Chapter 15: Fiery vs. Duplicate Zimbraya: (Part 2)
High above the silent Shinobu Base, a lone figure sat, his cloak a violent, whipping flag against the charged, thrumming air.
A static buzz hissed from the small radio beside him.
Unknown Voice (through radio): "Are you ready?"
Swordsman (The answer, a razor edge): "Always."
The Fury Fades
In the heart of the battlefield, a raging storm of fire and earth clashed. Fiery stood, his silhouette defined by the desperate light of his diminishing flames, facing the monstrous clone of Zimbraya. The duplicate, a tower of malice, hefted a five-foot iron mace, its surface still glistening darkly with the blood of the ten fallen soldiers.
Fiery, burning with raw fury, launched a relentless barrage of scarlet flames. Each fiery spear was evaded with disdainful ease or deflected by a ripple of dark power. The iron mace roared down like a collapsing tower, but Fiery didn't dodge. He slammed both hands up, catching the immense weapon mid-air—his feet grinding into the scorched earth, his sheer will holding the iron tide at bay.
On the perimeter, Scarlet clenched her fists, her knuckles white.
Scarlet (Voice tight with dread): "How long can he possibly keep this up..."
Alyssa (Eyes locked on a scanning device): "His EPS is critically overloaded. The internal energy pressure is skyrocketing. If this continues..."
Ethan (His tone flat, grim): "He'll burn out. He'll die."
Suddenly, a click—the radio crackled to life.
Peter (Over radio, clear but strained): "Anyone there? Copy?"
Scarlet: "Yes! Peter?! What's going on? Are you alright?!"
Peter: "Barely. But the fight's about to change. We've locked down Phase One."
Scarlet: "Phase One of what?"
In the background, Aqua's voice, faint with incredulity, drifted through the static.
Aqua (A low, shocked murmur): "A lot more than a plan… it's goddamn madness."
Scarlet (Snapping with tension): "Stop joking! Just tell me what madness!"
Peter (The sound of a grim smile in his voice): "Tell me this: The duplicate Zimbraya and that unknown entity—we're sure they don't know each other, right?"
Scarlet (A dreadful realization dawning): "Yes, as far as we know. Wait—you're not planning to make them fight each other, are you?!"
A heavy silence. She knew she'd guessed right.
Scarlet (Her voice firming with disbelief): "Peter, that's insane! What if they join forces instead of fighting?!"
Peter (A quick, unsettling chuckle): "Then I'll make sure I've cooked my chicken well."
Scarlet: "...What in the world are you talking about?!"
Peter: "Them fighting each other is Phase One of our plan. And Phase Two? It's better."
Fire Extinguished
Back on the main battlefield, the strain had become too much. Fiery's defense collapsed. His hands, raw and scorched, slid off the mace, his fire nearly extinguished. His limbs shuddered uncontrollably.
The clone seized the advantage instantly. With a brutal surge of speed, Zimbraya grasped Fiery by the throat, the immense strength of the duplicate lifting the warrior clean off the ground.
Duplicate Zimbraya (His voice a cold, mocking rasp): "From the moment I saw you… I'll admit—I was briefly afraid. But now? Look at you. Waiting for death like the rest."
He tightened his grip. The flickering aura of fire around Fiery's body sputtered, then vanished entirely.
Duplicate Zimbraya (His voice rising to a roar, aimed at the trembling city): "LOOK AT YOUR LEADER, EVERYONE! This is the man who gave those big speeches! And now? Dying—hopeless—right in front of you!"
As Zimbraya's grip crushed down, a deafening tremor shook the ground. A massive structure of solid, granite-hard earth erupted with furious speed from beneath the soil, smashing into Zimbraya's side and violently hurling him backward.
Fiery choked, the pressure dissolving instantly. He dropped, gasping and stunned, onto the battlefield, tasting dirt and ash.
He looked up—and saw Scarlet, standing protectively between him and the monster. Her hands glowed with fierce, defensive power.
Fiery (His voice a ragged whisper): "Scarlet… no… leave… I don't want to lose you, too…"
Scarlet (Her voice steady, powerful): "Friends don't give up on each other. At least… that's what you taught me."
She flashed him a soft, determined smile, then turned, her eyes burning with a protective fire to match his own, to face the enraged duplicate.
Duplicate Zimbraya (Furious, wiping blood from his lip): "Bad day for you, fire boy… Now I'll make sure you watch your girl die in front of you!"
End of Chapter 15