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Bubble lunged at the dragon, still laughing like a madman. He jumped to avoid the beast's tail and stuck his sword between two scales, which let out a howl from the dragon. Vixen hit him hard and Bubble was about to crash into the Cathedral wall, but he put both feet against it. He charged at the monster with great momentum, destroying the wall behind him. He sliced off one of Vixen's fingers and he screamed again before charging fire into his mouth. Bubble ran, avoiding the dragon's fire, and hid behind the fountain, whose water began to evaporate as the fire approached. It was a really hot fire, so Bubble could not allow himself to be touched by it. Even with his Power entirely loose, he was far from invincible: he was still a human in a human's body, so taking much damage would kill him. He couldn't allow himself to die, especially from Vixen. Bubble squinted, and as soon as the fire stopped, he came out of hiding and charged at him. The dragon that was Vixen made a violent wingbeat that sent Bubble tumbling. Bubble clung to the ground, stuck his sword in it and gritted his teeth as he saw the dragon fly away, albeit slowly. It was an opening for him, but he couldn't get close to the dragon: the wind was running away from Vixen much too fast to go towards him! Bubble watched as the dragon flew high into the air and the beast finally moved around the Cathedral of Hell. Was it running away? Bubble clutched his sword tightly in his hands, thinking that Vixen was running away from the fight, but when he saw a red dot forming in the monster's mouth, he realized that this was not the case: but Bubble, being on the ground, was at a disadvantage. He could imagine that he was going to lose, but of course, Bubble only smiled. The defeat was not yet written in his memory. He started to run into the courtyard when, this time, it wasn't fire that came out of Vixen's mouth, but a beam that could probably kill Bubble in one shot: letting himself be hit was not a viable option. Bubble jumped up and broke one of the building's windows to hide inside the cathedral, but the beam easily pierced the roof above him, going straight into the ground. He continued to flee until he broke another window and flew through it, arriving outside the cathedral. His goal was not to flee, since he knew he would never make it, but if he wanted to defeat this dragon, he would have to give it his all. He never thought he would have to fight such a beast once in his life... Longers, brigands, idiots: that he would never doubt. But a dragon? Sure, he had been a basic human, but still... Bubble started to walk around the cathedral, one idea in mind, but he had to be at a specific place. Vixen stopped spitting his laser beam and let out a loud scream that hurt Bubble's ears. Bubble continued to run, the black sword in his right hand, toward the front of the cathedral. Vixen flapped his wings violently and made a ferocious dive toward his target. Bubble noticed this and smiled before turning around, stopping in place and twirling his sword in the process. Vixen's eyes widened as he saw Bubble make this move and their eyes met before the man leapt into the air, seeking to climb onto the dragon. Unfortunately for him, Vixen went back up and managed to avoid Bubble's attack by a narrow margin, but Bubble immediately jumped up and clicked his tongue. He continued his run and Vixen charged fire into his mouth, wanting to finally kill Bubble and win this fight. He had committed a sin that even his King considered as such, so Bubble had to be exterminated from this planet. To go to the underworld and understand what he had done; and Vixen would be the one to judge him. The one who would send him where he deserved to be. Vixen was not a man who had never committed a sin, but he was repenting by being at the side of his King, the King of all of Lost Hell. With his fire finally loaded into his mouth, he spat it out onto the ground, where the small figure of Bubble was. The man, realizing that continuing to run in a straight line was no longer a good idea, slammed on the brakes and used his sword to slice through the wall in front of him, shattering the bricks and sending pieces flying everywhere. He re-entered the cathedral and saw the enormous hall dominating him with its beauty and grandeur. He didn't think about it and avoided the flames that had managed to get inside before looking at his sword. If it went on like this, he would not even be able to fight Vixen, who was so high in the sky…

- … Eh.

