Assimilation

"Nocturnis as in the Hellhound?" Rick said it was clear that he was aware of this fact thanks to his spirit.

Kai's body underwent a transformation, adopting an obsidian hue adorned with luminous azure fractures. Kai's dental structures underwent significant growth, accompanied by the manifestation of azure-hued fire claws. This transformation rendered him seamlessly integrated with Nocturnis, embodying the essence of the Hellhound with remarkable cohesion.

"Blue is really not my favorite flame but I guess this is the limit of this body" Nocturnis said.

Rick, hesitated to engage, recognizing that he now faced not a human adversary but a spiritual entity.

Recognizing the complete realization of Kai's latent power, he resolved to conclude the situation by harmonizing with his own spirit, thereby seeking to attain a unified synthesis of their respective energies.

"Since you are out I'll stop holding back too" Rick said.

In a transformative display, Rick's wings enveloped his body, igniting a brilliant flame that transitioned from a fiery red to a radiant gold. His gaze intensified, adopting a feral quality, while golden feathers emerged along his forearms, extending towards his elbows. Simultaneously, his skin underwent a notable fortification, reflecting the profound metamorphosis taking place.

Although not reaching the magnitude of Kai's transformation, Rick's metamorphosis carried a discernible shift in power, markedly distinguishing his current state from his previous one.

The escalating intensity surrounding both entities became palpable as guards descended to the floor where the two beings confronted each other. The outcome remained uncertain, heightening the anticipation of an imminent clash.

"Sir what should we do?" One of the guards spoke to a walkie-talkie talking to a man on the top floor watching the footage live on a tv.

"Let them be for a while. I want to see this fight but I want the boy alive to be sure to stop Rick if he goes too far" the man said.

"What if the boy goes too far?" The guard asked.

"You let him kill Rick" tha man said.

The guards were astounded, given the special treatment Rick consistently received from this man. As the guard scrutinized Kai, a lingering question emerged: Could this young boy potentially surpass Rick in strength?

"Let's get this over with son!" Rick shouted charged with remarkable speed, unleashing a forceful punch toward Kai. Yet, Kai effortlessly halted the attack, demonstrating a level of skill that left onlookers in awe.

"I thought I already told you mortal. Kai isn't here right now" Nocturnis, he exclaimed with a frenzied expression, effortlessly holding back Rick's punch.

Seizing the moment, Nocturnis landed a powerful punch to Rick's stomach, eliciting a spurt of blood. With calculated precision, Nocturnis drew Rick closer, leveraging his momentum to slam him onto the ground. A torrent of blue fire erupted, engulfing Rick's face in a relentless stream.

"Argh!" Amidst Rick's agonized scream, a formidable explosion erupted, generating a powerful shockwave. Nocturnis, resilient, countered the force by swiping his hand, effectively nullifying the pushback and maintaining his stance.

Rick's face, nearly reduced to the bone, began a miraculous regeneration right before everyone's eyes. The flesh steadily restored itself, completing a full and astonishing recovery.

"You damn birds are such a nuisance" Nocturnis said, rolling his eyes.

In that fleeting moment, Rick's eyes dimmed, and for a brief second, another voice resonated, adding an enigmatic layer to the unfolding scene.

"Just because you are one of the five current kings doesn't mean I, a Phoenix, need to bow down to a mutt like you" After saying that Rick's eyes become normal again as he was in control.

"Well you heard him mutt" Rick said smiling.

The insult visibly affected Nocturnis, as the once-blue fiery cracks deepened into a dark, nearly black hue. His muscles swelled noticeably as he surged forward with remarkable speed to confront Rick.

Nocturnis delivered a forceful right-handed punch to Rick's face, causing him to stagger backward. Following through, Nocturnis executed a swift elbow strike to his stomach, and then delivered a decisive kick to his ribs.

Despite Rick's attempt to regain balance, Nocturnis pressed on with a relentless barrage of attacks. In a strategic move, Nocturnis decided to incorporate one of Kai's skills into his assault.

[Burning Hands]

-User's hands are lit on fire and everything they touch will burn. If the target is a creature it will burn them internally.

Seizing Rick, Nocturnis invoked Kai's skill, causing dark flames to surge into Rick's body, inflicting internal burns. Writhing in agony, Rick collapsed to the floor, consumed by the torment of the infernal flames within.

"Even if you use fire you are not fire" Nocturnis said looking down on Rick.

A warm trickle of blood streamed down his nose. The once ominous flames reverted to their original blue hue, and a wave of exhaustion washed over him.

"I think I may have over exerted this body by accident. Come on Kai get out of there now" Nocturnis shouted inside his thoughts but got no response.

Alone in the dark space, Kai clutched his legs tightly, surrounded by flashing images. The haunting memory replayed, emphasizing his perceived inadequacy, echoing a sense of insufficiency even in the present moment.

"What's the point of being alive when I can't even take revenge for my family?" Kai said as he started to give up and feel weaker.

"Kai! Are you giving up? Just because you couldn't do it once?" A familiar voice snapped him out of his trance.

In a reflective moment, he observed a poignant memory of his younger self, tearfully grappling with the frustration of being unable to construct his desired creation. His mother, with a comforting gesture, approached him and tenderly placed her hand on his head, offering solace through a reassuring pat. The maternal gesture appeared to have a soothing effect on young Kai, providing a measure of comfort amid his distress.

"Nothing is working, this is stupid" he was doing his best to not cry.

"Kai, are you giving up? Just because you couldn't do it once?" His mother spoke gently as she delicately caressed his hair.

Young Kai, with redness under his eyes from crying, gazed at his mother. Her warm smile adorned her face as his older sister entered the room, walking towards him.

She took hold of the tools Kai was using to build and initiated the process anew, meticulously laying a foundation to enable him to resume his construction.

"Remember if you feel like giving up because you can do it. You can always ask for help. Always" His sister said with a big smile on her face.

"The important thing is to never give up Kai no matter what. Find another way to complete what you want to achieve" His mother said with a smile.

As Kai's eyes regained vitality, the memory faded. He came to the realization that losing one battle didn't matter; what counted was winning the war as a whole.

Rising in the dim space, he gained visibility and became aware of the toll his body had endured, feeling the aftermath of the damage.

Nocturnis sensed the internal presence and responded with a smile. "He is ready now. I have left a small gift for you Kai"

Closing his eyes, Nocturnis yielded control, and upon reopening them, Kai had regained command, prepared to resume the battle against his father. Examining his system, confidence surged within him.

"This ends here, Father" Kai addressed his father, who was rising after the thrashing delivered by Nocturnis.