Olorun wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes darting around in sudden realization. "Wait... where is Sarugami?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Eleo slowed his pace, glancing over his shoulder. "You're right. How did we forget about him?" His voice was calm, but the underlying tension was unmistakable.

Sharky, running beside them, waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t worry, he’s fine," he said confidently.

Olorun shot him a skeptical look. "How do you know?"

Sharky grinned, tapping his temple with a clawed finger. "I can sense his lifeforce."

Olorun frowned. "And Kenji? Is he alright?"

"Yeah, he’s alive. But his lifeforce is weak. Took a hit, but he’ll pull through," Sharky said with a shrug.

Eleo's voice grew serious. "And Tony?"

Sharky hesitated, his usual confidence wavering for a second. "I... don’t know. He’s a skeleton, so sensing him is tricky. I can’t read him like I can the others."

The group continued running, their footsteps pounding through the jungle. The trees blurred around them, but Sharky suddenly slowed and muttered under his breath, "Wait... where are we even going?"

Eleo didn’t break his stride. "We’re going to kick Agharna’s ass."

Sharky grunted, "Oh, right. Of course, we are. But—"

Before he could finish his thought, his eyes widened, and he pushed everyone aside with a sudden burst of speed. "Ah, shit! Move, move!"

A humanoid black panther emerged from the trees, stepping into their path with a deadly grace. His golden eyes gleamed in the low light, and his voice was a dangerous purr. "Well, well, well... look who we’ve got here."

Sharky growled. "Diego. What the hell are you doing here?"

Diego’s lips curled into a sharp grin, revealing his fangs. "Agharna paid me to kill anyone who escaped," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "And here I am, ready to kill."

Lilith stepped forward, her aura radiating with demonic energy. "I'll handle him for you guys," she said, eyes glinting.

Sharky shook his head. "No need, Demon Girl. Sharky’s got this."

Lilith narrowed her eyes. "You sure? He looks tough."

Sharky flashed a toothy grin, his muscles tensing in excitement. "Seen this man in combat, Lilith. I know what I’m dealing with."

Diego chuckled darkly. "Barely."

Sharky clenched his fists, his claws digging into his palms. "Yeah, yeah. Keep talking. When I’m done with you, maybe I’ll roast you for dinner."

Diego’s eyes flashed with savage hunger. "I’ll be happy to eat your guts, Sharky. Or better yet, cook you up myself."

Sharky snorted. "Alright, Diego. Just wait ‘til I—"

But Diego cut him off, his grin widening with a sadistic edge. "And when I’m done with you, I’ll kill your little friends too."

Sharky’s smile didn’t falter. Instead, he glanced around casually. "Heh, about that... they’re already gone."

Diego’s grin vanished. "What? Where the hell did they go?"

Sharky pointed behind him with a smirk. "While you were busy running your mouth, they slipped away. Classic mistake, Diego. You should know better."

Diego’s growl rumbled deep in his chest, his claws flexing as rage twisted his features. "Grrrr... alright then. I’ll just have to kill you first!"

Sharky’s grin only widened as he dropped into a fighting stance, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Bring it on, Diego. Let’s see who’s roasting who.". As Diego charged, his movements were a blur of black fur and deadly precision. His claws were outstretched, aiming directly for Sharky’s throat. Sharky braced himself, feet planted firmly, and met Diego’s assault with a sharp block, their forearms crashing together with a bone-rattling impact.

Sharky smirked as he held his ground, his hand sliding down Diego's arm, diverting the blow. "You always were fast, Diego, but speed without control? That’ll get you killed."

Diego snarled, retracting his arm and immediately spinning into a low kick aimed at Sharky’s legs. But Sharky anticipated it, shifting his weight to avoid the kick while delivering a sharp elbow strike to Diego's ribcage. The panther grunted as the blow landed but quickly twisted his body, grabbing Sharky’s arm with practiced precision.

