---- Chapter 19: Reikou Hadou Ken Showdown Part II - Clash of the Masters ----
As Hitai and Taisho continued to charge up their attacks, the raw power of the fighters tore the ground apart, pieces of the tattered arena drifting into the sky before vaporizing. Kazuma stood silently, musing to himself, "I never taught them any moves like these.... They've truly grown these past six years. But which will prevail? Or will neither win, both of them to be consumed by their power and ripped to shreds? We shall soon see...."
By now, a fierce whirlwind surrounded Hitai, energy crackling loudly all around him. Smirking devilishly, he said to himself, "Almost ready.... Your death is almost at hand, Taisho...."
Directly across from Hitai, Taisho continued to charge up his Rei Gun, the sphere on his fingertip now nearly five feet in diameter. "Oy, Hitai! Ready for my finishing move?" he called out mockingly. Hitai scowled, yelling back, "Your move? Bah. That's an old standby. It can't compare with my attack."
".... We'll soon see, won't we?"
The aura around Hitai suddenly faded, as the energy in his fists shined brightly.
"Now is the time! Show me your power, Taisho - or die at my hands! Reikou Senpuu Ha!!!!"
An enormous blast of wind and energy burst from Hitai's hands as he pushed his palms forward, flying directly for Taisho. Moments before the attack was going to impact, flames surrounded his Rei Gun sphere, and he called out....
"Ensatsu Reigan!!!!"
The flaming sphere of energy shot directly through Hitai's strike, stunning him just long enough for it to hit head-on, burning him harshly while at the same time shocking him with energy. But Taisho didn't escape unscathed - the attack went through, ripping off much of his clothing and causing deep wounds on his body. Both combatants stood where they were for a moment, before collapsing to the ground in severe pain.
Everything was quiet for a few moments, before Kazuma broke the silence. "Both attacks could have easily killed their targets, but by shooting the energy sphere directly into the core of the attack, Taisho was able to weaken the impact of both techniques - so neither was killed outright. He must have noticed the Ki output of Hitai's technique, and devised his counterattack. They'd be true equals.... if one didn't have the mind of a fighter and the other had a less powerful mindset."
Hazumi spoke up, "What do you mean, mindset? They both seem like the same type of person to me...." Nodding his head, Kazuma replied, "Yes, they are quite similar in personality. But one factor differs between them.... Hitai believes in fighting just for the sake of battle, which drives him forward with admirable force to succeed. But Taisho fights to protect what he believes in.... and, more importantly, for his friends. This spurs him on to surpass his capabilities, and think outside of conventional thought - all for the sake of his friends. That attitude.... is something a true fighter needs to achieve his full potential. Heh.... Even the great Yusuke Urameshi needed such a personality trait to get where he is now - if it wasn't for that, then he wouldn't even be alive by now."
Meanwhile, the two fighters rose to their feet shakily, their clothes in tatters and wounds covering their bodies. "Oy, Taisho!" called out Hitai, his breath coming in ragged spurts, "Nice move! What d'ya say we end this fight like true Reikou Hadou Ken masters - Rei Gun versus Rei Gun?"
Unable to speak, Taisho merely nodded his head in compliance, and lifted one arm into the air, fingertip extended like a gun, as Hitai did the same. Drawing on their last reserves of Reiki, both fighters began to charge up their Rei Guns. All eyes turned to the conflict, as two equally-large spheres of energy formed at the tips of their fingers. Finally, it was time, and both warriors cried out....
"Rei Gun!!!!"
The attacks collided in mid-air, the power from the technique pushing both fighters back a little ways. Both Rei Guns were equally matched, it seemed, until Hitai's Rei Gun began to push forward slowly. Hitai fell to one knee, his energy completely spent, as Taisho struggled to stand up. Thrusting his hands forward, Taisho called out....
"Rei Gun.... Delay Strike!!!"
