The abandoned street was unnervingly silent, the air thick with dust and smoke from the previous battles. Milo and Toxifar stood just a few steps apart, eyes locked, each watching the other with careful calculation. The tension between them was palpable, as if even the air itself held its breath, every movement a potential spark for the fight. The heavy silence was louder than any sound, waiting for someone to make the first move.
Milo lunged forward at incredible speed, his fist aimed straight at Toxifar.
Toxifar caught Milo's hand effortlessly, delivering a powerful strike to his stomach, his smile unwavering.
But Milo barely flinched. He kicked Toxifar in the gut, creating some distance, then leapt toward him, swinging a punch charged with raw energy.
Toxifar grinned and blocked the blow with his forehead, unshaken.
With a confident tone, he spoke:
"Not enough... not enough."
Milo didn't stop or hesitate.
He struck Toxifar with his left hand, forcing him to bend to the left.
And as he lifted his head, another punch from the right made him bend in the opposite direction.
Milo was angry and serious.
He spoke with sternness and responsibility:
"Everyone is fighting seriously, giving their all... I must excel too, I cannot lose. I won't let an opponent like this roam free!"
Milo struck Toxifar hard in the face, sending him flying backward.
Toxifar lifted off the ground, nearly falling on his back, but in a split second, he placed his hand on the ground, flipped, and landed back.
As he lifted his head, he saw Milo in front of him, raising his hand, still attacking.
Milo shouted with all his strength, charging his transparent energy and gathering it in his fist.
"Haaaaaa!"
He then struck Toxifar with immense force, hurling him far away.
Toxifar fell to the ground, and Milo stood before him.
"Did you win? That easily?"
Suddenly, Toxifar rose, green energy radiating from him.
He repeated the same words:
"Not enough, Milo... not enough!"
He raised his right hand to the right side, summoning his legendary weapon: the Poison Scythe.
Toxifar swung the scythe and then positioned it behind his back, ready to strike.
Milo stood firm, preparing himself, his mind racing.
"Not now... not now."
"If I use my ability now, I'll tire quickly, and he'll defeat me."
"I have to stall him until he gets exhausted... then use my technique and finish him."
Toxifar stood still for a moment, then spoke with a tone of disappointment:
"What? Aren't you going to use your ability yet?"
He noticed that Milo completely ignored him.
Toxifar smiled, then charged straight toward him, raising his scythe.
"Then I'll force you!"
Toxifar swings his scythe toward Milo in relentless attacks. Milo dodges the strikes as poison splashes across the ground with every swing. The clash continues for several minutes, but as time passes, dodging becomes harder for Milo, and exhaustion slowly begins to show.
Toxifar swings his scythe swiftly toward Milo's head. Milo lowers his head at the last moment, slips past the attack, and closes in on Toxifar.
Milo throws a punch, but Toxifar remains unfazed, his green energy shielding him from such attacks.
Toxifar smiles and speaks in a mocking tone:
"Do you really think punches like these will still work on me while I'm using my ability and my energy?"
Milo is surprised, but he strikes again—one punch to the chin, then another to the stomach.
Toxifar staggers back slightly, his scythe vanishing as he raises his hands a little.
With a challenging smile, he shouts:
"Milo! Fight me with everything you have—come on!"
Toxifar's scythe appears once again.
He unleashes a powerful swing, the blade extending from right to left with terrifying speed.
Before Milo can dodge, the attack strikes his stomach—but thanks to his energy defense, he isn't wounded.
Milo jumps backward after the attack.
He thinks to himself:
"So fast… I couldn't even dodge."
Suddenly, he feels intense pressure in his stomach.
He coughs violently and drops to his knees.
"W-what's happening…?
Toxifar steps forward slowly, laughing.
"Sure, you won't be wounded thanks to your energy defense… but my poison will still affect you. It causes pain in the area and involuntary spasms."
Milo lifts his head, staring at him, his eyes showing worry.
Without hesitation, Toxifar kicks Milo's jaw, sending him soaring into the air.
Then he strikes with his scythe at incredible speed, the angled blow hitting Milo from his left shoulder down to his waist.
Milo falls onto his back on the ground, feeling sharp pain in his chest and stomach.
He pants, struggling to breathe, each inhalation labored and heavy.
His face grimaces from the intensity of the pain, while the poison coursing through him continues to cause spasms and discomfort.
Milo stands cautiously, retreating slowly, then falls to his knees for a moment before rising again, keeping his balance as he steadily distances himself from Toxifar.
He pants heavily, his face grimacing with pain and tension, speaking quietly to himself:
"I need to think of a plan… how can I deal with this deadly ability?"
Toxifar waved his scythe, spinning it casually in his hand, as if playing with it and savoring the moment.