But that was what made it fun. Bubble was in a weak position... but that was what made it fun!!! He grinned and ran towards the front doors of the cathedral. Huge and made of a material he couldn't recognize, but clearly resistant, they imposed on Bubble their magnificence. He did not destroy them, but began to climb on them using all the strength in his arms, his sword held between his teeth. It may have been big, but it wasn't that heavy; at least, Bubble had no trouble carrying it, even between his teeth. He climbed and climbed and climbed, until he reached the ceiling, which was painted with a beautiful fresco; however, he didn't have the head to observe such a painting for the moment. He destroyed the wall in front of him and saw the red colored exterior of the Lost Hell landscape. A country so beautiful and ugly at the same time... Bubble jumped to get to the outside of the cathedral and continued to climb, not seeing Vixen anywhere, but still feeling his presence in the air. He climbed higher and higher on the main building and reached the top feeling his body asking for a rest, but as expected, Vixen charged at him as soon as he got up. The dragon was huge and its wings were splendid, but it was still Bubble's opponent. Maybe he could defeat it, maybe not: but he had the Power his father had, so how could he lose? How could he let the past haunt him after he decided to change? It was a fight that was important to him. Even though he had never asked to be here, the monster that came at him, mouth open, fire ready to spring forth, death in its eyes, was like the demon that had caressed his heart for years. Bubble gripped his sword tightly and took a deep breath.

Bubble had promised never to forget the past. To never deny to himself that he was the cause of the death of his parents, of his family. That he had stolen what did not belong to him. That he had run away from his responsibilities and had hidden himself from the eyes of justice, but also from those of the Gods.

Bubble was a true monster from the underworld, but he would hide it forever from the world.

Vixen began to spit fire at Bubble, but Bubble took advantage of the dragon's low altitude to leap at him and drive his sword into one of his legs. Part of his left arm had burned in Vixen's fire, but he held back from screaming and concentrated on the target in front of him. The beast's speed was anything but slow, so he had to hang on as best he could...! Vixen spun around, trying to knock Bubble off his feet and probably kill him in the process, but the man held on and climbed up on his paw before landing on Vixen's body and stuck his sword between two scales, making him scream in pain. From there, Vixen had no way to protect himself, so he charged down into the cathedral's courtyard and crashed into it, destroying everything in his path. The walls flew in all directions, the grass in the courtyard fell out of the cathedral and the fountain itself was eradicated. The dragon's body came to a halt as it exploded the doors of the King's room and Bubble was thrown violently through them, sliding to the giant's feet. He picked himself up with the help of his sword and gritted his teeth before noticing that the dragon's body... had stiffened! The beast got up and charged at Bubble and he ran towards it too, about to defeat Vixen, but a chill ran down his back and he turned around, blocking the attack of—

- ???!!!!!

Bubble opened his eyes wide as the dragon scratched his back. The sensation of the claws penetrating his skin and the punch he got in the face sent him tumbling through the air and he landed on the ground, sliding again, belly down against the cobblestones of the great hall. He got up as quickly as possible and was able to block the attack of new claws coming from the dragon that must have been less than 3 meters tall, now, but he was almost decapitated by the sword of the man at the dragon's side. He had another sword now, but this man—

— was Vixen himself.

In short, he had two opponents now.

- But how can this be?!” he shouted inwardly.

The dragon had been Vixen, so why was he there too ? Moreover, it was indeed Vixen: he still had the same wounds as during their fight. So was the dragon a special beast? Was that how he had merged with...? Bubble didn't have time to figure out what was going on: the dragon charged at him again. Bubble parried the attack with his black sword and Vixen attacked him from behind, but Bubble wrapped himself in a black aura that made both of his opponents back off. Vixen and the dragon looked at Bubble, who rose to his full height and clutched his sword so hard that the ground beneath him cracked. Bubble sighed.

- ... If I have to repent for my sins…

He turned to the long light-haired man and a black Aura formed a swirl around Bubble.

- ... then I hope the Gods are willing to forgive a demon.

With that, Bubble came at Vixen in one swoop and was about to slice him from top to bottom, but the dragon shielded his "partner" with his scales and sent him so high into the air that he went through the ceiling. Vixen gritted his teeth and attacked Bubble with his sword, but was easily blocked. Vixen avoided death by stepping back and Bubble took the opportunity to hold his sword in both hands and attack him with all his might, the red glow coming out stronger than before. The dragon had already returned and crushed Bubble to the ground... but—

- !!!

