Part 1: God-Like Collision
A silence too profound for words hung in the air, lasting only a fraction of a second. Then, without a single signal, Takuto and the Dark Phoenix User lunged at each other simultaneously.
Their movements were a blur of instantaneous flashes, far beyond the reach of the naked eye. Takuto transformed into a streak of blazing Red Stella Flow, while the Dark Phoenix User manifested as a massive wave of Crimson Dark Energy threatening to swallow the entire environment.
BOOM! CRASH!
Every time their fists collided, the very fabric of space trembled. Violent shockwaves pulverized surrounding boulders into dust and uprooted ancient trees. This was no longer a battle between mortals; it was a war of gods.
Though Takuto possessed an aura capable of shattering a moon, his ancestor wielded an immeasurable mass of power that could subjugate an entire planet. Faced with this overwhelming disparity, Takuto fought with everything he had, yet the crushing pressure was becoming undeniable.
From the sidelines, Kaori's team—still fending off Shadow Monsters—watched the spectacle in stunned silence.
Mei: (Gripping her spear, trembling with awe) "This... it's like watching gods clash. We can't even get close to that perimeter!"
Kaori: (Struggling to track the movements with her Violet Gauge Eye) "Too fast... their speed is literally light-speed. Even my eyes can't keep up anymore!"
Suddenly, Shina tore through the ocean waves and crashed onto the island. As she witnessed Takuto fighting amidst bolts of blue lightning, her eyes ignited with a manic, obsessive glow.
Shina: (Clutching her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps) "Ah... Takuto-kun... you are truly magnificent. That burning silhouette... it's driving me insane with desire!"
Entranced by the raw power, she stood frozen, mesmerized by the aura of the man she idolized.
High above in the heavens, concealed behind the clouds, Ryu sat cross-legged in mid-air, watching the carnage with clinical interest.
Ryu: "Intriguing... despite the clear gap in power, Takuto isn't backing down. Let's see just how long this kid can endure."
At the epicenter of the storm, Takuto and the Dark Phoenix User continued their light-speed exchange. The entire island was soon swallowed by blood-red mists and the chaotic residue of their Stella Flow.
Part 2: Echoes of the Primal Power
The battle at the island's heart reached its zenith. Takuto and his ancestor were no longer grounded; they moved as streaks of light across the battlefield.
Takuto cupped his hands, firing a relentless barrage of crimson energy spheres. They screamed through the air like guided missiles, but the Dark Phoenix User swatted them away with a casual flick of his wrist. In response, a Crimson Dark Power Orb formed in the ancestor's palm, which he hurled back at Takuto.
KABOOM!
Takuto blinked out of the way just in time. The mountain-sized rock formation behind him wasn't just destroyed—it was disintegrated at the atomic level.
Takuto: "I have to use my tactics... Stella Echo!"
With a roar, four identical clones of Takuto materialized around him. They charged in unison, unleashing a coordinated storm of Stella Flow Punches and kicks like a grandmaster controlling chess pieces.
The Dark Phoenix User's eyes remained icy. With a single, fluid rotation of his body, he unleashed a violent tide of Dark Stella Flow that erased all of Takuto's clones in a heartbeat.
Seizing a momentary opening, Takuto soared above and interlaced his fingers.
Takuto: "Take this! Fusion Core Strike!"
A massive beam of crimson laser light plummeted from the sky. The earth groaned under the impact as smoke billowed upward. But through the haze, a beam of dark crimson energy surged back upward, piercing through Takuto's attack.
Takuto: "What—?!"
Before he could react, the Dark Phoenix User appeared before him at the speed of light.
Dark Phoenix User: "Your powers originated from me, Takuto. Do not think you can defeat me with my own gifts."
He buried a Stella Flow Punch deep into Takuto's midsection. Even though the Crimson Aegis Armor absorbed the brunt of the blow, the sheer internal pressure forced Takuto to cough up a spray of blood.
Kaori: "Takuto! Fall back! He's reading every single one of your moves!"
Mei: "It's unbelievable... even with Takuto's power at this level, that man is barely breaking a sweat."
Kaito: "This is the definition of a tier-class difference."
On the ground, Shina was practically writhing, her excitement peaking as she watched Takuto's pained expression.
Shina: "Ah... the scent of Takuto-kun's blood... seeing him struggle like this is so... seductive."
Shina: "I want to save him... but I also want to preserve this image of his desperate struggle forever!"
Ryu sighed from his vantage point in the sky.
Ryu: "It's time. Takuto... if you don't have something deeper than this, your story ends on this island today."
In the center of the crater, Takuto stood up, gasping for air. His Step 4 energy was redlining at its absolute limit. He channeled every remaining drop of essence into his right leg.
Takuto: "This is my final gambit! Finisher: Stella Flow Kick!"
Takuto transformed into a colossal bolt of red lightning, descending with enough momentum to crack the world. The kick landed squarely against the Dark Phoenix User's chest.
BOOOOM!!!
