Chapter 10: A FIGHT
[Iruma's POV]
The final day of elementary school had arrived. For most, it was a day for farewells, speeches, and the lighthearted promises of "I'll see you later." But for Astro and I, it was the day we'd show off everything we'd learned over the last few years.
We'd spent so much time training—hours of fighting, honing, perfecting. And now, with Mina standing by, brimming with excitement, we were about to put everything to the test.
Our training ground was the battlefield. The space was vast, the perfect place to unleash all the power we'd accumulated. The sun hung low, casting long shadows over the clearing, and the air felt charged with anticipation.
Astro, his golden aura already flickering to life, glanced over at me. "You ready?"
I smirked, summoning my Gaster Blasters. They materialized in a flash, their skeletal jaws glowing ominously. "Always."
Mina stood off to the side, her pink skin shimmering in the fading sunlight. "Wait—are you guys really going to fight like that?!"
I gave her a wink. "You'll see."
Astro cracked his knuckles, his eyes narrowing with focus. The moment we'd been waiting for had arrived.
[General POV]
The first move was fast.
Astro dashed forward in a blur of golden light, his Judgment Drive activating instantly. His speed was a blur, but Iruma was ready.
Ting!
With a swift Blue Magic gesture, Iruma manipulated the gravity around Astro, causing him to slow down for just a split second—just enough for Iruma to summon a barrage of Gaster Blasters aimed right at Astro.
Astro, now slowed, twisted his body mid-air, his reflexes sharp as ever. With a shout, he conjured Judgment Chains, which surged from his golden aura, wrapping around the Gaster Blasters mid-flight, redirecting the beams into the ground in explosive bursts.
Iruma blinked, impressed, but undeterred. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a mass of Bones, launching them like high-speed projectiles. They streaked toward Astro, piercing the air with deadly force.
Astro leapt back, narrowly dodging the barrage, but one of the Orange Bones grazed his side, sending a surge of pressure through his body.
"Nice try!" Astro roared, his golden aura flaring even brighter. He slammed his feet into the ground, sending a shockwave through the park as he charged toward Iruma, his body moving with incredible force.
Iruma grinned, knowing Astro was about to bring the fight to him. He teleported behind Astro with a Shortcut, his Gaster Blasters already firing again, but Astro was ready. He spun mid-air, summoning his golden energy projectiles—Justice Bullets—that streaked toward Iruma, homing in on him.
Iruma teleported again, avoiding the blasts, but Astro wasn't finished. He summoned a wide, golden shield from his Judgment Aura, blocking the path of the next Gaster Blasters attack. The shield absorbed the beams, glowing with the power of Justice.
[Iruma's POV]
Astro wasn't making this easy. And I'm growing tired...
I could feel the intensity of the fight rising with every passing moment. But I was determined to show him that I wasn't the same kid who had started training years ago.
I pushed forward, summoning Blue Bones and Gaster Blasters in rapid succession, sending a barrage of bone and magic toward Astro. But he dodged, moved, and reacted with precision, his Judgment Drive giving him an edge.
I was starting to realize—he was getting faster. Stronger. Smarter.
Astro ducked beneath the Gaster Blasters and lunged at me, his fist glowing with golden light, ready to strike. I teleported just in time, reappearing behind him, but this time he anticipated it. The moment I teleported, Astro hurled a glowing Judgment Chain in my direction, wrapping it around my torso and pulling me back toward him.
I grunted as I was slammed into the ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Before I could recover, Astro pressed the attack, summoning Justice Bullets from his aura, each one fired with deadly intent. But I wasn't done yet.
I summoned bone magic to form a barrier around me, blocking the projectiles as they smashed into the bones with a series of thunderous cracks. I pushed myself up, but Astro's aura was already closing in on me.
With a burst of speed, I leaped to the side, my Super Speed being put to good use to put distance between us. I needed space to think.
Astro was quick to follow, his golden wings unfurling as he leapt into the air, he aimed his hand at me in a gun gesture firing straight at me with a Judgment Blast aimed at my chest.
The blast was fast—way faster than anything I'd seen before—but I was quicker. I teleported once again, dodging the blast by inches. The ground where the blast had landed erupted in a brilliant explosion, sending dirt and debris flying in all directions.
I couldn't help but laugh. "You're getting good, Astro. But you'll need more than that to catch me."
Astro smirked, his eyes glowing brighter than before. "Just wait."
Suddenly, the entire clearing trembled as he activated his Judgment Drive Transformation. The golden veins spread across his body, and his eyes glowed with a fierce red and gold radiance. His wings grew larger, exuding an ethereal aura.
