Explosions rang in a section of the capital. This area was covered by red and black flames and filled with craters. There were hardly any buildings left standing. As for those who lived here, they either evacuated or perished a long time ago.

*Bam!*

A black and a white beam clashed against each other on the ground. This was Miko and Darius.

*Bam!*

Darius leaped back to avoid a wave of black flames. He moved like a jet avoiding bolts of black lightning that were being hurled at him. He moved in a zigzag while gathering and compressing flames in his palm. He jumped back and pointed his palm at the source of the lightning.

*Bam!*

A giant beam ripped through the air. It scorched the already ashy ground as it headed toward Miko.

“Ah!”

Miko, whose body was covered with black electric sparks, threw a punch at the beam. He forcefully deflected it and charged at Darius. Several dark beasts formed behind him.

“Black Horde!”

With him at the front, a horde of monsters charged at Darius.

“Hahaha!”

Darius formed two light swords and charged toward the horde. He jumped and kicked a beast away, before spinning in a full circle. The blades extended and sliced through the horde of dark beasts like a blade cutting grass.

Miko stooped under the blades and entered his range. He hit him with a palm strike.

“Black Pulse!”

A wave of static burst into Darius' body and blew him back.

“Ugh?!”

Miko pounced at him and transformed his hand into a black claw. He swung it down to rip Darius into shreds. Dozens of orbs blocked his attack. The orbs then fired powerful beams. They hit Miko and forced him away from Darius.

“Tsk! His reactions are improving.”

Darius cursed. Miko had erected a dark barrier to block most of the beams.

“Then how about this?!”

He stomped the ground and it illuminated.

“Detonation Step!”

*Bam!*

The ground exploded and a wave of flames devoured Miko in an instant. Darius kicked away a dark spear that was thrown at him. He looked at the burning field and saw Miko breathing heavily.

“Giving in already?”

“Not a chance.”

Miko clasped his hands together and immense darkness started leaking from his body. The darkness compressed and formed a giant warrior carrying a glaive.

“Dark Minion: Soldier.”

The warrior approached Darius with small steps before breaking out into a run.

“Damn it….I’m getting really tired here!”

He ran towards the warrior and jumped into the air, aiming a flying kick at him. The warrior swung its glaive and it clashed with the kick. Powerful shockwaves spread through the area.

Darius leaped back. The warrior chased and swung its glaive at him. He jumped over it and landed on the glaive. He ran on the glaive and kicked the warrior’s head off. Miko popped up behind him swinging his dark claw.

“You seriously didn’t think that I would fall for that, right?”

He spun around and hit Miko with a palm strike. The palm deflected the claw, leaving Miko wide open. Darius struck him with his other palm. A laser pierced through Miko’s shoulder.

“Heh.”

But Miko didn’t seem to care and held onto Darius’ arm. The dark warrior stood up and swung his glaive. The glaive hit both of them and blasted them to the side.

Darius hit the ground, while Miko landed on his feet. He had used a cluster of arms to form a wall at his side to protect himself from the glaive.

“Cough!”

He fell to his knees and started coughing. The blow was more powerful than he had anticipated.

“I seriously need to master this form. I wouldn’t have mistakenly used too much force just now if I did.”

“Is that so?”

He saw a pair of feet on the ground, while his head was down. He looked up and saw Darius smiling at him with his body covered with the Flameheart markings.

“Sounds pretty tough!”

He kicked Miko under the chin and sent his body flying through the air. Darius leaped into the air with his legs glowing. He swung his leg like a whip. Miko formed extra arms on his back. They pulled him out of the way by grabbing onto rubble.

“Your reactions are as fast as always!”

Darius lifted his leg overhead. It lit up as he swung it down like a guillotine. A giant sickle of light cut through the air and ground. It charged at Miko, who moved out of the way to avoid it. Darius lifted his leg again, but this time pointed it at Miko. His leg flickered as he thrust it at lightning speed. Lasers bullets flew toward Miko.

Miko ran to avoid them. Darius turned his body on one leg and continued thrusting his other foot. It was like his leg was a Gatling gun.

“Shit! I’m running out of power here. I can’t even fly anymore.”

Miko stopped and faced the laser bullets.

“I guess this is no time to care about limits!”

He thrust both hands in front of him. A powerful wave of darkness rushed forth and absorbed the lasers while pushing everything away.

