The intensity of the battle was heating up.
Drake's expression revealed a level of focus far surpassing his earlier demeanor, and Klaus shared the same look of determination, knowing that the fight was only about to get tougher. In an instant, the two fighters charged at one another, their speed exceeding even their previous limits.
Klaus and Drake exchanged heavy blows, their ferocity unmistakable. Jhin, still watching from the observation room alongside Nekro, was completely awestruck as he took in the spectacle.
Drake swung his fists while wielding a hotter variant of natural flames, which blazed with a bright yellow glow. Every punch he threw left a scorching trail in the air, the heat radiating like a miniature sun. Klaus, for his part, glowed more brilliantly than ever, his strength increasing by the second as his rage fueled his blows.
As Klaus launched his attacks, all he could think about was victory. Although he landed fewer punches than his adversary, he somehow managed to keep up in the brawl.
Neither fighter adopted a defensive stance, so Klaus stepped back, extended his left hand, and within seconds, formed a Solar Ball before diving back into the fight. Recognizing this strategy, Drake mimicked the move by stretching out his right hand as well.
"Oh no, you don't," Drake muttered swiftly.
Suddenly, a scorching sphere of fire materialized in the palm of Drake's right hand as he moved closer to Klaus. Its bright yellow, burning appearance and size were nearly identical to Klaus's Solar Ball.
Both fighters charged. The instant their attacks collided, an explosive force erupted between them, sending a burning shockwave that flung them apart, arm first. They paused for a moment before launching back into combat without wasting any time or giving their opponent a chance to recover.
"Just when you think the fight couldn't get any more impressive," Jhin marveled from the sidelines, "they both suddenly elevate their power even further. I know I've said it before, but these demigods are genuinely remarkable."
"I agree," Nekro concurred. "Even I hadn't anticipated the battle reaching such heights. I'm pleased to see how far they've both come over the past few months."
After his words, Nekro's expression slowly dimmed as he fixed his gaze on Klaus, who was still fiercely engaged in the fight. For a moment, his eyes revealed a distant thought before he spoke.
"I may have to leave soon. Something may require my attention."
Jhin glanced at Nekro in silence, sensing that the god was troubled, but before he could ask, an explosion in the training room caught his attention. Turning back, Jhin saw Klaus emerge from a cloud of smoke, having barely evaded another explosive strike from Drake.
Klaus pressed forward, launching additional swings at his opponent, his eyes burning with focus. Unlike Drake, Klaus knew his hand-to-hand techniques were not perfect, and he realized that relying solely on matching his opponent's brute force would eventually lead to his defeat.
For that reason, Klaus began interweaving defensive moves between his attacks, switching his stance as needed. He kept his defensive abilities off unless absolutely necessary, planning to last as long as possible in the fight.
With the few advantages he had, Klaus felt he was in a relatively decent spot. Drake's ferocity was unmatched, but his fire had no effect on Klaus, and Drake's precise strikes were slightly off their optimal accuracy due to the intense glow radiating from Klaus's body, making the fight less favorable for Drake. And yet, Drake still dominated.
Both fighters swung their left fists at one another, landing deadly blows on each other's faces. They remained impassive, keeping their arms pressed against one another's cheeks. But as Drake locked eyes with Klaus, he noticed Klaus's eyes glowing brighter than ever.
Already aware of Klaus's Solar Flash ability from his fight with Ash, Drake prepared for the attack by closing his eyes and shifting his stance to avoid it. And that was exactly what Klaus had planned.
Anticipating his opponent's awareness, Klaus concentrated photons in his eyes as a distraction while using his right hand to form a Solar Ball. Seizing the opening, Klaus hurled the Solar Ball directly at Drake, landing the attack swiftly.
As the light dissipated, it became clear that Drake had crossed his forearms at the last moment to absorb most of the impact. Despite this, the sheer power still forced him back a few steps.
Drake's fury began to boil over as he grew frustrated, not because he was losing, but because the fight was slipping out of his control and drawing closer than he had anticipated.
Drake kept his forearms crossed as he paused briefly. Then, he raised them slightly over his head before forcefully slamming them back to his sides, his fists clenched. In that instant, the bright yellow flames covering his fists instantly turned pure white, their intensity and ferocity increasing dramatically.
Klaus was momentarily caught off guard by the true white flames. He had never seen such flames before, and although he knew he couldn't be burned by them, their overwhelming presence made him more cautious.
