NOVEL NEXT Episode XCIV: Kori’s Death Games Pt. III
With an explosive burst of speed, Juro lunged at Kazuhiro, his fist shrouded in a menacing black flame. The crackling energy cast eerie shadows on the icy cage surrounding them as he landed a devastating punch to Kazuhiro's gut. There was no time for evasion; Juro was unyielding, his fists hammering down with blinding speed until Kazuhiro coughed up blood that splattered across Juro’s traditional gi. Yoji watched from the sidelines, murmuring quietly under his breath, "This isn't good." When Juro finally halted his assault, his hands evaporated into smoke and left noticeable indentations on Kazuhiro's body. Despite the damage inflicted upon him, Kazuhiro found the strength to laugh, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he taunted Juro about his brother's futile sacrifice.
In response, Juro released an aura so potent it towered above their icy battlefield. His body underwent a transformation into Kuro, his spirit form - a majestic black flame panda. He surged forward once again, landing another dark flame-infused punch that nearly folded Kazuhiro in two against the frosty cage wall.
Kazuhiro retaliated with laughter and managed to throw off Juro who flew across the ring like a discarded doll. But this did not deter him; he returned swiftly to Kazuhiro and discharged a Black Flame blast in retaliation.
Kazuhiro narrowly dodged this attack and charged back towards Juro with punches aimed at his gut. But in an unexpected twist, Juro countered it with a punch of equal force.
Caught off guard by this sudden change in tactics, Kazuhiro questioned how he knew to counterattack simultaneously. As if answering him through action rather than words, Juro opened his fist and directed another Black Flame blast straight into Kazuhiro’s gut.
The resulting explosion sent shockwaves throughout the enclosed space, and Kazuhiro fell hard onto the icy ground. But before he hit the ground, Juro delivered a swift kick to his face. In a surprising move, Kazuhiro seized Juro’s leg mid-kick and swung him into the ice cage with all his strength. Despite this counterattack, Kazuhiro's fall was still harsh and unforgiving.
Juro prepared to launch his Ultimate Move – "Black Blaze Strike!" - as he roared in fury. Simultaneously, Kazuhiro also initiated his own Ultimate move. Their fists clashed in mid-air causing another massive explosion that sent a gust of wind sweeping through the arena.
Mudar watched from the sidelines in awe of Juro's power while Felix shielded himself from the ensuing wind blast. Both warriors were blown back against the cage again; Juro’s back gave an ominous crackling sound upon impact while Kazuhiro's leg bent awkwardly as it got caught between icy bars.
FJ encouraged Juro to stand up but Oga pointed out that he had lost too much power when he went enraged. As they watched, Kazuhiro managed to rise slowly despite his injuries, prompting Rin-Rin and Futoshi to question how he could get up while Juro couldn't.
Kazuhiro limped towards Juro with a cruel laugh echoing around them. He taunted him about their impending deaths just like his brother's earlier demise which provoked whispers among Yoji and Takuji about his ruthless fighting style.
Despite being severely injured, Juro managed to spit out blood and attempted to rise but each movement caused searing pain in his back. When Kazuhiro offered him assistance, he started charging black aura into his free hand before suddenly getting punched by Kazuhiro in the leg which broke it instantly.
As Juro screamed in agony, a bright green light shot out from Kazuhiro's palm directly onto him. His last words were an apology to his brother for failing to avenge him before his body was completely obliterated, leaving only a piece of his panda belt that blew away from the ring.
Yosuke’s body started to disintegrate into dust and was carried away by the wind. This caused an uproar among their friends; FJ roared in anger, Rin-Rin shed tears while Jax, Lionel, Felix, and Tokido displayed visible sadness.
Meanwhile, Kiyoshi woke up from a short coma and started running towards where he thought he came from with no clue about his actual location. Kitaro watched him with a sigh, wondering about their strange bond as spirit guardian and human.