage!”

His hand, now radiating a chilling black aura, plunged into Splinter Roc's chest!

He grasped his heart.

"YIELD… or DIE!”

"I… YIELD!"

Splinter Roc screamed mightily. He was defeated. Humiliated.

Akai Kage withdrew his hand.

Splinter Roc looked down at his chest.

There was no wound!

“But… I felt it. He was crushing my heart…” He couldn’t comprehend.

Then he saw it.

Akai Kage’s hand returned to normal. It no longer radiated any essence. This had him understanding that this warrior, he was playing with him. He could easily kill if he wanted to. Such a dreadful thought.

Splinter Roc didn't say another word.

He left the stage with his head hung low.

…

“Who’s next?” Akai Kage stood on the central platform. There was a dark confidence about him that had the remaining contenders shifting nervously. His white eyes scanned the arena, daring anyone to challenge him, a truly terrifying display of dominance.

On the Ho Eastern platform, Hellphet puffed out his chest. “I’ll avenge you, Splinter Roc! That shadow bastard is going to taste my flames!”

But before he could even take flight, Lu Ruby slithered past him and landed on the central stage.

“Hmph. A mere 2nd Layer Nightmare Calamity dares to challenge ME? I’ll crush you in a heartbeat. Prepare yourself, little snake. I’ll make you YIELD, just like that pathetic peacock.”

Lu Ruby retorted. “Don’t compare me to that bird, shadow creature. I’m in a league of my OWN. I’ve bathed in dragon fire! I’ve danced with demons! And I’ve tasted the blood of a thousand serpents! You… you’re nothing but a fleeting shadow, destined to be extinguished by my flames! Prepare to be incinerated!”

“Enough with the lip service, snake. Let’s fight.” Akai Kage was growing impatient. He raised his sword. Its dark blade was absorbing the light around it.

“As you wish.”

Lu Ruby grinned and her Solar Essence exploded which caused a noticeable ripple in the air.

“Globe Kage!”

Akai Kage acted swiftly by unleashing his technique. The air around Lu Ruby thickened, her movements slowed, but before he could capitalize on this advantage and bring down his blade…

“What?!”

His sword slammed against her scales!

It began to… melt!

Droplets of molten metal dripped onto the platform, sizzling and hardening into grotesque, black pearls.

At the same time, Lu Ruby’s crimson scales shivered and… dripped lava!

The temperature in the arena began to rise rapidly. The air itself seemed to warp and shimmer from the heat. A wave of fire and brimstone washed over the spectators.

“AHHH! It’s too HOT!”

“My fur is burning!”

“Water! I need WATER!”

Their cries were lost in the intensifying heat.

Even Raphael who was watching from his platform, felt a wave of heat wash over him. He coughed. His throat became dry.

“She… she’s melting his sword?! With her scales?!” Lu Jade was stunned. He’d never seen his sister unleash such power before.

“It’s… the Ignitor Sun Cycle. It’s mutating. Reaching its full potential. That heat… it’s not simply fire. It’s something… more.”

Gastaroid watched with a hint of awe as Lu Ruby’s ‘Sun Cycle’ transformed.

"A divine grade weapon. It must belong to Lu Ignis. That shadow man won’t last long against that level of Solar Pressure.”

Akai Kage coughed and stumbled back. His hand flew to his throat. “Cough! Cough! It’s too… HOT!”

“Trying to escape? I don’t think so.” Lu Ruby grinned. Her eyes blazed with a terrifying crimson light.

She lunged. Her tail lashed out like a fiery whip! It was aimed straight for Akai Kage's head.

“I yi…” He was about to yield, when…

WHOOSH!

A wave of heat slammed into him.

And in a flash…

He was gone.

Reduced to ash.

Only a faint wisp of smoke remained.

“Hmph! Couldn’t even last three seconds. What a waste.” She scoffed and spat into the pile of ash.

“Akai Kage… has been eliminated! Lu Ruby… WINS!” Muburt announced from a safe distance. His antennae twitched nervously as he observed Lu Ruby with a new respect that had his thorax trembling.

“Undying Death has only ONE member remaining!”

The moment he said those words…

THUD!