Drake immediately returned to the fight, swinging his burning fists at Klaus. Klaus shifted fluidly between offense and defense, having grown somewhat accustomed to his opponent's style, but he never stayed on the defensive for long. Yet every time Klaus attempted to create space, Drake used his combustion to force him back into the fray.
Drake was even more vicious than during his previous assault, and Klaus began to feel increasingly exhausted as the battle progressed. He had already overextended himself, but as they clashed punches, his fatigue became secondary to his drive for victory.
Klaus was knocked down several times by Drake's brutal strikes. Despite the interference of the glow affecting the precision of Drake's attacks, they remained devastating, leaving Klaus with multiple bruises and making it difficult for him to keep up. Drake seemed to anticipate and counter most of Klaus's tactics as well, his demonic intellect evident in every move.
At one point, Klaus considered surrendering, but he quickly dismissed that thought. If he were to lose, it would have to be by being knocked out completely. His stubbornness forced him to continue, even if the fight seemed unwinnable.
However, before Drake could land another blow, he suddenly hesitated and froze in place, an action Klaus had never seen during their brawl. Seizing the moment, despite hesitating briefly, Klaus stepped forward without hesitation.
He stretched both hands out to his sides and created two first-grade Solar Balls before slamming them directly into Drake's chest. Drake remained frozen in place as the attack connected swiftly, the burst of signature light and the sheer energy required to produce both attacks forcing Klaus to recoil and collapse to the ground.
For the first time in the battle, Klaus had a few seconds away from active combat, allowing his body to return to a semblance of normalcy and to register his overwhelming exhaustion. He coughed heavily, spitting blood as the adrenaline subsided.
Klaus couldn't explain what he was feeling; his vision was hazy, and his head dizzy. The strain of exerting so much energy was finally catching up with him. Yet, despite his struggles, Klaus had landed a significant hit, one that should have knocked Drake down and secured the win.
Or so he thought.
As Klaus lifted his head, his eyes widened in disbelief when he saw Drake still standing strong. Drake had slouched forward after taking a direct hit to the chest, but the Solar Ball's force had only pushed him back a few meters, not even enough to force him against a wall.
Drake's chest was bruised and bleeding slightly, and a massive hole was torn across the front of his shirt. He had absorbed two Solar Ball attacks head-on, a feat only a few could manage. What shocked Klaus, however, was not Drake's physical state but his mental one.
Drake's head was bowed, yet a smile lingered on his face as he remained silent for a moment. Then, small giggles escaped his lips before they escalated into laughter.
"Yes, Klaus Walker," Drake began, his tone different than before. "Show me the power of the demigod of Light."
Drake slowly straightened his slouched posture, and as he did, a manically crazed expression replaced his earlier calm demeanor. He spread his fingers wide and tilted his face upward, his laughter continuing even as blood trickled down his chest.
Klaus was frightened by the transformation. "What the hell is happening to him?" he wondered silently, confused by the scene.
Immediately, Klaus's gaze darted to the observation room, where he saw Jhin glancing toward its entrance. But the demon was all alone; Nekro was no longer watching the fight. Judging by Jhin's attention, it appeared the god had just departed, meaning Drake no longer needed to maintain his composure.
Klaus refocused on the fight and immediately noticed that Drake had already closed the distance between them. In an instant, Drake slammed his right foot into Klaus's body while Klaus was still on his knees. The force was unbelievable, sending Klaus crashing into the wall behind him within seconds.
Klaus flinched in excruciating pain. He had been too slow to react to the attack and had also failed to activate his Phantasmal State ability at that critical moment. As he regained his focus, he noticed that Drake's flames had changed once again.
Now standing tall, Drake wielded deep blue flames in each hand, the color nearly reaching a violet hue. The flames were so intense that even though Drake managed to keep them confined to his fists, they still burned the sleeves off his shirt.
Drake tilted his head to the side in a crazed manner, a massive grin plastered on his face as he looked at Klaus. "We don't need to keep the theatrics anymore, Klaus Walker," he said menacingly. "Now it's time to fight with everything we have left... until we can no longer feel anything."
Drake looked like a being straight out of a nightmare. Klaus was already nearing his limit; the glow around his body began to soften, and his heavy pants were clear. Yet somehow, Drake still maintained a relentless drive.