"What?!!" cried out Hitai, as Taisho's Rei Gun sphere doubled in size, dissolving his Rei Gun and striking him head-on. Screaming loudly, Hitai was hurled backwards, skidding along the ground before finally stopping at the stadium's edge. Taisho, though winded, stumbled across the stadium over to Hitai, staring down at his opponent. With much struggle, Hitai opened his eyes, and began to speak.
"T-Taisho.... I'm.... sorry for what I said all those years ago. I.... let the power I had corrupt me into thinking that I lived.... only for battle.... But now.... I know the truth. K-Kazuma-sama.... was right about.... friendship. You were.... the only friend I ever really had.... I have a last request, before I pass out from my injuries...."
Kneeling down, Taisho said, "What is it, my friend?"
".... Kill me."
Taisho fell backwards in shock, catching himself before he fell to the ground. "W-What?! Hitai.... What the hell're you saying?!!"
".... I've.... killed so many people.... tainted my hands with the blood of innocents in the name of Reikai-Kakumei - the people who gave me a battle to fight, even if it was a corrupt one.... Please! I ask of you - let me die by your hand, by the hand of the one person who actually cared about me...."
Silent for a moment, Taisho replied curtly, "No."
".... !!! Y-You would.... deny me one request? One simple, justful request?! Taisho.... Why?"
A few moments later, Taisho's hand smashed onto Hitai's neck, knocking him out nearly instantly.
".... Because you're my friend, that's why."
Picking up his friend, Taisho stumbled back towards his allies. Near the back of the stadium, a dark figure stood silent, before muttering....
".... It's up to me. I will bring Reikai-Kakumei's plan to life, and these fools - all of them - will die.... Master Katsudo, I will not fail you."
And so the figure stepped into the light, revealing a huge demon. Light brown skin covered his large frame, spikes jutting from his helmet and the rest of his armor. In both hands, muscled hands gripped two three-pronged claws.
"I am the demon Kuttakuta, strongest warrior in all of the Reikai-Kakumei. I have but one choice for my opponent - Keyaku Nakadachi, the traitor to my master! You'll die a slow, painful death, traitor!!!"
As Hitai and Taisho continued to charge up their attacks, the raw power of the fighters tore the ground apart, pieces of the tattered arena drifting into the sky before vaporizing. Kazuma stood silently, musing to himself, "I never taught them any moves like these.... They've truly grown these past six years. But which will prevail? Or will neither win, both of them to be consumed by their power and ripped to shreds? We shall soon see...."
By now, a fierce whirlwind surrounded Hitai, energy crackling loudly all around him. Smirking devilishly, he said to himself, "Almost ready.... Your death is almost at hand, Taisho...."
Directly across from Hitai, Taisho continued to charge up his Rei Gun, the sphere on his fingertip now nearly five feet in diameter. "Oy, Hitai! Ready for my finishing move?" he called out mockingly. Hitai scowled, yelling back, "Your move? Bah. That's an old standby. It can't compare with my attack."
".... We'll soon see, won't we?"
The aura around Hitai suddenly faded, as the energy in his fists shined brightly.
"Now is the time! Show me your power, Taisho - or die at my hands! Reikou Senpuu Ha!!!!"
An enormous blast of wind and energy burst from Hitai's hands as he pushed his palms forward, flying directly for Taisho. Moments before the attack was going to impact, flames surrounded his Rei Gun sphere, and he called out....
"Ensatsu Reigan!!!!"
The flaming sphere of energy shot directly through Hitai's strike, stunning him just long enough for it to hit head-on, burning him harshly while at the same time shocking him with energy. But Taisho didn't escape unscathed - the attack went through, ripping off much of his clothing and causing deep wounds on his body. Both combatants stood where they were for a moment, before collapsing to the ground in severe pain.
Everything was quiet for a few moments, before Kazuma broke the silence. "Both attacks could have easily killed their targets, but by shooting the energy sphere directly into the core of the attack, Taisho was able to weaken the impact of both techniques - so neither was killed outright. He must have noticed the Ki output of Hitai's technique, and devised his counterattack. They'd be true equals.... if one didn't have the mind of a fighter and the other had a less powerful mindset."
