The sky above the ruined palace was a dark gray, a reflection of the storm brewing between the two warriors who now faced each other. Katsuo stood firmly, his hand gripping his sword tightly, his eyes narrowed as he assessed Xanus.

They had fought just prior but this time felt different—more final. Xanus, dressed in his tattered cloak, mirrored Katsuo’s intensity, his rapier glinting in the dim light of the destroyed courtyard.

A cold wind blew between them, but neither man flinched. Katsuo knew that Xanus was not to be underestimated. The man had studied his every move, learned his techniques, and had proven a capable adversary. But Katsuo had something Xanus lacked—resolve.

Without warning, Katsuo charged forward, launching himself into his 1st Form. His movements were swift and deliberate, each strike aimed at breaking through Xanus’s defense. Xanus was quick, however, his rapier parrying Katsuo’s attacks with an almost mechanical precision.

Every clang of their swords sent sparks flying, illuminating the darkened palace. Katsuo pushed harder, his sword arcing through the air in rapid succession, but Xanus remained unyielding.

The speed at which they moved was breathtaking—two men showcasing their craft, locked in a deadly dance. But Katsuo noticed something: Xanus wasn’t just defending; he was analyzing every attack, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

With a sharp intake of breath, Katsuo shifted into his 4th Form, the transition so fluid that Xanus barely had time to react. The change in stance threw Xanus off, and for the first time, his defense faltered.

Katsuo pressed his advantage, driving Xanus back with a flurry of calculated strikes. Each blow was precise, aimed at the weak points in Xanus’s defense, but he was no novice. He quickly adapted, his rapier flicking out in quick, defensive strikes to push Katsuo back.

The battle was intensifying, and both of them knew they were only getting started. The tension between them was palpable, each fighter testing the limits of the other’s endurance and skill.

Katsuo was determined to keep the pressure on, knowing that giving Xanus even a moment to summon his magic swords would turn the tide against him. But as the fight continued, Katsuo noticed a change in Xanus’s movements.

His strikes became more deliberate, more controlled. It was then that Katsuo realized Xanus was no longer just reacting to his attacks—he was setting a trap. Katsuo’s mind raced, his eyes flicking to the sky where Xanus’s magic swords had begun to shimmer faintly, their forms just starting to materialize. Xanus smirked, knowing that Katsuo had caught on too late.

In a burst of speed, Katsuo launched himself forward, intending to stop Xanus before the magic could fully take form. But Xanus had already anticipated this. With a flick of his wrist, the ethereal swords shot down from the sky—not toward Katsuo, but toward Xanus himself.

Katsuo’s eyes widened in surprise as one of the swords impaled his arm, the pain immediate and sharp. He staggered back, clutching his injured limb as blood trickled down his sleeve. Xanus stood tall, his smirk widening as he saw Katsuo’s confusion.

“You’re quick,” Xanus said, his voice cold, “but I’ve been studying you. This fight was over before it began.”

Katsuo gritted his teeth, pulling the sword from his arm with a grimace. He had underestimated Xanus’s cunning, and now he was paying the price.

But this was no time for regret. He couldn’t afford to lose—not here, not now. The people of Milix depended on him, and Xanus was nothing more than a stepping stone toward his true goal: defeating Izana.

Katsuo’s mind raced as he considered his options. He could no longer rely on sheer speed; Xanus had proven that he could outmaneuver him in that regard. If Katsuo was going to win, he needed to change tactics.

With a deep breath, Katsuo shifted back into his 1st Form, but this time, his stance was different. Lower, more aggressive.

Xanus raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the change. Katsuo wasn’t just faster now—he was more deliberate, more precise. His eyes locked on Xanus’s every movement, watching, waiting. Xanus, sensing the shift in energy, launched himself forward, his rapier aimed at Katsuo’s heart. But Katsuo was ready.

With a fluid motion, he sidestepped the attack and countered with a powerful slash aimed at Xanus’s midsection. Xanus barely managed to block the strike, but the force of it sent him stumbling backward.

