Yume, still lost in her memories, was suddenly jolted back to reality by a deafening explosion that tore through the cabin.
She was thrown from her seat and slammed into the doorframe. The blast was so violent that the train's ceiling ripped apart like paper, windows shattered into a rain of glass, and the floor was covered in shards of metal and crystal.
Her heart pounding, Yume looked up. Her face showed utter shock she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
The cause of the destruction… was Kaito and Shirogane.
Kaito had his foot pressed against Shirogane's body. He was gasping for breath but still standing. His body was covered in wounds, yet his eyes burned with fierce determination.
"YAAAAAAHHHH!"
His scream wasn't one of pain but of pure satisfaction.
15 MINUTES EARLIER
On the roof of the train, Kaito and Shirogane faced each other like statues.
The wind was wild, the rumble of the tracks deafening.
(I won't give up.)
Kaito gripped the single blade in his hand and dashed forward.
Shirogane raised his shadow blade and charged.
"KAITOOO!" he roared.
"SHIROGANEEE!" Kaito shouted back.
Their blades clashed with a thunderous boom, creating a shockwave that shook the train roof. For a split second, they locked eyes. Then Kaito ducked, letting the enemy blade swing past him, and with fluid movement, aimed a strike at Shirogane's torso.
But Shirogane reacted in time. A vertical slash forced Kaito to block, interrupting his attack. The impact was devastating Shirogane's spiritual power bent the metal beneath Kaito's feet.
(Damn it!)
He had no time to recover a sudden kick slammed into his gut, throwing him backward.
(Shit... he's coming!)
Suppressing a groan of pain, Kaito looked up. Shirogane was already rushing at him, a cruel grin on his face and bloodlust in his eyes.
He raised his sword for another strike.
Kaito lifted his blade to defend, but his legs gave out from the previous impact, and he collapsed.
"Die now."
The shadow blade came down.
At the last second, Kaito rolled aside. The sword pierced the metal with a shriek.
Seizing the moment, Kaito lunged forward and slashed diagonally.
"DISAPPEAAAR!"
Spiritual energy burst from his blade, striking Shirogane with overwhelming force. The boy was hurled thirty meters away, crashing into a massive rock beside the tracks.
The sound echoed through the valley.
Kaito stood still, panting. The wind lashed his face, but he didn't move. Not yet.
A shadow reflected in Kaito's eyes.
(Impossible!)
Shirogane was already back. He had crossed the thirty meters in an instant.
Kaito tried to react, but it was too late.
A brutal uppercut slammed into his stomach, launching him into the air.
"YOU THINK IT'S OVER? HAHAHAHA!" Shirogane roared.
With a twisted smile, he raised his blade.
"Kage no Itsuwari Ken: Black Flash!"
A slash of pure dark energy shot toward Kaito, who was falling helplessly through the air.
Suddenly, Kaito's eyes widened.
His mind went blank. The world slowed around him.
There was no time to think.
He had to act.
"YOU WON'T DEFEAT ME THAT EASILY!"
Clutching his sword, Kaito unleashed every bit of spiritual energy he had left.
"SPIRIT SLAYEEEER!"
He met the Black Flash head-on with his strongest attack.
The two forces collided with unimaginable violence, lighting up the sky in a blinding flash.
The train rocked, nearly derailing.
When the explosion faded, Kaito was on one knee, gasping.
(Damn...)
"So, you surrender, Kaito?" Shirogane approached slowly, then smirked.
"To block my Black Flash, you used every last drop of power in your blade. It's over."
Kaito clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand.
"Shut up."
Shirogane was stunned. Despite all the battles, the wounds, a broken arm Kaito was still standing.
"Fine… then come at me… KAITOOO!"
At his roar, Kaito charged. Their blades clashed again.
They exchanged a flurry of furious strikes. It seemed like neither could win.
But Shirogane's shadow blade emitted energy that wounded Kaito even if only lightly.
Each strike drained more of Kaito's strength.
(No… no, nooo!)
Then, Shirogane disarmed him Kaito's sword flew across the roof, embedding itself in the metal.
"HAHAHAHA! THIS HAS BEEN FUN!" Shirogane laughed.
Kaito realized he was cornered.
A brutal slash tore across his chest mirroring the wound the shadow knight had given him before.
Kaito collapsed in a pool of blood.
"It's over. I win," Shirogane said, turning his back and walking toward the train entrance.
Kaito, barely conscious, whispered in his mind:
(No… stop... stop...)
His body wouldn't move. Then, before his eyes, a vision appeared: a young man in a kimono with long white hair was walking toward him.
"Didn't you make a promise, Kaito?" the vision asked.
"Stand up," he added.
Kaito was stunned by the man's face one he knew very well.
"Stand up," he said again.
Kaito clenched his teeth and tried to get up, using even his broken arm as leverage.
"Stand up… KAITOOOO!"
When Kaito heard his name shouted by the apparition, he rose with a thunderous cry:
"YAAAAAAHHHH!"
Hearing it, Shirogane turned instantly.
"You again?" he said with frustration.
Kaito, panting, spoke:
"I told you… I'm going to kill you."
In an instant, Kaito vanished reappearing at Shirogane's side, blade aimed for his head.
Shirogane summoned his shadow blade just in time to block. But again, Kaito vanished, reappearing mid-air in front of him.
Though he managed to block every strike, Shirogane was confused.
(How? He used all the power of his sword… how is he still fighting?)
Then a strike from Kaito shook him.
(I-it's getting stronger?!)
Kaito reappeared one last time above Shirogane.
"GO TO HELLLLLL!" he screamed.
Shirogane blocked it.
(I did it!) he thought.
But then, his blade shattered.
Time slowed. Shirogane glanced aside and noticed Kaito's blade used earlier to block his technique had vanished.
He hadn't just blocked it. He'd absorbed its energy.
Time resumed.
Shirogane's body crashed through the roof, falling into the cabin below. Kaito had him pinned with his foot, screaming in pure triumph.