Bubble had protected himself with his sword. He screamed and spun around, forming a column of light that destroyed a large part of the roof above him. The little dragon had managed to avoid the attack and Vixen was about to offer to become gigantic again when Bubble came out of the column and dashed forward with his sword in his hands, a clear killing intent in his eyes. As the fight progressed, Bubble seemed less and less human; even Vixen was beginning to fear him. He protected his partner by blocking his attack with his sword, but before his eyes, the blade shattered into a thousand pieces. Vixen opened his eyes wide and pushed the dragon further away.

- Run away!!!

- !!!

The dragon could not speak the human language, but it understood everything Vixen was saying to it, as he was its partner; its brother, one might say. Bubble attacked Vixen with an astronomical force, making him cross the right wall without difficulty. The man smiled and ran after him. On his throne, the King laughed. He laughed as if he had heard an extremely funny joke. The dragon looked at him and frowned, but even if it let out a howl, it couldn't save Vixen: this was a fight where the loser would be killed. His partner couldn't give up without losing his life, so he had to win…

Then he had to help him defeat the monster that was their opponent, Bubble!

For his part, Bubble attacked Vixen with force, but just missed. The ground beneath them shattered into large pieces. The cathedral was falling apart before their eyes, simply because of their fierce fight. Vixen hit Bubble in the face before taking a few steps back, no longer having a weapon in his hands. He could get his basic sword back, but for that he had to—

- !!

Bubble sent a huge clod of dirt at Vixen, which caused him to lose his balance, and he fell to the ground. Bubble ran towards him and swung his sword towards the heavens, a demonic look on his face. Vixen wasn't sure he could avoid this attack, or he would at least lose an arm!

But his partner, the dragon with the beautiful white scales, blocked the attack with his body.

Vixen opened his eyes wide as he saw the dragon spitting blood, his eyes all closed from the pain. Bubble squinted and raised his sword into the air, a blood red glow emanating from it. Vixen gritted his teeth and screamed the dragon's name, but the dragon just smiled and blocked Bubble's violent attack again, falling on Vixen's body, crushing it by about 3 meters. Bubble looked at the beast with lifeless eyes and had a spasm in his hand, but his expression remained the same. He had surely killed his opponents, so now—

- A man can never be a man without being a demon…

Vixen's voice rang out and at the same time the dragon's body lit up with bright rays. Bubble took a few steps back and closed his eyes, unable to keep them open without losing his sight. A sound like a dragon's howl was heard and the light stopped. Bubble opened his eyes again and looked at the man in front of him who had just gotten up. He was still wounded, blood pouring out of all the wounds on his body. He had his old sword in his hands again and Vixen stroked it with a smile before holding it up to Bubble.

- But ya'll never be a man, Bubble.

- ... Why is that?" he asked, holding up his own sword towards him.

Vixen showed his inner rage in his facial features. He gritted his teeth to the point where he could have broken them.

- Ya’re not a demon. Ya’re just INHUMAAAAAN!!!

Vixen screamed with all his anger and sliced in front of him so quickly that Bubble could not parry the attack. Fortunately for him, he had not lost his arm, but the cut was deep near his shoulder. He held it and frowned without answering his opponent before shouting back and charging at him. Their swords collided and a shockwave even more powerful than the old ones destroyed everything around them. They attacked each other from all directions, seeking to kill the other without scruples. The sound of their blades meeting, metal against metal, echoed far beyond the cathedral. Even Kari and the others who had fled to avoid being caught in the fight could hear the ferocious sounds of the two opponents' attacks. Bubble's sword finally wrapped itself in a red Aura and turned to fire, startling Vixen. Bubble slashed across his face, aiming at his opponent's body, but his opponent parried and forced the blade to aim at the air, throwing Bubble off balance. Vixen then attacked him directly, but Bubble managed to block Vixen's sword and was forced back a few steps by the force used. Vixen attacked him again, but the blade of his sword went into the ground and destroyed part of the ground in front of him, almost hitting Bubble. This one began to run around Vixen looking for an opening to kill him, which made for a very entertaining sight for the King and the world. While Bubble had been the one who was forced here without asking—

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

— He now seemed to be the villain of the fight.

