Chapter 54: A Worthy Fight

"It's time…"

The Calm Sister said softly, as The Rampant one looked back at her slowly. Their eye contact was genuine as if they had both come to a similar conclusion.

'We stand no chance.'

The Calm Sister sprinted towards the Rampant as Aku watched patiently.

'Just try something…'

The two locked hands.

'...I dare you!'

Aku's Aspect flared, ready to defend against an attack from any angle. He was riding a high, not just from the near-death experience, but also from the euphoric rush caused by the sheer amount of monster meat he'd consumed over the past few days.

"BIG SISTER!"

The two sisters screamed in unison as the floor beneath them cracked open, pulling them into a pit of lava. Then, a presence stirred, and an aura began to form, slowly challenging Aku's own.

'Yes!'

Aku rejoiced as he felt his world glimmer and get dizzy from everything happening to his body.

'I knew there was more to this!'

***

"What's happening Tarin?"

Yaki watched as the two sisters fell into a pit of lava.

"Your brother has just defeated the twins, now remains The Sister's Final form."

"Final form? You mean stronger than the one he just fought?"

Yaki looked at her brother's state as she could tell something was off.

"Stronger would be an understatement! This form is one of the strongest monsters I've ever faced off against!"

The two sensed a presence rising from within the lava as if an explosion were brewing slowly. The lava bubbled ominously, building in intensity.

"I don't expect your brother to defeat her in this state."

***

The bubble shrunk back down in the hole. The lava disappeared as steam flowed out of the hole. Aku couldn't sense anything from the hole.

*Rock Crunching*

Smoke billowed as the floor of the pit began to rise, like an elevator in motion. Aku watched, his eyes narrowing, as a shadow slowly began to take shape. It was…

'A little girl?'

Aku stared at the monster's new form, which now appeared entirely human, a little girl no older than the one he'd met at The Sanctuary. She had bright blonde hair and wore a white gown. Despite not sensing her Aspect, Aku could feel the heat radiating from her skin. Her power was undeniable.

'So this is the final test huh?'

Aku's Aspect was sporadic all across his body as he felt an odd sensation of euphoria. His body was peaking as his high was coming down.

'I'll kill her fast!'

"Did you hurt my sisters?"

The girl's question stumped Aku.

'Sisters? Sister? My sister? Sister! Sister! Sister! Sister! Sister! Sister! Sister! Sister! Sister! Sister! Sister! Sister!'

Aku's Shiryoku burned bright! His right eye however was rolled back. His body was stiff but loose. Tarin looked down at him in realization.

'Damn kid is high as a kite.'

*Slice*

Aku's katana pierced through the sister's stomach. As he bent backward, something caught his attention.

'I hit her didn't I?'

Aku's Aspect suddenly went on alert, as all of his senses were guiding him to one feeling.

'Run?'

The air became dense as The Sister turned to Aku slowly, she cried tears of lava.

"I don't like when monsters hurt my sisters…"

The air became heavy as Aku felt his Aspect fight to keep his body standing, yet that wasn't the only issue.

'It burns! ITS BURNING'

Aku was thrown into a panic as his Aspect was consumed by whatever power the Sister was wielding. He fell to his knees, struggling to keep from collapsing face-first. The Sister's gown fluttered as she floated gently into the air. Lava-like tears streamed down her face, falling like a beautiful waterfall.

***

"TARIN SAVE HIM!"

Tarin made no sudden movements and remained silent while watching Aku. Yaki watched as The Sister floated up to the top of the cave, it felt like she looked Yaki directly in the eyes.

'She's…looking at me.'

Yaki's Shiryoku suddenly hurt badly as her body winched at the sight of a strong opponent. She placed her hand on her eye as she put her eye patch back on as fast as possible.

"Tarin!"

He grabbed onto her instantly and held her close.

'So…if her Shiryoku sees a nice opponent it'll react, or is it a threat? Doesn't matter! The last thing I need right now is for her to go berserk at the same time as her brother.'

"Your brother will be okay, If I'm being honest it's not him I'm worried about at the moment.'

Lava spewed out above them as suddenly holes formed all around the cave.

'He's right there I can feel it.'

***

Aku looked up at The Sister as she spread her arms and legs outward forming a star with her body.

"BURN!"

Lava spewed out of hundreds of holes around the cave as Aku began to panic.

'Death?'

Aku looked back on his younger years when he would kill innocent people for the reason of business.

'DEATH?'

The hundreds of bodies he had stacked up over the years for what?

'DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH!'

Aku's body dodged the shots of lava on near instinct. His body movements were fluid as his Aspect was regenerating every time it was burned away. The Kuroi Inazuma was battling off splatters of lava.

'DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH! DEATH DEATH!'

He locked his eyes on The Sister as his mind began to clear, he thought of all of the death he had caused throughout his life.

'Was it worth it?'

Aku dashed at The Sister with a Dastardly smile on his face.

'Maybe,'

*Splurt*

Blood spilled from Aku's mouth as the Sister closed the distance between them in an instant, leaving a gaping hole in the lower left of his abdomen.

', maybe I deserve to die?'

Half of his Aspect's core was destroyed as lava burned at the other. He fell backward in the air as the pool of lava beneath him waited like a bed of flowers.

'I'm sorry Yaki…be strong.'

*splash*

***

'His presence…'

Yaki couldn't see past the lava but she teared up slowly.

'I can't feel Aku's presence anymore!'

***

A boy laid in the middle of a plain of grass. He felt his hair sway with the grass as the wind blew over him with ease. He lay there, finding himself being at peace. He stared into the blue sky and wondered.

'Where am I?'