Katsuo didn’t let up. He followed through with a series of rapid strikes, each one faster than the last, keeping Xanus on the defensive. Xanus’s smirk had faded now, replaced by a look of grim concentration as he struggled to keep up with Katsuo’s relentless assault. But Katsuo wasn’t aiming to land a direct hit—at least, not yet.

He was herding Xanus, pushing him toward a specific spot in the field. Xanus, focused on blocking Katsuo’s attacks, didn’t notice the trap being laid for him. It wasn’t until Katsuo executed a backflip, landing gracefully in front of him, that Xanus realized something was wrong.

Katsuo smiled, his sword glowing faintly with energy. “Whirlwind Strike!” he shouted, the words echoing across the battlefield. In an instant, a massive surge of energy erupted from the ground beneath Xanus, forming a glowing symbol that pulsed with raw power.

Xanus barely had time to react before the delayed strikes activated all at once, the force of them sending him flying into the air. His body slammed into a crumbling pillar, the impact sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air. Katsuo stood tall, his chest heaving with exertion as he watched Xanus struggle to get back to his feet.

Xanus groaned in pain, blood trickling from the numerous wounds now littering his body. He gripped his rapier tightly, using it to support himself as he staggered forward.

For the first time since their fight had begun, Xanus looked vulnerable. Katsuo could see the realization dawning on his opponent’s face: Katsuo had been holding back this entire time.

And now, in this final showdown, Xanus was beginning to understand just how much power Katsuo truly possessed.

“You... you were holding back,” Xanus muttered, his voice laced with disbelief.

Katsuo said nothing, his expression cold and unreadable. He had no time for gloating or taunts—this battle was far from over. Above them, the roof of the palace had collapsed completely, exposing the battlefield to the sky.

The wind howled through the open air, and the clouds overhead seemed to darken as if foreboding something far worse to come. But for now, all that mattered was the fight. Both of them knew that the next few moments would determine the outcome of this battle.

With the palace in ruins and the sky above them wide open, the battlefield expanded. Katsuo stood firm, his sword still glowing faintly from the energy of the Whirlwind Strike.

Xanus, though injured, was far from defeated. He had been pushed to his limits, but Katsuo knew better than to underestimate his resilience.

The man had proven time and again that he was a survivor, and this fight would be no different. Katsuo braced himself as Xanus began to move, his rapier once again poised for attack.

But Xanus had other plans. With a sharp intake of breath, he summoned more magic, his eyes glowing with an eerie light. Dozens of ethereal swords appeared around him, forming a protective barrier as they floated in mid-air, their blades shimmering with power.

Katsuo recognized the technique—Xanus had used it before to devastating effect. But this time, the stakes were higher. The swords didn’t just form a barrier; they hovered above Xanus like a protective swarm, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

Katsuo wasted no time. “Bladestorm!” he roared, his sword once again becoming a blur of motion. The ground beneath him cracked as he unleashed a flurry of rapid, devastating strikes aimed directly at Xanus.

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The air around them seemed to hum with energy as Katsuo’s attacks tore through the space between them. Each slash was faster than the last, his blade moving with blinding speed as he closed the distance between them.

But Xanus was ready. The ethereal swords surrounding him shot forward, intercepting Katsuo’s strikes with a loud clang of steel on steel.

The two forces clashed violently, sparks flying as Katsuo’s Bladestorm collided with Xanus’s magical barrier. The sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, causing the already unstable palace ruins to tremble.

Katsuo pressed harder, his attacks becoming more ferocious as he tried to break through Xanus’s defenses. But Xanus wasn’t backing down. With a flick of his wrist, he directed the magical swords to counter Katsuo’s every move, their shimmering blades cutting through the air with deadly precision.

It was a stalemate—neither side gaining the upper hand as their attacks canceled each other out. But Xanus had one more trick up his sleeve. With a sharp whistle, he summoned a sword, this time beneath his feet.

With a leap, Xanus ascended into the air, using the floating sword to lift him high above the battlefield. Katsuo watched in surprise as Xanus hovered above him, the ethereal blades now acting as both his shield and his transportation.

