The ocean rolled quietly around the battlefield.
Broken slabs of metal and concrete floated upon the water like islands, the shattered remains of the fallen fortress drifting slowly under the bright blue sky. Light reflected off the waves so softly that parts of the wreckage glinted.
In the middle of it all stood two fighters.
Super Nico.
And Noir.
Nico pulsed with a light green glow, lifting small bits of dust from the rubble beneath his feet. The glow made him stand out against the bright sky.
Across from him, Noir was breathing hard.
His black fur was scuffed and dirty, and several scratches lined his arms and chest. But his posture remained straight.
Still proud.
Still defiant.
His long tail flicked slowly behind him.
"You're smiling," Noir said.
Nico shrugged.
"This is kinda fun."
Noir cracked his neck.
"You think humiliating me proves something."
Rex leaned toward Viper.
"It proves a lot actually."
Viper nodded.
"Mostly that Nico's terrifying."
Noir ignored them.
His eyes stayed locked on Nico.
"You put too much faith in transformation."
Nico rolled his shoulders.
"Maybe."
Then he smirked.
"But it's working."
Noir lowered his stance.
Then he exploded forward.
This time he didn't hesitate.
No big speeches.
No buildup.
Just speed.
His fist shot toward Nico's jaw.
Nico leaned slightly to the side.
The punch missed.
Noir spun instantly and threw a kick at Nico's ribs.
Nico caught the leg.
"…You really like that move."
Noir twisted midair, flipping backward and pulling his leg free before launching a rapid barrage of strikes.
Punch.
Kick.
Claw swipe.
Elbow.
For a few moments the battlefield filled with the sound of impacts and shifting rubble.
Nico blocked most of them.
Dodged the rest.
Then grabbed Noir's arm mid-strike.
And slammed him into the ground.
BOOM.
The impact cracked the floating platform beneath them.
Rex winced.
"That one definitely hurt."
Noir coughed and rolled away before Nico could follow up.
He sprang back to his feet.
Faster this time.
Angrier.
"You're predictable," Noir snapped.
Nico blinked.
"…You just got cratered."
Noir dashed again.
This time he moved differently.
Instead of charging straight in, he circled Nico, bouncing between wreckage and broken steel beams to change angles constantly.
Rex raised an eyebrow.
"Okay… that's smarter."
Noir launched a kick from Nico's blind spot.
The hit landed.
Nico slid back half a step.
Noir's eyes widened slightly.
"You see?" he said.
"You aren't invincible."
Nico rubbed his shoulder.
"…Nice kick."
Then he disappeared.
CRACK.
The punch that followed hit Noir square in the stomach.
The force folded him in half and launched him backward across the battlefield.
He skipped across the rubble like a stone before crashing into a floating slab of metal.
Viper winced.
"Oof."
Noir groaned and pushed himself upright again.
His breathing was rough now.
But the pride was still there.
Still burning.
"You hit harder than anyone I've fought," Noir admitted.
Nico shrugged.
"Thanks."
Noir wiped blood from his mouth.
"But power alone doesn't win wars."
Nico tilted his head.
"…You've been saying that a lot."
Noir crouched again.
"Because it's true."
Then he rushed forward again.
This time he didn't aim for Nico.
He aimed for Rex.
Rex blinked.
"…Oh."
But before Noir could reach him, Nico was already there.
Nico grabbed Noir by the collar mid-charge.
"Yeah," Nico said calmly.
"We're not doing that."
Then he lifted Noir into the air.
And slammed him straight down.
BOOOOM.
The impact shattered the rubble beneath them again.
Dust and fragments burst outward.
Nico held him there for a moment.
"…You done?"
Noir growled and punched Nico in the ribs again.
The hit landed clean.
Nothing happened.
Nico looked down.
"…Still trying that?"
Then Nico grabbed Noir's arm.
Spun.
And threw him.
Noir flew nearly forty meters across the battlefield before crashing through another piece of floating wreckage.
Rex whistled.
"…That guy is durable."
Viper nodded.
"Yeah. Most people would've exploded by now."
Noir slowly stood again.
His legs wobbled slightly.
But he forced himself upright.
His red pupils burned with stubborn fury.
"You think this breaks me?" Noir growled.
Nico walked slowly toward him.
The green aura around him flickered softly.
"No."
He cracked his knuckles.
"But I'm getting closer."
Noir smiled.
Even now.
Even after everything.
"You still don't understand."
Nico raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah?"
Noir straightened.
"You think I'm fighting to win."
Nico crossed his arms.
"…You said that already."
Noir's tail flicked once more.
"And you still don't understand it."
Far away, Dr. E watched the battle.
His scanner flickered again.
The timer continued counting down.
Just a little longer.
Nico stepped closer.
The aura around him surged slightly again.
"You're stubborn," Nico said.
Noir smirked.
"That's called pride."
Nico shrugged.
"Same difference."
Noir lowered into another fighting stance.
Bruised.
Bloody.
But still standing.
Still ready.
Still arrogant.
The ocean waves moved quietly around the battlefield.
The sky remained perfectly clear above them.