CHAPTER 21: THE BEGINNING OF THE END
BOOMM!
A massive explosion erupted. Some houses were completely destroyed by the blast. In the same second, the explosion ended. And everyone's mouths hung open.
Because the outcome was not what it seemed.
Master Andre's right arm was severed. Blood was gushing onto the ground.
Just then, Bumb spoke mockingly.
"Was that all? They called you a master. I took you too seriously. I apologize to myself."
He grinned.
"Come on! I haven't even used half my power yet."
Blood was flowing from Master Andre's yellow hairline. His right arm was gone. His face was barely visible beneath his ronin hat.
At that moment, he took off his hat and threw it away.
Bumb was momentarily surprised. Because Master Andre's blue eyes were blazing with the love of battle.
"Th-this is the fight I've been looking for. I haven't fought a Djinn as strong as you in years. In this battle, I will finally even use my ultimate technique."
There was shock in Bumb's voice.
"W-what are you rambling about? You're about to die, don't you realize?"
Andre's voice was calm.
"Warriors are born to die. On the contrary, I'm happy to die fighting."
Bumb's voice filled with anger.
"Your attitude… irritates me. I'll wipe that smile off your face."
Just then, all the townspeople began to pour into the streets. Slowly, but bravely.
Commander Garm shouted.
"Master Andre! We're all behind you! You can do this!"
Andre nodded.
"I will."
At that moment, Andre slammed his left hand on the ground. Suddenly, a yellow circle appeared beneath both him and Bumb.
"DIVINE GRACE!"
In an instant, both of them were transported to an empty field an hour's distance from the city.
Bumb was shocked.
"WHAT DID YOU DO, HUMAN?"
"I saved the people in the city. Our battle would have destroyed it. But here, no one gets hurt."
Bumb raised his hands. The black earth was still flowing limitlessly in his palms. He shaped it into hundreds of spears.
"CURSED SPEARS!"
Suddenly, hundreds of black earth spears appeared around Bumb. All of them shot toward Andre at high speed.
"LIGHT ZAN!"
A pinkish-yellow shield formed around Andre.
The black spears collided with the shield. But none of them could pierce it.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The shield remained intact.
Bumb spoke, sounding impressed.
"I admit it. Your Ren is strong and abundant. Despite losing your arm, you can still use your Ren masterfully. You're one of the few people who can impress me. That's why… I'll kill you quickly."
Andre's voice was calm.
"My goal isn't to defeat you. It's enough to put you out of commission."
"Then let's fight to the death."
"BLACK PO!"
Bumb raised his right fist. Suddenly, a pitch-black effect with a faint orange glow appeared in his hand. It was so intense that it spread all the way up his arm.
Andre's eyes narrowed.
"His Ren level is very high. I think he's slightly stronger than me. But that's fine… I can keep up."
"LIGHT PO!"
They both leaped toward each other. They met in the middle.
Andre's left arm collided with Bumb's right arm.
BAM!
A massive explosion erupted. It was visible even from the city.
A soldier asked.
"Commander, Master Andre will win, right?"
Commander Garm's answer was certain.
"Of course he will. He took him away so we wouldn't be harmed. Don't worry."
The explosion was even visible from the path where Master Woli and his team were traveling.
Woli stopped his horse.
"Did you see that explosion?"
Kaito nodded. "I saw it, Master."
Ren had also seen it. "I saw it."
Aiko was worried. "Yes, I saw it. It was a huge explosion. And at night. This is…"
Rin finished her sentence. "Could it be a Djinn?"
Woli spurred his horse.
"Quick, hurry your horses! It's half an hour ahead. We need to get there immediately!"
The explosion had ended.
Master Andre lay on the ground. He was vomiting blood.
Bumb looked down at him.
"As you can see, human. Even a slight difference leads to huge consequences."
Andre struggled to his feet.
"I'm… I'm not done yet."
He vomited blood and stood up. Then he raised his hand to the sky.
A massive ring formed in the sky. It was so large that it was visible from everywhere.
Master Woli also saw it.
Woli's eyes widened.
"N-no way!"
Kaito asked anxiously.
"What is it, Master?"
"This technique… This is Master Andre's technique. His second technique. We need to get there immediately! If he uses his ultimate technique… it could reach the city. Hurry, let's go!"
Master Andre spoke quietly.
"This technique is my second liberation technique. If you survive this… unfortunately, I'll have no choice but to use my ultimate technique."
His voice hardened.
"So… please die now!"
He shouted.
"DIVINE WRATH!"
The ring widened even further. Suddenly, hundreds of yellow beams began falling from it. Each one was half the size of a spear.
Bumb's eyes sparkled.
"This technique… Amazing!"
"BLACK ZAN!"
A pitch-black shield formed around Bumb, completely enveloping him.
The beams fell one after another. Hundreds of yellow beams rained down relentlessly.
Bumb's Zan was beginning to wear down.
"Damn it! What kind of power is this? I must hold on. This technique must have taken a lot out of him, I'm sure. If I hold on a little longer, his Ren will run out and he'll be as vulnerable as a child."
Just then, a beam pierced through the Zan. It entered Bumb's shoulder vertically.
Bumb screamed in pain.
"AHHHH! How is this possible? How did my Zan wear down? HOW?"
Master Andre wasn't speaking. He was completely focused.
Hundreds of beams were still falling from the ring in the sky.
The Zan was pierced again. This time, twice.
One beam grazed Bumb's arm. The other struck him right in the back.
Bumb gritted his teeth.
"Hmph… I-I must… I must hold on. This technique must have a time limit… No! I need to take a risk! Otherwise, this human will kill me."
He cancelled his Zan.
At the same time, the massive ring in the sky also faded.
Master Andre immediately collapsed to the ground. He was vomiting blood. His eyes had turned from blue to red. There was so much blood in his eyes that he could only see red.
Bumb lunged forward. His hand suddenly transformed. It became a thick spear.
He swiftly drove his hand into Master Andre's abdomen.
SWISH!
Andre's stomach was pierced.
Bumb slowly pulled his hand out of Andre's abdomen. So slowly that it damaged all the internal organs.
When he finally pulled his hand out, the situation was disastrous.
Master Andre had a massive hole in his abdomen.
Andre collapsed to his knees. His right arm was gone. His eyes had turned red from the blood. Even his hair was stained red.
But…
At that moment, Andre raised his head. His ronin hat was on the ground. He picked it up and placed it back on his head.
Blood began to flow from his pupils and hairline.
And despite all his wounds, he stood back up.
But he was no longer the same Andre.
Bumb's eyes widened in shock.
"This… this is Kyu!"
Andre raised his left arm. He concentrated Po into his fist. Then he threw a devastating punch.
Bumb took the punch directly. He was sent flying through the air. He rolled several meters on the ground. He stopped.
Just as he was about to get up, Andre attacked him from above.
BAM!
Bumb received a crushing blow to his back. A huge cloud of dust rose.
Andre grabbed him by the arm and lifted him up.
"LIGHT SWORD!"
A light sword materialized in his hand. He swung it with all his might.
SWISH!
Bumb's arm was severed instantly. Steam rose from the wound.
Bumb screamed in agony.
"AHHH! M-my arm… MY ARM IS GONE!"
Andre's voice was cold.
"I'll do to you what you did to me."
Bumb fell to the ground. He immediately stood up, but he moved a few steps away.
"His power is increasing… Kyu! Kyu has ruined everything. I have no choice left… I must use my ultimate technique."
At that moment, figures appeared on the small hill ahead.
Master Woli.
And just then, Master Andre shouted.
"APOCALYPSE LIGHT!"