The Greatest Fight [progression cultivation isekai]

X2.3.7 - Good Riddance!

"So, that's it. This is how it all ends for me. Infected by some space virus that will turn me into a zombie," said Roa sitting on a curb as the others patted him on the back. "I thought I would at least die in some epic fight at this point. What a pathetic way to go out," he said.

Indigo pulled something out of her pocket and smiled.

"Ambrosia?" Roa asked.

"I have one left," she said. "I usually keep one for emergencies, but—this is clearly an emergency in my book."

"I'm already young enough, I don't want to grow any younger," the Sunflower said.

"No, silly, the waters also heal. Maybe they can heal this rot thing you caught," she said. "Drink half of it."

The boy from Earth glanced at the vial, swirling the liquid inside of it. It was clear, yet had a tiny hint of a golden, sparkling tone to it. He opened it and stared at it.

"How much younger will I become?" he asked.

"Five years, or so," she said.

"So, back to around ten years old," he sighed, "back to not being able to use my aura."

"You're not supposed to use it, remember what the doctor said?" Rosso pointed out.

"It won't help you, anyway," said a young man's voice, suddenly. It was calm and smug, and most of all—familiar.

The Jumpers looked up and noticed a tall, young man with blonde hair standing behind them. He had an arrogant look on his face, and had his hands behind his back.

"Who the hell are you?" asked Roa, standing up, noticing three big guys standing behind the stranger.

"It won't help you because you won't need it where you're going," he said in a menacing tone.

"How would you know where I'm going?" Roa said, taking a few steps back as the four strangers stood immobile.

"I know where you're going—because you're coming with me," he said.

"No, I am not. I don't even know you," the Sunflower said.

"Oh, but you actually do. We know each other very well."

There was a moment of silence that was followed by a swift punch by the stranger's right arm. Roa blocked it with ease, pushing it away, demanding an explanation. The stranger, however, continued to hit. Indigo and Rosso were about to join the fight, when the other three strangers warned them, "you join—we join," the biggest one said, cracking his knuckles and revealing three immense auras that shook the Jumpers to their cores.

"What the hell do you want? Who are you?" the boy screamed as he blocked several blows.

The enemy pushed him back and stood, smiling. "You've been a thorn in my side for generations now, Sunflower," he said, causing a cold chill to run down Roa's spine. "I've been looking for you for too long now. I'm tired of all this chasing around. This game of cat and mouse ends today."

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Roa's eyes narrowed then shot open when the four strangers morphed, revealing tall dark capes and white masks.

"Briteside," the boy said.

"In the flesh," the Shadow said, as the other three flanked him from behind, standing confidently, towering above their boss.

"You know this Shadow?" Indigo asked.

"Yeah, unfortunately. He's the one that ruined my life and kidnapped my girl. He's the reason why I'm in this mess to begin with," Roa said with anger in his tone, as he pointed at the enemy.

"And you," said Briteside, his hand shaking as he ran his fingers down the crack on his mask, "you—nobody—are the one who ruined my perfect face."

"You have no face. None of you do," said Roa, causing his enemy to scoff.

"Looks like you and I have a score to settle," the Shadow said, taunting the boy.

"You and I? Or you, I, and your three bodyguards there? Are they going to save you again, like last time?" the Sunflower taunted him back.

The Shadow's fists shook in anger. He took a deep breath and calmly spoke, "you three—stand down. I don't want any of you to interfere."

The three bodyguards bowed ever so slightly and stood in place.

The two opponents squared each other off. The boy from Earth took a defensive stance, prepared to take the next attack head on. The Shadow, on the other hand, simply stood, without revealing any posture.

"Looks like you are at a disadvantage this time, Sunflower," he said. "The rot—"

"How do you know about—" Roa asked.

"You were stupid enough to use your aura in this world, as you were stupid enough to reveal your identity to a crooked—collector," Mister Briteside said, his mask's smile mocking the boy. "But back to settling our score, and your—disadvantage. The rot—" the Shadow pointed at the Earthling's arm, "it will grow if you use your aura. But, if you do not, you will surely lose to me. So, the question is--what will you do now?"

"I'm going to kick your ass," Roa said, disappearing. "That's what!"

The boy reappeared behind the Shadow, unleashing a powerful right hook. However, the enemy caught on to his movements just in time, and used Haste to evade it. A barrage of punches came from above, the Sunflower taking several steps back as he tried to keep up with each blow. Briteside's elbow reached his face, stopping a few centimeters away from his nose. The elbow shook as it met the Scutum, Roa's aura shield, flickering incessantly as the enemy pushed harder.

"I'm going to force you to use all of your aura, boy. That way I won't even have to get my hands dirty," the Shadow said, grunting and pushing his elbow even harder. "I'm going to push you until you kill yourself."

The boy shifted his body to the left, grabbed the Shadow by the cloak and launched him behind, causing him to land upside down onto some rocks. Right before crashing, however, the enemy's body froze midair, suspended by Pan's Gift.

"Keep going. Let's see how far you go before you collapse—before that infection covers your whole body," Briteside said, his index finger on the rocks below, taunting the boy as he held himself up, upside down.

"Stop it, Roa, you can't use your aura," shouted Rosso.

"I don't care!" the boy from Earth shouted, launching himself against his opponent.

The Sunflower began blasting away, manifesting the Gunhand Gift from his fingers, when Indigo appeared next to him and grabbed his hands by force.

"Let me go!" he said.

"Are you out of your mind?" she shouted.

"He needs to pay for everything he's done," Roa shouted back, pulling his fingers out of her hold and blasting at the enemy again.

Mister Briteside laughed. "Can't catch me, Sunflower," he said, mocking him as he appeared and disappeared from one place to the next as the boy continued to shoot at him.

"I've had enough of this," the young man aimed his Gunhand and charged it up. His arms began to glow and the tattoos appeared. His body was enveloped by a golden energy when suddenly--everything went black.

Roa opened his eyes. He felt the wind in his hair. He looked around and realized that he was flying midair, pulled by his collar.

"What—what are you doing, Rosso?" he asked, still in a daze.

"I'm sorry, man. I didn't want to hit you over the head, but you forced my hand," Rosso shouted as they flew through the air.

"There! There's the Exit," shouted Indigo, as she pointed the Compass towards the distant portal.

"Get back here, Sunflower, you weakling!" screamed Mister Briteside, trailing closely behind.

"Let me go! I need to finish my fight with that bastard. He knows where Eralay is," shouted Roa, trying to break free from his friend's hold.

The three Jumpers flew into the Exit, but before they could close the Exit behind them, the Shadow blasted the eye of the portal, causing a plume of smoke to envelop it.

"Stop," Briteside lifted his arm, halting the others, as he floated in front of the threshold of the portal.

Roa aimed his Gunhand and blasted one last shot at him before losing his consciousness.

"Missed me, Sunflower. Missed me, good luck, and good riddance!" he said, laughing as everything went black. "You'll need it where you're going…"