Kisaragi slowly raises his staff.
Foxfire symbols ignite around him.
One after another.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Radiant.
Across from him—
Tokisada lowers his sword.
Green-violet poison foxfire begins spiraling around the blade.
The atmosphere changes.
Even the wind grows still.
Elder warriors watching from the terraces narrow their eyes.
This—
Is their Kitsune Art.
Kisaragi speaks first.
Kisaragi:
"I'll break through."
Tokisada smiles faintly.
Tokisada:
"Then come."
FOOOOM.
Foxfire erupts.
Kisaragi slams his staff against the arena floor.
Fushin Clan Kitsune Art—
HEAVENLY SPIRIT ASCENSION.
BOOOOOOM!
Massive blue foxfire pillars rise around him.
Spirit rings begin rotating rapidly.
One.
Three.
Five.
Seven.
Each amplifying his strength.
His speed.
His power.
The crowd erupts.
The entire arena shakes.
Miko gasps.
Miko:
"That's incredible!"
At the opposite side—
Tokisada closes his eyes.
One breath.
Two breaths.
Then—
His poison foxfire expands outward.
Silent.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
Kagetsu Clan Kitsune Art—
VENOMOUS MOON REQUIEM.
SHHHHHHHHH.
Green-violet foxfire spreads across the arena floor like moonlit poison mist.
Not explosive.
Not violent.
Controlled.
Elegant.
Deadly.
Jack's eyes narrow.
Jack:
"...Beautiful."
Yukito grins.
Yukito:
"And scary."
The two warriors move.
THOOOOM!
The battleground explodes.
Kisaragi charges.
Every spirit ring accelerating him forward.
His staff glowing like a falling star.
Tokisada advances calmly.
Blade held low.
The distance closes instantly.
Ten meters.
Five.
Three.
One.
KLANGGGGG!
The collision shakes the entire battleground.
Foxfire erupts skyward.
The crowd rises to its feet.
Both techniques clash violently.
Blue foxfire.
Green-violet foxfire.
Power against precision.
Willpower against strategy.
Kisaragi pushes harder.
Roaring.
Refusing defeat.
The spirit rings shatter one by one from the strain.
CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK.
But Tokisada remains calm.
Watching.
Waiting.
Reading.
Then—
He sees it.
One opening.
One weakness.
One moment.
His blade shifts.
Not stronger.
Not faster.
Perfect.
SHHHHHK!
The strike slips through Kisaragi's final defense.
The spirit rings collapse.
Blue foxfire shatters.
Silence.
Kisaragi freezes.
Staff lowering.
Breathing heavily.
The tip of Tokisada's blade rests against his shoulder.
The battle is over.
Complete silence fills Mount Kyobi.
Even the wind seems absent.
Then—
The sacred battle bell rings.
GONNNNNNNNNG!
Its ancient voice echoes throughout the mountain.
Deep.
Absolute.
Final.
Elder Renkai steps forward.
His staff strikes stone.
THUD.
His voice echoes across the battleground.
Elder Renkai:
"Match concluded."
A pause.
Then—
"Victory..."
The audience holds its breath.
Elder Renkai:
"Tokisada of the Kagetsu Clan."
The battleground EXPLODES.
Thunderous cheers roll across Mount Kyobi.
Foxfire braziers surge upward.
Drums thunder.
BOOOOOM!
BOOOOOM!
Kisaragi exhales slowly.
Then smiles.
Tired.
Respectful.
Satisfied.
He lowers his staff.
Tokisada immediately withdraws his blade.
Both warriors bow deeply.
Warrior to warrior.
Equal respect.
Equal honor.
The crowd cheers even louder.
Yukito throws both fists into the air.
Yukito:
"THAT WAS AWESOME!"
Kaito laughs.
Kaito:
"That poison style is ridiculous."
Miko nods rapidly.
Miko:
"I thought Kisaragi was actually going to pull it off!"
Jack watches the two warriors leave the arena.
His expression calm.
Thoughtful.
Analytical.
Jack:
"Kisaragi fought harder."
