Chương 59: Fairy Guard vs Voyagers Pt.2

2 Mochi pulled his fist back. King shifted his weight. Both knew what was coming next. Neither backed down. Mochi stepped forward. King moved at the exact same time. Their fists collided. The impact shook the arena. Mochi immediately followed with a kick. King blocked it. King countered with a palm strike. Mochi ducked beneath it. He planted one hand against the ground and swung his legs around, sweeping at King's ankles. King jumped. Mochi grinned.

"Got you." He pushed himself off the ground and launched upward. King twisted in midair. Mochi's fist narrowly missed his chin. King retaliated with a kick. Mochi crossed his arms. The impact sent him flying. But instead of trying to stop himself. Mochi deliberately rolled with the momentum. He landed near one of the arena's broken pillars. King landed several meters away.

"You're not going to catch me like that," King said. Mochi wiped his mouth.

"I know." King raised an eyebrow.

"Then why did you..." Mochi kicked the pillar. The damaged stone collapsed. King's eyes widened. Mochi immediately rushed through the cloud of dust.

"Because I wasn't aiming for you!" King's eyes scanned the dust. He couldn't see Mochi. But his magic could still sense him. There. King turned. Mochi came from the side. King raised his arm. Mochi suddenly stopped. King's eyes widened. A feint. Mochi planted his foot beside King's. Then he twisted his body and drove his elbow into King's ribs. King staggered. Mochi followed with a knee. King blocked. Mochi grabbed his wrist. Instead of pulling him closer, Mochi used King's own momentum. He stepped aside. Twisted.

And threw him toward the fallen pillar. King flipped in midair. He landed on top of the rubble. Mochi smiled.

"Your magic can tell you where I am, right?" King narrowed his eyes.

"Yeah."

"But it doesn't tell you what I'm going to do." King's expression changed. Mochi charged. This time, he wasn't throwing random attacks. Every movement had a purpose. A jab forced King to move left. A low kick prevented him from stepping forward. A second punch forced him backward. Mochi wasn't trying to land a hit. He was controlling where King could move. King realized it. He's herding me. He suddenly stopped. Mochi's eyes widened. King stepped forward.

"Then I'll break your pattern." King burst forward. Then into the air.

"Magic skill: True Bloom!" Green pellets began raining from the sky at amazing speeds. Mochi barely reacted in time. The two exchanged blows at close range. Punch. Block. Elbow. Dodge. Kick. Counter. Neither fighter could gain an advantage. Mochi ducked beneath a punch and drove his fist toward King's stomach. King twisted. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The punch missed. King's elbow came down. Mochi caught it. He grinned.

"Gotcha." He pulled King's arm downward. King's knee came up. Mochi released him and jumped backward. The knee passed inches from his face. King landed. Mochi landed. Both stared at each other. Neither was smiling anymore. They were completely focused. Across the arena. Ace was still being pushed backward by Max's Fairy Storm. His boots scraped against the stone. Max walked toward him.

"Do you give up yet?" Ace's eyes narrowed.

"No way."

"I'll break through your damn wind, just you wait." Max looked almost shocked.

"Oh?"

"You've already figured out how my wind works?" Max raised his hand.

"Well, I won't give you a chance to counter!" The wind intensified. Ace was forced backward again. He stabbed one sword into the ground. The blade stopped his movement. Max charged. Ace pulled the sword free. Their weapons collided. Max swung. Ace blocked. Another punch. Ace ducked. Max spun. Ace jumped backward. Max's fist slammed into the ground. The stone cracked. Ace landed. He looked around the arena. Then at the wind. Then at Max. A small grin appeared.

"Alright." Max frowned.

"What?" Ace sheathed one of his swords.

"You might need to remove that wind as soon as possible." Max's expression hardened. Ace lowered his stance.

"Because your own skill will be your undoing." Max's eyes widened.

"Say what now." Ace smiled.

"Goodbye, fairy." The flames grew larger.

"Magic skill: Inferno Roads!" Two strips of blue flame rushed toward Max. They only got bigger and bigger as they reached him. His eyes widened in shock.

"It can't be..." A massive explosion sent Max flying out of the ring. He let out a pained roar as he went. Krystal's head turned.

