Dang Convergence Vol. 1

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO BLOODLUST

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

BLOODLUST

Out of the corner of his eye, Dang noticed a flash of green in the sky.

He turned and looked through the hole in the ceiling that he'd thrown Kai through, trying to make out what was happening in the distance.

"Oh, am I boring you?"

Dang's attention was dragged back to the situation in front of him, where he and Caden were facing off.

"You are, but don't worry about it. Most of the bad guys I fight tend to do the same."

Caden smiled. "Funny, most of the so-called 'good guys' I fight tend to do the same." He raised his fists, "Come on Dang, show me what you got!"

Dang's muscles tensed as he felt a familiar surge of power, flames flickering at his fingertips. Across from him, Caden's fists were already wrapped in a swirling mass of black energy, his eyes locked on Dang with malicious intent.

Without a word, Dang sprang forward, closing the gap in an instant. He launched a fiery punch at Caden, the flames roaring to life as they shot toward his opponent.

"BLACK SHIELD!"

Caden reacted quickly, raising a shield of black energy to block the attack. The fire splashed harmlessly against the dark barrier, dissipating into sparks.

Caden countered with a burst of energy from his hands, tendrils of black snaking through the air. Dang dodged to the side, flames trailing from his hands as he moved. He retaliated with a sweeping kick, his leg igniting in a blaze of fire. Caden met the attack head-on, his fist enveloped in black energy as he blocked the strike.

The force of their clash sent shockwaves through the ground.

Dang pushed forward, his fists a blur of fire as he unleashed a series of punches. Caden parried each one, his black energy forming into solid constructs to deflect the hits.

"Not bad! Not bad! Impress me more!" Caden shouted.

"Shut up." Dang replied.

In a swift motion, Caden thrust his hand forward, a beam of black energy shooting out. Dang twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the blast, and used the momentum to hurl a fireball at Caden.

The black energy manipulator swatted it away, but the explosion forced him to take a step back.

Dang charged again, his hands blazing with intense heat. He closed the distance and aimed a powerful uppercut at Caden. The impact was like a thunderclap, and Caden was sent backwards.

With a grunt, Caden skidded to a stop, his fists crackling with power, his eyes beaming, and a smile plastered across his face.

He took a deep breath. "That...was intense."

Dang said nothing, walking forwards as the fire in his fists trailed in the air.

"Unfortunately, I'm taking you seriously now."

Caden narrowed his vision, and he summoned a massive wave of black energy, sending it crashing toward Dang. Dang crossed his arms in front of him, flames roaring to life to form a protective barrier. The two energies collided, creating a dazzling display of light and darkness.

Dang took a deep breath, his body steaming.

"I just got chills, did you?" Caden asked, "Well, you're on fire so I don't know how much chill you could've felt."

Dang looked down to see what he was talking about, and quickly saw why. His shirt had caught fire and had burnt itself out, leaving him mostly shirtless. The only thing left was his signature jacket, with the tassles that hung from the epaulets singing at the ends. The shirt he'd worn underneath had been completely burned off. The flames he was emanating had also started to catch on the hairs on his skin, singeing them. He'd also greatly underestimated how much steam his body was releasing.