Luis vs Mikey, Part 3

"If I could…I would…" I grunt as I push myself back up to my feet.

"Wind Control…" I then begin to say as I raise my katana high into the air above my head, causing Mikey's eyes to widen. In a flash, Mikey thrusts both of his palms towards me, unleashing a steady stream of flames, which Mikey uses to propel himself backwards.

"I'm no idiot," he says. "That attack of yours, although explosive, has a limited range, since you're too busy focusing on preparing your attack to move. All I have to do is stay away from y-"

Mikey's words are cut off as I use my Sky God's Anklets to propel myself towards Mikey, and in the blink of an eye, I'm standing directly over him again.

"You're right, I can't move while preparing my Sky God's Katana-" I begin to say. "And that's why I used this! Wind Control: Sky God's Anklets!" I shout again as I swing my giant katana down towards Mikey. "-And…Sky God's Katana!"

"Pyrokinesis!" Mikey hastily shouts as he coats both of his fists in flames. "Meteor Fist!" Mikey then launches a rapid fire flurry of punches up to my Sky God's Katana, which sends fireballs flying upwards which collide with my blade, slowlying my assault, but only slightly as my Sky God's Katana begins to fall once more.

But before my Sky God's Katana can slam into Mikey, he coats his fists in flames once more and brings them up, grabbing my Sky God's Katana in between his palms.

"What?!" I cry. "How are you holding my blade?!"

"My flames are just that strong," Mikey smirks, but I can tell that he's putting on a tough act, as my Sky God's Katana is slowly pushing him back, forcing Mikey to have to try and dig his heels into the ground to hold on.

***

After searching the other arenas, Ella and Austin make their way into arena one, where they see Luis and Mikey exchanging blows, firing off volleys of flaming bullets and slashing with wind-cloaked katanas. Luis with his Sky God weaponry and Mikey in his Crimson Coat form.

"Holy shit, they're really going at it!" Austin exclaims. "They looked…genuinely pissed off…"

"That's not good, what if they hurt each other?!" Ella yelps.

"That's…the point of a fight…" Austin replies.

"Squadmates and friends shouldn't be fighting!" Ella cries.

"They fought when they first met," Austin replies. "Besides, none of us are friends with Mikey."

"I just…don't like seeing them like this…" Ella whimpers, staring at the bloodsoaked, burnt up, and slashed up Luis and Mikey, who are staring at one another with fierce gazes in their eyes. With bloodlust more intense than just a sparring match between comrades.

The intent to kill.

"I…I'm going to get Nick!" Ella stammers, before rushing off. With a sigh, Austin follows after her.

***

After exchanging blows for a while, Mikey hops away from me.

"DEMON, LET'S FINISH THIS NOW!" He roars.

"RIGHT AHEAD OF YOU!" I roar back.

Mikey brings his hands together, charging up a fireball, as I chamber my hand, which begins swirling with wind.

"CRIMSON COAT: STAR-CORE CANNON!"

"WIND CONTROL: SPIRIT STORM!"

MIkey thrusts his palms towards me, as I swing my hand towards him. Mikey sends a grand fireball flying across the arena towards me like a phoenix, as I send a powerful blast of Cursed Power wind flying towards him like a dragon. Although this time, there's no Cursed Power lag in my attack.

Our two attacks keep flying towards one another until they collide in the grandest explosion of Cursed Power I've yet to see, battling it out for dominance, his Star-Core Cannon slowly yet surely pushing back my Spirit Storm. But I hold my ground, getting my teeth and standing strong, pushing back against Mikey's flames with all my might.

Slowly, I notice my veins begin to glow blue, as a surge of strength rushes through my entire body. In a desperate attempt for more power, I subconsciously activated my Blue Demon mode, for the third time ever. But this time…I can control it. An explosion of dark-blue Cursed Power bursts from my body as I take on my demonic transformation.

I can win!

Mikey and I struggle against one another for what felt like hours. First, Mikey's attack would push mine back, but then with a surge of strength, my attack pushes his back, and vice versa, our two attacks shifting back and forth constantly.

But my attention wavers when I see Nick, Ella, and the rest of our squad barge into the arena.

What are they doing here?!

How did they know we're here?!

"Nick, you have to stop them, please!" Ella desperately cries.

"Luis and Mikey will kill each other if they keep this up!" Jamie adds.

But Nick doesn't move, he just stares at mine and Mikey's battle, wide-eyed and star struck.

"Nick!" Ella pleads.

"I…can't do anything," Nick stammers. "Alone, sure, it'll be no problem, but with Luis' wind enhancing Mikey's flames…this fight is just too far above my level."

But with my attention split, Mikey's flames overwhelm my wind, and my Spirit Storm is pushed back completely as I'm wrapped up in a vortex of fire. My entire body screams in agony as I'm scorched by Mikey's intense heat.

When the flames subside, I see Mikey charging towards me from the opposite end of the arena, his fists ignited on fire and ready to strike. I prepare my Sky God's Katana and charge Mikey back using my Sky God's Anklets.

"EXPLODING FLAME BULLETS: FIRE FIST!"

"WIND CONTROL: SKY GOD'S KATANA!"