"Did Max lose?"

"But how?" Ace smirked.

"Now then." He looked at Mochi and King fighting.

"As much as I'd like to steal that idiot's fight."

"I'll let him have it." He then jumped off the arena himself.

"I'm done." Tony looked on in horror.

"Ace, why did you jump off?" Ace looked over.

"What do you mean?"

"I already beat my opponent, so I don't need to fight anymore." Tony raised a paw toward Amelia.

"You could have helped her, she's struggling!" Ace covered his ears and walked away.

"Hey, don't ignore me!" Thomas sighed.

"Let it rest, Tony. He served his purpose." Tony looked at Thomas in shock.

"You're serious?"

"Fine." Meanwhile, Amelia and Krystal were locked in another aerial exchange. Krystal disappeared. Amelia turned. Nothing. A blur appeared to her left. Amelia blocked. Amelia extended her arms.

"Magic skill: Cracker Bullets!" Multiple cracker bullets launched forward with impressive speed. Krystal was flying through them with practical ease. Without warning, she glowed bright pink.

"Magic skill: Blinding Speed!" In an instant, she launched at Amelia with speed. She landed a quick punch to the jaw. Amelia spun from the impact. Krystal followed immediately. Another kick. Amelia blocked. Another. Blocked. Another. Amelia's guard began to crack. Krystal suddenly vanished again. Amelia looked around. Where is she? A faint movement caught her eye. Not Krystal. Dust. Amelia's eyes widened. She immediately fired a Cracker Missile at the ground. The explosion kicked dust into the air.

Krystal emerged from it, visibly injured. Amelia smiled.

"So that's where you were hiding." Krystal's eyes widened. Amelia flew forward. Krystal attempted to dodge. Amelia changed direction with her wings. She wasn't following Krystal anymore. She was predicting her. Krystal moved left. Amelia moved left. Krystal stopped. Amelia stopped. Krystal jumped. Amelia's fist was already waiting. Krystal blocked the punch but was knocked backward. She landed. Amelia landed opposite her. Krystal rubbed her arm.

"You figured me out." Amelia shook her head.

"Not completely." She spread her wings.

"But I've figured out one thing." Krystal tilted her head.

"What's that?"

"You always dodge toward open space."

"I mean, it is a no brainer to do so."

"But it's predictable and gets old really quick." Krystal's smile disappeared. Amelia raised her hand. Golden magic gathered around her.

"So I'll stop giving you open space."

"Magic skill." Dozens of Cracker Missiles appeared around the battlefield. Krystal's eyes widened.

"Cracker Missile!" The missiles didn't fly directly at Krystal. They surrounded her. One exploded to her left. Another to her right. Another behind her. Another above. Amelia wasn't trying to hit her. She was shrinking her options. Krystal realized it. She's controlling my movement. She sprinted forward. Amelia moved with her. Krystal changed direction. Another missile intercepted her. She jumped. A missile exploded above her. Krystal twisted through the smoke. Amelia was waiting.

Her fist connected with Krystal's guard. The two fighters were sent flying apart. Krystal landed on one knee. Amelia landed several feet away. Both were breathing heavily. Krystal slowly stood.

"Okay." She smiled.

"You're better than I thought." On the opposite side, Mochi and King collided again. This time, Mochi was ready. King threw a punch. Mochi didn't dodge. He stepped inside the attack. His shoulder slammed into King's chest. King stumbled. Mochi swept his leg. King jumped. Mochi grabbed a piece of broken stone from the ground and threw it. King tilted his head. The stone flew past. Mochi was already behind it. King realized the trick.

"Again?" Mochi grinned.

"You keep falling for the same thing, King." King's eyes narrowed.

"I didn't fall for it." He turned. Mochi's fist was already there. King blocked. But the force of the attack pushed him backward. Mochi rushed after him. King suddenly stopped. Mochi threw another punch. King caught his wrist.

"I've adapted too." King twisted. Mochi was thrown over his shoulder. Mochi flipped. He landed safely. King charged. Mochi charged. The two met in the center of the arena. Their fists collided. Neither moved. Mochi grinned. King grinned back.

"You're getting better." Mochi tightened his fist.

"So are you." King suddenly increased the pressure. Mochi's feet slid backward. He looked down. Then smiled. King noticed.