Bubble suddenly stopped and attacked Vixen from behind, but he spun around and blocked Bubble's sword, but he wasn't fast enough and his balance was broken. Bubble ignited his sword again and, with a demonic laugh, sent Vixen flying through the air. Bubble clutched his sword tightly and threw it at Vixen with inhuman force, the wind even fleeing from Bubble with the same force. Vixen placed his sword in front of his belly, blocking Bubble's sword, but he was sent even higher into the air, to the point where his figure was no more than an ant. Bubble's sword, black as the darkness itself, fell to the ground and planted itself a few feet in front of Bubble, exploding the earth beneath it and making a crater. Bubble went to pick it up and spun it around in his hands, now waiting for Vixen to land on the ground as nothing but human mush. Blood, guts, bones; in short, that he would lose his life in this fight that seemed endless.

But it was a gigantic dragon that crashed into the yard.

The impact was such that the entire Cathedral of the Underworld and its surroundings were caught in the violence of the landing. The walls were destroyed, falling into ruins, the ground sank while the outside of the cathedral rose into the air, offering a landscape that Kari and the others could only admire, but were all frightened at the same time.

- W-What?!” yelled Kari as she took a step forward.

Just as she had seen the gigantic dragon crash into the middle of the cathedral, it flew back into the air with power and speed. The ground beneath the dragon exploded again, sending all the pieces of the Cathedral and the land of Lost Hell flying into the air. A sight almost like lava flying through the air after a volcano explosion. The King was still in his throne, laughing and kicking his leg, having so much fun with this fight. His room was in ruins, but he was not going to move from there. The dragon that was Vixen flew again and again into the air, Bubble caught in his paws. Bubble gritted his teeth and slashed at the dragon's leg to escape, but it was hurtling toward the ground. Nevertheless, he caught himself on his hind leg and closed his eyes because the dragon's howling was unbearable. He climbed on the dragon's back when he noticed that he could clearly see the whole of Lost Hell below him... and even further! How far was Vixen going to go?! He had barely arrived on its back when he noticed that the dragon had stopped… and was running back to the ground?! Bubble turned his sword around and stuck it deep into the beast's skin and held on with all his might. So the dragon fell- No, he did it on purpose. This was Vixen's and his partner's plan. Rushing to the ground, he planned to kill Bubble in the process. Even though Vixen and his partner would get hurt, they wouldn't die: so it was a perfect plan. The ground was getting closer and Bubble screamed before cutting off part of the dragon's skin. The torn off scales flew into the air at an unimaginable speed, proving that the dragon was running way too fast towards the ground!

And then it lands.

In the middle of the courtyard, which was nothing but ruins, the gigantic dragon created a gigantic crater. The ground flew up for meters and meters, the ruins of the cathedral flew in all directions, some pieces even reaching where Kari and those who worked for the Cathedral were. The woman drew her great sword and sliced off a large piece that had nearly crushed a man and others helped her. She gritted her teeth and clutched the sword tightly in her hands.

The landscape was apocalyptic, tiny mountains having formed around the Cathedral of the Underworld, now nothing more than a crater hundreds of meters deep, a bloody dragon at its heart. Vixen could not move even one muscle, but he remained in that form. Everything was destroyed, smoke and ruin around him and his eyes could not even open fully. At least he had managed to kill Bubble…

- ... Wraaaa!!!

The dragon howled again as another of its legs got sliced off and this time it didn't have the strength to stay as a gigantic beast: Vixen and his partner were forced out of their merge and the dragon spat out blood before Vixen came up to it and stroked its belly.

- …

Vixen turned his head and saw Bubble walking towards them, his body bleeding and his sword still in his hands. Vixen gritted his teeth.

- HOW?!!!” he shouted.

- I hid myself... in your body.

- !!!!

- I thought if you did that... you weren't going to die. So by being... in your body…

- I get it! I get it…

Vixen spat in front of Bubble and smiled.

- Ya monster.

- Demon.

Bubble gave an amused smile, but his expression was tired, hurt.

- I am a demon.

- ... Ah. Ahahah!!!

Vixen laughed and stopped stroking the injured dragon before sighing.

- If I had known ya were that crazy…

Bubble gripped the sword tightly in his hand and squinted.

- It was you... It was you who wanted to do all this to me. I never asked to fight!

- But ya seemed to be having fun, ahah!” laughed Vixen.