"Control? Let’s talk about control when I rip your spine out," Diego hissed, using his Southern Dragon Style. His movements were fluid and lethal, like a predator stalking its prey. He twisted Sharky’s arm, attempting to dislocate his shoulder with a brutal tug.

Sharky gritted his teeth, rolling with the movement and countering with a sharp knee strike to Diego’s midsection. The impact sent a shockwave through Diego's body, forcing him to release his grip.

"You’re welcome to try, but I don’t go down that easy," Sharky said, stepping back, shaking out his arm. His eyes flickered with a dangerous gleam. "Hand-to-hand is my specialty. Let’s see how your fancy Kung Fu stacks up against me."

Diego’s grin was savage, his fangs gleaming in the dim light. "We’ll see how cocky you are when you’re bleeding out."

In a blink, Diego closed the distance again, this time switching to Krav Maga, his attacks direct and brutal. He aimed for pressure points, vital areas—Sharky's throat, eyes, and joints. Sharky blocked each strike with precise movements, his hands moving in controlled arcs, redirecting Diego's force. Diego’s movements were fast, each strike aimed to incapacitate, but Sharky countered with the grace of a seasoned fighter, employing traditional martial arts with lightning precision.

Diego suddenly threw a feint punch, and when Sharky moved to block, Diego dropped low and swept his leg out, catching Sharky off guard. Sharky stumbled, but in the same motion, he pivoted his body mid-fall and slammed his heel into Diego’s side with a ferocious kick.

Diego hissed in pain, stumbling back but quickly recovering. "Not bad... for an old dog."

Sharky stood, rolling his shoulders. "Keep talking, Diego. You might just convince yourself you stand a chance."

They circled each other, the air tense, both of them breathing heavily, but neither willing to back down.

Diego smirked. "Time to stop playing around." He shifted his stance into Southern Dragon Style, his body moving with a serpentine fluidity. His hands came up in a defensive position, each finger curved like a claw.

Sharky narrowed his eyes, recognizing the shift in style. "Finally getting serious, huh?"

Diego lunged again, this time faster than before. His strikes came in rapid succession, a blur of claws and fists that forced Sharky on the defensive. Sharky blocked and parried, but Diego’s relentless assault kept him on his toes. The internal power behind Diego’s style was overwhelming—his speed and agility amplified, each strike carrying devastating force. Sharky’s arms stung with each impact as he barely managed to fend off Diego’s attacks.

Diego suddenly slipped inside Sharky's guard, delivering a brutal palm strike to Sharky's chest, followed by a swift elbow to his face. Sharky staggered back, blood trickling from his lip, but he didn’t falter.

"That all you got?" Sharky spat, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Because if it is, you’re in trouble."

Without warning, Sharky unleashed a flurry of his own strikes, switching to a more aggressive martial art style. His fists moved like pistons, striking at Diego’s ribs, throat, and head with rapid precision. Diego blocked the strikes, but the force behind them drove him back. Sharky wasn’t just fighting—he was testing Diego, pushing him to his limits.

Their battle became a violent dance, each of them trading blows with increasing intensity. Sharky used Muay Thai techniques, delivering brutal knee strikes and elbow attacks, while Diego countered with the fluidity and unpredictability of Shaolin Kung Fu. Their movements blurred together, each strike followed by a counter, each dodge met with another attack.

Diego’s eyes narrowed as Sharky blocked another kick, his foot sliding off Sharky’s arm with ease. "You’re starting to piss me off," he growled.

"Good," Sharky replied with a grin. "That means I’m doing something right."

Diego roared and lunged forward, claws outstretched for Sharky’s throat. But Sharky sidestepped the attack, grabbing Diego’s wrist and using his momentum to flip him over his shoulder. Diego crashed into the ground with a snarl, but before he could react, Sharky was on him, driving his knee into Diego’s chest and pinning him down.

"You’re fast, Diego," Sharky said, his voice calm despite the chaos of the fight. "But you lack discipline."

