The training field rumbled with the force of the battle between Alex and Kazuki.
Kazuki stood at the center, purple flames flickering around him as he snapped his fingers. In an instant, dozens of lightning arrows materialized in the air, each one crackling with lethal energy.
"Let's see how you handle this!"
The arrows fired in unison, raining down like a storm of thunderbolts.
Alex darted across the field, weaving between the explosions. Each arrow detonated on impact, tearing through trees, shattering the ground, and filling the air with explosions of purple lightning. He pushed his body with incredible levels of speeds, flash-stepping just in time to avoid being engulfed.
In a blur of movement, Alex appeared behind Kazuki, his right arm glowing with the Energy Fist: Plus 20. He thrust forward with a devastating punch—
—but Kazuki's eyes flicked back at the last moment. His hand tightened, and a lightning sword ignited into existence.
CLANG!
The arrow smacked Alex mid-strike, sending him flying several yards across the field. Dirt erupted in his wake, the ground splitting beneath the force of the blow.
When the smoke cleared, Alex stood tall, brushing dust from his shoulder. His lips curled into a grin.
"You'll have to do better than that to beat me."
Kazuki smirked back. "I know. That's why I'm about to do this."
In a flash, Kazuki vanished and reappeared behind Alex, his palm blazing with purple fire. He swung down, but Alex twisted just enough to evade—only to catch a sharp kick to the ribs that launched him back.
The two clashed again, fists meeting fists, kicks colliding midair. Blow after blow, their movements blurred together, each strike blocked or parried by the other. Their combat skills were on full display—raw, sharpened, and relentless.
Kazuki suddenly drove a purple flame-coated fist into Alex's chest, forcing him back to create distance. He raised both arms, unleashing a rapid volley of fireballs made from his purple flames. They exploded against the ground, searing craters into the field as Alex dashed and spun between them, his breathing steady despite the storm.
From the sidelines, the squad watched.
"…Is it just me," Baraka muttered, "or has Alex barely used any flashy techniques this whole time? He's just dodging and relying on combat skill. Every time he closes in, the only thing he bothers with is Energy Fist."
Kinto folded his arms, analyzing closely. "He's training. Alex wants to polish his close combat. He's not bad at it, but he knows he can be better. Don't forget—he's an assassin. A trained soldier. Mastery of combat is supposed to be his foundation. Although, Baraka's right. Alex has only depended on a few moves.".
Baraka muttered "Makes sense."
The fight surged on.
Kazuki condensed his lightning into a massive arrow, the power so dense it warped the air around it. With a fierce roar, he fired it directly at Alex.
Alex raised his fists, then… his energy flickered out. The glow around his arms vanished.
Everyone's eyes widened.
"What the hell is he doing?!" Serena gasped.
Alex met the arrow head-on—with his bare hand.
The impact lit the sky in a blinding flash, thunder exploding across the training field. The lightning arrow shattered under his punch, scattering into harmless sparks that rained to the ground.
"…He punched the lightning with his bare hands, again?!", Serena whispered, stunned. "Without using any energy at all."
Raquel's eyes widened, her thoughts racing. "That's insane! He actually switched off his Energy Fists?! If he miscalculated even a little, he could've lost his arm completely… and it was his right arm too! His strongest one. If he lost that arm… how would he ever… finger me…? Her face flushed as her mind spiraled. That's his good arm!"
Sukuna glanced at her sidelong, suspicion on her face. "…She's thinking something perverted again, isn't she?"
Meanwhile, Kazuki kept his distance, hurling lightning arrows in rapid fire. A smirk tugged at his lips as he thought to himself:
I get it now, Alex. You're charging up. You're building up energy inside, saving it for a massive strike at the perfect moment. That's why you switched your fists off and are relying purely on combat and dodging. If you wanted, you could've spammed your Blade of Death or Flash Fists endlessly. But you even punched my lightning arrow with your bare hand. That's not training any more, that's just next level madness."
But in the next instant, Alex was already behind him.
Kazuki barely raised his guard in time, blocking a crushing punch. The force sent him skidding back across the ground. His arms shook, but his grin widened.
"You're insane, buddy," he laughed, excitement flashing in his eyes. "Honestly… you surprise me every damn time. It's shocking and impressive all at once."
Alex smirked. "Yeah, yeah. But when this fight's over, you'll admit I'm better than you."
"Not a chance," Kazuki fired back. "You'll be the one admitting I'm stronger."
The two launched forward again, colliding in a furious exchange of blows. Every strike canceled the other out, fists and kicks moving in perfect synchronicity at lightning speeds. Neither yielded an inch.
Finally, they both leapt back, breathing heavy but eyes blazing with determination.
Alex gathered energy into his palm, condensing it into a massive Blade of Death. Across from him, Kazuki summoned purple flames denser than ever, his entire body glowing with heat.
Serena's face paled. "Wait! If you two clash like that amount of energy, you'll seriously injure yourselves—!"
But neither listened.
They charged towards each other with smirks on their faces, their ultimate attacks positioned to collide—
When suddenly, a shadow appeared between them.
"Alright, enough."
With a single finger, Tobi caught both of their attacks mid-swing. A ripple of power burst outward, unleashing a shockwave that blasted Alex and Kazuki backwards. Their combined energy detonated in a towering explosion, smoke and scorched ground all over the field.
When the dust settled, Alex and Kazuki lay sprawled on the ground, battered and panting.
Tobi stood over them, laughing. "You two are idiots. If you'd actually landed those attacks, you'd both be in the hospital right now."
Both Alex and Kazuki sat up, glaring. "Are you kidding me?! You ruined everything! Now we'll never know who's stronger!" they shouted in unison.
Tobi replied "Do you guys have your balls in your heads or something? You almost killed each other."
Kinto turned to the others with a sigh. "Anyone hungry?"
The squad collectively nodded, already moving off toward the city.
Tobi exhaled heavily. "Do whatever you want, morons." In the next instant, he vanished, leaving behind only a gust of displaced wind.
Alex and Kazuki stared at each other, then burst into laughter, collapsing back onto the ground.
"Heh… you've really gotten stronger, Kazuki," Alex admitted.
Kazuki smirked, wiping blood from his lip. "Same to you, Alex. You keep surprising me."
The friendship burned hotter than ever.
To be continued…