The battlefield trembled beneath Yuma's feet, the clash of steel and mantra filling the air as Ikati's fleet bore down on him. But Yuma stood calm, his eyes fixed on the oncoming army. His breath was steady, his mind sharp, as the weight of his power coursed through him. With a slight tilt of his head, he cracked his knuckles one by one, the faint hum of reality manipulation sparking around him.
"Let's end this quickly." Without another word, Yuma raised his hand, and the world seemed to warp. Reality itself bent to his will as the fabric of space tore open, a crack in the air revealing a swirling void. The soldiers in front of him faltered, their eyes wide with terror.
"Reality Manipulation!" Yuma's voice cut through the battlefield. Yuma slid his left foot back, slamming his right into the concrete below. Slamming his fist into the air as if it were a wall. In an instant, the air around Yuma and the army cracked like glass, sliding apart like fresh sliced watermelon. The entire front line of Ikati's fleet shattered; soldiers, weapons, and even the ships themselves dissolved into fragments of matter, torn apart as Yuma erased them from existence.
He didn't stop. Yuma leapt forward, shattering the concrete under his feet. His body flickering as he phased through the remaining soldiers, his fists leaving trails of distorted space in their wake. Every punch, every strike, sent shockwaves through the air, and entire portions of the fleet collapsed with each blow. The sound of destruction echoed across the battlefield, the sheer force of Yuma's attacks obliterating everything in his path.
Within moments, the fleet that once stood between him and Ikati's top commanders was reduced to nothing but rubble and ash.
Yuma stood amidst the wreckage, his breath steady, but his eyes burned with focus. He turned his gaze forward, and there they stood—the top 2 commanders of Demon Lord Ikati's army. General Zareal and Commander Jinrik, two of the most feared warriors under Ikati's command.
"Finally," Jinrik growled, stepping forward,
"a real challenge." Yuma's eyes narrowed as he shifted his stance. The air around him pulsed, shimmering with the lingering energy of his reality manipulation.
"Don't worry," Yuma said, his voice low and calm,
"I won't keep you waiting long."
From a distance, Demon Lord Ikati watched, his eyes flickering with interest as the battle unfolded before him. His lips curled into a thin smile.
"Interesting," Ikati murmured. "He's as strong as I thought he was..."
As Yuma locked eyes with the two commanders, the tension on the battlefield grew thick, the very air seeming to vibrate with anticipation. This was going to be a fight like no other.
"Come at me." Yuma raised his fist, the world around him rippling once more.
Zareal and Jinrik exchanged a brief glance before they lunged forward, their combined power clashing against Yuma as the real fight began.
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The air around Moon warped as he bolted forward. Moon reeling his fist back, locking fists with the commanders. Explosions of wind and water explode. Each strike from Moon was met with a fierce counter, the two commanders fighting in perfect synchrony. Varos, with his twin lightning blades glowing gold, attacked with relentless speed, while Sinra hurled waves of wind, keeping Moon on the defensive.
But Moon's Mantra allowed him to see each attack before it landed. Time slowed around him as he danced between their strikes, weaving through the chaos with grace.
"You're fast," Varos sneered, lunging forward with a quick slash.
"But not fast enough," Sinra added, sending a shockwave of hot water at Moon's back.
Moon twisted in mid-air, deflecting the blast with a flick of his wrist before phasing out of sight. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Varos, his fist crackling with temporal energy.
"Time Break!" Moon shouted, his punch landing squarely on Varos's back. Time warped around the commander, his body frozen for a split second before the force of the blow sent him crashing into the ground, carving a deep trench into the earth. Water explodes into the sky with earth erupting like a volcano.
Sinra barely had time to react before Moon was upon her. She thrust her hand forward, summoning a barrier of boiling water, but Moon's hand shimmered with the power of time manipulation. He pressed his palm against the barrier, and for a brief moment, time itself paused.
Then, with a soft hum, the barrier shattered into fragments, and Moon's knee collided with Sinra's chest, sending her flying back into the rubble. Coughing up blood.
As the dust settled, Moon stood tall, catching his breath. Both commanders lay motionless on the ground, defeated. He straightened his coat, ready to rejoin his crew, but something in the distance caught his eye.
His sharp gaze turned toward the horizon, and his heart sank.
Two massive fleets—World Government Admiral fleets—approached the island, their ships cutting through the waves like blades. Moon's stomach twisted; they were coming fast, and judging by their speed, they'd be on the island in minutes.
"Of all the times…" he muttered under his breath. His mind raced. If the Admirals arrived before they finished Ikati's army, the battle would become unwinnable.