The vexation that stood in front of Suruj, the cause of all strife that led him to this moment; Captain Tayang al-Qarakh. Suruj’s solemn walk only masked the hatred he had for this man, the seething anger that powered his bones and rattled his chest, the sole enemy that he so abhorred because of what Tayang did two years ago.

Hojun’s older brother, the Crown Prince of Al-Qarakh, Suruj’s source of hatred. Once they faced each other, Suruj threw out his hand to the side.

“Everyone stay back. No one else needs to deal with him but me.” His voice broke through the hostile silence. “Hojun, may I have permission to spill your brother’s brain matter everywhere?”

“...”

She didn’t answer, and reluctantly stared at him. It seemed Hojun wouldn’t be able to respond this time around. Suruj always had doubts on if she actually could fight her brother. He understood. If he had to fight his own sibling, then of course he would be hesitant.

“Yo, I see you’ve gotten more emo.” Tayang pointed at Suruj’s current outfit. “How about it? What did you feel after abolishing the Dineh Kazaàd?”

“Utter peace.” He replied immediately, putting his hand over his heart.

“‘Utter peace’? Don’t give me that you little runt. I know you can answer me better than that.”

Suruj held up and tightened his fist. “Then why don’t I give you an answer.”

Saharic particles began to swarm is body as he absorbed them. Combined with the particles he stored due to Hojun’s plan, he had plenty to use. As he reached his full sahar level, Suruj angled his fist towards the ground. This was the final fight. To avenge his family. To forever look forward with a clear mind for his mother and little brother.

“Alam… Daigdig!”

He punched the ground. The buildings shuddered seconds after. Light poured out from below. More fissures surfaced and an saharic energy beamed Tayang from below, shaking their position.

“Oh c’mon, that boring thing? After two years you ain’t got nothing to show?”

Suruj leapt at Tayang. The Sillasaram cocked his gun and fired. Suruj ducked under and brought an uppercut. Tayang dodged and smacked him with the butt of his rifle. It sent Suruj flying sideways.

“What a chore! Are you sure you’re the Buhang I captured two years ago?” Tayang taunted, yawning. Suruj panted and brought himself to stand.

He avoided more bullets with a corkscrew through the air. Suruj threw more jabs and made contacted with Tayang’s abdomen. But it didn’t seem to affect the man.

“For what reason are you still working with Al-Wa?” Suruj stood still, keeping his fists clenched. “Your gig is up. For as long as you live people will detest and arrest you where you go.”

“Like I said to y’all two years ago. Because I actually enjoy my job. And besides, this plan with the Occident, ain’t my plan.”

“Then who is?”

“Ah, look at you! Since you entertained me a little bit I guess I could tell you. Thiệu came up with it.”

“That bastard…”

“Suruj!” Tvuj yelled at him from the sidelines. “Don’t let him anger you!”

Suruj looked at her before turning back to Tayang. He touched his forehead and closed his eyes. Smoke entered his nostrils, and he tasted the hoarse oxygen in his mouth. He assumed a fighting position.

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Sahar charge once again in his fists. In a split second he came mere stride away from Tayang. Suruj brought his fist forward.

“Dihu Baohu.”

A shield obstructed the path as his fist blasted through. A shockwave stirred up dust around the area. Gunshots pierced through the fog. Suruj’s fist glowed white while he met the bullet with his fist. Blood splattered, and Suruj could barely stop the projectile with pure particles alone.

“Alam Daigdig: Quaking Defense.”

He clasped his hands together. Mounds of dirt rose up from the ground, encircling Tayang. Suruj took the initiative and dashed towards him, ready to pierce the mound.

“That’s new. Dihu Chang.”

Suruj swifty jumped up into the air. A beam shot through the mud, leveling the building in the distance. It crashed down with a roar and sent more debris flying onto the street. Suruj landed on the ground, minding his balance. The uneven terrain made it harder for him to concentrate one on one.

“In the end, you’re repeating the same things again.” Tayang scoffed.

“What?”

“Look around you. All this destruction.”

Suruj glanced at the environment around him. Fires burst from the skyscrapers, buildings collapsing around them. Smoke peaked its ugly tail from several more down the block. The sky turned a dismal gray.

He remembered what he did on that day in Dyak-ar-salaam. Juancito Ward toppled down in destruction two years back. But today, it was different.

A gunshot rang throughout. The bullet grazed past Tayang’s cheek. As they saw where the stray bullet came from, Suruj noticed the smoke from Hojun’s rifle. She had missed. Hojun trembled with her weapon, probably from the fact she attempted to kill her brother.

Tayang pointed his gun at her. “My own sister tried to shoot me… My own sister tried to shoot me!”

Tayang squeezed the trigger. Suruj tackled him at full speed. The bullet whirred past Hojun’s shoulder. The Crown Prince brought up the barrel towards Suruj. Suruj jumped back while evading the attack. He was ready.

“Alam Daigdig: Mountain Dance.”

Particles surrounded him in a bright light. Debris and dirt lifted from around him in the air. The air became thick. Saharic particles clumped together, dazzling around him.

“I will defeat you. Only until you and Al-Wa are gone I…”

“Well, look at you, hot shot!” Tayang cackled, as he flicked something on his rifle. “That’s the exact same thing Kwazhak said to me. But there will always be strife. One after another, it will never end.”

In that moment, Suruj lunged forward. A flurry of lead came about. The bullets bounced off Suruj as Tayang dodged his punch. The energy exerted shattered the windows in front of him.

“How about this for old time’s sake?” Tayang loaded a blue projectile into his rifle and fired. Suruj ducked under it and brought his fist upward. Saharic particles followed his move.

“Dihu Quixiao.”

A barrier appeared. Suruj knew what that spell did. But he couldn’t avoid it. He punched the barrier, and found his own energy implode back at him. It sent him flying out of control into the nearest edifices. His body couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t believe it.

Even his strongest spell modification, particle fusion, didn’t work? Just what was Tayang?

Suruj pushed his body to stand. He couldn’t describe the anger he felt. This man, with such strength killed his family and Kwazhak’s bodyguard, Yeow Khouw. If it weren’t for Tayang, all the muqatil would’ve survived, and Mouka…

His heart ached at those possible futures. The futures where they could’ve escaped the tournament. But those futures were not the present, only to taste the blood and sand of his own reality.

A wave of light emitted from the ruins. He needed to at least damage Tayang as much as possible. In a split second Suruj dashed from the wreckage and closed in on him. He evaded Tayang’s barrel, and met him face to face. Then, he shouted as hard as he could. He brought down his fist. Tayang caught it with his rifle.. Suruj used his other fist and tugged on Tayang’s arm. He ripped it off. Blood ruptured from the man’s shoulder. Suruj snatched Tayang’s rifle and snapped it in two. He was there. He could do it.

Suruj clenched his fist as hard as he could. He drove it into the face of a maniac.

He felt a thump hit his stomach. As Suruj looked down, he saw a blue projectile latch onto his abdomen. Suruj realized what happened. He fell to the ground, spasming in a galvanizing shock. His thoughts scrambled. From the sight of Tayang’s feet, he saw him holding a pistol with his one arm.

“Puñeta… You created another gun with your Guizu Arcana…” Suruj mumbled, while convulsing on the rugged street.

Tayang kneeled down and dug his cold gun barrel into Suruj’s head. “I forgot to kill you two years ago. Might as well get it done here.”

Suruj squirmed as the man pulled the trigger. A bang thudded throughout.