Vektor and Maken run at each other and strike with as much force as they can. The impact of the clash of blades generates a gust of wind that blows to the outskirts of the Dawn Plateau, reaching Sych. Master Noogard, who had arrived there shortly after Sych, also feels the wind and understands the situation:

"It started..."

This time, he is the one who hears footsteps of someone approaching. Without saying a word, he just looks back and waits, only to calm down when he sees that the person approaching is:

"Young Katsuo...?"

"Ah, hello, Master Noogard, I didn't expect to find you here... Has the duel started yet?"

"Yes... But why are you here?"

"I'm just worried about Hiroshi. What about you? I can understand that Sych is here because of Vektor, but what's the reason for your presence? Also worried about Vektor?"

"Well, yes, of course I'm also worried about Vektor's safety, but that's kind of not the only thing I'm worried about right now."

"Are there any other things that worry you? What are they?"

"This world, and the future that awaits it... I have a feeling that both will be affected by the outcome of this battle..."

"..."

As Kder, Sych, and Master Noogard form a small audience at the base of the Dawn Plateau, the duel between Vektor and Maken continues. After the initial impact, Maken immediately resorts to using his maximum speed, meaning that for the time being Vektor finds himself unable to attack or defend himself.

Without stopping running, Maken avoids entering his enemy's field of vision as much as possible while attacking him from different directions. All the cuts are shallow, causing light wounds across Vektor's body, who futilely tries to attack the air in the hope of landing any attack.

"Damn it, he's too fast for me to follow with my eyes! But still, he seems to be holding back... Is he messing with me or what?"

At this point in the fight, Vektor accepts that continuing to attack mindlessly will be futile. Until he thinks of another method, he can be finished at any moment by one of Maken's many attacks. However, while he stands there thinking of a strategy without stopping of being attacked, Vektor notices something curious about his body. Every part of his body seems to anticipate attacks at the right time, in an attempt to minimize the pain caused by each cut. Not only that, but these nervous anticipations happen in a cycle.

"My nerves are reacting to an attack pattern...? That means... if I memorize these reactions, I'll be able to defend myself?"

After a short sigh, Vektor closes his eyes for a few seconds, paying attention to the order of his enemy's attacks. After memorizing this pattern, he tries to defend himself from one of the attacks. Although he is finally able to visualize Maken directly, his movement is not fast enough to defend himself, causing him to be attacked with another shallow cut before once again losing sight of his enemy.

"Damn it! He can be even faster than my reflexes! It almost feels like some kind of cheat... Right, if that's the case, reaction isn't enough. I need to start predicting his attacks..."

After a few more seconds of concentration, Vektor tries to react again, but this time with the intention of defending himself from the third attack that follows. The plan works, and Vektor finally manages to block an attack.

"(A- Alright...!)"

Without wasting any time, Maken attacks again, but after being attacked a few more times, Vektor repeats the previous procedure to defend himself for the second time. Maken decides to retreat temporarily, while Vektor struggles to bear the pain of all his injuries. Maken recognizes Vektor's potential:

"I see that you were able to read my attack pattern perfectly... Excellent adaptation skill. I did well to take precautions and only attack with shallow cuts, couldn't risk going all out against someone who, unlike Katsuo, has methods that I don't know. However, now that I also recognize your patterns, any effort you make from now on will be useless."

Without letting Vektor prepare, Maken advances in another attack, this time frontally. Even though he is completely visible, his continuous attacks are so fast that they do not give Vektor the option to dodge or escape, leaving only the option of trying to use the Slasher Platinum to defend himself.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

There is no pattern to read. Maken purposefully attacks in the most random way possible. The most Vektor can do is read each strike as it is executed and try to react within the very little time he has left. Obviously, this method does not work perfectly, causing his body to receive several cuts on his skin.

Not knowing what to do, Vektor tries to find some opening or weak point in Maken, without success. However, when looking closely at Maken, whose hair flies to the sides with each attack, Vektor finds something hidden beneath that hair.

"(T- That is...!)"

"(Guard's down!)"

Taking advantage of this single moment of distraction from his enemy, Maken runs to Vektor's back and delivers a deep cut to his left calf, all at such high speed that he gives his enemy no chance to react or counterattack. To finish his attack, the swordsman delivers a powerful kick to his enemy's back, making him fall to the ground.