“Shit!”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Darius brought his foot down and pushed his palms in front of him. He stopped the wave, but for only a second. The wave pushed him back and flattened everything it came in contact with. It was like a bulldozer. The wave eventually died out after pushing everything back.

“Hah~! Hah~! Hah~!”

Miko's breathing became heavier, his vision as started to fade, and his body started trembling. However, despite this, he didn’t look like he was ready to give in.

“Seriously, where do you get this strength from?”

Darius walked towards him. The markings on his body were glowing much brighter than before.

“Gramps was right, that ability of you Flamehearts is a real pain in the ass to deal with.”

Miko stood up straight and calmed his breathing.

“However, even it has it's limit right? I mean you only have that much life energy.”

“You’re right. I don’t have any mana left to make any complicated attacks.”

Miko started walking towards him.

“What a coincidence. Me neither.”

“I guess there’s only one thing left to do.”

“We settle this the old fashion way.”

The two stood directly in front of each other.

“The first one to drop dead wins!”

*Bam!*

They punched each other in the face at the same time. Neither took a step back.

“Oh!”

Miko hit Darius with an uppercut.

Darius stumbled and slammed his leg into Miko’s side.

“Argh!”

Miko clenched his teeth, took a step forward, and hit Darius with a body blow. Darius replied with an elbow to the side of his head and then hit him with a right hook. Miko stumbled back. Darius chased after him with another hook. Miko ducked under it and tackled him.

“Ohh!”

He lifted Darius off the ground and slammed him on his back.

“Guh?!”

Darius felt like the wind was hit out of him. Miko saddled him and started slamming his fists on Darius’ face.

*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*

The sounds of his fist hitting Darius’ flesh echoed throughout the area.

*Bam!*

Darius punched him in the throat, causing him to start gasping for air.

“Ah!”

Darius sat up and headbutt Miko and burst his nose. He punched him on the side of the head and forced him off him.

“Hah~! Hah~!”

Darius struggled to his feet gasping for air. He started walking clumsily toward Miko. He stood in front of him.

“!”

Miko suddenly came to life and swept him off his feet with a kick.

“Ugh?!”

Darius fell on his side and groaned in pain.

“Ah!”

Miko got to his feet and kicked him off the ground. Nebulous’s body bounced off the earth. Miko started chasing after him with unsteady steps and blurry vision. His blood was flowing down his face and even got into his eyes.

“?!”

He looked ahead and saw Darius struggling to his feet.

“Dammit!”

He clenched his teeth and started running towards him. He jumped and hit Darius with a flying kick to the chest. Darius was forced to the ground again, but he quickly started getting back up again.

“Drop dead already!”

Miko pounced at him with a punch.

*Bam!*

Darius suddenly sprang to his feet and slammed his fist into the center of Miko’s chest.

“Guh?!”

Miko coughed up a mouthful of blood.

“Not yet! You’re still not there!”

Darius roared and grabbed Miko’s arm. He threw him to the ground. He stepped back and gave Miko some time to get up. Miko struggled to get on all fours and was trying to get up. Darius ran up and punt him in the head. He fell back down and laid out on the ground.

“Hah~! Hah~! Hah~!”

Darius stood there breathing heavily while bleeding from his numerous wounds.

“Get up! We’re not done yet!”

Maybe because he used too much energy, he felt dizzy after shouting.

“Ugh….”

Miko once again started struggling to get up.

“T-This is nothing….”

He slowly stood up, but immediately started stumbling. He clenched his teeth and held his ground.

“I won’t lose!”

He dashed and threw a punch with all of his strength. Darius smirked and threw a punch at the same time. Their fist past the other’s and slammed into their target’s face.

*Bam!*

They both stumbled back a few steps before holding their ground.

“Ahhh!”

They pounced at each other, throwing another punch.

*Bam!*

After getting hit, they both started to wildly swing at the person in front of them. Neither even attempted to defend. All that was on their mind was to defeat the one in front of them.

(Heavy….)

Darius thought after getting his lip busted open by Miko’s fist. He roared and punched Miko in the eye. Miko replied by punching him in the jaw.

(Heavy….It's really heavy, Miko!)

He punched Miko in the mouth and broke one of his teeth.

(Your feelings behind these punches are heavy!)

Miko elbowed him in the nose and broke it. Blood started gushing out, but he could no longer feel the pain. He stepped forward and sunk his fist into Miko’s stomach.

(Is this the weight you’ve decided to bear?! Are you going to do what I couldn’t?!)

