Kami no gyakuten:The yamato hero-Chapter 20: The Illusion of Victory

Sho's breath was ragged, his body aching from exhaustion. His fists throbbed from the repeated clashes against Joe's unyielding body. Every time he attacked, Joe countered effortlessly, like a predator toying with its prey. And the worst part? Joe wasn't even using his full strength.

Unlike Sho, who had pushed himself to his absolute limit, Joe was only using basic physical attacks, as if this battle was nothing more than a warm-up. Sho's reverse power—his greatest advantage—was useless against physical attacks and objects.

Damn it... I can't reverse his attacks. I can't counter him properly. What do I do?

Joe smirked, watching Sho struggle. "You're not bad," he mused, cracking his knuckles. "But you're not good enough either." His tone was casual, condescending. He was enjoying this.

Sho clenched his teeth. He had five minutes left before his awakened power faded. If that happened, he wouldn't just lose—he would die.

"I can't win this fight"Sho realized."But maybe... maybe I can escape."

His mind raced, searching for a way out. If he couldn't defeat Joe, then the best thing he could do was make sure he and Kyoko survived. She was still at full strength—if he could get her out of this cave alive, then at least one of them could warn the others.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. He needed an opening. A single moment where Joe let his guard down—

And then he saw it.

Joe's posture was loose, relaxed. For a brief second, he wasn't paying full attention.

Now!

Sho lunged forward, throwing his full weight into a devastating punch. His fist cut through the air with deadly precision, striking Joe square in the chest.

The impact was perfect—clean, solid—except...

There was no impact at all.

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Sho's eyes widened in horror as his hand passed through Joe's body, as if hitting nothing.

Then, before he could react—

Joe's figure shimmered, flickering like a mirage.

Kyoko gasped, realization dawning on her. "Sho... this is a clone!"

Sho stumbled back, heart pounding in his chest. He had just used his strongest attack—against nothing.

The clone grinned mockingly before its form disintegrated into the air, leaving only silence in its wake.

Even Joe's clone was this strong...

Sho's stomach twisted. If they had been struggling against just a copy, then what chance did they have against the real Joe?

Kyoko grabbed Sho's arm. "Sho, listen to me. Fighting him is suicide. We need to grab the Azure Crystal and run!"

Sho's fists clenched. Every part of him wanted to keep fighting, to prove he could win. But deep down, he knew the truth.

They weren't going to win this fight.

Not now.

His hesitation lasted only a second before he turned and sprinted toward the Azure Crystal. The glowing blue stone pulsed with energy, its light illuminating the cave walls with a hypnotic glow. As soon as Sho touched it, a powerful surge of energy rushed through his body, making his vision blur for a moment.

There was no time to dwell on it.

"Let's go!" Kyoko yelled, already running toward the cave's exit.

Sho tightened his grip on the crystal and followed, adrenaline flooding his veins. He could feel something watching them—something powerful.

They had to escape.

Because if this was only the beginning...

Then the real nightmare was just about to begin.