Diego growled, struggling beneath Sharky’s weight. "Get off me!"

But Sharky only pressed harder, locking Diego’s arm in a joint lock that threatened to snap the limb. "Here’s the thing," Sharky said, his voice low and dangerous. "You rely too much on instinct. You fight like an animal. And that’s why you’ll lose."

With a swift motion, Sharky wrenched Diego’s arm, and the sickening sound of bone snapping echoed through the trees. Diego screamed in pain, but Sharky didn’t relent. He leaned down, his face inches from Diego’s, his voice cold as ice.

"I told you. I’m gonna win."

Diego, panting heavily, his body trembling in pain, snarled defiantly. "You haven’t... won yet!"

With a burst of energy, Diego twisted his body, using his good arm to slam his elbow into Sharky’s side. Sharky grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough for Diego to roll away and get back to his feet.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Still got some fight in you, huh?" Sharky muttered, clutching his side.

Diego, clutching his broken arm, glared at Sharky, his eyes burning with rage. "I’m not done... not by a long shot."

But as Diego prepared to charge again, Sharky’s grin widened. "Good. Because I’m just getting started."

With that, the two combatants launched at each other once more, their fists and claws colliding in a violent symphony of skill, strength, and sheer willpower, the outcome of the fight still hanging in the balance. Sharky moved like a blur, his gut punch sinking into Diego’s abdomen with a sickening thud, followed by a fierce kick that sent the panther sprawling back. The force was enough to drive Diego’s body into the ground, but Sharky wasn’t done. With a sudden surge of energy, Sharky’s body became surrounded by a torrent of water, and he rocketed forward with **Aqua Jet**, slamming into Diego with an impact that seemed to shake the trees around them.

Diego gasped, feeling the sharp pain in his ribs where Sharky had struck him. He barely had time to react before Sharky grabbed his already broken arm and, with terrifying strength, swung him into a nearby tree. Diego's body collided with the trunk, and he let out a guttural groan of pain, sliding down to the ground.

Sharky stood over him, calm but with a dangerous smirk playing on his lips. "You’re slipping, Diego. Where’s all that bravado now?"

Diego, gasping for breath, his chest heaving with each ragged inhale, spat blood onto the ground. "Go to hell," he growled, his voice strained but full of venom. "You haven't beaten me yet..."

Sharky laughed, folding his arms. "You're barely hanging on, buddy. Honestly, I thought you'd put up more of a fight. This is just sad." He glanced to the side, wiping a bit of blood off his lip from earlier in the fight. "But hey, I won’t be the one to finish you off. I’ll let Sarugami have a crack at you."

At that moment, Sarugami emerged from the shadows, a wide grin plastered on his face. His long, muscular tail swayed behind him as he approached. "Sharky, you’re beating up Diego? That’s a surprise." He chuckled, his voice mocking but with an undercurrent of excitement. "And it was **super easy**? Come on, man, don’t make me regret missing out on all the fun."

Sharky stepped back, shrugging. "Easy as pie. Diego’s tough, but I guess I’m just tougher." He tilted his head, looking down at Diego with an amused expression. "He was starting to bore me anyway. Feel free to finish what I started."

Diego’s eyes flickered with rage as he struggled to stand. His entire body was shaking from the injuries Sharky had inflicted, but he refused to stay down. "You think… I’m finished?" he rasped, his voice barely more than a whisper. "You have no idea who you’re messing with."

Sarugami smirked, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward. "Oh, I know exactly who I’m messing with. The guy who’s about to get a lesson in humility." He swung his tail playfully before snapping it in the air, the sound like a whip crack. "Let’s see how well you handle this."

Without warning, Sarugami’s tail lashed out, striking Diego with the precision and force of a whip. The sharp crack echoed through the clearing as the blow landed across Diego’s chest, sending him stumbling back. Diego grunted, instinctively raising his arms to defend himself, but Sarugami was relentless. His tail moved like lightning, striking again and again, each blow forcing Diego further off balance.

