Explosive sounds erupted from within Romix and black smoke covered the sky. Inside the city, Jin Makoto was walking through the burning streets of the city. Dead bodies laid out around him, red stained his black suit, and blood dripped from his gloves.

“I gotta admit.”

He stooped down grabbed a soldier who was suffering from wounds and lifted him by his hair.

“Doing this feels natural for me. I don’t feel excitement or anything like that. I just feel like I’m breathing again.”

He stabbed his hand in the soldier’s chest and crushed his heart before throwing him away.

“I guess that means that my heart has died again.”

He stood and started walking away.

“Sapphire would cry if she finds out.”

He shook his head.

“I’m pretty sure she already knows.”

He continued to walk through the hellish surroundings.

“This city isn’t as guarded as I thought it would be. I guess it won’t be a problem taking it by myself.”

“Seriously.”

Jin turned his head and saw someone walking towards him while shaking his head.

“Why do you people love to attack this place? I’m supposed to be the strongest on this side you know? Wouldn’t that mean that you would naturally avoid here?”

Bastian complained.

“This is where most of your forces are gathered. It’s the ideal place to attack. Also, you haven’t been that imposing lately.”

Jin wore a mocking smile on his face. Bastian looked at him for a bit and sighed while scratching his scalp.

“I see. So it’s all my fault that my soldiers constantly die like fodders. Well, I’m sure they are fodders in your eyes.”

A sharp look appeared in his eyes.

“Since it’s my incompetence that has caused their deaths it’s natural that I atone properly.”

His body flickered and Jin suddenly found himself being looked down upon by the towering Bastian.

“I think you brats have gotten a bit too cocky.”

“You didn’t strike when you had the chance? Are you mocking me?”

“Yes, I am.”

Jin punched Bastian in the face.

“I was just checking.”

“I see.”

A thunderous sound echoed out and Jin found himself on the ground. He looked and saw Bastian’s fist digging into his stomach. The ground underneath him sunk and burst open and he found himself lying in a crater.

“Your abyssal body saved you.”

Bastian thrust his fist down again and Jin felt a sharp pain.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that you can negate half the damage that would’ve really hurt.”

Jin grabbed his fist.

“I guess I should be grateful to be born with this power. By the way, I don’t just negate I can attack too.”

Black flames came from Jin’s hands and engulfed Bastian’s body.

“Even if you can defend against it, this flame will eat away at your life until I wish for it to extinguish.”

Bastian released Jin and stepped back. Jin sprung to his feet and charged at him.

“Eat away at my life huh?”

Jin halted when he saw Bastian smiled.

“That’s fine by me. After all, I intend to die in this war.”

“What?”

Bastian disappeared and popped up by him. Jin quickly turned around but was punched square in the face. His body bounced off the ground and he struggled to get to his feet. By the time he did, Bastian was already in front of him throwing a punch. Jin pulled the short sword under his trench coat and used it to block the punch. He felt a numbing pain in his arms. Bastian threw a kick and he ducked underneath it and pounced at him slashing at his neck. Bastian stepped back to avoid the blade and Jin pulled out a gun and fired at his head. He evaded the shot and appeared behind Jin, who span around stabbing at him. Bastian grabbed his arm and twisted it. Jin flipped in the direction his arm was being twisted and fired at Bastian at point-blank. Bastian’s head was forced back and he released Jin’s arm. Jin coated his blade in black lightning and pounced at Bastian again.

“As brutal as I heard.”

Jin was kicked in the midsection before he reached Bastian, who only acted like he was falling back. Jin was risen into the air by the kick. Bastian leaped into the air and grabbed at him. Jin twisted his body and evaded his hand and held on to it. He flipped and flung Bastian towards the ground. Bastian landed on his feet and looked up only to be confused. Jin was nowhere to be seen.

*Bam!*

He felt a blow to his chin from below and was risen off his feet. He looked down and saw Jin in a handstand.

(He slid underneath me and kicked me while performing a handstand?)

He heard a clanking sound and noticed that he had a chain wrapped around his leg. Jin got back on his feet and pulled the chain with a spin and slammed Bastian through a building.

(The chain loosen? He’s free!)

Jin looked around and then noticed a shadow casting on him. He gathered black flames and lightning in his palms and fired them into the sky. Bastian pierced through the attack with a punch and dove towards Jin throwing another punch. Jin matched him with a punch of his own.

*BOOM!*

Shockwaves spread out and blew away the debris around them. Bastian’s long shirt sleeve tore apart and revealed his glowing beast tattoos underneath.

“They’re all glowing?”

Jin was confused because this was the first time he’s seen all of Bastian’s tattoos glow simultaneously and he didn’t know what that meant. Bastian backed off and wore a smirk while looking at Jin.

“Did my tattoos catch your attention? By the way, how much do you know about my technique? Because Miko seemed quite knowledgeable about it.”

Jin didn’t answer only staring at the beast tattoos.

“I see. You don’t know much and is trying to get some info from observing them.”

Jin continued to remain silent and moved towards him.

(He’s still covered in my Midnight Flame.)

He accelerated and entered Bastian’s personal space. He sidestepped around Bastian’s punch and circled behind him.

