“Purple Lightning?”

“Seriously?”

“Isn’t that…”

Al-Shura looked around the stadium.

“The air among the audience became tense. Why?”

He looked back at Miko.

“Is there something special about purple lightning?”

“There is.”

Alec answered.

“Most people don’t know now, but it’s said that of the many things Augustus was famous for, Purple Lightning was one of them.”

“What’s so special about Purple Lightning? I’ve seen it before.”

Karim said.

“Oh? Take a look again.”

Alec pointed at Miko. Everyone started focusing on the lightning dancing around him.

“Is it made from Raw Mana?”

Sophia was the first to noticed something special about it. Alec nodded.

“As you all know, using raw mana without processing it within our bodies requires a lot of talent in mana control. This is because you’re using Nature’s mana and not your own. That being said, using raw mana gives your attacks more firepower but it comes with the risk of you losing control and having it blow up in your face, so most don’t attempt it. They especially don’t use it to create elements which are extremely hard to do.”

Alec smiled.

“Augustus being Augustus ignored this common sense and went for the element that’s the hardest to control, Lightning.”

“I get that but it’s not that he’s the only one who could generate lightning using raw mana.”

“True. The world is huge, there are countless people capable of this feat.”

He smirked.

“But the thing is, Lightning generated from raw mana has three distinct colors: Yellow, White, or Blue; Augustus’ was Purple.”

They didn’t know why but just Alec emphasizing the color difference made their chest tightened.

“…Why was his different?”

“Because he’s Augustus, I guess. No one really knows why. But if there’s one obvious thing was that his Purple Lightning was on another level from power to versatility.”

He looked back at Miko.

“Now, Miko is using that same Purple Lightning. Although, I doubt he realizes just what he’s using. If he did, he would’ve used it as a bargaining chip from the start.”

“This kid is really something….”

The Guardians knew very well the significance of Miko using something similar to Augustus. They found it difficult to contain their shock. Except for Raven who witnessed Miko using it before.

(As I thought, it was Augustus’ Lightning. I wonder how will Miko use it.)

“You’re gonna put my Speed Devil to the test?”

Rin took a step forward. He vanished. He reappeared behind Miko the next instant. An explosive sound resounded.

“I didn’t know you could move that fast.”

Miko’s image faded. Rin turned his head to the side. Miko was standing there.

“You were faster than the first time. If I hadn’t move before you did I would’ve been in trouble.”

Miko smiled.

“Those milliseconds saved me.”

(This guy…Is he mocking me?)

“No, I’m not.”

“?!”

A gentle smile appeared on Miko’s face.

“Rin, I honestly believe that you’re strong but you can become stronger. But for that to happen…”

The static around Miko grew even more intense.

“You need to realize how weak you really are and come to embrace it.”

“What?”

The smile fell from Miko’s face.

“The time for talk has passed.”

The static around him swoll up until lightning bolts started dancing around Miko. His hair rose to the sky, purple light filled his eyes as if they were bulbs in his head, and his skin started illuminating.

“Purple Dragon Style- Electric Doping!”

“…What the hell is—”

Rin blinked and Miko was in front of him.

“?!”

Purple light flashed. Two purple slashes crossed. Rin was hit. Blood sprayed from his body and formed an X. Rin flew back. Before his feet touched the ground Miko was already in front of him. His body flickered and he appeared several hundred meters away.

(His speed has gone through the roof.)

He clenched his swords.

“Then I’ll just surpass it!”

He took a step forward and time came to a halt. No, Rin was moving so fast that it was as if he alone could move in a frozen world. He “slowly” walked up to a frozen Miko. He thrust his sword at his face.

“?!”

His eyes slowly widened as Miko dodged it with ease. He thrust again and the same thing happened. He sped up his thrusts. Miko evaded all of them with minimal movement.

(He can react?! No, he...)

Miko pounced at Rin.

(He can move at the same speed as me!)

Miko swung both swords at Rin’s neck and waist. Rin pulled his short sword and blocked both strikes with his swords.

“Ugh?!”

Electricity flowed from the swords and into his body. Miko kicked him in the chest. Rin flew back. Miko chased after him.

“Son of a—”

Rin leaped into the air and swung downwards. Miko jumped and swung upwards. The swords clashed and time resumed. Rain pattered on the ground and the scent of wet dirt filled the air. The two separated. Their bodies flickered. With an explosive sound, water and mud flew in the air. Purple and red light reflected in the raindrops. Covered in purple static, Miko continuously rushed at Rin. Rin stood his ground and parried his onslaught.

“Tsk!”

Rin clicked his tongue as Miko rushed at him again. Miko swung his swords from both sides. His swings hit air. Rin hovered above Miko. He spun in the air swinging his swords. Miko vanished with a purple spark. Rin’s feet touched the ground. He bent backward. A purple slash flew over his head. He straightened his back and leaped back. His feet touched the ground again. Miko appeared in front of him. Sparks flew. Swords danced between them.

(It isn’t just speed.)

Rin’s thoughts raced.

(He can clearly perceive and predict my movements. His swings are also far heavier than before.)

The noise of swords clashing drowned out the sound of rain. Rin examined Miko again.

(I see. He’s using electricity to boost his mental and physical abilities…If that’s the case!)

Rin forced Miko back.

“The strain you’re feeling will eventually cause you to crumble!”