"Come on, Diego," Sarugami taunted between strikes. "Where’s that killer instinct? Where’s that fire? You’re supposed to be this unstoppable predator, right? Well, show me!" His tail snapped out again, this time aiming for Diego’s legs, catching him behind the knees and sending him crashing to the ground.

Diego groaned, trying to push himself up, but Sarugami was already on him, his tail wrapping around Diego’s throat in a vice-like grip. "You’ve got nothing left, do you?" Sarugami said, his tone almost bored. "This is pathetic. You’re pathetic."

Diego’s eyes blazed with fury as he struggled against Sarugami’s hold. "I’m… not… done!" He roared, using what little strength he had left to pull Sarugami's tail off his throat and stand up. His body wobbled, unsteady from the beating he'd taken, but his resolve hadn’t shattered. "I’ll… kill both of you!"

Sharky watched from the side, arms crossed, a smirk still lingering on his face. "Big words from someone who can barely stand. But hey, I admire the spirit. Too bad it won’t do you any good."

Sarugami laughed, loosening his tail’s grip and stepping back to give Diego a moment to catch his breath. "Oh, I like this. Go on, Diego, let’s see if you’ve got anything left. Show me that warrior spirit of yours. Or are you just all talk?"

Diego’s muscles tensed as he prepared himself, blood dripping from his wounds, his breath ragged. He was fighting a losing battle, and he knew it. But he wasn’t going down without a fight. His mind raced, trying to find an opening, any way to turn the tables.

Suddenly, Diego darted forward, his body moving with the last vestiges of his Southern Dragon Style, throwing a series of fast, precise strikes at Sarugami. But Sarugami was ready. He ducked and weaved through the attacks with fluid ease, his tail snapping out to block Diego’s blows while he remained mostly on the defensive.

"Not bad," Sarugami said with a grin as he dodged another punch, his tail wrapping around Diego’s wrist and pulling him off balance. "But not good enough."

With a swift motion, Sarugami spun Diego around, slamming him face-first into the ground. Diego gasped as the air was forced from his lungs, his vision blurring from the impact. Before he could react, Sarugami’s tail came down again, striking him in the back like a whip, leaving a deep welt.

Sharky walked over, crouching beside Diego’s limp form. "You done yet? Or do you still wanna keep this going?" His voice was casual, but there was an edge of cruelty in his words.

Diego tried to push himself up, but his arms gave out, and he collapsed back onto the dirt. His breath was shallow, his body broken. "I... won’t... quit..."

Sarugami shook his head, crossing his arms. "You should know when to give up, Diego. Pride's a killer, you know." He glanced at Sharky, raising an eyebrow. "Wanna finish him off, or should I?"

Sharky stood up, stretching his arms. "Nah, let him crawl away. He’s learned his lesson. Ain’t that right, Diego?"

Diego didn’t respond. He was barely conscious, his body beaten and broken, but his pride still intact, if only barely. As Sharky and Sarugami turned to walk away

Diego staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his lip with the back of his hand. His breaths were shallow but steady, and despite the pain, a smirk spread across his face. "You fools… I have inhuman pain tolerance. Do you think a few hits will keep me down?"

Sarugami tilted his head, unimpressed. "Is that so? And what, you want us to tremble at the sight of you?"

Diego grinned, his eyes sharp, calculating. "No… but you should be afraid. You see, I can predict your movements just by looking at you. Your posture, breathing, even how you hold your energy. All of it… I can read. It doesn’t matter what tricks you pull—I’ll counter it."

Sharky crossed his arms, his fins twitching in annoyance. "We’ve heard it all before. Doesn’t mean you’ll win."

Diego’s smirk deepened. "Let’s find out, then."

Diego stood his ground, chest heaving but eyes sharp. The pain in his body barely registered anymore. He was focused, dialed in, reading every movement of Sarugami and Sharky, who were both circling him like predators.