(He’s resisting the burning effects just as I predicted but his magic should be getting devoured.)

Bastian span around swung his backhand. Jin caught it and struck at his exposed side. His strike landed and made a dull sound.

(Yet, why isn’t he getting tired or sluggish?)

Bastian span around with a kick and Jin leaped back. Bastian’s body flickered and so did Jin. The two were seen moving through the burning city and clashing at high speeds.

“Forget slowing down! This motherfucker just keeps getting faster!”

Jin crossed his arms in front of him and blocked a punch. He was sent crashing through a building. Bastian followed after him and swung his hand. Storm-like winds rushed towards Jin and blew away the debris around him. He held his ground and met Bastian’s charge. His sword blocked Bastian’s punch and shattered. Yet, he didn’t become flustered. He twisted his body out of harm's way and formed a lightning sword in his hand. He stabbed that sword in Bastian’s exposed side.

*Bam!*

He got elbowed in the side of his head and was forced to stumble back.

“How?!”

He shouted after distancing him from another attack.

“The flame should be eating away at his magic and I sent electricity right into him. So how is he unfazed?”

Bastian grabbed at his neck but he was able to outmaneuver him.

“It gotta have something to do with his tattoos.”

“You know…”

Bastian halted.

“It’s obvious that you’re not giving your all here. Could it be that you're thinking about the next battle and want to conserve as much strength as possible?”

Jin remained quiet.

“If that’s the case, then you’re a fool.”

He took a step forward and the entire city shook.

“It’s fine for you to think about what lays ahead if you’re sitting back and giving orders from a safe location.”

He took another step forward and the air became thin.

“But for soldiers on the frontlines, there’s no thinking about what’s ahead. You only need to think about killing the enemy in front of you. Otherwise, there won’t be a next battle to worry about.”

Jin could see the tattoos glowing through his top. He wouldn’t be surprised if they burned it and made themselves visible.

“This is how I’ve decided to approach this war.”

He clenched his fists and lifted them in front of him.

“I’ll constantly give my everything to win no matter who I face. And I won’t stop until my light has been extinguished.”

Jin recalled what he said earlier.

“I intend to die in this war.”

Before he could think about anything else, Bastian had already moved. The force he moved with rivaled a plane taking off. He cut the distance and smashed his fist in Jin’s chest and forced him off the ground. He then spun around and slammed his heel on the side of his head, forcing him into the earth. He stomped his foot but Jin rolled out of the way and sprung to his feet.

“?!”

His eyes widened and time slowed down when he saw a large fist coming straight for his head. His body moved before he could think and bent his back to its limit to narrowly avoid it. An explosive sound rang out above as a testament to the power behind that punch.

(He’s going for the kill!)

Jin straightened his body and quickly made some distance between them. But that’s distance was short-lived as Bastian instantly caught up to him.

(I need to switch forms! I need speed!)

Jin’s thoughts raced as he desperately fends off Bastian’s heavy attacks. He prepared to change it up by switching forms. But he didn’t need to.

*BAM!*

Bastian was hit from the side by a giant beam and was blown away from Jin. Bastian looked for who attacked him but before he could, he found himself upside down and in the sky. Shock painted his face as he tried to grasp the situation.

“Sorry for interrupting, Jin.”

Jin turned his head and saw a voluptuous woman appear out of nowhere, wearing a pink and gold leather suit with her stomach exposed.

“Miko said Bastian was my prey.”

She snapped her fingers and Jin vanished into thin air.

“Instant teleportation, incredible.”

Bastian landed on the ground and faced Momo.

“I think it would be better if I was your last opponent so I sent him somewhere else.”

“Ah, I see. You know what these tattoos represent and what kind of state I’m in.”

She nodded.

“Since it’s your final battle, let’s make it as extravagant as possible.”

Bastian started grinning.

“I like that. I might have lost against time and is about to be surpassed by the next generation but this is what an old warrior like me dream of every night.”

He took a fighting stance.

“A warrior’s death that’ll make even the Valkyries weep!”

Momo did the same.

“Too bad you won’t get to see your student one last time. I heard you two were really close. I’m sure she’ll miss you.”

“Natasa?”

Bastian laughed.

“No need to worry about her. That girl is tough. Defeat and lost only makes her stronger. I’m sure she’ll give you all hell.”

He smirked.

“Also, what makes you think I’m going to hell alone? I need a beautiful companion to chat with. I heard it was a long trip after all.”

Momo laughed.

“I have too many regrets to die now. So I’ll have to recline.”

The two said nothing more and began their battle to the death.

***************

Somewhere in the country, an unconscious Natasa Kingsley laid out on the ground. She was bloody from her head to her toe, especially her face that was disfigured after getting hit by Bloom. She laid motionlessly to the point one would wonder if she was dead.

Her body started to glow and a crystal substance grew over her bloody flesh. The crystal encased her and continued to grow until it was large enough to fit several adult males inside. A strange liquid filled the crystal, submerging her in it. Web-like substances came from her body and wrapped around her forming a cocoon in the liquid. The crystal then lit up before blending into the area like a chameleon. If one were to go there they would never know that someone was there; in a strange crystallized state much less.

Time until complete metamorphosis:- ????