In that moment, I knew this fight was about to reach its peak. Astro was about to go all out.
[General POV]
With a deafening roar, Astro lunged forward, his Judgment Chains extending in every direction, forming a net that seemed to cover the entire battlefield. Iruma could barely react as the chains closed in on him, trapping him within a golden cage of light.
But just as the chains were about to wrap around him, Iruma's eyes starting flickering blue and yellow, his own Magic Eyes activating. He broke free with an immense surge of power, teleporting behind Astro and summoning multiple Gaster Blasters in an instant.
Astro spun around, his wings glowing with golden energy, and he launched himself into the air. The battle escalated into an aerial dance of power, magic, and unrelenting speed. Iruma fired off blast after blast, while Astro dodged, his golden wings cutting through the air like a blur.
Astro's golden aura intensified, and with a shout, he released a massive Judgment Beam from his mouth, a concentrated burst of light and force aimed straight for Iruma. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, shaking the very trees around them.
For a moment, there was nothing but smoke and dust.
Mina, wide-eyed and awestruck, watched from the sidelines, her heart racing as the fight reached its climax.
[Iruma's POV]
The blast hit me squarely in the chest, and I was sent flying backward. The impact rattled my bones...how ironic, and for a brief second, I felt like I might lose control of the fight.
But then I remembered everything I'd trained for.
"I'm filled with determination"
With a forceful shout, I summoned every ounce of magic I had left. My Gaster Blasters fired once again, and I used Blue Magic to adjust the gravity around me, sending myself back toward Astro with immense speed.
We collided in a final, explosive clash—our powers erupting into a violent storm of light and energy.
The ground cracked beneath our feet, sending debris flying in all directions.
And then, just as quickly as it had started, the fight ended. Both of us stood, panting and battered, but alive.
[Mina's POV]
I stared, wide-eyed, as the two boys—battle-worn and glowing with their powers—stood facing each other.
"That was…" I whispered. "...amazing."
Astro grinned, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Not bad, right?"
Iruma chuckled, adjusting his glasses. "Yeah, I'd say we've earned our reputation."
I laughed, my confidence blooming as I approached them. "You guys are gonna be legendary heroes. I can feel it."
And just like that, the final day of elementary school became something neither of them would ever forget.
A few minutes later...
[Iruma's POV]
The adrenaline still coursed through my veins as the battlefield fell silent, the echoes of our clash lingering in the crisp air. Astro stood a few paces away, his golden aura fading as he caught his breath. Mina clapped her hands like an excited kid who had just witnessed fireworks for the first time.
"Okay, okay," she said, her voice carrying a mix of awe and disbelief, "but who won?!"
Astro and I exchanged a glance, then simultaneously collapsed onto the ground, groaning.
"Call it a draw," Astro muttered, his wings retracting as he wiped dirt from his face.
"A lucky draw," I added, staring up at the sky. The fiery sunset had softened to hues of pink and lavender, and for a brief moment, I forgot about the bruises, the cuts, and the exhaustion.
Mina, of course, wasn't satisfied with that answer. She planted herself between us, hands on her hips. "A draw? After all that? Come on! There has to be a winner!"
Astro chuckled, propping himself up on his elbows. "Trust me, Mina. Sometimes it's not about winning. It's about pushing your limits. Plus Ultra and all that."
I nodded, though I could feel the competitive fire still simmering inside me. "He's right. We're not done improving yet. But next time…" I smirked at Astro. "I'll crush you."
"Big talk for someone who got flattened by my Judgment Beam," he shot back, grinning.
"Oh, please. I let you hit me to make you feel good about yourself."
Mina groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "Boys. You're impossible."
[General POV]
As the three of them bantered, the battlefield began to feel less like a warzone and more like a playground again. The cracks in the ground, the singed grass, and the broken trees were just temporary scars—ones that would heal, much like the bonds between them.
Mina sat cross-legged between them, fiddling with a stray piece of chain Astro had left behind. "So what's next for the two of you? You've graduated, you've fought, and now… what? You're going to college for heroes or something?"
Iruma: "Middle School." I corrected her
Astro glanced at Iruma, then shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe we'll just keep training until we're strong enough to take on real challenges."
Iruma leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. "Yeah. But first, I'm thinking… ice cream. Lots of ice cream. My treat, since someone owes me for almost dislocating my shoulder."
Astro laughed, Mina perked up, and the trio stood, ready to leave the battlefield behind for now.
