As Ken lay on the ground, bruised and broken, a wave of doubt crept over him.
"Maybe... I can't defeat Lexus," he thought. "No matter how many times I try, he always stands tall in the end."
But just a moment later, something sparked within him.
"If I don't defeat him... I'll never be able to claim the sword or save my father. I have to do this—for him, and for the friends who believe in me."
With sheer force of will, Ken pushed himself up. Bloodied but unyielding, he decided he had to go beyond his current limits. He needed time—and a distraction. With a sudden gust of Dusty Wind, he vanished from Lexus's sight.
Then, he turned to the Ring of Elements.
"If I want to create multiple elemental beings using my own energy... from multiple bodies... can I do it?"
The ring replied, "Yes, but it will drain you entirely. You may not survive unless you win."
Ken clenched his fist.
"Then I'll keep running. I'll buy time until the elemental clones are ready. Lexus won't stop chasing me, but I won't let him catch me—not yet."
Using a combination of fire and water, Ken generated scalding steam and vanished into it. Meanwhile, the ring began crafting multiple elemental clones of Ken—each carrying a fraction of his power, but with different elemental affinities. It was the power of Multiplication.
Suddenly, Ken launched his first surprise attack. The clones charged in unison.
But Lexus dodged effortlessly and unleashed his signature move—Rift Slash, a technique so powerful it could slice through space-time and send its victim into a different dimension.
Ken barely escaped. If that had hit me... I might've been torn apart…
Thinking fast, Ken multiplied again—this time surrounding Lexus. The clones launched a synchronized elemental strike, but Lexus raised his sword and reflected every single attack.
Then, Lexus summoned the Thousand Lightning Strike—a technique that combined the energy of a thousand bolts of lightning into one devastating surge.
Ken was struck. The pain was overwhelming. But he endured, crafting an Earth Shield at the last second to absorb most of the impact.
Gasping for air, Ken had another idea.
"I'll use myself as bait."
While one Ken continued fighting, the others prepared a final elemental ambush.
The battle intensified. Lexus pushed forward, unaware he was being lured into a trap. Suddenly, he found himself in the center—surrounded by all of Ken's clones.
Realizing too late, he tried to escape—but Ken grabbed him tightly.
"Now!" he roared.
Every clone released its full elemental power in a single, earth-shattering strike.
Smoke and silence followed.
But Lexus wasn't finished yet. With a roar, he activated his ultimate move—Vanishing Slash. With a single swing, he erased all of Ken's clones.
Then, once again, it was Lexus beating Ken mercilessly.
But he didn't realize—Ken had been secretly planting teleportation points throughout the battlefield. His energy was nearly gone, but his willpower kept him going.
As Lexus prepared a deadly finishing blow, Ken blocked it—this time with everything he had.
He countered and began teleporting rapidly, striking Lexus again and again. The speed and power of his attacks grew exponentially.
"I'm doing this for my father... for my friends... for the world I love!" Ken shouted. "And I will protect it, no matter the cost!"
Lexus stood once more, barely hanging on, but something in Ken's words shook him.
In that moment of distraction, Ken unleashed his ultimate move—the Elemental Fist—with all the power of his will behind it.
BOOM.
The punch connected. Lexus flew across the battlefield and crashed into the ground.
Silence.
Lexus smiled as he lay there, blood trickling from his lips.
"You've proven yourself worthy," he said. "You may now claim the legendary Sword of the Universe—created alongside the Ring of Elements."
Ken stood tall, battered and scarred—but victorious. He now possessed not only the Sword and the Ring—but something far greater.
The unimaginable power of Will.