Sarugami grinned, tail swaying behind him like a whip, ready to strike at any moment. "He thinks he’s untouchable… let’s show him what it’s like to fight two-on-one."

Diego smirked, cracking his neck. "Come on then. Let’s make this interesting."

**Sarugami lunged first**, his tail snapping forward like a whip aiming for Diego’s legs in an attempt to trip him up. Diego leaped into the air just in time to dodge, spinning mid-air, and delivered a sharp **Jump Spinning Hook Kick** that clipped Sarugami across the jaw, sending him stumbling sideways.

Sarugami grunted in surprise, but before he could recover, Diego was already following up. He surged forward with **Douglass Charge**, tackling Sarugami with a shoulder thrust, slamming him into the dirt with sheer force. "You’re too predictable," Diego muttered, landing a quick elbow strike to Sarugami’s ribs before flipping off him.

**Sharky came in fast**, taking advantage of Diego’s focus on Sarugami. His fists were already swinging in rapid succession, enhanced by the moisture in the air, each punch heavier and more dangerous than the last. **Aqua Aura** crackled around his strikes as he tried to overwhelm Diego with raw power.

Diego blocked the first few hits, gritting his teeth against the force. Each impact felt like being slammed by a tidal wave, but he stood firm. The moment Sharky’s fist came a little too wide, Diego saw his opening. He ducked under Sharky’s next punch and delivered a vicious **Foreign Elbow** strike to Sharky’s temple, stunning him.

"That’s for thinking water’s gonna slow me down," Diego growled, moving with brutal efficiency.

Sharky staggered but quickly regained his footing, eyes narrowing. He wiped blood from the side of his mouth, grinning through the pain. "You’re fast, but you haven’t seen anything yet."

He launched forward, faster than before, his entire body turning into a mist as he used **Vapor Dash**, reappearing right in Diego’s blind spot. Diego barely had time to react before Sharky’s **Hydration Burst** slammed into his ribs, sending him skidding backward across the ground.

Diego winced as the blow landed, feeling the power behind it, but he quickly rolled to his feet, already anticipating Sharky’s next move. Sharky was relentless, following up with a flurry of punches. Diego blocked most of them, but one caught him across the jaw, snapping his head to the side.

Sarugami, now recovered, sprang back into the fray, **Monkey Flipping** over Diego’s back and trying to throw him off balance. Diego spun with him, grabbing Sarugami’s tail mid-air and yanking him down, slamming his knee into Sarugami’s stomach before flipping him to the ground. Sarugami let out a gasp of pain as he crashed into the dirt.

Sharky saw the opening and swung a **water-infused punch** aimed at Diego’s head. But Diego, always a step ahead, ducked the blow, twisted his hips, and launched into a devastating **Jump Spinning Hook Kick**, his heel slamming into Sharky’s chest with bone-cracking force.

Sharky was knocked backward, the wind completely driven from his lungs as he tumbled across the wet ground. But Diego didn’t let up. He rushed after Sharky, aiming to press his advantage. Sharky’s eyes widened in panic, quickly forming a **Mist Cloak** around himself, trying to obscure his position.

The thick mist swirled around them, blurring the battlefield, but Diego didn’t falter. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, sensing the subtle shifts in the air, listening for the faintest sound of movement.

He heard it—a faint shift in the mist—and lunged forward, delivering a brutal **Foreign Elbow** into Sharky’s ribs, feeling the impact of his strike even through the thick veil of mist. Sharky cried out in pain, the mist dissolving around him as he crumpled to the ground.

But Sarugami wasn’t out of the fight yet. He came at Diego from behind, his **Tail Whip** snapping out to try and wrap around Diego’s neck. Diego spun, catching the tail in his hands and using Sarugami’s own momentum to hurl him through the air. Sarugami flipped mid-flight, using his agility to land on his feet, but Diego was already on him.

