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Damien continued summoning lightning strikes down on Junichiro until his shield finally broke. Just as this happened, Junichiro vanished from his line of sight and appeared behind him.
Shocked, Damien was too slow to react. He tried to will the blade in Junichiro's hand to stop, but Junichiro's spirit energy prevented his will from influencing the blade as Junichiro slashed his back, causing a trail of Damien's blood to arc from his body.
Junichiro still had enough time for another attack, but Damien willed his own blade of cindium to intercept Junichiro's in the last second. He turned around and floated away, keeping his eyes on Junichiro.
Michael's thread of light was slowly healing the wound on his back, but Damien knew it wouldn't heal him completely. Not so long as his sheathe interfered with it and not before Junichiro attacked again.
I have to finish this soon before this form burns through all of my energy, he thought to himself. But now he's almost as fast as me. I'll have to stay on guard...
Junichiro blipped again, but Damien was aware now. He saw the attack coming from above and countered just in time. When their blades crossed, Damien saw Junichiro's skin peeling away.
It dawned on him that Junichiro's spiritual output had drastically decreased despite getting faster. Junichiro must've been sacrificing part of his power for his speed boosts on top of consuming more to use his incredible techniques. Now that his energy was so low, Junichiro's energy couldn't protect him from the dangerous speeds they were moving at.
I'd be in the same condition if not for this protective sheathe of lightning. Even our bodies alone aren't strong enough to withstand that much friction.
Damien locked eyes with Junichiro, who stared fiercely back at him.
"You need to remove one of those enhancements before it's too late," Damien warned Junichiro, slightly concerned.
"Worried about the enemy...pathetic," Junichiro grunted as they struggled to push each other back. "I do not need your pity. I will dispose of you and aid Father before my body gives out."
"You'll die before then," Damien stated as a matter-of-factly. "You've lost. You won't be able to beat me before you deteriorate. Don't kill yourself just to hold out barely.
Junichiro looked down at his peeling arms, seeing Damien's words to be true. Junichiro's expression became more determined, but Damien felt him let up and float back.
"Tch. Disgraceful," Junichiro clenched his fists in self-disappointment. "To think that I would be reduced to a state where I am forced to agree with my enemy."
"So, you're conceding?" Damien asked, slightly shocked.
"No. I may not be able to defeat you before I am forced to undo the enhancements, but I can still help everyone by taking out one of the biggest nuisances to us."
Junichiro suddenly sped off at max speed. The second it took for Damien to realize what had happened and that he was heading toward Michael was enough time to give Junichiro a head start.
Damien took off after him in a hurry. Judging from Junichiro's state, Damien knew that Junichiro only had one shot at whatever he was planning. As he flew in pursuit, he wondered why he chose Michael.
Considering the options, he could see how going after Tymon would be too risky, and with Junichiro's father not being transformed, Junichiro might've hindered Avarice instead of helping him. He could've gone after Alissia: Damien doubted there was much love for the twins established among the others yet. However, removing two allies off the battlefield for a slight chance of removing Avarice's biggest threat wasn't worth the risk either. From Junichiro's perspective, that would only leave Michael. By taking him out, Junichiro could at least ensure Damien and the others would no longer be able to heal during their battles like Damien had.
If Damien had been correct in his assumption, the plan would have made sense. Still, he was baffled that Junichiro would believe he'd reach Michael, who was across the planet. Given that Damien was sure he was still slightly faster, he'd catch him long before they made it there.
They were still beneath the massive storm's canopy. Damien called down dozens of lightning bolts and formed his blade into an array of metal shards that pierced Junichiro. Junichiro took most of the damage until he eventually slowed, but Damien sensed Junichiro's energy growing. It was surging even higher than at the beginning of their battle.
Is he using the technology to amplify his power now? He's a stubborn one. But what...
Damien understood in horror as he realized Junichiro's intentions.
Junichiro took the same stance he'd used earlier to unleash an attack that cut through a mountain. This time, however, he charged all his amplified power into his technique.
Damien knew the attack would destroy everything and everyone in its path for hundreds of miles. No. With that much condensed, finely controlled energy being fired, it'd travel across the Pacific and even the United States.
He really could reach Michael with that...
The amount of energy that was emitted from the blade was outstanding. It dwarfed Junichiro as it protected him from Damien's lightning. Even the cindium shards struggled to break through.
Damien's mind raced as he tried to think of a way to break through the energy. His problem was that he couldn't produce the power he'd need even if he were at full strength.
Thunder boomed above them. An idea clicked in his head.
Perhaps nature can make up for my shortcomings, Damien thought.
He flew upward and then dived toward Junichiro, morphing the cindium shards back into blade form. Damien summoned as much natural electricity as he possibly could. The sky crackled loudly as the thick clouds above them discharged enough raw lightning to appear like a net in the sky that lit up the night. All that lightning slowly turned the same color as Damien's spirit energy as it traveled downward to Damien's blade to be used as his weapon.
When Damien swung his sword downward, the clouds split apart. The motion of his swing ripped the electrical currents from them and collided with Junichiro's aura. But Damien felt a resistance. His blade slowed against the pure thickness of energy that radiated from Junichiro's sword.
"Stop!" Damien yelled over the howling wind. "I don't want to kill you!"
There was no indication that he was stopping. Damien peered through the energy at Junichiro, whose eyes were closed in focus as he charged his energy aimed across the world. He could feel Junichiro nearing the completion of his preparations.
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