As Milo stepped back, he suddenly felt someone grab him from behind, restraining him tightly.
Milo froze for an instant, then turned his head to look back.
A man with thick blond hair stood behind him, wearing a twisted smile filled with hatred and malice, laughing softly.
He spoke with venom in his voice:
"It's time for me to take my revenge."
Then he shouted toward Toxifar, eyes burning with spite:
"Go on, Toxifar… finish him!"
The one holding Milo was a troublemaker he had encountered before.
He had tried to harm Milo in the past, only to be defeated.
Now, driven by bitterness and revenge, he had returned.
Milo found it hard to move properly due to the poison.
His body felt stiff, his muscles refusing to respond the way they should.
He spoke in his mind, filled with frustration and tension:
"Damn it… not now. How did this guy show up out of nowhere?"
The blond-haired man laughed behind him and spoke mockingly:
"The troublemakers are practically defeated. The police caught most of them, so I pulled out."
He leaned in slightly, smirking as he added:
"And what a coincidence… to find you here, Milo."
Toxifar stood smiling, his eyes scanning every direction Milo might strike from.
It was as if he were enjoying every second, watching his movements, analyzing his steps.
Then suddenly… with a swift, sudden motion, he threw his scythe without warning.
The air whistled around it as the deadly weapon shot toward Milo with lethal speed.
The scythe's blade spun with incredible speed, and in that precise rotation, it missed Milo entirely, plunging instead into the blond man's back.
Milo seized the opportunity to free himself, stepping back to put some distance between them.
The blond man, wounded deeply, screamed in sharp, pained bursts, his face twisted with rage and shock.
Milo stood frozen, eyes wide as he watched the scene unfold.
How? How could Toxifar hit his friend instead of him?
For a moment, everything seemed to stop, his heart racing, Toxifar's last words echoing in his mind.
Toxifar, grinning without shame, looked at the blond man and said mockingly:
"Oops… didn't mean to, buddy."
A light laugh slipped from his teeth, as if it were just a joke, while the blond man groaned in pain, his face twisted with anger and shock.
The blond man, groaning in pain, shouted angrily at Toxifar:
"You can't miss a strike like that! You did it on purpose!"
Toxifar stepped forward, laughing mockingly:
"You know I hate anyone interfering in my fights."
The blond man trembled at his presence and said:
"Why are you doing this, Toxifar? Aren't we on the same side?"
Toxifar pulled his scythe from the blond man's back, raising it for another attack:
"Same side? You troublemakers are just pawns. Don't think you hold any importance to me."
Milo rushed forward to protect him, but Toxifar struck Milo in the stomach with a powerful kick, green energy radiating from him:
The Poison Dragon Kick!
Milo was flung against the wall, feeling the venom spread through his stomach, slowing him down and making it hard to move freely.
Milo placed his hand on his stomach, trying to resist the poison, shouting:
"No… don't do it, Toxifar!"
But Toxifar, without hesitation, stabbed the blond man again. The man tried to defend himself with the little energy he had left, which surprised Toxifar:
"Oh… even you learned to defend yourself…"
The blond man screamed:
"No… don't kill me! Don't do it!"
Toxifar appeared behind him, his shadow transforming into a massive green dragon spewing poison. With a swift and powerful strike, Toxifar hit the man, splitting his body in half mercilessly.
Milo stood frozen, his eyes wide, unable to fully comprehend what was happening before him. His heart raced, and his hand still clutched the poison in his stomach.
As he watched in horror, something even more terrifying occurred… Toxifar's scythe began sucking in the blond man's body, as if devouring him whole. The air around them trembled with the sheer force of the sight, and Toxifar's loud, menacing laughter filled the space, intensifying Milo's fear.
Toxifar looked at Milo and rested the scythe on his shoulder.
"My scythe… the Poison Scythe a legendary weapon that embodies the Legendary Poison Dragon itself. Its favorite prey is humans, and the more I feed it… the deadlier it becomes."
Milo calmed himself and spoke slowly, his expression showing deep sadness mixed with anger.
"So… there's no hope of saving you anymore. You've become a monster, Toxifar."
Toxifar replied mockingly:
"Oh, come on, buddy. Don't you think you're exaggerating?"
Milo lowered his head.
A dark, ominous red aura began to emanate from him.
Toxifar looked at him and spoke, his tone sharp with recognition:
"Just like last time… this! There's no doubt—this is your special ability!"
Milo slowly raised his head. His left eye turned into a red circle, and the left side of his face was shrouded in darkness, while the other half burned with rage.
He placed his right hand on his stomach, still suffering from the poison's pain, while his left arm hung loose, his back slightly hunched as he prepared to move.
