After Akio unleashed his "Internal Thunderburst" technique, Akira's entire body convulsed as if a bolt from the heavens had pierced straight through him. He felt electric heat surging through his veins, but despite that… he laughed!
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed completely… the air grew heavy, and everyone in the market felt a mysterious energy radiating from Akira. He slowly rose to his feet, his body still suffering from the lightning's shock, yet a slow smile crept onto his face.
Akio (slightly uneasy): "Huh? What is this feeling…?"
Akira (with a deep, ominous voice): "I was enjoying playing with you… but since you made me bleed, I'm forced to use this technique."
Akira's clothes began to tear, revealing his muscular body. His black claws started to glow with a deep crimson light, and his red eyes flared brighter. A faint steam began rising from his body… his temperature spiking unnaturally!
Akio (in awe, clenching his fists): "That's… not Vakin! That's… pure physical power!"
Akira (laughing maniacally): "Exactly! This is my ultimate technique… 'Feral Werewolf Punch'!"
In a split second, Akira vanished from sight… but he wasn't just fast now—he was unpredictable! Suddenly, Akio felt a crushing blow to his face that launched him flying with insane force!
BOOM! Several crates exploded behind Akio as he crashed into them, his back slamming into the first one. His nose bled and scratches marked his face… but he smiled.
Akio (wiping his nose): "Heh… so you've got a trick after all? Good… I won't lose to some stray werewolf!"
Electric power surged through Akio's body, while Akira grew faster and more savage. The two exchanged blows at incomprehensible speed—claws against lightning-charged fists, each strike shaking the market! People fled in terror, while Ken and Ann watched from afar.
Ann (munching on popcorn): "This is fun… I didn't think Akio could fight this seriously!"
Ken (taking a puff of his cigarette, eyes glinting as he watched): "The kid's still a fool, but not bad."
Akio: "I'm taking you down, you mangy mutt!"
Akira: "Let's see you try!"
Akio charged his right fist, sparks flying everywhere, while Akira stepped back slightly, his body radiating hot steam, fangs bared, and his eyes wild.
But the moment they both lunged—
CRAAACK!!!
All noise in the market halted. Even the wind seemed to stop… and in the midst of the dust and smoke, the shocking result was clear to everyone.
Akio and Akira had collided mid-air in the most ridiculous way possible, both knocking each other out cold.
There was no explosion. No final strike. No lightning bolt. No bloody fang. Just two reckless legs colliding midair… and it was over.
A terrifying silence… then one of the vendors muttered softly: "Huh…?"
People looked at each other in shock… then a few kids giggled. And suddenly, the entire market erupted in laughter!
After a brief pause, both fighters looked at each other…
Akio (slowly getting up, brushing off dust): "Damn… that was really embarrassing."
Akira: "Didn't see that coming, Lightning Boy."
Akio: "Neither did I, Wild Wolf."
Ann's face was frozen in hilarious disbelief, while Ken had stopped smoking from sheer secondhand embarrassment. Akira and Akio stood after their silly collision, then looked at each other and smiled. Akio extended his hand toward Akira.
Akio: "Name's Akio. What's yours, dumb mutt?"
Akira (without hesitation, shaking his hand): "I'm Akira. Nice to meet you!"
The crowd gasped in disbelief—some even fainted comically.
Ann (eyes wide, throwing her popcorn): "HUUUUH?! WHAT?! They're friends now?!"
Ken (dryly): "Looks like Akio found another rival in stupidity. Great… I think I've just witnessed the dumbest end to a serious fight."
Ann (comedically angry): "Start fighting again!! It can't end like this!"
Akio (clearing his throat, trying to keep his dignity): "Well, Akira… looks like we're tied."
Akira (nodding with hands on his hips): "Yeah… a tie. Let's just say that wasn't a fall, it was… a tactical maneuver!"
People continued staring in disbelief, while Ann sat down on a wooden chair, her popcorn now gone.
Ann (raising her hands in exasperation): "Seriously? A tie?! I was expecting at least a giant lightning explosion!"
