> The powers that flow within. The minds that work without.
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In an instant, Pika had transformed in a way. He had entered a state similar to Raiven's, but with a silverish-white hair as well. His eyes opened, displaying a metallic shade, and his body seeming to release great amounts of heat.
He effortlessly avoided Talisman's attack, countering it with a strike of his own.
The Impulse Flow?! And a primed version at that…, thought a surprised Talisman.
And in reaction he would aim for another blow.
His opponent dodged once more, moving past Talisman in a sequence that then flawlessly flowed into a successful barrage of multiple aftereffect hits from his fist.
Talisman stepped back with a now torn cape, catching his breath and rethinking his approach.
As I thought, currently he has the far greater speed advantage…, Talisman thought, beginning to greaten the magnitude of the employment of his biofield than ever before.
Pika kept watch so as to not miss the coming assault.
Meaning I must further cut my restraints! And then the Stralean flew at Pika.
From there there was a clash, another just like all the previous.
And across a floating slab of earth which was canyon-like, there was an exchange of rapid blows, occurring simultaneous with flights all over at even higher speeds.
Talisman flowed into another throw of his fist, but earned only a rapid elusion.
Pika then struck him with a chop to the back, drawing a light wince from him. “Ghk!”
The Sarhun then did a short spin, ending with a left-footed strike to send Talisman downwards.
The Stralean quickly recovered, moving on firing his signature optic heat blast at Pika in a turn.
But Pika found no issue in getting past this as well, making his way once again towards Talisman.
And in a sudden burst, Talisman expelled a great flare of pure red energy of solar origins.
Pika would retreat to avoid its range of effect, sensing the great destructiveness it carried.
Suddenly, from its aftermath, out flew Talisman with a dash, straight at a yet unprepared Pika.
But the Stralean slowed and stopped, widening his arms and preparing energy stored within his being.
He brought those arms forward to release a powerful directioned prominence towards the displacement of the Sarhun, who was hasty to evade.
Pika proceeded to blitz a stunned Talisman.
And then kicked back the Stralean into a tumble with a volley kick.
In eventuality, Talisman became inert, amidst a recuperation from the attacks.
He entered a string of mentations, beginning with an admiring analysis of his opponent. Amazing…every second he spends in battle is more room of growth for him…
Pika positioned his hands in a dog gesture. Even still…I mustn't let up now!
"~Inugami!~*".
[Japanese: Hound Spirits.]
Two wolflike shikigami very akin to Haipuban's then manifested at either side of his.
"Go!" He signaled to them,they then making their ways towards Talisman.
But Talisman began concentrating a pure red ball in his hands, to the greater astonishment of a-many.
And in the center of those same hands, he began compressing that ball with mighty force.
But Pika looked forward confidently, mimicking the exact same prior motion with a similar ball on an outstretched palm, though his ball was of his utilizable life essence and not stellar energies.
So that’s his “tracing” technique…he learns powers and skills metaphysically via touch, and then masters them through visual knowledge alone…
In this case, my Solar Bomb’s been copied. Pika himself then began to compress the ball he had created, bringing about a hurried race for the completion of these acts.
And once done, both looked up to each other, shooting looks of preparedness.
They simultaneously fired off powerful blasts, which were evaded by the shikigami, only to clash in an intensive explosion of destructive impact nevertheless.
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The aftermath quickly cleared, revealing the shikigami to be gone, and the dyad to be still well off, though Talisman seemed more exhausted, and the top half of Pika's gi had now been completely eviscerated, leaving only a somewhat tattered lower half.
Pika then looked boldly at Talisman with a nod. Talisman returned the greeting.
And then he flew away, for no known reason, to Pika, or any else.
However, he went upwards, making a recollection as well. The power of the Sun…lies everywhere.
He began focusing intensively, collecting as much of the minimal stellar energy he could find, but gaining so much it equaled the energy of a billion suns.
The concentration was of a great intensity, to the point he could be seen as a streak of bright yellow light by all, including Pika.
“Heh. There it is…” Pika said with a calm smile of anticipation.
“~Heeer…miiiiit…~” Pika began to yell, as with his cupped palms to his side, he prepared his final attack, leaving his body illuminated in a white light.
Talisman, who had now finished his flight through the vacuum, began to barrel to the platform at speeds even more highly to the norm.
