Chaos Begins IV; A Showdown of Wills

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Louis turned to Natalia and Olivia. "You guys should go and warn Mr. Lyrius and Mrs. Maria about the situation before the Sinners reach them."

"What about you?" Olivia asked, distressed. "Don't tell me you are going to stop Ivan from facing the Sinners all by yourself." Her eyes were watery. "I don't want to lose another friend after seeing what they did to Ryo."

"Please let me go with you," she pleaded, her head down, tears streaming down her face and dropping to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Olivia. You're exhausted and could faint again. Please, listen to me. But I can't lose you too," Louis said. "I can't afford to lose another friend." He dashed back into the forest, determined to confront Ivan and the Sinners..

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[Continue]

Louis rushed through the forest, running as fast as his legs could carry him. Xander and Aaron joined him, running alongside. "What are you guys doing here? You should be heading back to the camp! You won't be safe here," Louis said, his voice filled with distress.

"What, you think we were going to let you get yourself killed?" Xander's voice, a deep, commanding baritone, replied. "I'm not sure you could last a second in a fight. So why did you choose to help him?"

"I don't know," Louis replied. "Maybe because sometimes doing the right thing means risking it all, even if it seems hopeless."

Memories of the train station incident flashed through Louis's mind: the sinner who killed Karen, the young girl he couldn't save, the police officer... He clenched his fists. **This time, I promise myself I won't let them even touch Ivan. I'll eliminate them all.**

After a few minutes of running, Louis suddenly stopped. "Wait!" he said, feeling something different through his senses.

Xander and Aaron exchanged puzzled looks. "What is it? Why have we stopped?" Xander asked. "Have we already reached them?" Aaron added.

"It's not that," Louis said.

Using his clairvoyance, Louis visualized the forest surroundings in his mind. It was like viewing the area from above; he saw the Sinners spreading out.

"What is it?" Aaron asked.

"It seems they aren't all heading in the same direction. We probably won't meet all 200 Sinners but maybe one or two since they have spread out," Louis explained.

"Wow, that's great!" Xander said, smiling at Aaron.

**What the hell are they planning? What's their strategy? And what are they trying to achieve?**

Louis thought, his mind racing. "We should keep moving," Aaron said, starting to run again.

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Meanwhile, Ivan's Thoughts:

Tch, what does that loser think, ordering people around? He doesn't know his place. I'm going to show him what real power looks like.

Ivan made a high jump powered by his flames, making him soar over the tall trees. He finally landed on a plain of grass, his two hands on the floor supporting his balance.

He stood up on his feet. Then, someone running approached him from the forest. She was wearing a black combat suit with silver accents, a wolf-like face mask, and had long yellow hair. He clenched his fist and made out a slight smile.

"What a good timing. So you are a Sinner!" Ivan shouted, his voice boastful.

But she ran past Ivan, making him look like a fool. Ivan became pissed, his right hand igniting in flames as his long sleeve was burnt away.

"Where the hell are you going?" he said, targeting a spiral flame at her. It hit the floor, causing dust to rise and obscure the area.

She used her reflexes to dodge the flame.

"You don't even hesitate to hit a girl?" the Sinner taunted.

"In the battlefield, there are no genders—only enemies. Mercy is a weakness I cannot afford. Every opponent falls the same," Ivan sneered.

You are not my target, so there's no problem if I hurt you. What, you think I'd let a girl hurt me? Keep dreaming," Ivan said, his heart filled with pride as both his hands turned into flames.

"Well, we'll see about that," she said, rushing toward Ivan and attacking him. "I will make you enjoy my flame fist," Ivan said, charging against her.

They exchanged a series of quick jabs, her fists moving with lightning speed. Ivan barely managed to block them with his flaming arms. She then pivoted on her left foot, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at Ivan's midsection. Ivan dodged it by leaning back, but the force of the kick created a gust of wind that rustled the nearby trees.

Ivan retaliated by launching a burst of flames from his fists, but the Sinner gracefully flipped backward, avoiding the attack. She landed in a crouched position, her eyes never leaving Ivan.

*What the hell? She's fast!* Ivan thought, frustration mounting. *She's not even using her power yet. What rank is she?*

Ivan lunged forward, throwing a flaming punch aimed at her face. She sidestepped and countered with a sharp elbow strike to his ribs. Ivan grunted in pain but quickly regained his stance. He followed up with a low sweep kick, trying to trip her, but she jumped over it effortlessly.

Using her momentum, the Sinner spun in the air and delivered a downward kick. Ivan crossed his arms above his head to block it, but the impact drove him to one knee. She didn't give him a moment to recover, immediately following up with a series of knee strikes to his chest and abdomen. Each hit was precise and powerful, making Ivan wince in pain.

Ivan's frustration grew. He unleashed a wave of flames from his entire body, forcing the Sinner to backflip away to avoid getting scorched. She landed gracefully. Ivan took this brief respite to catch his breath and prepare for his next move.

"You're weaker than all the guys I've fought with," she taunted, her voice dripping with disdain.

Ivan's face was scratched, blood trickling down from the wounds. The pain was sharp, each scratch burning with the heat of the fight.

*I can't let her win,* Ivan thought. *I need to be strong.* He clenched his fist.

"Shut up!" Ivan spat, lunging at her again. This time he mixed his flame attacks with physical strikes, but the Sinner was still faster. She ducked under his punches, sidestepped his kicks, and delivered punishing counters. A particularly vicious punch to Ivan's jaw sent him staggering back, and he coughed up blood.

*Damn it! She's stronger every time I fight her. I think she's far above my level. But I can't let her beat me like this!* Ivan thought, wiping the blood from his mouth.

He clenched his fists, his anger fueling his flames.

[Flame Incarnate 1LV ]!!!!!!!

He roared, his body transforming into a being of pure fire, all his body burning with flames, radiating heat and power. In this form, his strength and speed surged to extraordinary levels, imbuing him with an almost invincible aura.

With lightning speed, Ivan darted towards the sinner, moving so swiftly his movement blur that her eyes struggled to track. The Sinner, taken aback by Ivan's sudden burst of aggression, desperately tried to defend herself.

Ivan's punches were relentless and brutal, each blow landing with the force of a sledgehammer aimed at her stomach. The impact drove the air from her lungs, causing her to double over in pain, blood spattering from her lips.

Not content with just punches, Ivan delivered swift and calculated kicks, targeting vulnerable spots with precision. His strikes were like thunderclaps, echoing through the forest as he aimed to incapacitate his adversary. The Sinner fought back valiantly, attempting to block and dodge, but Ivan's fiery onslaught was overwhelming.

As Ivan's hands emitted a continuous spiral of scorching flames, the temperature around them soared to unbearable heights. The air shimmered with heat, distorting the surroundings. The Sinner, struggling to maintain her footing, staggered backward, her strength ebbing under the intense heat and relentless assault.

"Give up! You can't win!" Ivan roared triumphantly, his voice echoing with confidence and the crackling of flames.

However, the Sinner refused to yield. With sheer determination, she tapped into her own power. Suddenly, her entire body ignited with vibrant green flames, matching Ivan's intensity and pushing back against his spiraling flames. The clash of their energies created a dazzling spectacle, illuminating the forest with a surreal glow of fire and determination.

Ivan, momentarily froze by the sudden surge of green flames, hesitated for a brief moment. Fear crept into his voice as he struggled to comprehend the power he faced.

"The flames—The Green flames," he stammered, Memories swirling in his mind. -Who are you.??