"What?" Mochi stepped backward again. His heel touched the edge of a large crack in the arena floor. King's eyes widened. Mochi kicked the loose stone beneath his foot. It broke away. King's balance shifted. Only for a moment. But Mochi didn't need more than that. He stepped forward.

"Battle's not just about your opponent." Mochi ducked beneath King's punch. He cocked his fist back.

"And it's not just about power." Mochi twisted.

"It's about where you're standing." King's eyes widened in shock.

"Missile Jab!" King stumbled. The attack launched into King's stomach. He gagged as he was launched into the air. The missile jab exploded midair. Benkay watched in awe.

"Impressive. He managed to outmaneuver King, of all people." King crashed into the ground. He rolled away and quickly stood. He looked at the crack. Then at Mochi. A grin slowly appeared.

"So that's your game, huh?"

"I can't believe I didn't see that coming." Then Thomas yelled.

"Hey, Mochi, stop holding back like an idiot!" Mochi turned.

"Huh?"

"You know what I mean, boy. Don't play dumb. Go and transform!" Mochi's eyes widened.

"No way, old man, I can't do that."

"Besides."

"Against Hogsthawts was my first and last time using that form again." Mochi shook his head.

"No. I won't use it."

"I refuse." Thomas looked at him calmly.

"Why not, boy?" Mochi clenched his fists.

"Because I know what happens when I do." His voice trembled.

"I don't want to feel that again." Thomas was silent for a moment. Then he spoke.

"Then use it. Quit your complaining." Mochi looked up.

"What?"

"Use the form, like I said." Mochi looked confused.

"You know what it does to me, right?"

"Oh, I know."

"Then why are you telling me to use it?" Thomas stepped closer to the arena.

"Because you're afraid of what it makes you remember." Mochi's expression tightened.

"You don't understand, old man."

"Maybe I don't." Thomas paused.

"But I understand this."

"Running from your pain won't make it disappear." Mochi looked away. Mochi slowly looked back at him.

"You've suffered."

"You've failed."

"You've lost people."

"And you've done things which you deeply regret."

"But after all that."

"You're still here." He continued.

"You're still fighting." Thomas smiled.

"So use it."

"Because it's time you stopped letting your past decide who you are."

"So you can forge your own future." Mochi stared at Thomas. Thomas's expression became serious.

"You can't change what happened to you back then, Mochi."

"But you can decide what happens next." Mochi stared at the ground in mild sorrow.

"And if I lose control?" Thomas smiled faintly.

"Then take control back." Mochi took a deep breath. His eyes hardened.

"Alright then..."

"If you say so.." He raised his hand.

"I'll face it head on." Thomas nodded.

"That's all I've ever wanted you to do."

"Besides, you have two grandmasters here to stop you if things go wrong." Mochi's magic began to surge.

"Alright then, I trust you, old man Thomas." He looked forward at King.

"It's time I stopped holding back." King folded his arms.

"Go on, show me."

"I want to see you transform." Mochi breathed in. He powered up his magic, turning it dark. His eyes turned dark. Horns emerged from his jawline. A scar formed down his face. The air suddenly changed. Mochi stood in the center of the battlefield, his magic completely different from before. His aura rose around him as his eyes sharpened, revealing the form he had been afraid to use. Ace stared at him from the sidelines.

"Mochi?" Amelia's eyes widened.

"That magic..." Her mind raced to when he used it in the fight against Hogsthawts.

"It's that same form he used back then." Tony's ears immediately shot up.

"Is that really Mochi?"

"He's giving off such a creepy feeling." King's grin disappeared.

"So this is a dough demon..." Krystal took a step back, watching Mochi carefully.

"That's not the same Mochi as before, I can say that much." Benkay remained completely still. For once, even he looked surprised.

"So this is the power of a dough demon."

"So what I heard about their magic was true." Thomas looked at Mochi with a faint smile. Mochi began chuckling as he covered his face.

"Oh? You're not scared?" King's grin widened.

"Of course I am. Your magic has skyrocketed."

"It's almost the same as one of RoboGeneX's, if not equal."

"All this proves is that if I can beat you, I can defeat them too. So come on, let's do this!"