Excitement ignited within Toxifar, a feral grin spreading across his face.
"Finally… this fight is going to be fun!"
Milo looked at him coldly, not a trace of enjoyment on his expression.
"I'll end this fight as quickly as possible."
At the same time…
On the rooftop of a nearby building stood Raiza, Tavian's guardian and his loyal follower. Her long black hair flowed behind her, marked by a single distinctive red streak, her features serious and cold. She silently observed the battle while a recorder-like device rested in her eye.
She spoke through it calmly:
"I think this is it, Master Tavian… this is Milo's ability."
Inside his palace, Tavian watched everything through that recorder. His red hair styled in a new wolf cut, he observed the scene intently, one hand resting on his jaw as he analyzed what was unfolding.
Toxifar extended his left hand forward in challenge toward Milo.
"Come on… show me what you've got."
Milo lowered his stance, bending his back and arms as he focused his energy.
In a split second—when Toxifar closed his eye and then opened it—Milo was suddenly in front of him, suspended in midair, his right fist raised and ready to strike.
Toxifar's eyes widened in shock.
In the very next instant, moving at blinding speed, Milo landed a powerful punch that sent Toxifar crashing into the wall.
Even Raiza was stunned.
"So fast…!"
Inside his palace, Tavian watched the scene through the recorder and smiled.
"Not bad…"
Toxifar rose from the ground quickly, blood streaming from his nose.
He burst into loud, manic laughter.
"What insane speed! Is your ability increasing your speed?!"
He paused for a moment, thinking to himself.
Wait… his offensive power has become far more dangerous too.
As he got back on his feet
in the very next instant, Milo was already in front of him.
Milo drove his knee powerfully into Toxifar's stomach.
The blow was so brutal that Toxifar coughed up blood and screamed for a moment:
"Aghh!"
Milo delivered a strong punch with his right hand, then swung it in the opposite direction to strike Toxifar again, forcing him to stagger backward.
Toxifar tried to advance, but Milo fired a red beam from his left hand, hitting him with full force and sending him crashing to the ground.
Milo placed a knee on the ground, speaking to himself quietly:
"I need to act fast… before my energy runs out and I become powerless."
Milo stood firmly, bracing himself, ready to strike as soon as Toxifar got up.
Toxifar rose, brushing the dust off his body and smoothing his green hair, then looked at Milo with gleaming eyes.
"Tell me… what else does your ability enhance? I'm curious to find out."
Milo lunged at him again at high speed, raising his left hand to strike.
But Toxifar blocked Milo's attack with his hand, surprising Milo.
Toxifar lifted his head, smiling, and said mockingly:
"What… do you think you're the only one hiding your true power?"
The Poison Scythe appeared in Toxifar's hand once again.
Without hesitation, Toxifar attacked Milo at incredible speed. Milo tried to jump backward to evade the strike, but the attack hit him directly.
The poison from Toxifar's weapon spread through Milo's chest and stomach, yet Milo stood firm on the ground.
He advanced quickly and delivered a powerful kick to Toxifar.
The blow landed, forcing Toxifar to stagger backward, astonished.
"I can't believe it… your defense increases too?"
Toxifar grabbed his scythe with both hands, spinning rapidly as he raised it high and chanted:
"Toxic Dragon Strike!"
A brilliant green beam erupted from the blade, transforming into the terrifying shape of a dragon's jaw, surging toward Milo.
Milo stood firm, crossing his arms, ready to block the attack.
The strike hit him, causing a massive explosion, scattering poison everywhere, covering the surrounding buildings.
The red aura appeared behind the explosion, yet Milo remained standing.
"You'll need more than a dragon's jaw to defeat me."
Milo was indeed hurt by the attack, but he was still standing firm.
Toxifar advanced toward Milo, attacking with his scythe.
But Milo didn't hesitate either, moving forward to meet him. Milo's hand collided with Toxifar's scythe with equal force, sparks flying from the point of impact.
A terrifying green dragon aura appeared around Toxifar, while Milo's red aura expanded even further, radiating power and determination.
Milo screamed with all his might, breaking through Toxifar's defenses.
He punched Toxifar directly, but Toxifar blocked it with his hand, staggering backward.
Milo moved swiftly, continuing his assault, unleashing a flurry of strikes, targeting every exposed spot on Toxifar's body.
Yet, Milo noticed something strange.
Toxifar wasn't affected as much as he expected.
A grin spread across Toxifar's face.
"What? Why the surprised look?
You're not the only one who can enhance your defense. My scythe embodies the Poison Dragon, as I said and this dragon grants me its defense through energy!"
Toxifar launched a new type of attack.
