Creation Of All Things

BOOM!

The force of their clash sent shockwaves tearing through the air, cracking the walls of the arena. Dust and debris shot up like an explosion as Raphael and Wraith blurred into motion again, trading blows at speeds that left afterimages behind.

Raphael twisted mid-air, dodging a punch by inches before slamming his knee into Wraith's ribs.

CRACK!

Wraith grunted but retaliated instantly, grabbing Raphael's leg and swinging him like a meteor into the ground. The floor caved in on impact, a massive crater forming beneath Raphael's body.

But before Wraith could press the advantage—

BOOM!

A pillar of raw energy erupted from the crater. Raphael shot up like a bullet, twisting in the air, and drove his elbow straight into Wraith's face.

WHAM!

Wraith skidded back, feet tearing through the stone, but he caught himself just before hitting the wall. He wiped a streak of blood from his lip, grinning.

"Not bad."

Raphael didn't respond. He was already moving.

FWOOOSH!

He closed the distance in an instant, fists crackling with power. He feinted left—then struck right.

Wraith saw it.

He leaned back, dodging by a hair.

Too close.

He spun, aiming a counterattack—

But Raphael was faster.

He grabbed Wraith's wrist, twisted, and snapped his knee forward—

BAM!

A direct hit to Wraith's gut.

Wraith's body lurched from the impact, but he clenched his jaw, eyes flashing.

"Annoying."

His fingers twitched—and just like that, Raphael's mouth was sealed again.

Tch.

CRACK!

Raphael broke it instantly.

Wraith resealed it.

Raphael broke it again.

This time, Raphael didn't stop. As soon as the seal shattered, he blasted forward, grabbing Wraith by the collar—

BOOM!

He launched him across the arena, sending him crashing through three thick pillars before slamming into the far wall.

KRRRSH!

The entire structure shook from the impact.

A beat of silence.

Then—

FWOOOSH!

A red glow pulsed from the rubble.

Wraith stepped out of the wreckage, rolling his shoulders. His body was covered in dust, a few cuts marring his face—but his grin never faded.

"You just don't let up, huh?"

Raphael didn't answer. He lifted a single hand.

The entire arena trembled.

Wraith's grin faltered.

A split second later—

BOOM!

A colossal wave of energy exploded from Raphael's palm, a force so strong it warped the air itself.

Wraith's eyes widened.

Too late.

The blast engulfed him.

A flash of white. A deafening roar. The ground shattered beneath them.

When the dust cleared, Wraith stood there, hunched over, smoke rising from his body. His clothes were tattered, his skin burned in places.

But he was still grinning.

He cracked his neck.

"Alright." He exhaled. His red eyes gleamed. "Now I'm serious."

And then—

He vanished.

Before Raphael could react—

BAM!

A fist slammed into his ribs, sending him flying.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Three more hits in less than a second. Each one stronger than the last.

Raphael gritted his teeth, flipping mid-air, and came to a stop just before crashing into the wall.

He barely had time to breathe before—

FWOOOSH!

Wraith was already on him.

Raphael blocked—

BOOM!

A knee to the stomach.

Blocked again—

BOOM!

An elbow to the jaw.

Faster.

Wraith was getting faster.

Raphael's eyes narrowed. He focused.

And then—

He countered.

WHAM!

A fist to Wraith's face.

Wraith stumbled back.

Raphael pressed forward.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

A rapid-fire barrage of punches, each one hitting harder than the last.

Wraith staggered, cracks forming in the ground beneath him.

Raphael clenched his fist.

Time to finish this.

He gathered everything into one final strike—

But Wraith's eyes flashed.

And then—

His form shimmered.

Raphael's punch phased through him.

His eyes widened.

And before he could react—

Wraith whispered.

"Checkmate."

And then—

BAM!

A devastating palm strike to Raphael's chest.

The impact shook the entire arena.

Raphael's body was sent rocketing back, smashing through the ground, carving a deep trench before slamming into the far wall.

CRASH!

Silence.

A thick cloud of dust filled the air. The spectators could barely see what was happening anymore.

Then—

A figure emerged.

Raphael, bruised, breathing heavily—but still standing.

He wiped blood from his lip, eyes locked onto Wraith.

Wraith chuckled, rolling his shoulders.

"Not bad."

His grin sharpened.

"But I'm not done yet."

Neither was Raphael.

And the fight—

was far from over.

The air was thick with dust, the ground cracked and broken from the sheer force of their battle. Raphael stood at the far end of the arena, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His breathing was heavy, but his stance was firm.

Across from him, Wraith rolled his shoulders, crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "You're tougher than I thought," he admitted, cracking his neck. "But I think we both know how this ends."

Raphael didn't respond. He just wiped the blood from his lip and lifted his fists again.

Wraith grinned. "Still got fight in you? Fine."

And then—

FWOOOSH!

He vanished.

Raphael's eyes darted around, searching for him—

Too slow.

BAM!

A fist buried itself deep in his stomach. Raphael's body lurched forward as the air was knocked from his lungs.

BAM!

An uppercut to the jaw sent him flying. His vision blurred, the world tilting as he hurtled through the air—

Before he could even hit the ground—

BOOM!

Wraith was already there, driving a knee into his spine.

The force sent Raphael crashing downward, smashing into the ground so hard that the stone shattered beneath him. Dust and debris exploded outward.

But Wraith wasn't done.

He landed lightly beside the crater, gaze locked onto Raphael's half-buried form. His fingers twitched—

And suddenly, Raphael was yanked into the air by an unseen force.

Before he could react—

CRACK!

A brutal elbow to the ribs.

CRACK!

A spinning kick to the temple.

CRACK!

A palm strike to the chest, sending him skidding across the ruined arena.

Raphael gasped for breath, barely able to push himself to his knees. His arms trembled. His vision swam.

Wraith exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "You're done," he said, taking slow steps toward him. "Stay down."

Raphael gritted his teeth, trying to force himself up—

BAM!

A final, devastating kick to the ribs.

His body twisted mid-air before slamming into the stone, leaving a deep crater in the wall.

Silence.

Raphael didn't move.

Wraith stood over him, hands in his pockets. His eyes glowed as he tilted his head. "Tch. Thought you'd last longer."

He turned away.

And then—

A slow chuckle.

Wraith's eyes narrowed.

He turned back—

But it wasn't Raphael laughing.

It was Adam.

The boy stood at the edge of the battlefield, arms crossed, an amused smirk on his lips.

Wraith raised an eyebrow. "Something funny?"

Adam grinned, shaking his head. Then, he exhaled—

And in that instant—

The air changed.

A heavy, suffocating pressure exploded outward, making the ground tremble.

Adam's gaze locked onto Wraith.

"You just pissed me off."

His voice was calm.

But his eyes?

They burned.