Klaus began to understand why Drake was considered the ultimate offensive force. For a moment, he regretted challenging the demigod, but his stubbornness prevented him from quitting.
Rising to his feet again, Klaus remained strong despite the pain. The light in his eyes flickered slightly, and after closing his eyes briefly to steady himself, he took a deep, measured breath and exhaled slowly.
With that exhalation, Klaus cleared his mind, letting go of every fear, every ounce of anger, and every last strategy. All that remained was his unwavering desire for victory. Then, after opening his eyes with renewed determination, Klaus and Drake charged at one another once more.
The battle reached its climax as both fighters exchanged fierce, rapid blows. Klaus landed a solid jab to the side of Drake's head, but Drake merely grinned before retaliating with a swift punch of his own. Drake's attack reached Klaus's head faster than a speeding bullet, and almost in slow motion, his fist began to phase through its target. Klaus managed to activate his ability just in time.
Tilting his head against the direction of the strike to deactivate his ability earlier, Klaus then raised his right hand and grabbed Drake's lone horn. With a powerful pull, Klaus forced Drake's head downward and drove a knee into his opponent's forehead. Still, Drake barely flinched, quickly regaining his stance and continuing his relentless onslaught.
Drake's movements became wildly unpredictable as he fought, confusing Klaus before landing a punch onto Klaus's head. The blue flame powering his attack increased its speed unexpectedly, sending Klaus's head flying backward a few feet before a sudden explosion behind him forced him to recoil back toward Drake.
Using the explosion's force, Drake propelled Klaus back toward him and then landed yet another strike on Klaus's head. Soon after, Drake generated yet another explosion, repeating the maneuver a third time as Klaus tried to recover his guard. Before the third blow could land, Klaus managed to regain himself and phased through Drake's fist.
Klaus was clearly exhausted, an exhaustion that Drake somehow did not seem to share. He landed a strike on Drake's face, only to receive a knee to his gut in return. Klaus flinched from the impact as Drake began swinging a series of flaming punches, each heavy blow striking his opponent's body. Then, Drake stretched out his right hand and launched his claws directly at Klaus's face.
Drake's claws sliced upward through Klaus's head, all four nails digging through from Klaus's left cheek to his left eye. After that, Drake raised his foot and drove it directly into Klaus's head, kicking him away with brute force.
Klaus managed to prevent himself from flying too far, but the intense pain in his face was overwhelming. He collapsed to the ground as blood seeped from his injuries; he could no longer feel or even open his left eye, suggesting it was completely damaged. Yet, despite the excruciating pain, Klaus forced himself to stand again; he had experienced death before, so this pain was not the worst he had ever felt.
Watching Klaus slowly rise back to his feet, Drake began to giggle manically. "Yet you still rise," he said with amusement. "Incredible. Show me that spark. Show me that determination."
Klaus's left face was drenched in blood that dripped down his chin, yet he stood upright. Drake charged forward with an attack, but Klaus managed to evade the swing, countering with a heavy blow to Drake's head that proved he was still in the fight.
Klaus then launched a series of rapid punches at his opponent, but after just a few, Drake retaliated with a punch to Klaus's chest. As Klaus recoiled in pain, Drake closed the distance, stretched his fingers out for a chop, and landed a heavy strike on the side of Klaus's left hand, his dominant one.
The force of the strike, amplified by the burning flames, hit the joint between Klaus's bicep and forearm, snapping his hand almost instantly. Before Klaus could recover, another heavy blow struck his jaw, sending him hurtling back as he slammed against the wall before ultimately falling unconscious.
Drake glanced at his right hand, noticing fresh blood from the last strike, and his own face bore minor marks from the exchange. Amid this, he stuck out his tongue and licked a small drop of blood that dripped from his forehead, savoring its taste.
A manic smile spread across Drake's face as his eyes widened. "Yes," he muttered. "This is what true battle is meant to be. Thank you for that experience, Klaus Walker. Though it had to end, this is a fight I will never forget."
Yet as Drake took a moment to revel in his victory, his eyes suddenly snapped back to Klaus, who, against all odds, began to rise to his feet once more.
Drake's smile faltered in confusion as he stared at Klaus. His expression became nearly unreadable, and for a split second, a trace of fear crossed his features. How was this possible? How was Klaus still conscious? What kind of being is he? Drake had so many questions as he watched the scene unfold. Despite his confusion, a smile returned to his face, and his uncontrollable laughter resumed.