[Mina's POV]
Watching them walk ahead of me, side by side, I couldn't help but feel like I was witnessing the beginning of something extraordinary. Sure, they were just two kids who fought like it was the end of the world, but there was something special about them.
"Legendary heroes," I whispered to myself, smiling.
Then, louder: "Hey! Don't leave me behind, you jerks!"
Iruma turned, his grin as mischievous as ever. "Only if you promise to buy the sprinkles!"
I rolled my eyes, running to catch up.
And as we left the battlefield behind, the setting sun casting its warm glow over the horizon, I knew one thing for sure: the world had no idea what was coming. But it was going to be amazing.
[General POV]
The trio exited the battlefield, the faint hum of their lingering auras dissipating into the evening air. The setting sun cast an orange glow over the town, giving everything a golden, almost magical hue. Iruma adjusted his glasses, their lenses catching the light dramatically. Astro's golden aura flickered faintly around him, a testament to the intense clash from earlier, while Mina skipped ahead, twirling her jacket casually around her finger.
As they reached the corner, the ice cream shop came into view, its neon sign buzzing faintly. The atmosphere shifted, a soft orchestral tune seemingly swelling in the background—almost like the scene needed its own theme music.
Inside, the familiar scent of sweet waffle cones wafted through the air. Darnell-ojii-san stood behind the counter, his imposing figure a comical contrast to his gentle smile.
"Yo, Iruma-kun, Astro-kun, Mina-chan," he greeted, his deep voice carrying a sense of warmth that could calm even the most chaotic of battles. "How was today's bout?"
Astro stretched, wincing slightly but still grinning. "But, uh, Ojii-san, you might want to avoid the north field for a while."
Iruma smirked, brushing some ash off his sleeve. "We may have left behind… a mark."
Mina rolled her eyes, placing her hands on her hips. "A mark? Try a crater. You two don't know how to hold back."
Ojii-san let out a hearty laugh, his horns wobbling slightly. "Sounds like the usual chaos. So, what'll it be today?"
[Iruma's POV]
The ice cream menu glowed softly in front of me, but my mind was already made up. "Triple chocolate. Fudge drizzle. Extra large. You know the drill."
Astro leaned against the counter, striking a pose like some shōnen hero. "Vanilla swirl, caramel, and sprinkles. Keep it simple, keep it classy."
Mina, ever the wildcard, tapped her chin theatrically. "Mmm, I'm feeling strawberry… no, wait! Matcha chip! Actually… can you mix them? Like, fifty-fifty? Or—no, seventy-thirty! Yeah, that feels right."
Ojii-san chuckled, reaching for his scoop. "One chaotic masterpiece, coming right up."
[General POV]
As they sat down at their usual booth, the golden-hour light streaming through the windows hit their faces just right. Iruma's glasses gleamed, obscuring his eyes for a moment, giving him an air of mystery. Astro leaned back, one arm draped casually over the seat, his grin exuding confidence. Mina, sandwiched between them, happily dug into her ice cream, her pink hair shimmering in the sunlight.
Astro broke the silence first, his voice carrying the weight of a shōnen protagonist about to deliver a heartfelt speech. "You know, this really feels like the end of an arc. We've trained, we've fought, we've graduated… it's like we're standing at the edge of a new saga."
Mina snorted, shaking her head. "Ugh, save the dramatics for your monologues, Astro. You're always so extra."
Iruma chuckled softly but nodded. "He's not wrong, though. It feels like we've leveled up. But it's not over yet. We've only cleared the first stage."
Mina paused mid-bite, looking between the two boys with a mix of exasperation and admiration. "You guys… you really think you're main characters, huh?"
Astro smirked, leaning forward with a glint in his eye. "And you're just realizing this now?"
[General POV]
Outside, the streetlights flickered on, casting a warm glow over the bustling town. Somewhere in the distance, the faint sound of cicadas created the perfect backdrop for the trio's banter.
As they stepped back out into the night, Astro turned to Iruma with a determined look. "So… rematch tomorrow? No holding back this time."
Iruma pushed his glasses up, the lenses gleaming ominously. "You're on. But don't cry after I show you a bad time." My left eye flickering blue end yellow warningly
Mina groaned, throwing her hands up dramatically. "Seriously, can't you two go one day without acting like kids?! That's my Job!"
Astro ignored her, pointing at Iruma with the intensity of someone issuing a shōnen challenge. "And this time, I'm unlocking my true potential. No excuses!"
Iruma smirked, his Gaster Blasters flickering faintly for a moment before fading. "Bring it.
As they walked off, the camera panned up to the starlit sky, the trio's voices fading into the distance.