But instead of returning to the fight or acknowledging the absurdity…
Akio and Akira decided to double down on the silliness!
They started trading insults in the dumbest way possible, trying to one-up each other.
Akio (pointing at Akira's messy black hair): "Hah, looks like you haven't washed your hair in a week! Is that a werewolf technique too?"
Akira (crossing his arms, grinning): "At least it's natural. You—with that blue mop—look like you fell into a paint bucket!"
Akio (pointing at Akira's sharp fangs): "With those teeth, you look like a rat trying to cosplay a monster!"
Akira (gesturing to Akio's sparking body): "And you? You look like an electric kid who failed to become a decent lightbulb!"
The market crowd started realizing the whole thing had turned completely ridiculous.
From bloody battle to meaningless insult war.
Akira (reaching his hand toward Akio): "Well, now that we're friends… let's see who's tougher. Hit me!"
Akio (raising an eyebrow): "Huh? Hit you?"
Akira (grinning): "Yeah! With all your strength! I wanna see if you can make me scream!"
Akio (charging his fist with lightning, smiling): "You asked for it, mutt!"
In an instant, Akio electrified his fist and punched Akira in the face…
But Akira didn't scream. He laughed!
Akira (with a mad smile): "Heh heh! That was fun! Now it's my turn!"
BOOM!
Akira punched Akio in the face in return…
But Akio didn't flinch either—he smiled back!
Akio (looking at him defiantly): "Heh! Is that all you've got?!"
And so, the two continued punching each other in the face without showing any pain—though both of them were starting to sway from the force of the blows. The people around them began putting their hands on their heads, completely unable to comprehend this utter stupidity.
Finally, Ken, who had been silent the entire time, tossed his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his foot. Then, he slowly lifted his head and muttered in a low voice:
Ken: "Today… I lost faith in human intelligence."
Ann, who had been watching since the beginning, let out a deep sigh and buried her face in her hands, while Akira and Akio kept punching each other like children, completely ignoring the fact that they were trying to kill one another just minutes earlier.
Scene transition: Terrakula's Castle
Terrakula sat on her throne as usual, sipping blood from her chalice. A vampire worker with brown hair and brown eyes entered the throne room. He seemed to be one of her staff.
Worker: "Terrakula-sama, chaos has broken out in the Darkova marketplace! A fight erupted between Akira and a foreign boy named Akio, who possesses the Vakin of lightning."
Terrakula remained relaxed on her throne, legs crossed, staring at the worker with a blank expression. She raised her chalice of fresh blood and sipped slowly.
Terrakula (calmly): "So… did the fight end with one of them dead?"
Worker: "No… actually, they became friends after falling in a ridiculous way in the middle of the market."
Terrakula's hand paused for a moment, then she slowly lowered the cup and stared at the worker, as if she couldn't comprehend what she had just heard.
Terrakula: "What?"
Worker (trying not to laugh): "U-uh… I mean, the fight started normally, it was brutal at first, but then… a series of silly accidents happened, they both collapsed… and then shook hands and became friends."
A few seconds of silence passed. Terrakula tried to process what she heard… then she let out a short laugh… another… until she erupted into a loud, mocking cackle that echoed throughout the entire castle.
Terrakula (laughing, her eyes gleaming): "Hah… are you kidding me?! That boy… got Akira to befriend him in the middle of a death match?! How pathetic!"
After her laughter faded, Terrakula rested her head on her hand, gazing at the worker with a mocking smile. She lifted the chalice again and took another slow sip of blood.
Terrakula (with a sly grin): "So… that foolish mutt Akira has a friend now? What a joke."
But the worker wasn't done speaking. He hesitated, as if he had yet to mention the most important detail.
Worker (nervously): "Well, there's one more thing, Terrakula-sama. That boy Akio… he wasn't alone."
Terrakula raised an eyebrow and looked at him with disinterest, waiting.
Worker: "He was accompanied by someone named Yukaji Ken."
In an instant, Terrakula's expression froze. Her glowing red eyes locked onto the worker, her amusement vanishing completely.