Drake stretched out his hands and laughed hysterically, his eyes blurred and the blood on his head slightly impairing his sight, yet he still found the spectacle amusing. "Yet he still rises," Drake repeated, his voice filled with excitement. "It's like he's immortal or something."
Suddenly, Drake's gaze shifted, as if an idea had struck him. "Perhaps we could test that theory," he added softly in curiosity.
Drake retracted his hands, fixing his gaze on Klaus, who had started moving closer. Klaus's breaths were audible, and he glared at Drake with one open eye. Gradually, his walk turned into a jog, and soon, he was rushing toward his opponent.
Klaus swung his right fist at Drake, his left arm out of commission in the brawl. Drake swiftly evaded the incoming blows, maintaining his smile as he studied Klaus, almost scheming.
Klaus's punches, though weaker, were persistent enough to eventually land a strike on Drake's head. Drake flinched, his head recoiling from the hit. But before anything more could occur, his smile grew wider.
"Gotcha," Drake suddenly exclaimed.
Immediately, he placed a palm over Klaus's chest. Deep blue flames erupted from his hand, engulfing Klaus within seconds. The flames then shifted color, deepening to violet before transforming into a heavy gold that swiftly covered Klaus's entire body.
The flames were so ferocious that they filled the room with intense heat, shattering the glass between the observation and training rooms due to the thermal stress and hurling Klaus away from Drake.
The sound of shattering glass made Jhin flinch in shock as an overwhelming heat wave followed. The intensity forced the demon to retreat to the edge of the room near the door, perhaps to save himself.
The flames completely enveloped Klaus as he lay on the ground a significant distance from his opponent. Drake began to laugh uncontrollably at the spectacle, finding pure bliss in the intensity of the fight.
But suddenly, Drake's laughter turned to incredulity as his eyes widened. "Are you insane?" he blurted out, as if speaking to himself.
Drake stepped back slightly, then grabbed his head. Soon, he grunted audibly as his hair gradually shifted back to a silver hue and his single horn receded into his head. His skin began to change, and his dark sclera turned white as smoke reformed the remaining non-white areas around his eyes.
Within seconds, Drake had switched places with Ash, whose concern was evident. "What is wrong with you?" Ash demanded. "Why would you use Celestial Flames?"
Ash's attention immediately turned toward Klaus, who lay a few meters away, still engulfed in golden flames. As Ash moved closer with concern, he noticed something unusual.
Klaus had flinched slightly before beginning to rise to his feet. The flames still covered his entire body, but Klaus stood, his expression as resolute as ever.
"He's not... burning," Ash said softly, watching Klaus rise.
Klaus remained silent, his entire body cloaked in golden flames. One eye stayed open while his left arm hung limply, yet despite the raging flames, Klaus showed no signs of being burned.
"Yet he still rises," Ash whispered in astonishment.
Swiftly, Ash snapped back and then inhaled deeply through his mouth with purpose. After a few seconds, he exhaled forcefully, and a thick cloud of heavy smoke surged from his mouth, blanketing Klaus's body and extinguishing the flames.
Soon, the smoke cleared, leaving Klaus free of the scorching fire.
Klaus stood in silence, gasping for air as he covered his left side with his right hand. His body slumped, the aura of light that had once surrounded him now gone, and his eyes were dimmer than before.
"Are you alright?" Ash asked.
Klaus took a moment to gather himself; his labored breaths gradually eased as his adrenaline subsided.
"I'm... fine," he replied, turning his gaze toward Ash, whom he now noticed had switched with Drake. "That's... the most expression... I've ever seen you make," he added between gasps.
Ash was caught off guard by Klaus's comment, puzzled that despite Klaus clearly being in pain, his attention was fixed on someone else. "Is that so?" he eventually said, his gaze returning to normal, relieved that Klaus appeared alright.
Soon, Ash's eyes were drawn downward, noticing that Klaus's clothes had completely burned away. "Uhh..." he said softly.
Klaus followed his gaze, then realized he was completely naked and adjusted his body accordingly. "Oh... right," he muttered.
"We can get you a new pair once we head back," Ash said.
"Sure... I guess," Klaus responded, before collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.
Klaus's labored breaths made it clear that the strain of battle was taking its toll. His body ached, he was drenched in blood, and his skin was covered in bruises and injuries. While Ash also showed signs of fatigue, sharing the same level of exhaustion as Drake, he displayed far fewer signs of weariness.
