"Adaptations" (048)

People began to gather around Tim and Haku, both Duelists, as they exchanged glances.

"Allow me to demonstrate a recent update to the Dueling System. It's dubbed the Dueling Link." Tina swept her legs off his shoulder and between the field line and the outskirt line as Haku spoke.

"It's great to see you again, Sakami!" Tina laughed and raised her right arm, attempting to clap Sakami.

But, despite her discomfort, Sakami gave Tina a gentle high-five, and the minute she did, Tina herself leaped onto her shoulder, startling her.

"Wha'? What are you-" After caressing Tina's body, Sakami asked, leaning backward. "Haki put on a show for us!" Tina clapped and waved as she laughed.

Sakami eventually gave up on words and simply ignored Tina. "... I suppose it's all right..." Sakami began to feel pressure after turning to the side and scratching the back of her head.

"I suppose it's about to begin..." She drew her arms across her chest and waited for the Duelists to combat.

Tim was apprehensive after hearing the restrictions and switched the app on his watch to 'Link System,' but the unthinkable happened the instant he pointed his wrist forward and transferred data with Haku.

Around them, a gigantic whirlwind began to swirl. When a red barrier erupted from both sides, their hair and garments continued to swing around and the two of them came to a halt in a matter of seconds.

While connecting multiple bridges along the mountains, the terrain began to terraform, and mountains began to sprout around or beneath them.

But our Hero's capacity to comprehend what was going on deteriorated, continued to look aside, trying to calm down.

A giant river appeared beneath the mountains and bridges, splashing high in the sky, and everyone caught in the middle was transported to the same location.

"What the hell is this?" Tim looked around when he noticed a big waterfall cascading down the edge of the mountain, while Sakami stood behind the gap, Tina on her shoulder.

A holographic screen appeared on each side of the mountains, as well as a big one in the center, all of a sudden.

They obtained a score after calculating their Spiritual Shield's defense as well as their health bar.

For the time being, both of them had a battle score of zero, and the timer on the central screen had been activated.

A female voice was heard speaking. "Sunny Mountains was chosen as the given field! 70 percent chance of danger. Please take out your Spiritual Blades and equip them to your Spiritual Symbolism."

"What exactly is this sorcery? This is the first time I've ever seen anything like that!" Tim continued to be perplexed as he looked about.

"The 'Link Field' is what it's called. The Zero Watch creates a Dimension in which two Duelists battle when the 'Duel Link' is activated. Because it employs Sky Energy to cast a field, this is only possible in the Spiritual Realm. People between the outer and inner lines are, of course, transferred here as well."

Haku explained, his blade slung over his shoulder.

"This is a little unusual... Is it true that the Watch constructed the entire field? You can't be serious, can you?" Our Hero gulped and blinked in fear.

"Exactly. Despite its simplicity, this watch has many capabilities. I see you've changed your blade now? I simply assumed that 'Nensho' would continue to be your primary weapon." Tim was unimpressed with Haku's laughter.

"Nensho was destroyed, or rather, lost." Haku grew solemn as a result of his surprise.

"That's interesting... But I'm sure you know how to wield your current position's weapon..." Tim snatched the sword from his back and examined it.

"Well... I haven't fully exploited its potential, but I am aware that this blade has at least two stages..." Tim sighed and thrust the blade forward.

"Then... let's see how good you've gotten..." Haku swung his razor-sharp blade forward, producing a yellow aura as he did so.

"Yeah, I'll give it my best..."

Tim extended his left arm forward, gripping his wrist with the blade in his hand.

His heartbeat became more rhythmic and louder, the sword began to spew blue flames, and threads began to extend and envelop Tim's body.

White threads began to attach themselves to the long sleeves, chest, waist, and even knees as it bulged black like rectangularly sharp edges on each side of his knees.

A black symbol flashed on Tim's right side of his face after they were tied together. His garments continued to wave as a result of the intense pressure, and a massive and visible black skull emblem appeared on the very back of his clothes.

On the other hand, his blade expanded and extended forward, with a lengthy hilt and handle.

The sword took on a different shape than expected, with a circular hole in the middle, and it was lighter to hold because it was wide enough but made of Spiritual Symbolism.

When a large cyclone of darkness erupted, it dissipated, and Tim's eyes lit blue in the end, but that was not the end of it; he still had a hidden addiction, but he had finally met Haku.

"I get what you mean. Do you have a thing for bigger blades? For you, it's always the same..." Tim, on the other hand, dismissed Haku's claim before he felt he was correct.

"Actually... This is the buffed-up version, but I prefer the thinner version since it's much easier to work with." Tim explained, quickly reaching out with his arm.

"But I'm curious... Is your sword strong enough to stand up to mine? Remember what happened to Nensho when you wielded your sword in a larger form? It simply so happened that it was destroyed after that." Haku burst up laughing.

"Something like that, I couldn't forget. But believe me when I say that, despite being a little wide, my blade has become more durable..." Tim smiled as he leaned the blade on his shoulder.

"Buuut... I'm sorry for cutting it short, but I don't intend to Duel with this stage." Haku claimed to become perplexed after expecting Tim to battle with the same blade.

"Hm?"

"Didn't you want to see what I got? This was, after all, the only reason I did it... But don't be concerned..." When the blade shifted to its slimmer form, his garments disintegrated and returned to normal.

"I see what you're saying. What the heck, whatever floats your boat, right? But I hope you won't be sorry for returning the blade to its rightful shape."

