Kenji’s grip tightened around the hilt of his sword as he stared down the man. The air between them buzzed with tension, the faint hum of electricity emanating from the man body, and the cold steel of Kenji’s blade reflecting the pale light of the overcast sky. The bridge beneath them groaned under the weight of the confrontation, the wind whipping around them, carrying the scent of ozone.”Go,” Kenji ordered, his voice a low growl, eyes never leaving Man. Tony hesitated for a moment, but then, understanding the gravity of the situation, nodded and grabbed Eleo. They dashed towards the far end of the bridge, their footsteps echoing against the stone.In a blur, man teleported behind Eleo, his kick aimed to send the boy plummeting into the abyss below. Kenji and Tony lunged to save him, but man was gone before they could react. Panic surged in Kenji’s chest as he scanned the surroundings, fearing the worst.”Damn it, the kid…” Kenji muttered, gritting his teeth.”This can’t be happening,” Tony echoed, despair tinging his voice.But then, a laugh—light and triumphant—echoed from below. “I’m okay!” Eleo’s voice rang out, followed by the sight of him hoisting himself back onto the bridge. Tendrils of ink, thick and dark, extended from his stomach, clinging to the underside of the bridge like a web. With a final pull, he was back on solid ground.Kenji let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Quick thinking, kid.”But man was relentless. In a flash, he materialized again, aiming to strike. This time, Tony was ready, delivering a powerful kick that sent the man skidding across the bridge. Kenji seized the moment. “Go now!”Tony nodded, grabbing Eleo’s arm and bolting. As they disappeared into the distance, Kenji turned his full attention to the man before him.”You got a name?” Kenji asked, his tone even, almost casual.”Olorun,” the man replied, his voice crackling like static. “And you?””Kenji.” There was a moment of silence, both warriors sizing each other up. “We both know what’s about to happen.”Olorun nodded. “Yep.”The air between them seemed to crackle with anticipation. With a sudden burst of speed, Kenji rushed forward, his sword slashing through the air. Olorun dodged effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. Lightning sparked around his fist as he swung at Kenji, but Kenji met the punch with his blade, the force of the impact reverberating through his arms.”So, you’ve got lightning powers,” Kenji remarked, pushing back against Olorun’s strength.”Yeah,” Olorun grinned, the electricity in his veins surging with excitement. “Got it from the Aether Shard.”Kenji’s eyes narrowed. “Why don’t you explain that to me?”Olorun smirked, taking a step back, his form shimmering with residual energy. “The Aether Shard is a rare and ancient artifact, a fragment of a primordial cosmic energy known as Aether. Hidden in treacherous places, guarded by forces most can only dream of. But the prize… is worth it.”Kenji listened, his mind racing even as his body remained poised to strike. He could feel the weight of Olorun’s words, the power they implied.”When you break the shard, it bonds with you—permanently. Gives you a power that’s unique to the shard’s nature. But it’s not without its dangers. Those who wield such power are hunted. Coveted. The shard becomes a part of you, for better or worse.””That’s… nice,” Kenji said dryly, before lunging at Olorun again.The fight resumed with renewed intensity. Kenji’s blade moved with blinding speed, creating afterimages that made it nearly impossible to tell where the real strike would come from. Olorun’s body crackled with energy as he activated Electrostatic Surge, absorbing electricity from the air, his muscles bulging with enhanced strength and speed. He dodged Kenji’s strikes with ease, his movements almost too fast for the eye to follow.Kenji’s Phantom Edge technique was formidable, but Olorun’s newfound speed made him a difficult target. With a burst of lightning, Olorun unleashed Lightning Mirage, creating multiple copies of himself that danced around Kenji, each one a mirror of the original. Kenji’s eyes darted from one to the next, trying to discern which was real, but each mirage seemed solid, tangible, and deadly.Kenji gritted his teeth, swinging his sword through one of the mirages, only for it to dissolve into crackling electricity. The real Olorun was already on him, his fists crackling with power as he struck. Kenji barely had time to block with his sword, the force of the impact sending vibrations through his arms.Olorun stepped back, his eyes narrowing. “You’re tough, Kenji. But let’s see how you handle this.”With a fierce shout, Olorun released an Electromagnetic Pulse, the air around them distorting as the pulse spread outwards. Kenji felt his muscles seize up as the energy washed over him, his body momentarily paralyzed by the powerful electric surge.But Kenji wasn’t finished. Summoning his strength, he activated Wind Shear, swinging his sword through the air and generating razor-sharp wind currents that sliced through the lingering energy. The gusts of wind cut through the mirages, dispelling them one by one, until only the real Olorun remained.Olorun blinked in surprise as the winds tore through his defenses, but he quickly recovered, his body still crackling with residual energy from the surge. “Impressive,” he muttered, his tone begrudgingly respectful.Kenji pressed the advantage, his sword flashing with a pale light as he channeled his energy into a Moonlit Crescent. The glowing crescent of energy arced through the air, aimed directly at Olorun. But Olorun’s reflexes, enhanced by his lightning powers, were faster than Kenji anticipated. He twisted his body, barely avoiding the crescent’s deadly edge as it sliced through the stone of the bridge behind him.The two warriors stood facing each other, both breathing heavily, their bodies marked with the signs of battle. Kenji’s sword glinted in the dim light, while Olorun’s eyes burned with electric fury.”This isn’t going to end well for either of us,” Kenji said, his voice hoarse from the exertion.Olorun smirked, the expression almost feral. “Maybe. But I’m not going down without a fight.”With that, Olorun raised his hand to the sky, a mini cloud he summoned above them darkening as he gathered his power. A massive bolt of lightning struck his outstretched hand, the energy crackling around him as he prepared his final move. Kenji braced himself, his mind racing for a counter.Olorun unleashed Lightning Nova, a burst of pure electric energy radiating outwards from his body. The force of the blast was overwhelming, the air around them charged with static, the ground beneath them cracking under the strain. Kenji raised his sword, channeling all his remaining energy into a final strike.Eclipse Breaker.The world seemed to slow as Kenji’s blade cut through the air, the sheer force of the strike tearing through the fabric of reality itself. The energy from Olorun’s Lightning Nova met Kenji’s Eclipse Breaker head-on, the clash of their powers creating a blinding explosion of light and sound. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the bridge, the structure groaning under the strain.When the light finally faded, the two warriors were left standing on opposite sides of the bridge, both battered and bloodied. Kenji’s sword was still in hand, though the blade was chipped and smoking. Olorun’s body was covered in burns, the remnants of his electric powers flickering weakly around him.Neither moved. The fight had taken everything out of them.Kenji took a step forward, his legs trembling under the weight of exhaustion. Olorun did the same, his breath ragged and shallow. They met in the middle of the bridge, both barely standing.”Looks like it’s a draw,” Kenji muttered, a wry smile tugging at his lips.Olorun chuckled, the sound strained. “Yeah… I guess it is.”And with that, both men collapsed, their bodies hitting the stone with a dull thud. The bridge was silent, save for the faint hum of residual energy dissipating into the air.For now, the battle was over.

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