Chapter 32- The Duality Of Ideologies

Espio puts on his Ninja Arts: Camouflage and very quickly weaves in-between the stone pillars, in order to move into a better position to strike. Up till, several red energy blades chase after him by Kazoku. Espio even jumps on the projectiles for momentum and pulls out another kunai, and spinning the two rapidly around himself to destroy the projectiles closing in on him. For the remaining ones, he hurls explosive beads with Chaos Energy ingrain into them.

Kazoku uses his energy blades as a means of closing the distance between them, manifesting electrify trench knives. As they clash, the tiny specks of energy of Kazoku's projectiles hit Espio from the back as reinforced bullets for Kazoku to land a direct blow to the gut. Espio like the wind deploys more explosive beads and backflips away to gain some distance away from Kazoku, however Kazoku briskly charges at the chameleon with more energy blades surrounding him, so Espio utilises his trump card being the two style of combat he self-taught himself: Mizu and Taiyo.

Mizu reinforces Espio's movement and flexibility to be as fast and swift like water and the Taiyo enables Espio to strengthen the destructive power of his strike, with his punches being so fast, they are set ablaze by sheer punch and friction.

Kazoku slowly but surely gets trounced by Espio, evidently astonished by what he is displaying. "He is impassioned with a strength I never saw in him last time, fine-tuning his senses and the perfect synergy of his two different fighting styles that compliment each other to increase both his defensive and offensive capabilities."

Following this, Kazoku goes all-out channelling 100% of his power throughout his body. Energy flows from his eyes and his skin takes on a reddish hue, with his pupils and irises becoming distorted due to the amount of energy he is emitting. "In order to win this battle…I would have to use my full power!"

Espio senses that both Kazoku's presence and demeanour had changed so dramatically, bolster his muscles and explosively takes off where he was and reaches his top speed in a flash. Kazoku sends out his red energy blades, sharpening them to their max state of lethality and are fired at even greater speeds than before.

Espio swings his kunais in a flowing pattern in quick succession while slightly augmenting the power and speed of his dashes, and even shapes pieces of debris from the stone pillar as skates to manoeuvre away from Kazoku's incoming bombardment.

Espio reaches Kazoku in no time, at the cost of a few cuts and bruises and slashes at him, but Kazoku side steps away from Espio and parries his next swing with his trench knives. A clone of Espio gets behind Kazoku, but he's able to notice the clone and block its attack. Both Espio and his clone follow up with their next attack, but Kazoku blocks the two kunai strikes with his arms and legs at the same time.

Kazoku, whilst holding back their attack, loudly states to Espio. "This war between us has been dragging on for too long, to stop the other from winning because of our different ideologies."

Espio quietly nods, agreeing to some degree. "Yea…even so, you and the rest of Chronos are simply putting fear into people's hearts and stripping them of their freedom.

Kazoku somewhat grits his teeth, countering back. "It is a necessity, as all living beings are known to be stubborn and will only answer through fear and intimidation."

Kazoku dons his pinpointed energy beam, which Espio narrowly manages to slash in half. But, this leaves him open to be blown away by another one. Kazoku prepares to follow up and his fist being positioned as a knife to cut him, Espio's clone takes the blow for him.

Kazoku adds to his previous point. "This cruel world took something from each member of Chronos, family, purpose, companionship, a reason for living, the escape from a cold death. And when it seems like all hope was gone, he came when no one did, their saviour: Infinite"

Kazoku violently kicks Espio in the stomach, vomiting blood as a result. He concludes by saying. "We intend to take back what the cruel world took from them, by force just how the world did for us!"

Kazoku goes for the finishing blow, showing his respect towards Espio. "I commend you, Espio the Chameleon. Not many last this long against me at my maximum…and I believe it to be your unshakeable resolve and love you have for your comrades akin to my own…Farewell."

Espio rises from the ground, stomping his feet to keep his balance and starts up setting up a high powered punch. But, at the last second changes the angle of the punch to throw off Kazoku, as Espio has been winding up his left arm in secret and follows up with an all-out left hook that smashes Kazoku's face back and sends the General reeling.

Espio proudly says to Kazoku, while cleaning his bloody wounds with his arm. "This world is in fact cruel and could take away things precious to them, but we need to keep moving forward and hold onto hope till the end.

Kazoku gets back up, wiping the stream of blood from his lips. "I see…so that's what keeps you fighting despite everything."

Kazoku leaps toward Espio, who does the same in response. They clash head-on and form a huge shockwave, before they race across the surrounding area with the two swinging and parrying the other's attacks. Kazoku kicks Espio away and generates another wave of energy blades, but they are destroyed as they get close, as Espio shifts back to his Taiyo style of fighting to take them down quite easily. They hit a standstill and resort to swinging their respective weapons, in hope of delivering a decisive blow.

Knowing that he will hit his limit first, Espio begins concentrating all of his energy into his right kunai. Kazoku notices this and severs Espio's left kunai, before piercing the chameleon's stomach and slicing upwards, cutting across his face and eye. Espio ignores the pain and continues charging up his final attack.

With no other option to put down Espio because of unwavering resilience, Kazoku proceeds to use his Maximum Piercing Stream. "You and the Resistance are fools to believe that there is hope for this cruel world!"

Espio faintly smiles, with his body injured and bloody. "Indeed there is, and is the reason we are rebelling back your organisation from delivering your warped sense of judgement on the world."

Espio's slash of concentrated Chaos Energy in conjunction with flames and rippling water of the Mizu and Taiyo styles clashes with Kazoku's Maximum Piercing Stream, creating a gigantic explosion that concludes the battle for good.

Kazoku barely escapes with his life, as the entire right side of his body has nearly been destroyed. "Espio…the…Chameleon…next…time…I…will…win"

Kazoku falls unconscious at Chronos's main fortress after narrowly teleporting away from being consumed by Espio's "Slash of The Heavenly Mizu and Taiyo".

Elsewhere at Adabat, an architectural marvel of a stilt house village, built atop the water in a jungle strewn with ancient ruins, and is blessed with plenty of sun, wind and water and laid-back villagers.

Dr. Eggman in his Egg Dragoon's giant mech suit, started blasting Zavok with an endless barrage of fireballs that operates similarly to that of a Gatling gun. Although these attacks don't have much effect on Zavok due to his resistance to fire-esque attacks, they still keep him preoccupied.

Master Zik takes a glimpse of the battle with a side glance, trying to figure out Dr. Eggman's plan. "...Hm, he using his mech suit nigh-infinite energy supply to stall Zavok for the fox and plant to finish me off first and tag-team Zavok…well, I may be a senile old man…but underestimating me and my students…you should know well enough not to do that…doctor"

Zavok breaks away with a burst of his own energy to repel the fireballs. "Dr. Eggman, mark my words…you will pay for everything you have done to me and the other Zetis in the past!"

Zavok fires off a tremendous fiery energy beam towards the Doctor, who counters with a massive wave of electricity energy with his mech's left drill-arm.

Master Zik swiftly outmanoeuvre both Tails and Cosmo at the same time, before landing on his staff with perfect balance as a sign of mockery towards them. "You gotta do better than that, youngins."

Zavok get his revenge towards Dr. Eggman, while Tails and Cosmo hold off Master Zik. Find out in the next chapter, what happens.

See ya!