Once Mikey and I are on top of one another, with a roar, we launch or melee attacks forwards. But we're interrupted when the lights in the arena begin to flicker as the buzz of electricity rings through the air. But I ignore it. I push everything aside, my emotions, my anger, my friends, and focus solely on my opponent, and my attack.

My Sky God's Katana and Mikey's Fire Fist are mere seconds away from connecting, but before the two of us can clash, a black and yellow figure zips in between us, using one hand to catch my katana and the other hand to catch Mikey's fist.

Nick.

A giant explosion of wind, fire, and lightning, dark blue, flame red, and pale yellow Cursed Power bursts from the three of us, enveloping the entire arena in a cloud of dust. When the explosion subsides, Nick is on the ground on one knee, panting heavily, but still holding onto my katana and Mikey's fist.

One of Nick's hands has a slash mark edged deep inside it and covered in slash wounds, while the other is charred black and covered in burn marks.

Eyes wide, I stare at Nick, panting heavily.

Pissed off, Mikey glares at Nick, also panting heavily.

"Didn't I tell you…" Nick begins to growl. "THAT NO ONE DIES ON MY WATCH?!" With a roar, Nick knocks away Mikey's fist and my katana, which clangs to the ground.

"I told you the story about Violet, Luis-" Nick begins to say as he stands back up to face me. "And I told you about the half demon who was slaughtered during the final round of the NYIC," Nick finishes as he turns to face Mikey.

1"Didn't you two learn anything from my story?!" Nick cries, causing the two of us to look away in shame. "We're fighting alongside each other, not against each other! If you don't…then this organization will eat you alive! I got my squadmate killed, I watched him die in front of me…" Nick whimpers. "I REFUSE TO LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN, NOT FOR MY OWN SAKE, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF MY SQUAD!"

Nick's booming speech echoes across the entire arena, as Ella and co rushes over to us.

I drop down to the ground on my knees, still panting heavily, as Mikey remains standing. Mikey glares down at me, and without even uttering a single word, I know what he's thinking. That was the one who fell first, Mikey won. I've lost. Again. Just like with our first fight, just like with King, and now.

"What were you thinking?!" Ella sobs as she rushes over to me and begins healing my injuries. "Why would you two fight so intensely?! We're teammates, remember!"

"So you'll fight Mikey when you don't have to, but not me?" Grover asks as he approaches me, sounding genuinely ticked off, for the first time since I've known him.

I have no words. I'm still too ashamed to face Grover.

But luckily, Mikey is able to say what I can't. Just in a far crueder way.

"You don't know what's going on with us," Mikey grunts as he shakes his head, then storms out of the arena. I watch Mikey's back as he goes.

"You…have been very secretive after your stalker incident, Luis," Jamie sadly adds.

"Is there anything you want to tell us?" Austin asks. "You can tell us anything, we'll listen. I just know something's up."

I look back and forth between my friends, between Ella, and Jamie, and Austin, and Nick, and then finally…Grover.

"I want…to tell you guys. I want to tell you everything…" I begin to say. And then…I drop to the ground on my hands and knees, bowling to my squadmates. "I just can't tell you guys anything, not yet, because I don't even know what's happening!" I wail. "I'm scared and alone, but…if I tell you guys, it won't be good for any of us. I have to do this alone, so please…"

"HAVE SOME FAITH IN ME, JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, PLEASE! I'M BEGGIN YOU!"

Ella, Grover, Jamie, and Austin are silent for a few moments, until Ella puts a hand on my head, causing me to peer up at her with my disgusting, sniveling face, snotting nose, and tear-streaked eyes.

"But you're not alone, Luis," Ella says with a sweet smile. "You have me." Ella then frowns and blushes. "I mean…you have all of us."

"I don't know what you're going through, but we'll stand with you all the way, Luis!" Jamie exclaims

"It was rude of me to pry. You can tell us when you're ready. I'm sorry," Austin sheepishly apologizes.

My sobbing expression curls up into a sad smile as I rub my nose and eyes. "I was alone for a while, but I'm not anymore. Thank you…" I whisper.

Grover remains turned away from me, with his arms crossed.

"Grover…" I softly say.

Jamie slaps Grover on the top of his head. "OW!" Grover yelps as he rubs his head, before turning around to face me.

"I didn't appreciate what you did back there during our third place match. I felt like you just…shoved us aside for your rivalry with Mikey and August," Grover begins to say, then sighs. "But it looks like I'm wrong, I'm sorry. You're going through a lot, and I don't know why, but Mikey and August are involved and we're not. I don't forgive you… but I won't hate you for it." And with that, Grover turns around, and begins walking away from me.

"Thank you, Grover…" I softly say to myself.

A lot has happened during our time at the New York Interborough. I learned so much about myself, and Nick, established an even deeper bond with my friends, made a true enemy, and the divide between Mikey and I has grown even wider. But that's okay. I'm the Blue Demon. I'm a fricken' half demon, and I don't know what's going on behind the scenes in the Slayer Organization, with August, Winter, and Kurāken, but I'll expose the secrets, and I'll figure everything out.

I'll figure out just who I am.

And I won't let my friends get hurt along the way.