Being pummeled by his own techniques like this was a first for Naoki.
"Is this what it feels like for those I've beaten?"
In the midst of a raging sea of flames, enduring temperatures hot enough to incinerate him, Naoki struggled to clench his blistered, burned fist and slammed it hard into the ground.
*CRASH!*
The cemetery trembled. The explosive impact created a powerful gust that spread outward, forming a vacuum zone within the sea of fire!
Was this his limit?
(If I could use Summoning Magecraft, I could've blown it all away…)
Staggering to his feet, Naoki glared at his counterpart, raising a hand to wipe the blood from his face: "Can't you calm down a bit? With all this ruckus, have you forgotten the rule of concealing mysteries?"
"When have you ever followed it?" [Naoki] sneered. "How's it feel? Getting burned by this fire?"
"Hah? You call this fire? It's barely warm. But as a little flame to ward off the night's chill, it's just right."
This stubborn bastard!
He was clearly on the verge of burning to death earlier, if not for…
Wait, him, why is he…
"Why are you still alive?" [Naoki] realized something was off. His attack just now held nothing back; Naoki, relying only on his physical body, shouldn't have survived.
So why was he still alive?
Since when was he unscathed? Just seconds ago, he looked like a charred corpse, didn't he? He didn't have Avalon either.
(Whatever, who cares!)
"Alive? Fine! Let's go, I'll kill you again! Let me feel your strength one more time!"
Flames roared like a volcanic eruption. A fiery storm enveloped [Naoki]'s entire body, and he shot forward like a fully-throttled truck!
In terms of force, it rivaled a meteorite's impact.
The blazing fire streaked across the ground like a meteor, reaching Naoki in an instant!
His right foot, wreathed in flames, struck Naoki's chest!
*BOOM!*
Without a shred of hesitation, under a kick capable of toppling a mountain peak, even though Naoki quickly raised his arms to block, he was sent flying over a hundred meters, crashing through several walls at the far end like a fired bullet.
(Blocked again?)
(No more dodging.)
Contrasting thoughts flashed through their minds simultaneously. Without letting his body stop, as soon as he broke free from the rubble, Naoki leaped from his spot. The next second, another meteor-like kick landed!
*BOOM!*
The ground was stomped, forming a crater!
Sensing movement to his side, [Naoki] didn't even glance and swung a punch sideways.
*CRASH!*
Their fists collided once more.
As if mocking his counterpart's ignorance, [Naoki] shifted his fist into an open palm, gripping Naoki's fist tightly: "In our current state, we're basically equivalent to fairies or elementals. The slightest movement around us registers instantly—you forgot! Idiot!"
*THUD!*
Suddenly raising his leg and kicking, with a loud thud, Naoki was sent flying again. But this time, before he could fly far, [Naoki] yanked his head back and slammed him into the ground with full force.
*CRACK!*
The ground shattered instantly!
Blood splattered across the earth like blooming flowers.
This blow was enough to crush an entire skull—[Naoki] was certain of it.
But…
"Guh!"
A sudden pain in his ankle made him grimace. Looking down, he saw Naoki gripping his leg tightly with such force it nearly broke it. Then, with a hard yank, before [Naoki] could break free, Naoki tripped him, sending him crashing to the ground!
Rolling on top, pinning his chest with his knee, Naoki ignored the identical face and relentlessly pummeled [Naoki]'s head with a barrage of fists!
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
Blood sprayed under Naoki's fists. Though [Naoki] shielded his face with his hands, Naoki broke both arms and continued to blindly pound his face and hands!
There were many things he wanted to know—this other self clearly knew a lot. But before he could get answers, he had to beat him half to death first!
—That was Naoki's thought. Thus, the dozens, even hundreds of punches he unleashed held nothing back!
However, as he focused entirely on pinning [Naoki], above his head…
"Naoki! Above!"
Ayaka's cry reached his ears, and at the same moment, dozens of massive fiery spears suddenly fell from the sky, piercing both their bodies, pinning them to the ground like crosses!
"Urgh…"
Unable to hold back, Naoki spat out a mouthful of blood. The fiery spears slowly vanished, and Naoki, his body riddled with large holes, collapsed to his knees.
Chest, shoulders, stomach, both legs… hardly a single spot was intact!
Standing and watching the gaping holes in Naoki's body regenerate, [Naoki] raised his burning hand: "That's all? Even if you still have a Servant's body, the gap between you, unable to use Magecraft, and me is like a chasm!"
In truth, [Naoki] was shocked. In his imagination, he should've dominated one-sidedly, not this back-and-forth struggle.
"Just die like this. I'll toss your ashes into a pigsty—if there's any ash left."
His blazing fist swung mercilessly, but just before it could crush Naoki's head, countless crow feathers rained down like a storm, striking [Naoki]'s body.
His movement halted. He glanced at Ayaka, trembling, with a look of disdain.
"If you want to die, no need to rush in, you stinking wench. Don't think having a free-pass from death lets you provoke me!"
"Get… away from him."
Ayaka's voice was filled with fear and trembling. In truth, she deeply regretted her actions—why had she done that? Wasn't it just asking for death?
But she'd already done it, and now she could only…
"Ugh—"
Her neck was suddenly gripped tightly. With one hand, [Naoki] lifted Ayaka into the air, several orbs of fire gathering around his body: "Fine, you want me to leave him and kill you instead?"
"You're so eager to die, I'll grant it. That trash over there can be killed anytime, and so can you. Since you dared provoke me, I'll let you choose your death."
"Pick, you foolish woman! Want to be burned alive by me, turned into charred ash even your parents wouldn't recognize? Or do you want to be sliced into chunks and tossed to feed stray dogs by the roadside?"