Hazumi spoke up, "What do you mean, mindset? They both seem like the same type of person to me...." Nodding his head, Kazuma replied, "Yes, they are quite similar in personality. But one factor differs between them.... Hitai believes in fighting just for the sake of battle, which drives him forward with admirable force to succeed. But Taisho fights to protect what he believes in.... and, more importantly, for his friends. This spurs him on to surpass his capabilities, and think outside of conventional thought - all for the sake of his friends. That attitude.... is something a true fighter needs to achieve his full potential. Heh.... Even the great Yusuke Urameshi needed such a personality trait to get where he is now - if it wasn't for that, then he wouldn't even be alive by now."
Meanwhile, the two fighters rose to their feet shakily, their clothes in tatters and wounds covering their bodies. "Oy, Taisho!" called out Hitai, his breath coming in ragged spurts, "Nice move! What d'ya say we end this fight like true Reikou Hadou Ken masters - Rei Gun versus Rei Gun?"
Unable to speak, Taisho merely nodded his head in compliance, and lifted one arm into the air, fingertip extended like a gun, as Hitai did the same. Drawing on their last reserves of Reiki, both fighters began to charge up their Rei Guns. All eyes turned to the conflict, as two equally-large spheres of energy formed at the tips of their fingers. Finally, it was time, and both warriors cried out....
"Rei Gun!!!!"
The attacks collided in mid-air, the power from the technique pushing both fighters back a little ways. Both Rei Guns were equally matched, it seemed, until Hitai's Rei Gun began to push forward slowly. Hitai fell to one knee, his energy completely spent, as Taisho struggled to stand up. Thrusting his hands forward, Taisho called out....
"Rei Gun.... Delay Strike!!!"
"What?!!" cried out Hitai, as Taisho's Rei Gun sphere doubled in size, dissolving his Rei Gun and striking him head-on. Screaming loudly, Hitai was hurled backwards, skidding along the ground before finally stopping at the stadium's edge. Taisho, though winded, stumbled across the stadium over to Hitai, staring down at his opponent. With much struggle, Hitai opened his eyes, and began to speak.
"T-Taisho.... I'm.... sorry for what I said all those years ago. I.... let the power I had corrupt me into thinking that I lived.... only for battle.... But now.... I know the truth. K-Kazuma-sama.... was right about.... friendship. You were.... the only friend I ever really had.... I have a last request, before I pass out from my injuries...."
Kneeling down, Taisho said, "What is it, my friend?"
".... Kill me."
Taisho fell backwards in shock, catching himself before he fell to the ground. "W-What?! Hitai.... What the hell're you saying?!!"
".... I've.... killed so many people.... tainted my hands with the blood of innocents in the name of Reikai-Kakumei - the people who gave me a battle to fight, even if it was a corrupt one.... Please! I ask of you - let me die by your hand, by the hand of the one person who actually cared about me...."
Silent for a moment, Taisho replied curtly, "No."
".... !!! Y-You would.... deny me one request? One simple, justful request?! Taisho.... Why?"
A few moments later, Taisho's hand smashed onto Hitai's neck, knocking him out nearly instantly.
".... Because you're my friend, that's why."
Picking up his friend, Taisho stumbled back towards his allies. Near the back of the stadium, a dark figure stood silent, before muttering....
".... It's up to me. I will bring Reikai-Kakumei's plan to life, and these fools - all of them - will die.... Master Katsudo, I will not fail you."
And so the figure stepped into the light, revealing a huge demon. Light brown skin covered his large frame, spikes jutting from his helmet and the rest of his armor. In both hands, muscled hands gripped two three-pronged claws.
"I am the demon Kuttakuta, strongest warrior in all of the Reikai-Kakumei. I have but one choice for my opponent - Keyaku Nakadachi, the traitor to my master! You'll die a slow, painful death, traitor!!!"