The fight between Miko and Luka entered a new level of intensity after Miko started using his Dragonite Form. With this form Miko, who had the physical prowess of a Dragonman, was able to go toe to toe with Luka’s Infinite Demon Dragon Form.

*Bam!*

Their fists collided once again and shook the area. They were incredibly fast with both attacking and defending. Miko dodged a hook and hit Luka with a palm strike to the chest. He followed up with a roundhouse. Luka easily ducked underneath the kick and grabbed his leg. She lifted Miko off the ground and slammed him into the earth. She then threw him into a boulder a couple of hundred meters away. Miko crashed through the boulder and bounced off the ground. Luka chased after him and fired a red blast from her fanged mouth.

“Ohh!”

While his body was bouncing off the ground, Miko punched the earth so hard it formed a crater. The recoil from that attack blasted him a few feet into the air. Miko then spun his body and kicked the blast Luka fired away.

*Bam!*

The blast landed a couple of miles from them and exploded.

“….The fuck?”

Luka was dumbfounded by what Miko just did. She stood there breathing heavily with several wounds over her body. Miko was in the same condition.

“This brings back memories, us fighting and you defying common sense.”

“Does it? I don’t really remember the past since it’s not important.”

Miko spoke with a serious expression.

“I only look at the future. For me, the past will always remain the past.”

Luka’s eyes widened a bit before a smile appeared on her face.

“Then I must be quite the eyesore since I’m from the past you’re trying to forget.”

She also showed a serious expression.

“But there will not be a future for one of us after today.”

*Bam!*

Miko said nothing and charged at Luka. She showed a lonely smile before charging at him. She jumped and hit Miko with a flying kick and forced him to the ground. She lifted her leg and swung down her heel at his head. Miko rolled out of the way and swept her off her feet.

*Bam!*

Luka’s tail slapped him away just before her back touched the ground. She quickly got up to attack, but claws appeared just inches from her face. She moved her head and the claws ripped into her flesh.

“Ugh?!”

She clenched her teeth and held on to Miko’s hand before he could pull it back. She pulled him towards her and headbutt him. Their foreheads burst open.

Miko growled and uppercut her under her chin. She stumbled back a bit before Miko kicked her away with all of his strength. Luka felt like her ribs were on the verge of collapsing after receiving Miko’s heavy blow. The Ouroboros in her eyes started spinning and she somehow stopped herself from passing out.

“Ahh!”

Miko pounced at her with a punch aiming at her face. Frightened, her reflexes took over. She threw a punch at Miko and the two attacks landed simultaneously.

*Bam!* *Bam!*

The shock from the punches caused their surroundings to blank out. The two collapsed right next to each other.

“…….”

“……”

They neither moved nor talked, they just lay on the ground breathing heavily.

(….This does really feel nostalgic.)

Miko thought. He didn’t know why but it was like he was brought back to those days when he was a child. Despite being considered a monster by all, one person tried their best to keep up with him. That was the person beside him. Luka was having similar thoughts. The only person she was unable to beat no matter how hard she tried was next to her. As if the two’s minds became linked, they couldn’t help but remember the day they first met.

It was when they were only 7 years old. Miko was brought to the Flameheart Clan by his parents and Nero. It was to introduce him to his potential bride.

“Hello, Miko. Do you remember me?”

Darwin asked a young Miko who was holding his mother’s hand. Miko nodded and smiled.

“Uncle Darwin.”

“Good, you remember.”

Darwin smiled and gestured for the young girl who was behind him to come closer. She walked up and stood beside him.

“Miko, this is my granddaughter Luka. Lulu, this is Miko. I hope you two can get along in the future.”

“…….”

“…….”

The two children looked at each other with curiosity and didn’t speak for a while. Just when the adults were wondering if they didn’t like each other, Luka stretched her hand out toward Miko.

“I’m Luka Flameheart. It’s nice to meet you, Miko.”

Luka spoke with a bright smile on her face. Miko also smiled and shook her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Luka.”

*****

“……”

“…….”

The two silently lay on the ground with their bodies aching even from just breathing. As if in sync, Miko and Luka started struggling to get to their feet. The sounds of bones popping could be heard when they tried to stand up. After what felt like an eternity for them, the two finally were standing again.