The impact sent the Dark Phoenix User hurtling through miles of solid rock, vanishing into a towering cloud of debris and dust.
Takuto collapsed to one knee, chest heaving. His body trembled violently from the total exhaustion of his Step 4 reserves.
However... from within the settling dust, the Dark Phoenix User emerged slowly. His outfit was slightly torn, and a thin trail of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth—but that was it. He looked more annoyed than hurt as he calmly brushed the dust off his shoulder.
Dark Phoenix User: "Not bad... but it will take much more than that to bring me down, Takuto."
Meanwhile, Kage was so consumed by the clash between Takuto and the Dark Phoenix User that he failed to notice a shadow moving on the periphery.
Hana, utilizing her Wolf Awakening, completely suppressed her scent and aura. She drifted through the darkness like a ghost, slipping toward the altar where Aoi lay bound.
Hana: (In a low whisper) "Aoi-chan... I'm here. Just hold on a little longer."
With a swift flick of her razor-sharp claws, Hana shredded the magical binding cords. Aoi, her energy completely depleted, collapsed forward into Hana's arms. Without wasting a second, Hana vanished back into the shadows, carrying her friend far out of Kage's line of sight to safety.
Sensing a shift in the atmosphere, Kage whipped his head toward the altar, only to find it empty.
Kage: "What—?! Who?! Who dares interfere with my ritual?!"
Seeing Aoi safely rescued, Takuto let out a triumphant grin despite the searing pain in his body.
Takuto: "Your game is over, Kage. We've saved our friend!"
Part 3: The Blue Rebirth
Despite Aoi's escape, Kage remained unnervingly calm. He slowly closed the Demon Book in his hand and let out a chilling laugh.
Kage: "A pity... but my primary objective is already complete. Now that the Dark Phoenix has awakened, Aoi is no longer of use to me."
On the other side of the clearing, Takuto took the weakened Aoi into his arms. He channeled the warmth of his Red Stella Flow into her body, guiding the energy toward her darkened Stella Flow Core.
Upon contact, the obsidian core suddenly ignited into a brilliant, crystalline blue. A torrent of new power surged through her veins. Aoi's eyes fluttered open; her pain vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of strength. She looked up at Takuto, her eyes wide with emotion.
Aoi: (Voice soft yet warm) "Nii-san... thank you. You've always been the one to save me. Nii-san... do you know how much I truly love you?"
With those words, Aoi leaned in and softly kissed Takuto on the cheek. While Takuto stood there dazed, Aoi stood up and began to gather her energy.
Aoi: "From this moment on... I will no longer be the one who needs protection. Void Oculus: Step 4 — Armageddon Sight!"
In an instant, her long dark hair transformed into a shimmering deep blue. Her irises turned into glowing Pure Dark-Blue pearls, and an ancient Demon Rune manifested sharply on her forehead. A divine, sapphire-blue aura radiated from her, vibrating the air with a power that rivaled Takuto's own.
The onlookers were speechless.
Kaori: "So this... this is Aoi-chan's true power. Incredible!"
Ayano: (Narrowing her eyes with a pout) "Hmph... she actually kissed Takuto-kun on the cheek. Fine, I'll let it slide because we're in the middle of a battle... but that power of hers is truly terrifying."
Aoi condensed her dark-blue Stella Flow into her palms, her gaze fixed sharply on the Dark Phoenix User. She took her place beside Takuto, ready for the final stand. High above, Ryu nodded in approval.
Ryu: "Heh... the true stage of the Void Oculus. This girl is even more talented than I anticipated."
Kage's brow furrowed, a flicker of intimidation crossing his face before he regained his composure.
Kage: "Don't think a simple power-up is enough to defeat me!"
Nearby, Ayano, Kaori, Kaito, and Mei dragged themselves to their feet, forcing their bodies to move. Ayano gathered her purple Stella Flow and shouted toward Takuto.
Ayano: "Takuto! Aoi kissed you, and Shina is obsessed with you! I'm the only one who hasn't done anything yet! After this fight, it's my turn... you better let me kiss you too!"
Kaori: "Hey! We are in the middle of a war! Is this really the time for that?!"
WHACK!
Kaori delivered a swift chop to the top of Ayano's head. Ayano rubbed her scalp, grumbling, but the ridiculous exchange actually broke the tension. Small smiles appeared on the faces of the team.
Takuto and Aoi shared a determined nod. As they stood shoulder to shoulder, his blazing Red Stella Flow and her shimmering Dark-Blue Stella Flow began to resonate, merging into a blinding light that blanketed the island.
The pressure from their combined Resonance caused the very foundations of the island to shudder. For the first time, the Dark Phoenix User allowed a satisfied smile to touch his lips.
Dark Phoenix User: "Fascinating... after all these centuries, someone has finally appeared who might actually entertain me."
He unleashed his Crimson Dark Energy to its absolute peak. Red, blue, and black energy waves collided and ground against each other, spiraling into a cosmic storm.
The true battle was only just beginning.
[END OF CHAPTER 37]