Miko hit him with an uppercut which made it feel like his teeth were going to fall out.

(But my fists are heavy too, aren’t they?)

He hit Miko with a hook across his face. Blood and teeth flew out of his mouth.

“I no longer had any reason to live! The current me can’t make anyone happy! That’s what I thought! Even Layla started wearing a fake smile in front of me!)

Miko returned a hook and burst open the side of Darius’ head. The skin on Miko’s fingers and knuckles had been torn off, but he still clenched his fists with everything he had.

(Doesn’t that mean I’ve failed at life?!)

Darius clenched his fist and slammed it on Miko’s fist.

(But you haven’t! Your life has yet to truly begin! You haven’t gone too far down the path I’ve walked!)

“You can still turn back, Miko!”

He roared and swung his other fist and slammed it into the side of Miko’s head. Miko’s body started falling to the side.

(You can still do what I couldn’t! You can still become the person I couldn’t!)

Miko planted his feet on the ground and stopped himself from falling.

(You’re gonna reach the top, aren’t you?!)

Miko howled like a beast and slammed his bloody fist into Darius’s chest. Darius flew a few steps back. He landed on his feet with his face and upper body soaked in his own blood.

(I made a lot of bad choices and couldn’t bring anyone happiness as a result, but you’re different. You still have a chance. You can still achieve the freedom and happiness you deserve.)

A smile appeared on his face. He started walking towards Miko.

(But there will be those who will want to take that happiness from you. You’ve entered the race for the throne, which means you’ll face unimaginable opposition. Many steps are needed to be taken for you to be the winner in the end.)

He stood in front of Miko. He too was covered in his own blood.

(I’m the one who understands you the most in the world, and you are the one who understands me the most.)

The two geared up for one last punch. They drew their arms back and clenched their fists.

(So let me be that first stepping stone on your path to the top. Let me believe my life had meaning, my friend.)

Contrary to smiling Darius, Miko had a face of anguish but he didn’t look away from the man in front of him.

“Surpass me, Miko! Take that first step towards the top!”

“Ahhhhh!”

Miko roared and threw one final punch with all of his strength behind it. Darius did the same.

As the two’s fists approached each other, their eyes locked. One had a look of gratitude and tranquility, while the other had one of anguish and determination.

*BAM!*

Miko’s fist hit Darius in the center of his face, while Darius’ past him by the cheek. The sound of bones breaking reached Miko’s ears. His fingers bent out of shape after hitting Darius.

It was as if the world was moving in slow motion. Darius started falling to the ground with blood gushing from his nose, eyes, and mouth. Even so, he wore a smile as he fell. He looked at Miko’s face and saw tears and blood flowing down his cheeks.

(Heh, you’ve finally beaten me and you’re crying? Talk about pathetic. However, I think you’ll be fine now, Miko. You’ve already taken the first step, so you won’t hesitate to take another…Didn’t you know? The first step is the hardest.)

His body hit the ground. Before he knew it, he found himself looking up into the sky. There he saw a clear and peaceful sky.

(The sky is so beautiful…..Why, despite being able to fly, didn’t I take the time to truly appreciate it before?)

A flock of birds was flying above his head. A white bird flew down towards him. When it got closer, it transformed into a beautiful woman with wings.

“Nami….”

He mumbled her name.

“Did you come to pick me up?”

Nami smiled at him and stretched her hand out. He slowly lifted his hand and grasped it. The moment he did, his body levitated off the ground. He stood up and looked down. The image of his broken body reflected in his eyes.

“…I see. I’m dead.”

He turned his head. Miko stood there with tears silently flowing down his face. His body didn’t tremble or sway, he stood firm with a proud look as he cried.

“Hm.”

Darius nodded his head with a satisfied look. He walked up to him and placed his hand on Miko’s shoulder.

“You’ll be fine. There will be others who will understand you in the future. You just need to give them time to understand.”

As if he could hear him, Miko silently nodded. Darius smiled and turned his back to him. He walked away and held onto Nami’s hand. He took one last look at Miko.

“Take care of Layla and Hina for me. I know that you’ll be able to do it.”

He turned his head and smiled at Nami.

“Let’s go.”

The two flew off leaving Miko alone. He stood in front of the body of the man who understood him the most in this world. Someone he called his friend.

That day, Darius Flameheart, a man who wanted to live freely but lost his way, died at the hands of a man he recognized as his friend.

This battle was Miko’s first official step toward the throne. One he wouldn’t forget even in death.