(What the hell? I shouldn’t be that tired or beaten up, yet my body feels so sluggish.)

Miko clenched his fists and turned to face Luka. He wasn’t surprised to see her standing in front of him with her fists up. He looked at her trembling body and her breathing heavily.

(Ah…It’s this feeling again.)

He looked into her eyes and saw the fire burning within them. He was reminded of the second time he met Luka.

It was when he had officially started attending the junior division of the academy. As an aptitude test of sorts, the teacher of Miko’s class had organized for the students to have a friendly spar with each other. The format of the spar was that if you won you must continue to fight until you’re defeated. The ones who were defeated would then fight different opponents after everyone had fought at least once. This was a cruel test for children no more than 7 since it would put their endurance to the test. But it would also show what weaknesses the children had by having them face different types of opponents. However, the true goal of the exercise was to differentiate the strong from the weak and work with them accordingly.

As fate would have it, Miko was the first to go.

The first fight ended in an instant with Miko knocking his opponent out cold, even breaking their arm with a single punch. This shocked the teachers and frightened the students. Feeling proud of himself for winning so easily, Miko expected to hear praises, but the only thing he received was scornful looks. Seeing that no one wanted to fight Miko, the teacher told him to step down.

“Wait, teacher!”

That’s when one of the students stopped the teacher. This student was Luka.

“Since Miko won, he should stay and fight until he’s defeated.”

“…..That is the rule, but no one wants to fight him and I don’t think it’s safe either.”

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Hearing the teacher’s response, Miko’s mood suddenly plummets.

(Here too, huh? Just earlier everyone was talking about becoming someone strong in the future, so I thought that I would find others like me but….)

Wherever he looked, the children would turn their gazes away from him in fear.

(…..Why are humans so fragile?)

“Then let me fight him!”

“?!”

Both the teacher's and Miko's eyes widened as they looked at Luka. She had a bright smile on her face. She faced Miko with a confident look in her eye.

“I want to fight you, Miko.”

“……!”

Being faced with her honest expression after being scorned by everyone else made Miko feel bewildered.

“Ms. Flameheart! You can’t!”

“No, I will.”

Luka walked upon the field and faced Miko lifting her fists.

“Fight me, Miko.”

******

“…….”

Miko silently lifted his fists in front of him. They felt like they each were as heavy as a mountain. Even so, he clenched his teeth and took a step forward, and drew his fist back. Luka did the same.

*BAM!*

Miko’s fist sunk into Luka’s abdomen, while her fist passed his face, only grazing it. Luka clenched her teeth as if to bear the pain.

“Ahhh!”

*BAM!*

She jumped and headbutted Miko under his chin, the shock caused him to step back. She chased after him and threw another punch. Her fist clashed with Miko’s hair, which moved in front of him to protect him.

*BAM!*

Miko kicked her in the stomach and forced her back. He pounced at her and swung his claws down on her torso and rip through her skin.

“Ahhhh!”

Luka screamed out in agony. She held the wound which was bleeding heavily. Miko went into for another attack to finish the job.

(I won’t lose!)

Luka screamed in her heart. Her tail thrust from behind her and struck Miko in the throat.

“Geh?!”

Miko grabbed his throat and fell to his knees.

“Ah!”

*BAM!*

Luka ran up and kicked him under the chin to finish him off. Miko’s body was forced off the ground. He flew back and landed on his back. Electricity started dancing in Luka’s palms before forming an electric ball. An infinity symbol appeared in that ball of electricity and it tripled in size. She flapped her wings and flew up into the air and lifted the electric ball overhead.

“Infinite Electrosphere!”

She threw the electric ball and it tripled in size again. Miko looked up and saw the ball expand to the size of a car when it was just a few meters away from him. He did his best to ignore his throat and sprung to his feet and poured all the power into his arm. His arm doubled in size and his muscles tensed up to the point it looked like his skin was about to tear.

“Dragon Fist!”

Miko punched the electric ball moments before it was about to touch him.

*BAM!*

An invincible force blew a hole right through it. The force flew up in the air and hit Luka square in the stomach.

“Guah?!”

Blood sprayed out of her mouth and a 3-inch deep fist print appeared in her stomach. She lost her strength to fly, fell out of the sky, and crashed into the ground. Miko fell onto one knee and held his throat once again.