Sarugami tried to block, but Diego’s strikes were too fast, too precise. He landed a quick series of punches, each blow aimed at Sarugami’s vital points—ribs, stomach, throat. Sarugami barely managed to keep up, his movements growing sloppy under the relentless onslaught.

Diego grinned as he launched into another **Jump Spinning Hook Kick**, this time catching Sarugami square in the side of the head. The force of the blow sent Sarugami crashing into a nearby tree, the wood splintering under the impact.

Sarugami groaned, struggling to get up. "Damn… he’s too strong…"

Sharky, breathing heavily, stood beside Sarugami, his fists clenched in frustration. "We need to end this now… together."

Sarugami nodded, wiping blood from his mouth. "Fine. Let’s do it."

The two of them charged at Diego in unison, their movements coordinated, trying to overwhelm him with a combination of speed and power. Sharky unleashed another **Aqua Jet**, propelling himself forward with blinding speed, while Sarugami used his **Tree Dance** to attack from above, swinging down from the branches with his tail aimed at Diego’s head.

But Diego was ready for them. He stood his ground, his eyes focused, reading every movement. As Sharky came in from the front, Diego sidestepped at the last second, driving his knee into Sharky’s ribs, then spinning around to block Sarugami’s tail with a swift elbow strike.

Sarugami grunted in pain as his tail recoiled, but he quickly recovered, flipping through the air and landing on the ground beside Sharky.

Diego chuckled, shaking his head. "You’re both too slow. Your teamwork is sloppy."

Sarugami growled, frustration clear in his eyes. "We’re not done yet!"

He rushed at Diego, his hands moving in a blur as he unleashed a series of rapid punches. Diego blocked them with ease, his movements fluid, countering with a brutal **Douglass Charge**, slamming Sarugami into the ground once again.

Sharky, seeing his partner down, raised his hands, summoning all the moisture in the air to form a massive **Condensation Crush**, a high-pressure blast of water aimed directly at Diego.

Diego grinned, planting his feet firmly in the ground. As the water blast came towards him, he ducked and rolled, dodging it by mere inches, and used the momentum to launch into a final, devastating **Jump Spinning Hook Kick**, his heel smashing into Sharky’s jaw.

Sharky went flying, his body slamming into the ground with a heavy thud. He lay there, unmoving, defeated.

Diego turned to Sarugami, who was barely conscious, struggling to get back on his feet. "You should’ve stayed down."

Sarugami looked up at Diego, his eyes filled with pain and defiance. "You… bastard…"

Diego didn’t respond. He simply stepped forward, planting his foot on Sarugami’s chest, pinning him to the ground.

"This is over," Diego said, his voice cold and final.

Sarugami let out a weak chuckle, coughing up blood. "You’re… a monster…"

Diego smirked, leaning down so Sarugami could see the fire in his eyes. "No. I’m just better."

Here’s the expanded and detailed version of the fight, incorporating your requested moments with deeper dialogue and fight descriptions:

---

Diego stood over the defeated forms of Sarugami and Sharky, blood trickling from his knuckles, but his eyes gleaming with a dangerous fire. He tilted his head back and laughed—a dark, guttural sound.

“You two are weak... WEAK!" Diego’s voice echoed, a manic grin stretching across his face. "WEAK, WEAK, WEAK, WEAK, WEEEEEEAK!”

Sharky, breathing heavily and wincing from his injuries, tried to push himself off the ground. His vision was blurry, but he could hear Sarugami groaning beside him. Diego took a step forward, mocking their efforts.

Diego suddenly crouched low, muscles coiling like a spring. "Aqua Jet!" he yelled mockingly, launching forward at lightning speed in a mimicry of Sharky's own move. In the blink of an eye, Diego’s fist found its mark, **slamming into Sharky’s left chest**, the force of the blow sending Sharky flying back. He crashed into a nearby tree, his body crumpling at the base of it, clutching his chest as he gasped for air.

