The battlefield was a storm of chaos as Saponu's clone squared off against Richard Mawunyo. Heat waves distorted the surrounding air, and the ground beneath their feet cracked from the intense fluctuations in temperature. Richard stood firm, his albino-white skin shimmering faintly as the heat radiating from his body warped the surrounding space. His piercing red eyes locked onto Saponu's clone with an icy calculation.
"You think a mere copy of you is enough to face me?" Richard scoffed, his deep voice carrying both amusement and disdain. "I will burn you to cinders before you even get the chance to make a move."
The clone didn't respond with words. Instead, he lunged forward with blinding speed, a flurry of rapid strikes aimed at Richard's core. But as his fists neared impact, a sudden surge of cold air erupted around Richard, freezing the moisture in the air and encasing the clone's arms in a layer of ice.
"Tsk." The clone gritted his teeth, yanking his arms free, the ice cracking and shattering upon release.
Richard smirked. "Too slow."
In an instant, the temperature spiked, and a violent wave of heat burst forth from Richard's body, igniting the very air between them. The ground beneath Saponu's clone glowed red-hot, forcing him to leap back before the searing heat could consume him.
"You control temperature," the clone noted. But it doesn't matter. I've already adapted to your movements.
Without hesitation, the clone activated his Copyeyes, instantly analyzing Richard's movements and power fluctuations. He blurred forward once more, this time dodging the bursts of heat and cold with precise, unpredictable movements. He weaved through the rising columns of flame and pockets of freezing air, closing the distance with unnerving accuracy.
Richard frowned, realizing the clone was learning—adapting too quickly. "Annoying pest," he muttered.
Before Richard could release another heat surge, the clone struck, a powerful blow aimed at Richard's ribs. But just as the attack connected, Richard's body flared with an intense white-hot glow, and a shockwave of extreme heat blasted outward. The clone was sent skidding back, steam rising from his body as the air itself hissed from the sudden burst of energy.
The clone narrowed his eyes, realizing the battle wouldn't be won with brute force alone. Richard wasn't just controlling temperature—he was using it strategically, shifting between heat and cold to manipulate his surroundings and catch his opponents off guard.
Richard rolled his shoulders, his muscles tensing as he prepared his next attack. "You're not bad," he admitted, his eyes gleaming with lethal intent. "But you're still just a copy." Let's see if you can survive this.
The ground beneath them groaned as Richard raised both hands, his body radiating a lethal combination of heat and frost. The battlefield was about to become a storm of fire and ice.
The fight was far from over.
Wisdom Wokata stood at a distance, his arms folded as he observed the battle with a sinister smile. His deep blue eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched Saponu's clone dance along the battlefield, evading Richard's temperature fluctuations. Unlike the other ancestors, Wisdom made no move to interfere—he was merely enjoying the spectacle, analyzing every shift in the fight with a calculating gaze.
"He adapts quickly," Wisdom murmured to himself, the smile on his face widening. "But adaptation alone won't be enough against Richard."
Back on the battlefield, the air was thick with steam, the ground beneath Richard's feet fluctuating between scorched black and frozen white. His albino-white skin glowed faintly as waves of heat pulsed from his body, distorting the surrounding air.
"You've lasted longer than I expected," Richard admitted, his deep voice carrying a mix of amusement and irritation. "But let's put an end to this, shall we?"
He raised his hand, and instantly, the battlefield shifted. The air temperature plummeted to freezing levels in an instant, frost creeping over the ground like living tendrils. The sudden drop in heat was disorienting, even for the clone, who instinctively stepped back. But before he could react, Richard's body ignited with a blazing white-hot glow.
The frost shattered as an explosive wave of heat erupted from Richard's body, sending molten shockwaves through the air. The clone barely had time to react, crossing his arms defensively as the scorching heat wave slammed into him. The sheer force sent him skidding backward, his feet digging deep trenches into the cracked earth.
"Tch," the clone muttered as he steadied himself. His Copyeyes flickered, analyzing Richard's movements. Switching between icy and heat… manipulating his surroundings… I need to counter both at once.
Richard smirked. "Figured it out yet?" His red eyes burned with intensity. "If not, let me help you."
Without warning, Richard slammed his foot into the ground, sending a jagged wave of ice surging forward. At the same time, his right arm radiated a searing blaze of heat, causing the air to ripple with its intensity. Simultaneous attack—cold below, fire above.
The clone's body blurred as he leaped upward, narrowly avoiding the rising ice. But Richard had anticipated it. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a wave of molten air, aiming to roast the clone midair.
Wisdom chuckled from the sidelines. "Checkmate?" he mused, watching with fascination.
For a moment, it seemed like Richard had the upper hand. But just before the heat wave could consume the clone, his Copyeyes glowed fiercely.
Then, in an instant, the clone twisted his body midair and vanished.
Richard's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Teleportation?"
No—Prediction.
The clone reappeared directly behind Richard, his fist already cocked back, glowing with energy. Before Richard could react, the clone drove a devastating punch into his back, sending him crashing forward. The force of the blow sent tremors through the battlefield, and Richard's large frame slammed into the ground, cracking the earth beneath him.
Dust and steam billowed into the air as Richard pushed himself up, his breath coming in slow, measured exhales. He touched his lips and looked at the blood on his fingers. His red eyes flared as a wide grin stretched across his face.
"Now, that," Richard said, rolling his shoulders, "was a good hit."
He straightened his posture, and suddenly, his entire body pulsed with overwhelming energy. The surrounding ice melted instantly, the ground sizzling beneath his feet. His temperature was rising—far beyond what he had displayed before.
"You really think you can outmatch me in endurance?" Richard chuckled darkly. "Let me show you what happens when I stop holding back."
The surrounding heat intensified, the very air catching fire. The real fight was only just beginning.