The pain from his calf wound, combined with the pain from his minor injuries, makes Vektor unwilling to get up. Maken walks slowly until he is facing his enemy's head. As he prepares to stab Vektor's head with his sword, his hand starts trembling. As he tries to stabilize his own body, Maken says:

"Do you finally understand now? That this duel is not just mere child play. If you really aren't able to keep up with me in battle, then..."

"W- Wai-!!"

"...die!"

Maken tries to deliver his final attack, but Vektor desperately manages to dodge it by raising his head. Momentarily ignoring his pain, Vektor pushes off the ground as a way to gain momentum to stand up. Slasher Platinum clumsily manages to stay in his hand, unlikely as it may be.

Just staying upright is an agonizing challenge, considering the fact that half of his body weight is being placed on a leg whose muscles have been partially severed. This weight is enough to cause a lot of blood to spray out of his wound. Maken prepares himself for another attack:

"I see you weren't lying when you said you'd do whatever you could to survive. Very well then..."

"Wait! There's something I want to ask-!"

Maken advances once more, trying to attack the enemy from behind. However, in a surge of adrenaline, Vektor delivers a powerful flaming slash backwards, which makes him fall to the ground sitting down due to the pain caused by the injured calf, which moved too abruptly.

Vektor loses sight of Maken again, and slowly gets up after his pain eases. The first thing he sees when he gets up is Maken, who is standing not far from him, letting blood spill from a cut on his face.

"...You were actually able to injure me. Surprisingly, this is something that has never happened to me in battle, not even Katsuo was capable of this. Congratulations... If this wasn't a deathmatch, I would be surrendering right now."

"..."

"However, I must remind you that one injury alone does not even come close to meaning you have any chance. It would be much better if you just gave up, I could end all your agony in moments."

"...You're starting to cross the line. What answer do you think I'll give?"

"Well, no matter what your answer is, it won't change your fate at all."

"That may be so... but if you really want to kill me, at least answer me something first. That thing on your ear... it's your symbol of brotherhood, isn't it?"

"...!!"

"I remember what Kder told me when I arrived on this island... That golden earring symbolizes that you don't want to lose this connection either. Although I should've thought of that before, since you're just a cheap copy of him!"

"You just... touched on a subject you shouldn't... I know you have this habit of playing the hero, but don't get too carried away. You're just an outsider, you shouldn't try to meddle in other people's lives. Very well then... If you want to be part of this story so much, I'll make sure you feel firsthand... in your flesh, how our reality works. I won't have any more mercy!"

"...!"

Vektor quickly defends himself with the Slasher Platinum, but in the next instant the sword flies away with a single attack from Maken, whose sword is glowing, meaning he is attacking with two-dimensional slashes.

Unable to use any object, Vektor decides to uselessly try to defend himself with his right arm, which is easily pierced by the blade of the enemy's sword. Before he has time to feel the pain of the attack, the blade is removed from his arm and Maken then attacks his abdomen with a two-dimensional slash. Lethally wounded, Vektor screams with all the forces he has left:

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

"Shut your mouth!!"

Maken decides to try stabbing Vektor in the head again, but his hand once again starts trembling. Angered, he simply strikes the enemy in the head with the butt of his sword. This blow temporarily silences Vektor.

Not wanting to waste any other second, Maken starts running around his enemy, and executes his most powerful technique. He unleashes 16 consecutive attacks, each attack coming from a different direction, until he completes a hexadecagon of light, which can be perfectly seen from above.

"Two-dimensional slashes: 16-directions Cage!"

The hexadecagon of light explodes with a shockwave, causing a strong pressure on Vektor's body, who is also seriously injured by the technique, which hits his chest, arms and back. Unable to continue standing or scream, Vektor's body slowly falls backwards.

Unable to move, all Vektor can do is stare at the sky as he hears Maken's footsteps approaching. Standing before Vektor's nearly dead body, Maken once again prepares for his final attack, this time aiming for his heart. His hand still trembles, but he is still willing to deliver the blow. As he calms down to improve his accuracy, Maken says goodbye:

"I didn't expect to use so much of my strength. But anyway, the time has come for me to finally make you close your eyes for the last time. Now..."

"(N- No... No...!)"

"...farewell."

"(Stop-!!)"

Maken delivers his final blow, stabbing Vektor in the chest, who loses his breath for a few seconds until his consciousness gradually leaves his body and his eyes slowly close...

Vektor opens his eyes again and finds himself in the void of his subconscious while breathing heavily. His feet are stepping on what seems to be an invisible floor. Looking around, Vektor comes to the most obvious conclusion:

"...I lost."

...