From his vantage point in the sky, Xanus looked down at Katsuo with a smug grin.

“Let’s see how you handle this,” he sneered, raising his hand toward the heavens. “Rainfall!” he shouted, and in an instant, dozens of magic swords appeared in the air above Katsuo, their sharp tips gleaming as they plummeted toward him like deadly rain. Katsuo’s eyes widened as the swords descended, each one aimed to kill.

But Katsuo was not one to be caught off guard. With a quick breath, he activated Bladestorm once more, his sword spinning in a whirlwind of motion as he deflected the falling blades.

The sound of steel clashing against steel filled the air as Katsuo parried each attack with precision. But the sheer number of swords overwhelmed him. Even as he deflected the first wave, more swords rained down from above, each one faster and deadlier than the last.

Xanus, still hovering above, used his elevated position to launch more attacks. He darted through the sky, his rapier flashing as he slashed at Katsuo from above.

Katsuo barely managed to block the strikes, but each blow sent him stumbling back, the force of the aerial assault pushing him to his limits. Katsuo knew he couldn’t keep this up forever. Xanus had the advantage of height, and as long as he remained airborne, Katsuo would be forced on the defensive.

Summoning his remaining strength, Katsuo sprinted across the ruins, dodging falling swords and collapsing structures as he made his way toward Xanus’s position.

Timing his move perfectly, he leaped into the air, meeting Xanus in mid-flight. With a powerful kick, Katsuo knocked Xanus off his sword, sending him crashing to the ground below. The ethereal swords surrounding Xanus vanished as he hit the earth with a loud thud, the impact sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air.

Katsuo landed gracefully, his sword still at the ready as he approached Xanus. Both fighters were exhausted, their bodies battered and bruised from the intense battle.

But neither was willing to give up. Katsuo knew that this fight would only end when one of them was no longer standing. And he had no intention of letting that be him.

Xanus groaned in pain, pushing himself up from the ground with a grunt. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, but his eyes still burned with determination.

Katsuo could see it—the same fire that had driven Xanus throughout their entire battle. But that fire was starting to fade. Xanus was running out of options, and they both knew it.

Without their swords, the fight had to be settled with their fists. Katsuo clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he prepared for the final bout. Xanus, though injured, stood tall, his expression defiant as he raised his fists in response. The final phase of their battle was about to begin.

The storm raged above, but all Katsuo could hear was the sound of his own breath, heavy and strained, as he stared down his opponent. The wind whipped around them, pulling at their clothes, but neither man moved.

Xanus, bloodied and bruised, straightened his posture despite the pain that racked his body. His eyes were fierce, defiant, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Katsuo knew he couldn't underestimate Xanus.

Despite everything, Xanus had always found a way to push back. This time, however, they were both without their swords—reduced to nothing more than their fists and raw determination.

Xanus wiped the blood from his mouth, cracking his knuckles in preparation for what he knew would be a brutal brawl. Katsuo mirrored his actions, rolling his shoulders to loosen up, his muscles aching from the intense battle.

He didn’t have much left in the tank, but he had to push through. Both of them knew this was the final stage of their confrontation, the moment that would decide the victor.

Katsuo’s gaze sharpened, and with a quick step forward, he threw the first punch. His fist aimed directly at Xanus’s jaw, moving with speed despite his exhaustion.

Xanus ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the blow. His counter was swift—a sharp jab to Katsuo’s ribs, aimed at the same side where he had been stabbed earlier. The pain shot through Katsuo like a lightning bolt, but he grit his teeth and powered through, twisting his body to absorb the impact.

With a grunt, he retaliated, throwing a hook that connected solidly with Xanus’s cheek. The force of the punch sent Xanus stumbling to the side, but he quickly recovered, eyes blazing with renewed fury.

Without hesitation, Xanus surged forward, throwing a flurry of punches aimed at Katsuo’s torso. Each hit was precise, targeting the spots where Katsuo was most vulnerable after the long battle.