- You… You!

Bubble gritted his teeth as he watched Vixen. He was hurt so badly that if he didn't get help in a few minutes, he would die; and yet, he was laughing ?! He had forced Bubble to be in that position, almost killing him twice, maybe even three times, and he dared... He dared...! Their bullshit "repentance for your sins" had caused all of this!!! Everything was destroyed, everything!!!

- Ahahah, that was a most... incredible fight!

Bubble blinked at the King's voice and turned his head before opening his eyes wide.

- W-What…?

He took a step back, noticing what was around him.

- Ya destroyed everything without scruples, but I allowed ya to do so. Didn't ya understand that there was a reason for my words?

He was back in the King's room where they had started this fight.

The room was as good as new. Nothing was destroyed, nothing was in ruins. Bubble spun around, but his attention returned to Vixen... who was still bleeding, breathing with difficulty, his dragon motionless beside him. Well, it was clear he wasn't dead, because you could still see him breathing, but otherwise he wasn't moving a muscle. Bubble turned to the King in shock.

- What does that mean?!” shouted Bubble.

- I carry two Powers, you see. One is a secret, the other is this very Cathedral.

- What???!

- I can rebuild it with a snap of my finger, that's not news to anyone who lives here. Vixen knew that, that's why he let loose and I let ya give it all away. Did ya think I was crazy to let ya destroy everything?

- …

Bubble had thought there was something wrong with the King's words, but he hadn't expected anything like this... The giant laughed again and Bubble frowned.

- ... What?

- Well Bubble. Ya’ve won.

- …

- Ya have defeated Vixen, yar opponent. Ya have the right to kill him now.

- … Ya let me... kill him?

- Wasn't this decided from the beginning? The loser is the one who goes to the underworld, the winner stays in Arcave. Ya have repented for yar sins, Bubble.

The man turned to Vixen, who had moved toward his dragon, dragging his knees on the ground. He was holding it in his arms, as if he was giving it a hug, and finally smiled.

- I accept... my defeat... and my death…” Vixen let go.

- See, Bubble? So go ahead. Get rid of all yar sins by killing him. He almost killed ya, after all.

Bubble dropped his sword and clenched his fists so hard that his hands began to bleed.

- FUCK YOU!!!

- ?!

- Oh?

Vixen looked at him in shock while the King only tilted his head. Bubble turned his full attention to the giant.

- REPENT FOR MY SINS MY ASS!!! LIIIKE, THIS FIGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP ME, WHAT?!!!! I NEVER WANTED TO USE THIS POWER AGAIN DAMN IT!!! WHY, WHY??!!!!

Bubble stamped his foot on the ground and took his sword in his hands. It had taken on a less obscure form and the red glow was gone.

- I wanted to leave my past behind and you... And you... Fuck!!

Bubble turned to Vixen and frowned.

- You want me to end it and kill him, don't you?! Like I killed my family, right??!!!! That's how I can end it all, right??!!!! So okay!!! So okay, fuck!!!

Bubble quickly approached Vixen and raised his sword into the sky.

- If this is what I need to do to be left alone, THEN OKAYY!!!!

Bubble no longer showed that murderous look he had before, but the rage that made his heart beat controlled him. The King smiled with excitement as he saw Bubble's blade in the air, right in front of Vixen's weak body. He swung it at him, ready to kill him with a single slice.

But his sword was parried by another.

Bubble was pushed backwards by the recoil of the parry and almost fell on his back, but he caught himself at the last moment. He shook his head and gritted his teeth, thinking that Vixen had protected himself, but he opened his eyes wide when he saw that it was not him, but—

- Don't get in the middle of the fight, Kari," the King said.

- That is not my purpose, my King.

Kari stabbed her sword into the ground beside her and crouched on one knee. One hand touching the ground, the other close to her elevated leg, she lowered her head to Bubble and closed her eyes.

- If ya must end this fight by killing someone, please take my life instead of Vixen's.

- !!!!!

- Do I have the right to make this request, my King?

- As ya wish.

Kari gave a small smile before sighing.

- Please, Bubble.

The man clutched the sword tightly in his hand, staring at it with wide-open eyes.

- …

She was sacrificing herself... for Vixen...?