(Damn….It’s painful just to breathe.)

He looked at Luka who was lying out on the ground.

(Come on….Stay down. Stay down, dammit!)

This situation caused another flashback to those days.

*****

“…..That’s it?”

Miko looked down on the young Luka who he had just defeated. He didn’t defeat her instantly but it didn’t take long either.

“He really is a monster.”

He could hear someone’s whisper. He became dejected and turned his back to Luka.

“W-Wait…”

“?!”

He quickly turned around and saw Luka standing on her feet. Her body was shaking. She once again lifted her fists.

“I can still go on.”

“……!”

When Miko saw the fire burning in her eyes his body became tense. This was the first someone his age wished to fight him again after getting crushed once already. Not knowing what to do, Miko put his fists up.

“Wait!”

The teacher wanted to intervene but before she could, Luka had already started sprinting toward Miko.

*BAM!*

What happened next was something Miko had no recollection of. He only saw Luka laid out on the ground once again with his fist feeling a stinging pain. He soon realized that he had hit Luka with his full strength.

(Crap! I killed her!)

He shouted in his mind. He was panicking when he felt someone grab his foot. He looked down.

“I-I’m…still not done…yet.”

Luka looked up at him with blood flowing down her face.

“Ekk!”

Miko shrieked and stepped back on reflex. He looked and saw that Luka was still staring at him with her red eyes. Her eyes which still had fire blazing inside them. Eyes that showed she still hadn’t admitted defeat.

Miko looked at Luka and saw infinite symbols appearing all over her body. It was like she was forcing her body beyond its limit to continue fighting. He watched as Luka’s started struggling to her feet again.

“That day I experienced something that I’ve never experienced before.”

He saw her look up at him and finally stood up straight. She brought her fist up once again. Miko once again saw the fire burning in her eyes.

“That day I experienced an emotion that I didn’t know was in me.”

He clenched his fists and put them up as well.

“That emotion is Fear. I was and still am afraid of you, Luka.”

“I know.”

Luka showed a bloody smile.

“I originally thought that you were ignoring me because you felt I wasn’t worthy of you. I thought you were someone arrogant who felt like he was better than everyone else, but….”

She remembered those evenings and nights when she would stay back after class and go to the training field. There she would always watch a boy train by himself. The boy would struggle with stuff she found simple, but he showed persistence that put others to shame. He wouldn’t give up or feel satisfied with small successes. He would always give his all to turn even the simplest of things into masterpieces.

She didn’t know when, but Luka found herself admiring the boy rather than hating him as she once did.

“I’ve seen sides of you that made me realize I was the arrogant one. I was the one looking down on you. Godly talent? Privileged from birth? I’m ashamed to associate those things with you. I don’t know anyone who worked as hard as you did back then.”

Her eyes softened and her smile became gentle.

“Maybe that’s why I fell in love with you.”

Miko’s eyes widened for a bit before he too smiled.

“I see. Then you must’ve been disappointed with the way how I turned out?”

“I was, but I knew you would come back to this side eventually, so I couldn’t afford to slack off. I kept training and training awaiting your return….For you to return to me.”

“……..”

Miko lowered his fists and looked up at the sky.

“I see….So that’s how it is.”

He had a self-mocking smile on his face as he stared at the sky.

“I thought I avoided you entirely because I feared you, but that’s not it isn’t it.”

He looked back at Luka and smiled.

“I think I was just too shy and didn’t know how to interact with the girl I liked. Funny, isn’t it?”

This time Luka’s eyes widened. They then became watery.

“I see. I see. I guess we both had our misunderstandings.”

“Looks like it.”

The smile fell from Miko’s face.

“But that’s that and this is this right?”

Luka also stopped smiling as well and nodded.

“My mother is on the line. Even though my grandfather couldn’t find a cure no matter how hard he tried if I become clan leader I might be able to. It’s a slim chance but it’s all I have.”

“Well, I can’t just roll over and die. I have too much to lose now.”

“I didn’t want you to.”

She started charging towards him.

“I might love you, but I still want to defeat you!”

“I don’t want to fight you, but if you want to then I’ll have no choice but to defend myself!”

Miko also charged at her. As they were about to exchange blows again-

“Miko, Luka stop!”