“Sharky!” Sarugami’s voice was raw with desperation, the primal need to protect his partner overriding the pain in his own body. With a roar, Sarugami lunged at Diego, fury burning in his eyes. "I’ll kill you!"

Diego chuckled, barely glancing at Sarugami’s reckless charge. "Go ahead and try."

Sarugami swung wildly, his fists moving with blind rage, but Diego dodged each blow effortlessly, weaving through the attacks like a phantom. Then, in a flash, Diego **ducked under Sarugami’s next punch** and delivered a brutal **sucker punch** to Sarugami’s gut, knocking the wind out of him. Before Sarugami could even react, Diego grabbed him by the neck and **slammed him into the ground** with bone-crushing force, the earth cracking beneath them from the impact.

Sarugami gasped, writhing in pain, but Diego didn’t stop. He stood over him, his fists raining down blow after blow, **combos upon combos**, each punch landing harder than the last, brutal and relentless. Sarugami’s vision blurred as the pain became unbearable, blood staining the ground beneath him.

Meanwhile, Sharky, barely conscious, crawled away from the wreckage of the fight. His body screamed in agony with every movement, but something caught his eye—a faint glimmer in the distance. He squinted, and his heart skipped a beat.

It was an **Aether Shard**.

"My whole life... I've been looking for one of these..." Sharky muttered under his breath, his voice trembling with disbelief and desperation. He stretched out his hand, his fingertips brushing the surface of the shard. “And here I am…”

With the last of his strength, Sharky grasped the shard tightly, the energy from it pulsing through him, momentarily numbing the pain in his body. He looked up, seeing Diego still savagely beating Sarugami, and he knew they needed a miracle.

Sharky gritted his teeth and, with a determined expression, leaped into the air with a desperate **sneaky jump kick**, slamming his foot into Diego’s back. Diego stumbled forward slightly from the impact, more out of surprise than pain. He turned to glare at Sharky, his smile now laced with sadistic amusement.

"Take it, man!" Sharky shouted down at Sarugami, desperation in his voice. "Take the shard!"

Sarugami, still dazed and bleeding on the ground, looked up in confusion. "What...?"

"**Take it, man!**" Sharky repeated, his voice hoarse and frantic. "It's our only chance!"

Diego, now facing both of them, crossed his arms with a cocky grin on his face. "Go ahead," he taunted. "Take the shard. I’d love to see what happens."

Sarugami, groaning, forced himself to his knees and reached out for the shard. His hand trembled as he gripped it, feeling the raw power surging through his veins. His injuries began to heal rapidly, and as he crushed the shard in his palm, a wave of energy coursed through his body. Small flames ignited in his irises, burning brightly as newfound power awakened inside him.

Sharky stumbled back, wide-eyed as he watched his friend transform. "Break it!" Sharky urged, his voice filled with hope. "Do it!"

Sarugami, breathing heavily, felt the power swelling within him. As the shard crumbled in his hand, his entire being was infused with its energy. His body glowed with a faint aura, the ground around him crackling with heat.

Diego’s grin faltered for a moment as he watched Sarugami rise to his feet. Flames flickered around Sarugami’s fists, and his eyes burned with fiery determination. Diego’s smile returned, though now tinged with a hint of curiosity. "Okay... now show me your new powers."

Sarugami clenched his fists, feeling the raw elemental force surging within him. He raised his hand toward Diego, and without a word, he unleashed a massive **fireball**, the flames roaring to life as they hurtled toward Diego.

Diego’s eyes widened in shock. "What the—!" He barely had time to dodge, twisting his body as the fireball shot past him, singeing the edges of his clothes and scorching the ground where he had stood.

For the first time in the fight, Diego looked genuinely surprised. He glanced at the smoldering crater left by the fireball, then back at Sarugami, who stood tall, flames dancing around his body, his eyes burning with power.

Diego smirked, wiping the sweat from his brow. "This just got interesting."