**Volume 2: Upper World**

  **Chapter 71: No Heroes Left**

  January 3rd, 7:02 p.m. – Central Arena (Sky vs Josh – Continued)

  The pit was quiet now — the kind of quiet that comes after too much noise, too much blood, too many screams. The floodlights burned down merciless, turning every drop of sweat and blood into something shiny and cruel. 500 million watched on screens across the world — frozen, waiting, some crying, some cheering, most just stunned silent. Josh stood in the center — blond hair matted with sweat and red, academy jacket torn off one shoulder, black aura flickering like it was running out of fuel. He grinned anyway — wide, shaky — like if he stopped smiling the whole thing would collapse.

  Sky walked forward — slow, deliberate — baggy white pants ripped at the knees, blue shirt hanging open showing the soul gun wounds that still smoked faintly. The cracked-moon necklace from Mara swung with every step, catching the light like a tiny broken promise.

  Josh lunged — punched Sky hard in the face. Knuckles connected with jaw — crack — blood spraying from Sky’s lip. Sky staggered back one step — then another — but didn’t fall.

  Josh kept coming — fists flying — left-right-left — each hit landing with wet thuds that echoed through the dome. Sky took them — head snapping side to side — blood pouring from nose, mouth, cuts reopening on his cheeks. The crowd gasped — 500 million breaths held — as Sky’s light blue aura flickered weak, almost gone.

  But Sky used it.

  He started moving — subtle at first — body shifting just enough so each punch looked like it landed full force. 24 fps illusion — frame-by-frame weaving — making it look like Josh was destroying him. The screens showed it: Sky’s head rocking back, blood flying in perfect arcs, body buckling. The crowd roared — thinking it was over.

  Josh laughed — triumphant — “Too bad you’re gonna lose.”

  Then he realized.

  The punches were hitting air.

  Sky wasn’t there.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  He was behind him.

  Josh spun — too late.

  Sky’s aura grew — light blue light surging brighter, colder — strength flooding back like ice water in his veins. He moved fast — faster — fists blurring, punching Josh hard and quick. Ribs cracked. Jaw snapped. Josh flew back — hit the ground rolling — coughing blood onto the stone.

  Sky didn’t stop.

  He kicked Josh — will energy boosting the blow — boot to chest sending Josh skidding across the pit, slamming into a metal bar. The bar bent with a groan. Josh coughed more blood — trying to crawl — but Sky kept coming.

  Josh panicked — clapped once.

  **Star Technique: Falling Star.**

  A gun formed behind Sky’s head — black-red energy barrel aimed point-blank at the back of his skull.

  Sky jumped — high — the shot missing by inches, bullet punching through empty air and exploding against the wall in a shower of sparks.

  Sky landed — healed instantly — the soul gun wounds closing with a cold blue glow. He kicked Josh’s head — boot connecting with temple — Josh’s skull snapping sideways. Josh fell — face-first — blood pooling under him.

  Sky stood over him — breathing steady.

  Josh tried to crawl away — fast — hands scraping stone — desperate to stand.

  Sky kept walking — slow, relentless.

  “I’ve been weak all this time,” Sky said — voice low, cold. “But I can’t take it anymore. People died just now. Mira died because of you.”

  Josh’s eyes widened — fear cracking through the grin.

  Sky kept going.

  “You made me realize how this works. This will energy. The academy. There are no heroes. I never was one. But I can choose to be one.”

  Josh got up — shaky — threw a **200% Death Punch** — fist glowing black-red — straight to Sky’s face.

  It landed — hard — but Sky didn’t move.

  The punch did nothing.

  Josh’s arm shook — eyes wide.

  Sky looked at him — serious, no anger, just tired.

  Josh backed up — stumbling.

  Sky walked forward — slow — light blue aura glowing steady, bright, cold.

  He clapped once.

  **Frame Bind.**

  Time slowed for Josh — perception dragging — body locked.

  Sky’s fist glowed — blue-red energy swirling violent.

  **Azure Flash.**

  The punch hit Josh’s chest — delayed detonation exploding inside. Josh’s body jerked — ribs shattering — blood spraying in a bright red arc that caught the floodlights like fireworks.

  Sky grabbed a knife from the ground — drove it into Josh’s heart — clean, deep.

  Josh gasped — eyes wide — black aura dying.

  Sky pulled the knife out.

  Josh fell — knees first — then face-down.

  Dead.

  The crowd went silent — stunned — then erupted into chaos.

  Sky stood there — breathing hard — blood dripping from the knife.

  He looked at Josh’s body — then at the stands — then walked out.

  No wave. No look back.

  Just gone.

  He met the group in the tunnel — Frosty running to him first, arms around his neck, crying into his shoulder. Max behind her — shadows weak but there — pulling him into a hug. Hiro, Mira, Aoi, Kira, Taka — all of them closing in.

  Sky looked at Max — saw the fear in his eyes — the way he was looking at Sky like he was seeing someone new.

  Sky sat down — slow — against the wall.

  Mara walked up — black shirt and blue baggy pants on now, Reaper on his back.

  “See you guys.”

  He walked toward his gate — Jane already waiting in the opposite cave.

  The announcer’s voice rolled out.

  “Next match: Mara vs Jane. Final fight of the day.”

  Sky looked at the group — then at Mara’s back disappearing into the tunnel.

  He turned back to his normal self — light blue aura fading — corruption ring dimming on his eye — just a tired 15-year-old sitting on the floor with his friends.

  The chapter ended.

  To be continued…