They halted after they heard a familiar voice. They looked and saw Momo with Hina and the boys.

“You two stop this! There’s no reason for the two of you to keep destroying each other like this!”

Momo started pleading with them.

“We have our reasons.”

*Bam!*

Miko slammed his fist into the side of Luka’s face, causing her to almost collapse on the ground. She clenched her fist and punched him back.

“I said sto-”

Mono tried to approach them but she felt her body freeze in place.

“What is this?!”

“I can’t move!”

She wasn’t the only one. Hina, Ace, and Sora were unable to move their bodies as well.

“Someone is preventing us from interfering? But who?!”

Momo wanted to look around but her neck wouldn’t move. She didn’t know if it was because the one trapping them was too strong or because she was exhausted, but she couldn’t gather her magic properly.

Meanwhile, Luka and Miko continued to fight regardless of the strange situation. They had long lost sight of their surroundings and were only thinking about beating the one in front of them. They didn’t even try to block or avoid hits anymore. They just mercilessly beat the other while taking a beating themselves.

*Bam!*

Miko headbutt Luka after getting a palm strike to the chest. Luka hit him with a hook and two quick jabs. Miko slammed his fist into the wound on her stomach and caused her great pain. She retaliated by slashing him across the face with her claws. Miko stepped back and held his face while Luka held her stomach.

“Stop it!”

Momo shouted again. The two glared at each other and threw a kick at the same time.

*Bam!*

Their legs clashed against each other. Miko pulled back his leg and threw another kick with his other leg. Luka threw a punch and they both collided.

“Ugh!”

They both grunt in unison. A bone stuck out of Miko’s leg while Luka’s wrist was completely broken. Miko was down a leg and Luka a hand. Seeing that she had the advantage, Luka threw a kick at Miko’s pivot leg.

*Bam!*

Miko’s hair moved and blocked the kick. The hair then wrapped around Luka’s leg and slammed her onto the ground.

“Guh?!”

Miko hopped a bit back and started concentrating all of his strength in his right arm. Luka realized that he was going to use the same attack he used to destroy her Electrosphere. If she were to be hit with it with no way to defend herself, she would surely die.

Even so…

(I can’t move anymore.)

She had long pushed past her limits and her body was starting to fail her.

“Looks like it’s my win again, Luka.”

Miko looked down at her and said.

“Yeah….I really can’t beat you, Miko.”

She showed a relieved look in her eyes.

“You’re the better fighter.”

“…….”

Miko said nothing as his arm doubled in size and his muscles tightened up.

“Goodbye, My First Love.”

He drew his hand back and clenched his teeth.

“Noooo!”

Momo started struggling to break free but she couldn’t. Luka closed her eyes as if she had resigned herself to her fate.

“Dragon….”

Miko’s body trembled and his body felt heavier than it’s ever been.

“Fist!”

He thrust his arm forward and an invincible force shot toward Luka.

“Woah, there.”

“Huh?”

But to his surprise, the force didn’t reach Luka. Forget reaching her, it completely vanished without a trace. Miko looked and saw that a hand was covering his fist. He slowly looked at who that hand belonged to.

There he saw a man standing over 6ft. He was quite muscular and had shiny emerald hair and eyes. He was dressed in a shirt with a beautiful woman caressing a baby on it, denim pants, and a pair of sandals. He was quite handsome but looked like he was a bit wild with his emerald beard.

“A member of the Flameheart Clan?”

Miko could tell that he was a Flameheart from his physical features, but he didn’t know who this person was. Darius didn’t have any memories of ever meeting this person.

“Who is that? An enemy?”

Hina asked.

“No way….”

Momo became pale.

“He’s really still alive….that legendary monster.”

“Legendary?”

“……..”

Luka opened her eyes after hearing a new voice. She saw the man standing between her and Miko and was immediately left speechless. She and Momo spoke at the same time.

“Progenitor?!”

“The founder of the Flameheart Clan, Joseph Flameheart.”

A bitter expression appeared on Momo’s face.

“He’s someone who fought alongside Augustus Dragna and slew countless Gods, Demons, Beasts, and Heroes.”

Joesph looked at both Miko and Luka and smiled.

“Yo, Miko, Luka. We meet again.”

One of history’s strongest mortals has taken the stage!