Sorata's body overflowed with a terrifying amount of destructive energy so intense that the city around him burned just from his presence. The sheer pressure spread across the city, swallowing buildings in its wake.
With a crazed grin, Sorata lunged forward—his fist colliding with Son's chest. The impact detonated into a massive explosion of purple energy, the blast alone incinerated city blocks into nothing.
The punch from Sorata sent Sōn flying, Sōn was able to get his balance back and launched himself at his crazed elder brother. The heat from his flaming armour alone set everything on fire just by him flying. He gathered a powerful amount of flames into his hand and slammed his fist into Sorata, a fiery explosion blooming outward like a miniature sun. They started to fly around at lightning speedd as they were going blow for blow relentlessly and causing devastating explosions of energy. Both brothers proceeded to punch each other at the same time, sending them flying backwards and causing huge explosions from their crash.
Breathing hard, Sōn called out as he slowly stood up:
"Hey, bro… let's not fight here!"
He pulled out a circular device, holding it up.
"This will teleport us outside the city. That way, innocent people won't get caught in our fight. But you're a reasonable person, so I'll just ask you—"
Before he could finish, Sorata blitzed forward, grabbing Son by the face, eyes wild with excitement.
"Sure thing, kid! Let's take our battle somewhere else!"
Sorata shot into the sky while grabbing Sōn by the face, his energy burning so intensely that entire rows of buildings were incinerated below. He hurled Sōn into a distant mountain with overwhelming force "AAAAAHH!", Sorata screamed with excitement —the explosion incinerated nearby mountains along with the one Sorata threw Sōn accross. But Sōn retaliated as he was sent flying midair, he unleashed a burst of flames at Sorata that sent him flying backwards, also incinerating mountains as well.
The two brothers clashed across the sky, moving at impossible speeds. Their blows collided like an unstable lightning storm, each blow was causing powerful mountain level explosions in the air. They were going blow for blow with incredible levels of combat. Sōn was throwing punches of powerfull flames, but Sorata was able to block, dodge and parry most of Sōn's blows.
Son's flaming armor expanded, he kept his distance and started to launch fireballs in rapid fire, each one exploding like a meteor strike. Sorata smirked, his spiked purple hair blowing wildly as he powered up an enormous sphere of destructive energy and hurled it at Sōn's attacks.
The two attacks collided in the sky, erupting in an explosion that erased entire mountain ranges
Still grinning like a madman, Sorata darted through the smoke, kicking Son down into the wasteland. The ground erupted with a terrifying explosion of flames. Sōn was in pain due to Sorata's insane kick. He stood up and thought to himself "Dammit! He's way to insane!".
Hovering above with his aura raging hotter than ever, Sorata laughed manically.
His little brother, barely standing, growled in disbelief.
"That energy…! Saito, don't you realize your body's burning up?! You'll die!"
Sorata threw his head back and cackled.
"Die? Nah—it's fine! I've fought at this level before. And if I do burn out, it won't be before I kill Kojin!"
Son grit his teeth.
"Tell me, Saito… why are you really doing this? I know you hate Dad—but that's not the only reason you became a criminal, is it?"
For a moment, Sorata's smile shifted—then widened into something even darker. His destructive energy spiked violently, purple energy resembling both flames and lightning devouring the sky.
"Oh, dear little brother. I'm glad you asked."
His voice turned sharp, almost gleeful.
"Ever since I left home at thirteen, I trained for one thing—defeating our father. But as I grew stronger and learned how to survive better, I realized something. The world itself is filth. This society is ruled by power. Those born with strength dominate. While the weaker one's get stepped on like ants and are eventually killed, or enslaved. Those who survive grow hatred and seek more power—and the cycle continues!"
His laugh echoed as the wasteland quaked around them.
"That's the category I fell into. I've had my own fair share of bullshit! To dad, i was nothing but powerless trash who couldn't wield his powers properly! But I kept climbing and fighting with every bit of hatred and anger i had in me —and now look at me! Do you see, Sōn?!"