He spun in a full circle, then released a strike with his scythe through the wind, pushing Milo backward.
Milo inhaled the gust and immediately coughed up blood.
"What…? He can even release poisonous gases?"
Milo retreated as far as he could, trying to protect himself.
Toxifar looked thrilled with the outcome.
"Just as I planned!"
Toxifar raised his scythe high, and the terrifying head of a dragon appeared on the blade, radiating ferocity and power.
Toxifar shouted loudly:
"Toxic Dragon Killer Beam!"
The dragon appearing through Toxifar's scythe opened its mouth and fired a massive beam toward Milo.
Milo raised his hand to shield himself and stood firm.
The beam struck him directly, creating a huge green explosion that sent a deafening roar echoing through all the alleys of the abandoned district.
Toxifar continued walking slowly toward the explosion site, then his scythe vanished.
He smiled wickedly:
"Oh… this is just perfect."
Milo stood, his shirt melted from the poison's effect, gasping for air. His red aura was on the verge of fading. He fell to one knee, placing his right hand on the ground.
He muttered to himself, filled with frustration:
"Damn… my energy is about to run out, and that cursed poison is weakening me… am I going to lose again?"
Toxifar reached Milo.
"Come on… what happened to you all of a sudden? Has my poison tired you? Or is this a side effect of your ability?"
Milo looked at him, still gasping, struggling to catch his breath.
Toxifar lifted his leg high, green energy radiating around it, and struck Milo's head with immense force, smashing him to the ground.
Milo spoke to Toxifar:
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
A look of disappointment appeared on Toxifar's face:
"Damn you… stop hiding it from me! I know you're special!"
Milo laughed:
"Special? You must be confusing me with someone else. I'm just a weak person who always loses. I couldn't even defeat you or stop the madness you're unleashing."
Toxifar let go of Milo, who fell to his knees.
The Poison Scythe reappeared in Toxifar's hand.
"Seems like I'll have to try cutting off your head to trigger some miracle… to awaken the beast within you."
Toxifar's energy spread as he raised his scythe to attack Milo, but at the last moment, Milo stood up, and his red aura erupted.
"Thanks for giving me some time!"
Toxifar was shocked and took a step back.
Milo punched him hard in the stomach, sending him flying away.
Toxifar, who had been lax in his defense, felt excruciating pain from the strike.
Milo gathered an energy sphere with both hands:
"This attack… I've trained for it a lot. It's enough to defeat you!"
Toxifar stood, placing his scythe on his back, and advanced toward Milo:
"Show me everything you've got!"
Red energy gathered in Milo's right hand.
He stood firm, pulled his right hand back, then thrust it forward, releasing a long red beam that struck Toxifar's heart directly.
Toxifar coughed up blood:
"W-what… what is this attack?"
He fell to his knees.
Milo smiled:
"All that's left is for me to finish this."
Milo raised his left hand, ready to deliver the final punch, but suddenly he collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest.
His red aura vanished, and breathing became difficult, forcing him to struggle and gasp for air.
Milo fell onto his chest:
"I've exhausted all my energy…"
Toxifar, surprised by what happened, stood up and slowly advanced toward Milo:
"Man… I really thought you were going to win."
He placed his hand on his chest, then coughed up blood again:
"That attack was truly impressive, but it's not enough to defeat me as you thought."
Toxifar lowered his head close to Milo, observing how he struggled to breathe.
He laughed:
"What… having trouble breathing? I can control the poison inside you… I can focus it on your lungs to stop your breathing like this!"
Toxifar moved his hands, manipulating the poison inside Milo.
Milo began to yawn violently, trying to breathe, feeling sharp pain.
Suddenly, the pain eased.
Toxifar sat down beside him, smiling wickedly.
Toxifar ran his hand through Milo's hair:
"You're truly a strong opponent… your ability impressed me greatly. Does it only increase your speed, defensive, and offensive power? Or does it add other things as well?
By all that's right… even my poison didn't affect you while you were using your ability…"
Milo was on the verge of losing consciousness, barely looking at Toxifar.
Toxifar continued speaking:
"I suppose the rest of the fights are coming to an end… but even if we troublemakers lose, our plan will have already succeeded."
Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly.
Toxifar smiled:
"Oh… I think they've started doing it…"
He lifted Milo onto his back:
"I'll take you with me, Milo… Number One will surely be impressed by your ability."
The abandoned street remained shrouded in dust and smoke, the lingering scent of previous battles thick in the air. Milo, utterly drained and on the verge of losing consciousness, was carried on Toxifar's back, who moved confidently as the ground trembled slightly beneath them. Toxifar's eyes glowed with excitement, his smile a mix of respect for his opponent and the cruel delight of a warrior...