"I won't, now that I'm prepared, as I've toughened up since the last time we battled..." Our Hero's pupils dilated to the point of transparency, shifting his body sideways and aiming the blade forward.

"Huh? Those... Eyes... They're unique... What exactly does that imply?" Sakami inquired, her gaze falling on Tim's lifeless eyes. "It's strange... As though he had lost his enthusiasm and had become overly solemn..." Sakami pondered.

"Huh?" Tim's dull eyes caught Haku's attention, and Haku was surprised to see Tim run over the bridge.

"I guess it began!"

Two blades collided, and both Duelists were unharmed, but then Tim's body vanished, surprising Haku. "His fighting style developed tremendously, and he became far more adaptable..."

With a slash back, Haku felt Tim's blade collide with his own, and as he defended, Tim fell in a squat and transported himself above Haku's head, providing the Captain with a defense with a crescent cut.

Tim's body flipped over Haku's head, rolled, and landed on a knee as soon as the defense was activated. Tim leaped to his feet and slashed the sword backward.

Haku leaped over and saw as Tim swooped in behind him and cut upward, slicing straight through Haku's shield and knocking him forward.

Tim's dull eyes continued to dominate when he rolled into a backflip and landed on his leg, and Haku quickly became perplexed. "Can you tell me what's on your mind?" Even if Haku requested, Tim ran forward and snatched the sword from behind his shoulder, ready to stab.

When Tim's blade missed, Haku swooped to the side and slid, then maneuvered into a swift turn-around and tossed the sword forward.

Haku ducked unexpectedly, seeing Tim's body flitting behind him and catching the sword.

("I'm not entirely sure what he's doing... He was only rushing in to attack back then, but today he appears to be using his speed and smart maneuvering to his advantage.")

After a yellow glare erupted, Haku smirked as the mighty Captain sliced and unleashed a wave of yellow aura with full force.

Tim, on the other hand, vaulted above the wave and the strike instead hit the mountain behind him, completely destroying it as Tim's body began to lose control in mid-air.

But it was only to throw Haku off, as Tim's sword slid beneath his feet and our Hero landed on it, hovering above the ground.

"What the hell is this?" Haku pondered as Tim dropped to the ground and reclaimed the blade in his grasp.

"Using the sword to float or glide... It's as if he's manipulating it, but it takes a lot of practice and superb balance..." Tina appeared to be impressed as Sakami explained.

Just then, Tim flickered and vanished, slashing his blade across Haku's hip and stunning him. Then he immediately whirled around in the air and kicked his sole into Haku, forcing him forward, and our Hero fluttered in a current of light as they exchanged eyes.

Haku's shield was pierced somewhat, and Tim's body quickly circled around Haku's back before striking with his handle, and as soon as Haku recovered and cut back, Tim vanished back to the front of Haku.

Our Hero's blade was thrust into the earth in seconds as he leaned on it with his back and kept folded arms.

"Sorry for the inconvenience... Nonetheless, I've become far too fast for you to land a flawless blow."

Tim cautiously moved his left arm in front of him and closed his eyes while Haku's eyes shook.

As the noise echoed, Tim snapped his fingers. Behind Tim's back, a tremendous explosion threw Haku into the wall forcibly.

The scarf became engulfed in flames, but rather than burning, it fragmented into particles.

"Aww... Captain Haki received a hammering... His Shield has dropped to 30%..." Tina expressed her dissatisfaction.

"He's so different from what you'd expect in a Duel... I'm awestruck... and terrified at the same time." Sakami frowned, but then she observed Haku standing up and laughing.

"That's exactly what I'm looking for! A tough opponent and a big ego! You may be young, but you're a force to be reckoned with." When Haku's aura grew stronger, he laughed.

"However, as Haki receives more battle damage, he becomes stronger..." Tina's face was adorned with a sly grin.

Our young Hero, on the other hand, pulled himself off the blade and walked to the side of it, where he grabbed the handle and re-readied his weapon.

"I'm ecstatic! Let's take some of them thrashings!" When Tim dashed forward, a yellow aura erupted from Haku's laughter and growl.

He stabbed.

Codey's body vanished behind Nobuhiko's in an instant, and with a tremendous kick, Codey sent Nobuhiko flying into the wall.

"He seems to be getting better..." Ayuka grinned, and Codey's improvement accelerated even further.

With a large scorching fist, Nobuhiko lunged toward Codey and punched him in the face.

When kicking Nobuhiko, however, our Hero dived and vanished in a flash of red light.

Nobuhiko attempted to defend himself by slamming his other scorching fist into Codey's face, forcing him to quickly regain his footing.

Codey's soles slid on the rough floor, and he quickly hung both hands on the ground, causing loud vibrations and shockwaves to spread throughout the earth.

Nobuhiko felt the ground beneath him shake as he tried to figure out what was going on, and he had to back up after witnessing a big rock pillar growing.

In contrast, Codey flew across the floor, slicing through the enormous pillar and breaking it in half. "Whoa! You've quickly grasped Reality!"

And the minute Codey realized this, he adapted, even more, disappearing in an electric current in the blink of an eye, startling his opponent.

When our Demon was blocked, he delivered a strong kick, yet he still pushed Nobuhiko to the side.

Codey then thrust his palm forward and began swirling flames in front of his palm.

Ayuka clapped, interfering just as he was ready to unleash it. "That's for today. For both of you, I've cooked dinner. Let's get some food."

Codey became dissatisfied and murmured.

"I'm sure she did that on purpose so I wouldn't be able to show off to her..." Codey put out the flames by making a kitten face and following her.

To be continued...