Black snow. Apocalypse

Many battles are fought, and several winners emerge. The formless figure steps out once more and announces:

"The next fight is between Josh and Kaen."

Josh climbs onto the stage, his eyes wide in disbelief.

"What?! How? No way. I can't fight him!" he exclaims.

Kaen is just as shocked. "He'll kill me before I even know it," he mutters nervously.

The formless figure continues coldly:

> "Refusal to fight will result in disqualification of both participants and a heavy reduction of your rank."

"WHAT?!" Josh and Kaen echo in unison.

Reluctantly, they take their stances, murmuring apologies to one another. The crowd leans forward in anticipation—it's the match everyone's been waiting for.

The tension builds until suddenly—

A surge of energy flows through Josh. Without control, he throws a fireball at Kaen.

"What?! No—NO!" Josh cries out, confused and horrified.

Kaen barely dodges, eyes wide. "Why would he strike first?" he thinks, now forced to retaliate.

Kaen charges and channels Level 3 flames into his sword. Josh, still acting under the mysterious control, responds with Level 7 flames. Their swords clash—Kaen's flames are overpowered, and he is thrown back.

Then, the system chimes:

> Fogbeast Armor: Initiated

Blightfall: Activated

Josh vanishes with hyperspeed and reappears behind Kaen, using Phantom Soul Slash, slashing deeply into Kaen's side. Still—no emotion. No hesitation.

Kaen grits his teeth in pain, furious now. He unleashes a wind-earth spell, spiky terrain rising beneath Josh. But Josh simply raises a finger—

> Erasure: Activated

Earth Spell: Removed

Kaen gasps.

Josh dashes forward using Void Step and prepares a Soul Fist attack. Kaen's lightning awakens—the sky crackles with green bolts. His eyes glow bright green.

Kaen speeds away and strikes back with a Lightning Array, damaging Josh, though the Fogbeast Armor absorbs most of it.

> System Notice: Blightfall Soul Slash: ACTIVATED

Josh's sword glows deep purple. He slashes, but Kaen dodges again, countering with a thunderous green lightning arc.

Josh counters effortlessly and activates:

> Level 10 Flames

Custom Flame Array: Deployed

The massive flame attack scorches Kaen, causing internal damage. Still, Kaen refuses to give up. He combines three lightning arrays and hurls them at Josh—

Josh waves his hand.

> All Arrays Erased

He then summons a Level 2 Water Manipulation, drowning Kaen, then freezing the water around him. He raises Blightfall.

> "Activate: Blightfall Winter."

The sword pulses with violet energy. Josh's eyes flash.

He uses Void Step and slashes Kaen repeatedly. A few black snowflakes fall as Kaen bleeds and collapses.

Kaen's voice is faint, filled with pain.

"Josh... please..."

> System Alert: Reboot Initiated

Override Lifted

Josh freezes. His sword clatters to the ground.

"Kaen?! No... No! I—I didn't mean to... I didn't want this... How did this happen?!"

Tears in his eyes, Josh lifts Kaen in his arms. The crowd is silent, stunned.

The formless figure steps forward:

"The winner is Josh."

Josh whispers:

"System, activate healing potion."

Warning: Core Power Will Be Used

"I don't care. Just do it."

Healing Potion: Initiated

A small bottle of shimmering purple liquid forms in Josh's hand. He uncorks it and carefully feeds it to Kaen.

Kaen coughs and slowly opens his eyes.

"Josh...?"

Josh closes his eyes, relieved.

The battle may be over—but the questions had just begun.