In an instant, the arena was filled with wild cheers. The roar of the crowd grew louder, as if the space itself was trembling with the excitement of the spectators.
Azazel didn't slow down for a moment.
The stone beneath his feet cracked as he shot forward at a speed that was nothing but a blur to the naked eye. The scythe cut through the air in a wide arc.
Noah managed to raise his hand.
An explosion of fire burst from his hand, colliding with the black blade. The flames scattered like a wave crashing against a rock, but the force of the blow threw him several meters backward.
— Tch...! — he growled, landing heavily.
— Too slow. — Azazel said.
He was already at Kael's side.
The scythe fell vertically.
Kael blocked with his sword, but the blow nearly pinned him to the ground. His knees buckled, his teeth clenched.
— He's incredibly strong...
Azazel pressed on, smiling coldly.
— And this is supposed to be the final team?
Noah appeared from the side, fire swirling around his arm.
— DON'T IGNORE ME!
He struck.
Azazel leaned back slightly. The burning fist missed his face by inches. Azazel swung his scythe and struck Noah in the stomach with the shaft of the weapon.
The air escaped from his lungs.
— Gh...!
— Noah! — Kael shouted.
Azazel swung again, aiming to finish off his opponent, but Kael lunged forward. His sword cut through the air in a desperate counterattack.
Sparks flew.
The scythe and blade collided with a loud clang.
— Not bad.. — Azazel muttered. — But desperation is not a strategy.
He pushed Kael away with a single movement.
Noah struggled to his feet. Sparks began to appear around him. Small, trembling points of light that did not resemble ordinary fire.
Azazel narrowed his eyes.
— What is this...?
Noah was breathing heavily, but his gaze was different than before. Harder. Deeper.
— You think... my fire is just a weapon...?
The sparks began to circle around him.
— These aren't flames.
Kael looked at him from the side, surprised.
— Noah...?
— It's a memory.
The air around the arena trembled.
— These sparks... — Noah said quietly — are the souls of those who never returned.
Azazel snorted.
— Fairy tales don't move me.
And he moved again.
This time Noah didn't back down.
He reached out his hand.
Sparks exploded.
It wasn't just an explosion. Light tore through space, and a wave of energy hit Azazel with a force that stopped him mid-step. The stone beneath him shattered like glass.
— WHAT THE...?!
Noah appeared in front of him.
The fire in his eyes was not chaotic. It was calm. Heavy.
— I'm not fighting alone.
He struck.
A wave of flame engulfed Azazel, throwing him halfway across the arena. Azazel rolled across the stones, leaving a black trail behind him.
The audience fell silent.
The commentator almost lost his voice.
— U-U-UN-BELIEVABLE! NOAH... LITERALLY BLEW AZAZEL AWAY!
Kael watched in silence.
Azazel slowly got up from the ground. A thin trickle of blood flowed from his mouth.
And then...
He laughed.
— Hahahaha...!
He raised his scythe.
— Finally... something interesting.
His aura exploded.
Black energy enveloped the arena like a storm, and the air became heavy.
Noah and Kael instinctively tensed their muscles.
— Now it's my turn. — said Azazel.
Azazel disappeared in an instant. The air trembled as if space had lost its stability for a moment, and then his silhouette began to appear and disappear around them. The flash step was so fast that it left only blurred streaks of movement.
Kael and Noah stood back to back without a word. Their breaths were short and focused. Their eyes nervously scanned the space, trying to catch the slightest sign of an impending attack. Every shadow, every sound could be a sign of an impending blow.
— Where do you think... will he attack from? — Noah whispered.
— From anywhere... — Kael replied and clenched his hand on his sword.
In that same second, something cut through the air. There was a flash. Too late to react.