Terrakula (in a cold, deadly tone): "What did you just say?"
Worker (swallowing hard, a chill running through him despite the warm room):
"Yukaji… Yukaji Ken… was there too. He seemed to be tagging along with the boy Akio, and a ninja girl as well…"
Terrakula (cold and ominous): "You're telling me… that Yukaji Ken—the boy who slaughtered 500 soldiers alone in a single minute—is still alive?! And in Darkova?!"
Worker: "Yes, my lady! I saw him with my own eyes—red hair, gray eyes… he looks just like King Cirrus!"
She slowly raised her head, staring at the trembling worker, whose knees shook uncontrollably.
Terrakula (with a faint but terrifying smile): "Oh… what a pleasant surprise."
But her voice held no real joy. It was cold and laced with discomfort, like someone who'd heard something exciting—but hadn't yet decided how to respond.
Worker (trying to sound steady): "Yes… the people began shouting insults at him once they recognized who he was, but he didn't care at all. He just watched the fight between Akira and Akio."
Terrakula: "Watching? Tell me… is Yukaji Ken interested in anything here? Does he have a goal?"
Worker: "There's no confirmed intel, but… it doesn't look like he plans to cause chaos—at least not yet."
Terrakula chuckled softly, then intertwined her fingers and stared into the shadows cloaking half the hall.
Terrakula (slyly): "Oh, darling… if he doesn't plan to cause chaos, then he's not the Yukaji Ken I've heard about."
At that moment, Nyoro entered the hall with composed steps. It seemed he had heard everything.
Nyoro: "Fantastic! You're saying my cousin is here in Darkova?"
Terrakula (surprised): "Your cousin?!"
Nyoro (conjuring a white flame in his hand, smirking): "Terrakula-sama, haven't you ever wondered about the origin of my Vakin? The truth is… I'm half Yukaji!"
Terrakula (tilting her head, playfully intrigued):
"Hah… half Yukaji? How… fascinating!"
She rose slowly from her throne and approached Nyoro, her steps graceful yet heavy with authority. She stared at the white fire in his hand as if it were a rare gem.
Terrakula (touching her chin, thinking aloud):
"So only now things begin to get interesting… Tell me more, Nyoro. How does this strange Vakin of yours work?"
Nyoro (confidently, playing with the flame):
"My case is rare and unusual. When two people with different Vakins marry, their children are usually born able to use both. All my siblings were like that—fire from our mother, ice from our father.
But me? I was born with a Vakin no one else has—
A fusion of fire and ice. I know it's hard to believe!"
Terrakula (laughing in surprise): "Looks like I've been harboring a rare treasure for years without realizing it!"
Nyoro (excited and reckless):
"And now that I know my cousin Yukaji Ken is here, all I want is to fight him!"
Terrakula (mocking, tilting her head):
"Really? You want to fight Yukaji Ken—heir of fire, the boy who slaughtered hundreds of soldiers in cold blood… just like that? How amusing!"
Nyoro:
"Yes! I'll show him that half Yukaji is stronger than him! And when I'm done tearing him apart, I'll gift you his remains!"
Terrakula (laughing as she pats his head):
"Oooh, how sweet of you, my dear!"
She removed her hand, then slowly licked her lips with a chilling expression.
Terrakula:
"Let me savor the taste of this dangerous Yukaji heir!
I've always dreamed of drinking the blood of a teenage Yukaji…
I wonder if he's as handsome as his uncle? That would make him taste even better."
Servant (quietly, respectfully):
"Shall I bring him to you, Terrakula-sama?"
Terrakula (eyes gleaming with mischief):
"No, no… let's not rush things.
Let him wander freely for a while… and we'll see what he's up to."
She paused, then turned to the servant with a deadly stare and dangerous smile.
Terrakula:
"Keep a close watch on him… and if he proves interesting—
Inform me immediately.
Perhaps I'll invite our little guest… for dinner."
Servant (bowing):
"As you command, my lady."
To be continued…