The air crackled with tension, a palpable current that flowed between Lucien and Ethan. Lucien's gaze was locked onto Ethan's eyes, a maelstrom of crimson that swirled with untamed fury.

The soft smile that played on Lucien's lips belied the gravity of the moment, a fleeting memory of their first encounter piercing the veil of the present turmoil.

"Ethan, do you remember how we had met each other for the first time?" Lucien's voice was a gentle whisper against the storm, a bid to reach the man behind the madness.

Ethan's response was a silent scream of rage, a blood shot hurtling towards Lucien with lethal intent.

"So, you don't want to talk." Lucien voice bitter and disappointed.

He countered with a flamethrower, the flames licking the bloodshot, consuming it in a fiery embrace.

"Well, I still remember how you used to stay quiet and usually watch everything from aside. You were so different from the others, so mysterious and intriguing." Lucien's voice carried a mix of regret and hope as he recounted the past.

"Grrr!!" Ethan's growl was the only reply, a primal sound that heralded his swift and deadly advance.

He sprang towards him, his claws sharp and deadly. He moved with a speed and force that defied logic.

"You always wore that same dull expression, like a small child burdened with the weight of the world. I often pondered how such a young soul could carry such a heavy demeanor. You seemed devoid of excitement, emotion, or vitality, as if the world itself had abandoned you." Lucien's words flowed effortlessly amidst Ethan's relentless assault.

With a flick of his wrist, he hurled a fireball towards Ethan's face, swiftly sidestepping to evade the retaliatory strike. Dodging the incoming attack with agility, he seized the opportunity to launch his own counterattack.

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Lucien spoke with a sincere tone, "I never truly understood you. I never knew what you were thinking, what you were feeling, what you were hiding. I wish I could have helped you, Ethan."

As he clenched his fist, a surge of determination ignited within him, manifesting as a brilliant blast of blue fire erupting from his palm. This fiery display symbolized Lucien's unwavering resolve, a beacon of hope amid the surrounding despair.

"I was filled with overwhelming joy upon learning of your brother's arrival into this world. My heartfelt wish was for you to discover happiness and tranquility within your family. I hoped for you to experience the joys of childhood - laughter, play, and the freedom to dream."

Ethan narrowly evaded the fiery blast, yet it still managed to graze his arm, leaving behind a trail of searing pain, scorching heat, and a blistering wound.

"But instead of what I had anticipated, Ethan, you took a divergent course. You plunged headfirst into the depths of the dungeons, where peril and death loomed at every turn. You confronted the monsters within, almost as if you were one of them."

Lucien didn't stop there. He continued his assault, hurling fireballs relentlessly at Ethan, each one followed swiftly by another. Soon, a swirling vortex of smoke and fire enveloped the sky, shrouding their battlefield in an ominous haze.

"Even though Commander tried to stop you, even though you saw your teammates dying but still why? Why? Just why did you continue to participate in those dungeons?"

The blood strewn across the battlefield coalesced around Ethan, swirling with an otherworldly energy that knit his wounds together and infused him with renewed strength.

"But it's not like I didn't know." Lucien spoke the truth, but he didn't expect any answer.

"You possessed an overwhelming amount of power, Ethan. More than anyone could possibly manage. Your uniqueness set you apart, instilling fear and wariness in those around you. It must have left you feeling uneasy and isolated."

Lucien's revelation was a somber acknowledgment of Ethan's isolation, the walls of fire he summoned not just a trap, but a symbol of his desire to shield Ethan from the world that had so often misunderstood him.

"And when your brother was born, you thought things would change. You thought you would have someone who understood you, someone who loved you. You sought strength to protect him, to bring him pride."

Ethan's eyes blazed with a crimson fury as he shattered through the fiery barriers with sheer determination.

"But even with that knowledge, I can't understand you." Lucien admitted solemnly.

A sudden vice-like grip clenched around his throat, lifting him off the ground. Meeting Ethan's gaze, Lucien found only a seething mix of hatred and anguish.

"Are you still not going to say anything?" Lucien managed a sad smile and whispered softly.

Ethan remained silent, his grip tightening around Lucien's windpipe with an intensity that threatened to crush it.

"Fine then," Lucien gasped, his voice strained. "Commander Gorgon has told me to stop you, Ethan. And so, I will."

Summoning his inner fire, Lucien unleashed a devastating explosion of flames. He was enveloped in the searing heat, blinding light, and force of the blast. As the flames surged outward, he felt Ethan's grip slacken, sending his body hurtling backward.

He landed on the ground, his clothes burned, his skin charred, his bones broken. He looked at Ethan, who stood resolute despite the blood seeping from his wounds and his injuries gaping.

"I, Lucien, Vice Commander of Echelon, will stop you, Ethan Ryoko." He declared, his voice ringing out with unwavering determination.