Legendary Art, Total Rush!
The dim light of the early morning crept into the training room as Xzavier's eyes snapped open. It was 5 AM, and his body was already ready for another round of grueling training. No matter the hour, his drive to grow stronger never waned. He quickly rose from his bed, stretched his muscles, and slipped into his training gear.
Without a moment's hesitation, he bolted for the training simulator.
"Let's go!" he muttered under his breath, his mind set. "Simulator, please spawn the strongest fighter you can think of."
The machine's mechanical voice echoed in the large, empty space. "Affirmative, searching... Searching... Searching... Would you like me to spawn the strongest fighter of the common era or the strongest warrior of all time?"
Xzavier smirked, narrowing his eyes in determination. "Let's start with the strongest warrior of today."
"Affirmative."
In an instant, the air around Xzavier began to shift. The very atmosphere seemed to thrum with tension as a figure appeared before him. A perfect copy of Gimori Aku no—his face cold and disdainful—materialized in front of him. He was draped in his signature purple robe, his black wrist guards and waist wrap hugging his frame, the thick and baggy black and purple pants making him look all the more imposing. The long navy blue shin gaiters and white ankle tape added an air of menace as he stood before Xzavier.
Xzavier's heart raced as a flood of memories washed over him. The violent night when his parents were murdered, the blood and fire, the cries of despair—all of it replayed in his mind. He was just a newborn then, helpless, unable to save his family from the wrath of the man standing in front of him now.
"This is the guy," Xzavier muttered under his breath, his fists clenching around his sword hilt. "The guy I'll need the Titan Blade to kill..."
Xzavier's voice grew louder, filled with both fury and resolve. "Simulator, simulate the Great Lake of Eidolon."
"Affirmative."
The grey walls of the simulator shifted and warped, and suddenly, the training room transformed into the vast, shimmering expanse of the Great Lake of Eidolon. The massive body of water stretched out in every direction, the mist rising from its surface like ghosts of forgotten spirits. To Xzavier's surprise, the waters were solid, firm enough to walk on, as if the very lake had frozen in time.
The copy of Gimori Aku no raised his hand, summoning the Demon Blade—the second strongest Legendary Blade in existence. Dark energy pulsed from the blade as it slipped from its sheath, sending waves of malevolent power rippling through the air. The sheer pressure of the weapon's presence caused Xzavier to lose his balance for a moment, but he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay steady.
The simulation's voice buzzed in his earpiece, a reminder of the situation. "Oh, and master, this copy is obviously way weaker than the actual Gimori since it's only a copy. Good luck."
Xzavier's eyes narrowed as he took in the blade before him. If this copy is only 75% weaker than Gimori... His thoughts trailed off as a shiver ran down his spine. What would the real Gimori do to me?
He shook off the anxiety and focused, drawing the Flame Blade from its sheath with a sharp hiss of heat. His chest tightened as his mind focused. He wasn't here to back down.
The two warriors stood locked in a tense silence, the only sound the faint crackling of Xzavier's blade as it began to glow with an intense red heat.
With a sudden flicker of movement, the two combatants collided.
The Flame Blade met the Demon Blade, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Waves of fire and darkness clashed, the raw energies of the two blades colliding in a flash of blinding light. Xzavier pushed against the copy's strength, his legs burning with energy, but the force of the impact sent him stumbling backward.
Gimori's copy was fast—almost impossibly fast. It spun gracefully to the side and slashed through the air with precision, sending a wave of dark energy toward Xzavier. A black knife, made of pure darkness, materialized in the copy's hand, and with terrifying accuracy, it was launched directly at Xzavier. The blade tore through the air, finding its mark and sending Xzavier crashing to the ground.
His body hit the solid ground with a heavy thud. The pain surged through him, but he refused to stay down. The knife disintegrated into the air, and Xzavier sprang to his feet, his eyes wild with determination.
"This time," Xzavier growled, teeth gritted. "I won't hold back."
He could feel the heat surging in his chest as his Ascension Mark activated. His body flared with a new, powerful energy, a storm of flames engulfing him in an instant. His eyes flared with fire, and his blade surged with raw, uncontainable power.
"Let's go!" Xzavier roared.
His body was an inferno as he charged forward, his movements a blur of red-hot rage. His blade cleaved the air in an arc, the ground beneath him cracking and burning with the intensity of his strike.
"Total Rush!" Xzavier shouted, his voice ringing out as he poured everything he had into the assault.
The copy of Gimori Aku no staggered back, clearly struggling to keep up with Xzavier's newfound power. Dark energy swirled around him, trying to ward off the assault, but Xzavier's flames were relentless.
The two warriors clashed again, a storm of fire and darkness colliding with each strike. Xzavier's body burned with the heat of his fury, but his mind remained clear. He could feel the heat of the battle—the promise of what he was becoming. This was just a glimpse of what he would need to face the real Gimori.
The simulation continued to hum in the background, but Xzavier's focus was on nothing but his enemy. Each strike brought him closer to the victory he craved, each clash of their blades further igniting the flames of his resolve.
This is just a copy, he thought, but I can feel it. I'm getting closer... closer to the strength I need.
The battle raged on, and Xzavier pushed himself to the limit.