A brief pause.
Then—
Jack finishes.
Jack:
"But Tokisada fought smarter."
Far below—
The two warriors walk through opposite Fighter Access Gates beneath drifting foxfire.
Another battle completed.
Another lesson learned.
And high above—
The sacred drums begin preparing for the next clash waiting beneath the watchful gaze of Mount Kyobi itself.
The thunderous cheers for Tokisada's victory continue rolling across the vast Kyobi Battlegrounds.
Foxfire braziers burn brightly around the sacred arena.
Below—
Tokisada and Kisaragi complete their final bows.
Warrior to warrior.
Respect earned.
Honor preserved.
The crowd answers with another wave of applause as both fighters disappear through opposite Fighter Access Gates.
---
High above—
Yukito drops back into his seat dramatically.
Yukito:
"Okay."
"That poison style was TERRIFYING."
Miko immediately nods.
Miko:
"Right?!"
"I thought Kisaragi was actually going to win for a moment!"
Kaito folds his arms.
Kaito:
"The scary part wasn't the poison."
Miko blinks.
Miko:
"It wasn't?"
Kaito:
"No."
"He knew exactly when to use it."
Jack nods quietly.
Jack:
"Every poison technique had a purpose."
"He wasn't trying to overwhelm Kisaragi."
"He was creating openings."
Shiori smiles softly.
Shiori:
"That's what makes experienced fighters dangerous."
"They don't waste energy."
"They make every action matter."
---
Around them—
Other spectators continue discussing the previous battles.
"The healing fighter was amazing."
"Oboro's mist techniques were unbelievable."
"Gansui controlled the entire battlefield."
"The Shuketsu boy was insanely fast."
Yukito immediately points at himself.
Yukito:
"Correct."
"An excellent observation."
Miko throws a peanut at him.
Yukito catches it effortlessly.
Yukito:
"See?"
"Even my reflexes are legendary."
Kaito snorts.
Kaito:
"You caught a peanut."
Yukito:
"A legendary peanut."
The group bursts into laughter.
Even Mizuki giggles.
---
Meanwhile—
Nearby audience members continue speaking excitedly.
"The battles keep getting better."
"I don't know which one was my favorite."
"The next one will be incredible."
---
Jack's ears catch that immediately.
Yukito looks over.
Miko tilts her head.
Yukito:
"The next one?"
"Incredible why?"
The kitsune spectator glances toward them.
Nearby Spectator:
"Because a psychic fighter is coming next."
---
A brief silence follows.
---
Miko:
"...Psychic?"
Kaito raises an eyebrow.
Kaito:
"Psychic?"
Yukito nearly chokes.
Yukito:
"PSYCHIC?"
---
Another nearby kitsune nods.
Nearby Kitsune:
"From the Shinen Clan."
Instantly—
Several spectators nearby begin whispering among themselves.
Even some older warriors glance toward the arena.
---
Miko hugs her sleeve slightly.
Miko:
"Okay..."
"That sounds mysterious."
Kaito:
"Or made up."
Nearby Kitsune laughs.
Nearby Kitsune:
"That's what everyone says until they see one fight."
Mizuki looks curious now.
Mizuki:
"What do they actually do?"
Nearby Kitsune:
"No one knows exactly."
"They don't fight normally."
"They see things others miss."
"They predict movements."
"They sense intent."
---
Yukito points dramatically.
Yukito:
"So they're mind readers?"
Nearby Kitsune:
"Not exactly."
"But fighting them feels strange."
"Like they're always one step ahead."
---
Jack remains completely silent.
Listening.
Thinking.
Watching the arena below.
For some reason—
The name Shinen Clan catches his attention immediately.
---
Yukito:
I have extremely high expectations."
---
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
A ceremonial drum shakes the battleground.
The entire audience instantly quiets.
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
Foxfire braziers surge brighter.
The sacred battle bell begins moving.
GONNNNNNNNNNNNG.
Its ancient voice rolls across Mount Kyobi.
Deep.
Powerful.
Ancient.
Absolute.
- To Be Continued