He turned into a beam of red light. That beam rushed at Miko. He evaded the beam and transformed into a purple lightning bolt. The bolt and the beam clashed through the rainy lands. Everything they passed was sliced into pieces before bursting apart. Thunder rolled and lightning danced in the clouds illuminating the battlefield. Miko and Rin returned to their humanoid forms. They skid through the mud as their swords clashed. They stopped with their swords locked together.

“……”

Miko silently kicked Rin away and moved away to create some distance.

“Release.”

The static around him calmed down and his body returned to normal.

“Hahaha! So you’ve reached your limit!”

Rin burst out laughing.

“How much time has passed since Miko activated that technique?”

Karim asked Dario.

“4 minutes 53 seconds.”

“So he has a 5-minute limit. I wonder what would happen if he exceeds that?”

“He would die.”

Alec answered.

“What he did was force his organs to function beyond what they should normally be capable of. Miko recently obtained a strong body so he can do this for some time without major backlash. But, if he pushes it…I’m certain that his heart will explode.”

“Damn…That’s a dangerous technique. I would only use it as a last resort.”

Sophia looked at the heavily breathing Miko.

“I’m sure that he’s burnt out after using it.”

“Hahahaha.”

Momo suddenly burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“Ah, my apologies. You’re not wrong when you said that Electric Doping is a last resort technique.”

A smirk simultaneously appeared on her and Miko’s faces.

“That’s only for the normal person though. Miko is far from normal.”

A purple light flashed.

“?!”

Rin crossed his swords in front of him.

*CLANG!*

Rin was blown back after blocking a strike.

“Electric Doping has two flaws.”

Momo showed two fingers.

“If used beyond 5 minutes, Miko’s heart will explode. Also, it can’t be used continuously. It’s like you said, a really dangerous technique; but Miko still used it. Why?”

She grinned.

“Because it helps him warm up so he can use the other techniques in the Purple Dragon Style.”

Rin's arms began to tremble.

(That was heavy.)

Miko slowly approached him.

“Purple Dragon Style: Flash Step.”

A purple light flashed. Miko’s sword was inches away from Rin’s face. He swung his sword up and deflected it. He cut in front of him but Miko disappeared in a purple flash. He spun around and deflected another strike. Miko vanished before he could counter. Miko repeatedly attacked Rin before disappearing. Rin’s eyes danced in his head as he followed Miko’s movements.

(He’s slower than earlier. I can see that he only moves in a straight line.)

He spun around.

“That means I can predict where he going to come from.”

He thrust his sword into Miko’s shoulder. He vanished with a flash. However, Rin still got him.

“Looks like Flash Step won’t work against you.”

Miko vanished with a flash. Rin followed him with his eyes.

“That’s not—Huh?”

Miko’s speed increased and he was moving around Rin. He swung his sword and deflected a strike. He spun around and blocked another. He twisted his body to evade one from behind.

(This is… He’s still only moving in a straight line but he’s not stopping. Instead, he instantly changes direction!)

The audience could see Rin surrounded by purple zigzags. Some even climbing trees and cliffs.

“Flash Step: Parkour.”

(An Omnidimensional version?!)

A cut appeared on his shoulder. Another appeared on his back. Arm, leg, chest, stomach, cuts appeared all over his body.

“Speed Devil: Cut Zone!”

The attacks stopped. Miko reappeared several meters away from Rin. Blood sprayed from cut wounds that appeared on his body. Miko smiled.

“Well, shit. I don’t think I saw even half of those slashes.”

Cuts formed in the earth around Rin.

“So you’re not only physically fast, you can swing your sword at a godly speed too.”

“Speed Devil is all about speed of every kind.”

Rin hopped in place and disappeared leaving ripples in a puddle. Miko disappeared in a purple flash. The two reappeared with their swords locked. Cuts appeared on both of them.

“If it’s speed I won’t lose in this form.”

They disappeared again. Miko appeared sliding through the mud. Rin popped up thrusting his sword. Miko was forced back by a red beam. He twisted his body and land on a cliffside. Purple lightning danced around him. He blasted off the cliff destroying it. Rin was forced out of the air. He was forced to the ground. The earth burst open as purple static flowed through it.

*Bam!*

An explosion erupted and Miko was seen flying through the air with burns.

“Cough! Cough!”

Rin stood up. He wiped the blood from his mouth and nose.

“You fucker, you got some of my organs.”

Miko laid on the ground. He quickly got up.

“…Well, I’m not better off.”

“What did you do just now? I couldn’t react at all. It felt like I was hit by a bullet train.”

“Lightning Piercer. I coated my body with lightning and accelerated piercing through the target like a spear. A person can be torn into half by it and I can easily pierce through a building and a crowd, killing a lot of people.”

Rin stared at him blankly before bursting out laughing.

“I can’t believe you actually explained it.”

“I thought that it be more fun if you could figure it out.

“Fun, huh?”

Rin looked at his swords in his hands.

“I think I’m actually having fun right now….Strange. It shouldn’t be a big deal but it feels weird.”

He clenched his swords.

“I can’t help but get excited thinking about what crazy thing you’re gonna do next.”

He started grinning.

“I get even more excited when I crush those techniques with my own hands. It’s like I can feel my growth.”

His eyes sparkled with a light that wasn’t there before. Kirika saw this and her vision became blurry. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Alec noticed this and smiled.

“I see. So you’re growing as you fight. Then I better wrap this up.”

Miko lifted both swords in front of him.

“I can’t afford for you to get stronger than you already are.”

“Hahaha! I wonder what else are you going to show me?”

Rin smirked.

“I can't wait to destroy it.”