With madness in his eyes, Sorata rocketed forward, his destructive energy flaring uncontrollably.
"I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW ROTTEN THIS WORLD IS TO THE POINT THAT IT DRIVES ME INSANE! ALL I CAN DO NOW IS JUST LAUGH!".
His punch sent Sōn flying across the wasteland, the impact tearing the ground apart in a chain of explosions.
Coughing, Son steadied himself.
"Your ideologies sound insane… but I can't say I don't understand."
He raised his arm, flames condensing in his hand until they roared hotter than the sun.
"Level One: 23 Billion Degrees—Flaming Overburst!"
A colossal inferno blasted forth, consuming mountains in its path.
Sorata's grin widened as he raised his hand, channeling raw destructive force into a focused beam.
"Hell's Beam!", he called out.
The two attacks collided in a cataclysmic detonation, vaporizing entire peaks. The explosion hurled Sōn into the earth, his armor flickering as the land crumbled beneath him.
Sorata descended with a flip, his eyes narrowing.
"You planned to knock me out with heat beyond the sun, didn't you? Clever… but not enough."
Sōn, panting, got up and prepared another wave of flames again.
"Good! Then I'll turn it up!"
He gathered flames into his fist, shaping it into a dragon roaring with impossible heat.
"30 Billion Degrees: Dragon Fist!"
A massive fire dragon surged forth.
Sorata roared in response, swinging his arm violently as ten enormous slashes of destructive energy ripped the ground apart with intense heat.
"Special Technique: Burning Inferno Slashes!", Sorata screamed out with rage and excitement.
The dragon collided with the slashes—an even greater explosion tearing the land asunder. Both fighters rushed at each other, they were punching and kicking each other accross mountains and the wasteland. They continued to trade intense blows and kicks at each other in violent manners. Sorata had more skills, strength and experience than Sōn, but Sōn kept up with everything his elder brother threw at him. Both fighters jumped to the ground, they skstaggered back, their bodies battered and bleeding.
Sorata coughed, his skin burned raw. His body screamed at him to stop. Yet his smile never faded.
"So? What about it? Let's end this, SŌN!"
Son's thoughts raced as he steadied himself.
"I won't let Saito get past me. This ends here—no matter what it takes."
Sorata roared, his aura erupting into a tornado of annihilation. A colossal fist of energy materialized, large enough to erase everything. He hurled it at Sōn with incredible power "RAAAAHH!", Sorata screamed out.
Sōn's flames burned hotter than ever before, his voice echoing through the wasteland.
"Ultimate Technique—90 Billion Degrees: God Flames!"
He created a flaming tornado that surged forward, colliding with Sorata's giant fist of destructive energy. The impact created a cataclysm beyond comprehension, mountains disintegrating, valleys vanishing in fire and chaos.
Sorata's scream was lost in the explosion as his body was swallowed whole by Sōn's flames "AAAAAAAHH!".
When the smoke cleared, Sōn staggered forward, bloodied, burns on his arms. He was extremely exhausted. His flaming armor dissipated, flames flickering out. Hot steam emmited out of his body, blood was slowly dulling out of his mouth, Sōn was almost unconscious. He took a deep breath and then smiled faintly, collapsing to one knee.
"I won. I actually won! I swear to God i almost thought I didn't stand a chance against Saito. Looks like all my training It paid off."
But then—
A deafening surge of power split the silence. Purple energy burst skyward, twisting into a tornado of destructive energy.
Son's eyes widened in horror as Sorata rose from the crater, his body scorched and broken, yet his aura was like a ballistic lightning storm that had gone mad.
With a devilish smirk, his voice cut through the air:
"90 billion degrees, huh? Impressive. You really tried to kill me, little brother…"
He raised his burning hand, energy spiraling wildly.
"Looks like I'm still standing."
End of Chapter 19.