Katsuo blocked as many as he could, but a few punches slipped through, landing with brutal efficiency. He could feel the bruises forming under his robe, his muscles screaming in protest with each hit.

But Katsuo wasn’t one to give up easily. With a roar, he unleashed a devastating uppercut, his fist connecting with Xanus’s chin and lifting him off his feet.

Xanus crashed to the ground, spitting blood as he rolled to his side. He groaned, clutching his jaw, but his eyes never left Katsuo.

Xanus was stubborn, refusing to stay down no matter how hard Katsuo hit him. With a pained grunt, Xanus pushed himself back to his feet, swaying slightly as he wiped the blood from his split lip.

“You’ll have to do better than that,” he growled, his voice hoarse from the beating he had taken. Katsuo merely narrowed his eyes, wiping the sweat from his brow as they squared off once again.

The next exchange came fast and brutal. Xanus closed the distance between them in an instant, landing a solid knee strike to Katsuo’s midsection. Katsuo gasped as the air was knocked from his lungs, but he quickly retaliated, throwing a wild elbow that caught Xanus across the temple.

Xanus staggered, his vision momentarily swimming, but he shook it off, launching another punch toward Katsuo’s ribs. Katsuo blocked the hit with his forearm, but the force behind it sent him stumbling backward.

They circled each other like wolves, both of them panting heavily from exertion. Katsuo’s mind raced, analyzing every move Xanus made, looking for any weakness to exploit.

He knew he couldn’t afford to drag this out much longer—his stamina was waning, and Xanus, despite his injuries, was still moving with dangerous precision

Katsuo lunged forward, throwing a barrage of punches aimed at Xanus’s head. Xanus dodged the first few, but one managed to connect with his eye, sending him reeling.

Xanus’s vision blurred, the swelling around his eye making it harder to focus. He cursed under his breath, wiping the blood from his brow as he tried to steady himself.

Katsuo, sensing an opening, pressed forward with renewed vigor. His fists flew with speed and accuracy, landing several blows to Xanus’s midsection and ribs. Xanus grunted with each hit, his body screaming in protest, but he refused to fall. Instead, he reached out and grabbed Katsuo by the arm, pulling him in close before delivering a vicious headbutt.

The impact sent Katsuo stumbling back, blood gushing from his nose. His head rang from the blow, but he managed to stay on his feet, his vision swimming for a moment before it cleared.

Xanus wasn’t done, though. He followed up with a swift kick to Katsuo’s chest, sending him crashing into a pile of rubble. Katsuo groaned as the stones dug into his back, but he quickly rolled to his feet, spitting blood onto the ground as he prepared for the next round.

They were both at their limits now. Every movement was slower, every punch more labored, but neither man was willing to back down.

The palace was littered with debris, their blood staining the stones beneath their feet. Katsuo’s body ached, and he could feel his muscles beginning to fail him, but he couldn’t stop now.

With a growl, he charged at Xanus, throwing a wild punch aimed at his ribs. Xanus blocked it with his elbow, but the force of the blow knocked him off balance.

Katsuo seized the opportunity, grabbing Xanus by the shoulders and slamming him into the ground with all the strength he had left. Xanus gasped as the air was knocked from his lungs, his body writhing in pain.

Katsuo didn’t stop there. He climbed on top of Xanus, pinning him down as he rained down punch after punch, each hit landing with brutal precision. Xanus’s face was a mess of blood and bruises, but still, he struggled, his hands weakly trying to push Katsuo off him.

With a final roar, Katsuo landed one last punch, his fist crashing into Xanus’s jaw with a sickening thud. Xanus’s head lolled to the side, his body going limp beneath Katsuo’s weight.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still, the only sound was the heavy breathing of the victorious warrior.

Katsuo remained on top of Xanus, his chest heaving as he stared down at his defeated opponent. Blood dripped from his knuckles, staining the stones beneath them, but he didn’t move.

It wasn’t until Xanus let out a weak, ragged breath that Katsuo finally stood up, his body swaying from exhaustion.

He had won, but the victory felt hollow. Xanus had been a formidable foe, one who had pushed him to the brink.