The storm continued to rage across the Elarion Forest. Every gust of wind tore through the battlefield like an invisible blade, ripping apart the already ruined village. Trees bent until they snapped, and shattered pieces of stone drifted through the air before being crushed into dust by Goro's overwhelming control over the atmosphere.
Shougo stood alone at the center of the battlefield.
His expression remained calm.
Kairo slowly pushed himself off the ground, gripping the Black Spartan tightly as blood trickled down the side of his face.
"...Sensei..."
Yura narrowed her eyes.
"He's going in alone."
Kimimaru rested his Zweihander on his shoulder, silently watching.
"He has a plan."
Goro smiled as the wind spiraled around him.
"So... you've finally decided to fight seriously."
Without another word, he disappeared.
BOOM!
The ground beneath his feet shattered as he crossed the battlefield in an instant. His fist, wrapped in compressed wind powerful enough to pulverize mountains, shot directly toward Shougo's chest.
The impact never came.
Goro's eyes narrowed.
His arm had passed straight through Shougo's body.
"...What?"
Shougo hadn't moved.
He simply stood there.
The wind continued through him as though he didn't exist.
For the first time since the battle began, confusion appeared on Goro's face.
Another punch.
Another kick.
Another blade of compressed wind.
Every attack passed harmlessly through Shougo's body.
"...Impossible."
Shougo finally spoke.
"You're attacking what's there."
His calm voice echoed through the storm.
"But I'm simply not."
Before Goro could react, Shougo stepped forward.
His fist struck Goro square in the stomach.
BOOOOOM!!
The impact launched Goro across the battlefield, sending him crashing through dozens of ancient trees before he finally stopped.
Kairo's eyes widened.
"He actually landed a hit..."
Goro slowly stood, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
Then he smiled.
"...Interesting."
The wind exploded around him once again.
Hundreds of compressed wind blades descended toward Shougo from every direction.
Shougo didn't dodge.
Every blade passed harmlessly through him.
The battlefield fell silent.
Yura couldn't help but smile.
"He can't touch Sensei."
Tyouro laughed.
"Now that's our teacher."
Shougo slowly raised his right hand.
Golden particles of light began gathering around his palm.
Unlike Yami, this energy felt warm.
Pure.
Gentle.
Yet everyone could feel the immense power hidden within it.
"Hikari."
The light condensed into a brilliant spear before Shougo thrust his hand forward.
A beam of golden light erupted across the battlefield.
The attack pierced through the storm itself, tearing apart the violent winds before striking Goro head-on.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A pillar of golden light shot into the sky.
The surrounding clouds vanished instantly.
The forest trembled.
When the light faded...
Goro was kneeling.
His clothes were torn.
Burn marks covered his body.
Blood dripped onto the shattered earth.
Silence.
Then...
He laughed.
"Heh..."
"Hehehe..."
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
Everyone froze.
Instead of looking angry...
He looked excited.
"So that's it..."
He slowly stood.
"I finally understand."
His eyes began glowing with an unfamiliar energy.
The spiritual pressure around him changed completely.
It no longer resembled wind alone.
Instead...
It felt as though countless different energies were beginning to overlap.
Shougo immediately sensed it.
"...Something's wrong."
Goro slowly looked down at his own hand.
"So this..."
"...is what your defense feels like."
A strange ripple spread across his arm.
His body flickered for only an instant.
Then...
A falling leaf drifted toward him.
Instead of touching his shoulder...
It passed directly through his body before continuing toward the ground.
Everyone stared.
"...What?"
Kairo whispered.
Kimimaru's expression became serious.
"He copied it..."
Goro smiled.
"My ability was never limited to techniques."
"It analyzes."
"It understands."
"And once I completely understand something..."
"...I can reproduce it."
He looked at his own transparent hand.
"It doesn't matter whether it's an attack."
"An energy."
"A defensive ability."
"Or even a supernatural phenomenon that prevents others from making contact."
"If it can exist..."
"I can eventually copy it."
He clenched his fist.
"Of course..."
"It isn't instant."
"The more complex the ability..."
"...the longer it takes to analyze."
He slowly looked back at Shougo.
"So..."
"Thank you."
"You've just given me something extraordinary."
For the first time...
Shougo's calm expression disappeared.
He understood immediately.
If Goro was left alive long enough...
There would be almost nothing beyond his reach.
The wind began roaring once more.
But now...
It wasn't the storm that terrified everyone.
It was the man standing calmly at its center.