“~WAAAAVE!!!~” Pika screamed, firing off a high-intensity blast of ki.
In retaliation, Talisman, now completely doused in solar yellow, fired his optic heat beam at the blast, clearing a path through it.
This left Pika with a stunned grit of his teeth, realizing he would have to go even further beyond.
“POLE-BOOST!!!” He yelled, becoming enveloped by an intense, large, and ardent red aura that emboldened his total puissance, and his attack.
Emboldened it to the point that the surface upon which he stood, attempted to take the shape of a larger geoid, but was instantly decimated by the sheer potence of the one being that stood upon it.
Despite this, Talisman endured, pushing forward through the attack.
Upon seeing his opponent close in, a giant energy avatar sharing coloration similar to the Impulse Flow itself emitted from Pika's body, ready to defend him.
Talisman pulled his fist back, as well as the avatar.
Both then struck with their fists, clashing in spectacular fashion.
The clash proved powerful enough to completely annihilate the worlds, enveloping all in a darkness much to the shock of many.
Cracks in that span of reality formed, emitting bright lights.
And finally, the shattering completed in erratic and violent fashion.
Suddenly, Pika opened his eyes in a haste.
He sat up, his face plastered in confusion as he was within a space of pure white, with fractal screens making up the area above. “Where am I?”
“Calm down…” A voice said and a familiar boot came forward, gaining his attention.
It was Talisman, standing up with crossed arms. “We're in a kind-of mindscape, sharing thoughts right now.”
“So I lost!!? Darn it!” Pika exclaimed in agitation, tilting his head backwards. “Yeah. But you almost got me. Almost.” Talisman assured with a sigh.
“And, that was pretty fun. (Feels good to let loose every once in a while it seems).”
“Hee hee. Feeling's mutual! But next time, I'll come out on top.”
“I look forward to it.” Talisman nodded, as before them were some screens, with visages of beings fighting, as the area began to be covered by a fade, as well as all things within it.
Within the Bounded Coliseum, and in the seating spaces, the anticipation was at an all-time high. The majority looked on, staring in anxiety.
Finally, the Field totally restored itself, forming a platform, and a noticeable pixel floating towards it.
It was Talisman, gently holding Pika in his arms as he floated downwards.
Pika was unconscious, yet with a clear smile of satisfaction.
Upon which all looked to in relief and celebration, glad for the conclusion to this epic.
《The greats contended…》《The beloved tangled…》
And Dgiag spoke the final word, giving confirmation of the victory.
《It truly was…》 《The Greatest Battle.》 《Victor: Talisman.》
Meanwhile, within the stretched hallways of the Coliseum, many other members of the alliance, being the likes of Hether, Huo, Drizzled, Kai and Purogu scoured about, discussing and solving different puzzles and hints that had been found.
But keeping eyes on from a good distance was Tyrai, the Kibito who had contended against Ranthee Wok.
Kids these days…, He mulled internally.
Suddenly, his eyes spread, sensing a feeling as if being reached out to and called through his psyche.
He slipped into a hidden corner to avoid detection, though his motion did seem to momentarily be glimpsed by some of their group.
"Oh, hello~o!" He said casually.
"The fourth round cometh soon. How art resources faring?" The individual asked in a deep and imposing voice, a voice sounding like something unheavenly and strongly bitter.
"Ahh…should be alright. Though there'll probably be a few hiccups here and there.” Tyrai responded nonchalantly to said voice, scratching his head. "Well, those art to be foreseen. There is no true certainty in existence.”
Tyrai rolled his eyes in response. "You've told me this a million times…”
"And I would believe that thou art no fool incapable of carrying that in mind in all moments." The voice retorted sharply, and venomously.
It was a retort that sent unearthly chills through Tyrai's spine, as goosebumps rose on the Kibito’s body.
"Alright, sorry. Just hoping everything goes swimmingly.” He said, turning his head to see if anyone was walking towards his standing.
"Within all probability, it is yet undecided. Regardless, we part for now. Goodbye…,” said the person, stopping their talking and seemingly disconnecting from Tyrai's mind. "Yeah. See ya…”
Tyrai looked up, carrying only a soulless expression. “…Dad.”…
《The shadows expand. Who is “Dad”?…》
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