A white stretch of void filled Xavier's eyes. Across the empty field of white stood Chrome, melting into the absolute silence. "Seems like our fight has come to an end," his voice echoed. "Although you prevented my dream from becoming reality, our fights have been extraordinary."
Xavier scoffed, tightening his fists. "Society will live on, no matter what. I won't let anything interfere." Chrome's head rose towards the sky, brightening his face with a slight smirk. His body split into multiple paper-like fragments blowing alongside the scattered wind. "I guess this is goodbye, Xavier Velasquez."
The glow in Xavier's gaze strengthened. "Rest well, Chrome Velasquez - you won't be forgotten."
Lower Uraview, Grand Province
"Another fire-type entity has broken out in Lower Uraview!" a fearful voice squealed. As the raging entity continued through the crowded streets, an unusual presence settled in the air. The residents hesitate for a moment, lifting their heads to the overcast skies. "That power…" a kid in his mother's arms whispered, "what could it be?" The mother moved her hand, stroking the child's golden-brown hair. "I'm not sure, but I know the hunters will protect us."
"Color Splash!" A raspy, feminine voice shouted from the distance. Vibrant colors splash across the street's stone tiles, splattering the entity's flaming, orange skin. With a bold smile, the blue-haired woman clenched her large paintbrush. Her amber-colored eyes scan the flaming entity from top to bottom. "Another fire type entity? Pyron's influence on daily entity breakouts is rather terrifying…" Ashira's gaze turned to the spectating crowd, filled with shouts of admiration and applause. "That's Nahata's #10 for ya!" "She's the best artist in the entire country!" "What do you mean!? She's the best in the entire world!" Alongside the crowd's dreadful fear, the entity's body faded, splitting into small fragments carried away by the wind's scattered gusts. "Settle down, there's a long way before I become a professional artist! For the growing power across Uraview, the professional hunters are working with the police to figure out its origin!"
Sighs of relief bloomed within the crowd. "Does it have any correlation to Fire Moon!?" a voice spoke.
"Now, now! We don't know it for sure, but we'll keep you all inform-"
A loud explosion rocked the street's center, pushing a large dust cloud outward. Within the large cloud roamed a tall figure, slowly approaching the startled Ashira. "That power… who the hell is it!?"
"I'm going to have to make this fast - if I get injured in Lila's temporary body, it'll affect my main body too…" Kaelan emerged from the dissolving cloud, shifting his fierce glare towards Ashira.
"Wait a minute," Ashira's voice raised. "You're the guy from the Royal Complex Incident this morning!"
"You can call me whatever." Kaelan responded. His shoes brushed against the street's dusty tiles, wearing a smile of excitement on his face. "However, I won't let you interrupt our mission!"
Volume 13, Chapter 66 - Courage of Gold
Gasps of utter shock erupted from the surrounding crowd. "Why is he in Uraview?" "That's the short one from the wanted posters!" "Don't let him get away, Ashira! Protect us all and take him down!" Ashira's eyes narrow, examining Kaelan's casual appearance. "Why is a criminal like you here in Nahata's capital?"
"Criminal?" he questioned. "Our goal is to rescue Princess Azul and stop Fire Moon's plans."
Ashira grabbed her wooden paintbrush, fearlessly aiming its colorful tip towards her opponent. "The Royal Complex Incident contradicts that very statement! Given your current reputation, I won't let you pass!" From the tip of Ashira's brush dripped a small puddle of brownish-yellow paint, puncturing the silence in short intervals. Kaelan's muscles tighten, emitting a sensation of growing energy. "I don't need to pass." Small droplets of paint rose from the small puddle, accumulating a colorful sphere on the tip of her brush. The brush swung downward, smearing her paint across the air. Kaelan scoffed, scanning Ashira's unusual movements. "That paintbrush… it can draw on air!?" Reforming its shape with a bubbling sensation, the paint sculpted into a roaring entity. "Dreambrush - Special Reanimation!" Her creation approached Kaelan with a loud roar, extending its fist towards his chest. "Fire, water, earth, and sand is just the beginning - introducing my special paint-type entities!" Kaelan's glowing fist rose, colliding with the entity's painted knuckles. Its fist succumbed to the force of Kaelan's punch, splattering onto the nearby buildings. "She's resurrecting the body of a defeated entity with paint?" The paint broke into multiple droplets similar to Levi's needles, constructing a barrage of sharp arrows. "Forte!" Ashira exclaims.
Kaelan moved in swift, continuous movements, dodging the racing blades while countering with another punch. "I've had enough of speeding projectiles for a day - this isn't going to cut it AT ALL!"
The building power in his fist exerted, splattering the remaining arrows in a swift motion.
Ashira smiled. "Your power is unique, I'll give you that. However, you won't be able to punch for much longer!" Her brush lifted upward, unleashing a colorful ripple through the street. Kaelan leaped over the vibrant wave, approaching Ashira with his glowing fist. "Here goes my Radiating Energy!"
His fist clashed against Ashira's brush, pushing a storm of blue lightning outward. To Kaelan's surprise, however, Ashira returned his bold smile. "Ripple of Paint - Return!" The sparkling wave raced back, darting out the ground into Kaelan's chest.
Fazed, Kaelan lets out a painful gag. "Her paint acts like a boomerang!?"
Pursuing Kaelan's rising body followed the shining paint, climbing into Uraview's calm afternoon skies. "My paint isn't bound to the ground only! No matter your speed and precision, it follows just like a python!"
The line of paint accelerated, striking Kaelan with a darting blow. His chest bulged upward, straining from the immediate counterattack. Towards the city he descended, his hair rising upward from the wind's continuous slaps. With a determined wheeze, the glowing energy within his fists reinforce. Ashira's paintbrush rose, aimed towards her plummeting opponent. "Dreambrush - Seal of Vibrance!"
"I haven't gone through all that training just to embarrass myself!" Kaelan's voice echoed. A golden shade as bright as the sun substituted the glowing energy flowing in his veins. "I've improved - and I'll show it!"
"Arrogant criminals," Ashira interrupts, "always desperate for public attention!"
"My power doesn't only revolve around energy - it's one thing to something MUCH BIGGER! If I plan to get stronger at all, I have to use it to its full potential!"
The blueish-green whirlwind of paint blocked Kaelan from Ashira's view. In a swift motion, he swatted through the growing liquid with his glowing palms. "This is my new form - the Courage of Gold!"
<<< Kaelan
Ever since I met Kevin, I've had an uncontrollable urge to grow stronger - with my entity technique completely forbidden by Raja, I had to figure out a new way to grow - a way I could help everyone!
That's the exact reason why I created the Courage of Gold.