They both took a moment to catch their breaths before returning to the observation room. When they reached the door, Jhin, panting at its edge after the intense heat wave, moved closer to them.
"Are you both alright?" he asked with concern.
"We're fine," Klaus replied. "I just need new clothes."
"I can see that," Jhin noted. "I'll see to it immediately. But Lord Nekro instructed that I let you both know he will be awaiting your presence in his chamber."
"Alright," Klaus said before turning to Ash. "I'll meet you there once I get a new pair of clothes and maybe a shower. For now, I'll wait here."
"Sure," Ash agreed.
After about half an hour, Klaus was provided with a fresh pair of clothes that fit perfectly, along with access to a shower to clean his wounds. He was also given an arm sling for his broken arm, though he chose to leave his wounded left eye uncovered. Once prepared, he made his way back to Nekro's chamber.
When Klaus opened the door, he was met by Ash, Jhin, and Nekro, all awaiting his arrival. Jhin stepped closer.
"I hope the clothes are to your liking," Jhin asked.
"They're fine," Klaus replied.
"I'm glad," Jhin said with a smile before turning his attention back to Nekro.
Nekro approached Klaus, his gaze examining the demigod. "I heard about the fight with Ash and how gruesome it got," he began. "You are truly a formidable demigod. You should be proud of how far you've come."
Klaus's expression darkened slightly upon hearing Nekro's praise. "I don't think so," he murmured. "I was clearly going to die if the fight had continued the way it did. Our current state speaks volumes."
Klaus was the most severely injured among them; while Ash had only a few bruises and scratches, Klaus bore much heavier wounds.
"That is true," Nekro said after a pause. "But considering your battle experience isn't on the same scale as theirs and given your limited training, I would say you did a spectacular job regardless."
Klaus sighed softly. "I guess," he said, seeing the truth in Nekro's words.
"With that being said," Nekro continued shortly, "would you like me to tend to your damaged eye and wounds?"
"That's okay," Klaus replied. "I'll be fine healing over time."
"Alright," Nekro agreed.
And with that, Klaus had finally completed his duties here in Under World.
"That would conclude your goals here, correct?" Nekro asked.
"Yeah," Klaus replied.
Realizing that he could now focus entirely on the issues back on Earth with the girl in white, Klaus began to say his goodbyes to his companions.
Jhin turned to him, his expression softening as he began, "I am sorry you had to go through so much because of my sister, Klaus Wa... Klaus. But despite everything, I'm glad to have known you. You made me see things about humanity that I had never noticed before. I'm thankful for that."
"It's no problem," Klaus said with his usual reserve. "Even though I didn't care at first, I'm glad I was able to help."
Jhin smiled and extended his hand for a handshake. "I hope we get to cross paths again in my lifetime," he said warmly.
"Likewise... I guess," Klaus replied.
With that, Jhin was dismissed of his duties and returned to his chamber.
Klaus then turned to Ash, aware that they were also expected to share goodbyes. "Well..." he began, "I guess I'll be seeing you around."
"I guess," Ash replied, his expression unchanged as he started to depart.
Klaus glanced awkwardly. "Still a person of few words, huh?" he whispered to himself.
Immediately, Klaus remembered something important and chose to speak up. "By the way," he began, "the other demigods respect you a lot. You should consider getting to know them more."
Ash continued toward the door. "Is that so," he said, without turning back.
Before he could exit, however, Ash stopped. "If they're anything like you," he added, "then I wouldn't mind getting to know them either."
After that, Ash finally departed, the door closing behind him. Klaus stared at the door for a moment, absorbing his experience with Ash and the complex life he lived as an isolated demigod, before finally turning back to Nekro.
"I guess this is goodbye for now," he said to the god.
"Perhaps," Nekro replied, his expression suddenly shifting. "Though, there's one more thing I wanted to ask you."
It was the third time Klaus had heard Nekro mention this, but he didn't mind; he knew he needed to hear the god out. With other pressing matters, if it required him to stay longer, he might have to decline.
"Sure," Klaus said. "But it might have to be quick since I need to attend to something back on Earth."
"Don't worry," Nekro assured him. "That's precisely what I want to ask."
Nekro's words confused Klaus for a moment, but as the next few serious words left his mouth, Klaus's eyes widened in shock and horror.
"Who is the unconscious girl in your room?"