Shelly’s Valkyrie sense kicks and horror covers her gorgeous face...

Shelly: "Katsuuuu!"

In slow motion, an incoming, pouncing Berserk Saku, arm fully healed, has a shard of glass in his bleeding, left hand. He is inches away from stabbing the seemingly unaware Katsu in the side of the head...

But in a surprising, unexpected act of grace and awareness, Katsu only gets the tip of his bangs cut as he spin dodges, then countering with a followed through roundhouse kick as Saku lands next to him.

The sheer power from the Yang Vessel, on connection with the Yin Vessel’s hip, creates a force wave of power that seperates the moisture from the air around the two contemporary forces and blows the SeiõrSnow away from the scene for a moment.

There is a *SNAP* of Saku’s hip flexure, he once again goes uncontrollably skipping off the blood flood like a rock.

This time, his momentum easily knocks down a telephone pole that stops him, pulling it out of the ground and submerging it under the liquid with him.

Shelly is blushing, while being on the sidelines for a change. She watches as Katsu lowers his kicking leg, without taking his eyes off the direction he sent his contemporary rival.

Shelly(thinking): *Th-That power was insane! That aura around Katsu...

That’s not just a SnowSeiõrShield around him, is it?*

The conflict between the two chosen vessels for all contemporary forces of the universe creates a strong gust around the area.

Shelly’s blood soaked, golden locks blow in the steady breeze.

The glowing lime green light escaping from the stab wound in her shoulder continues healing while the injured Ace of Takamagahara stands to the side.

Madame Fryer floats next to Shelly for a moment but carefully returns back to her sheath to rest.

Shelly(to herself): "When did Katsu get this strong?

Or... is his special IceEye helping him by controlling his body too?

Ka-!"

Shelly immediately stops herself from calling out to her adopted brother and possibly distracting him.

Shelly(thinking): *No!

There’s nothing for me to worry about.

Katsu can hold him off for a few more minutes...*

She quickly peeks at her injury and a half smile escapes her.

Shelly(thinking): *...Then, we’ll stop him...

Together!*

The Valkyrie descendant goes back to witnessing the incoming spectacle, instead of taking part in one.

Katsu’s pure white SoulSeiõrShield covered sneaker submerges into the blood flood beneath him.

While his human eye tries it’s best to keep up, the Communication Eye of Wisdom in 2nd Stage, zips around within it’s host’s socket. It scans the entire area independently, on high alert, ready to control the vessel and avoid injury.

There is a distinct *DRIP* and both Katsu’s eyes cease in surveying his surroundings.

Katsu(thinking): *3...

2...

1...*

On ’1’ Katsu smirks, and as if he had Rebekah DaeMon’s Eye Ability, the captain of Izanagi steps back an entire second before Saku’s falling leg drop misses him in the blink of an eye.

Shelly watches in disbelief over her adopted brother’s newly displayed prowess and awareness against the same berserk Saku she was just battling.

Shelly(thinking): *I never cared what anyone else thought about me, except you.

Only your opinion has mattered, ever since you made me smile again."

Berserk Saku’s angry sobbing is back to max volume, however, as soon as his kick misses and he turns to look at his opponent, a pure white SoulSeiõrShield hand covers the Yin Vessel’s mouth.

Chuckling Katsu slams him down, creating a giant *SPLASH!*, making waves and cracking the cement.

Shelly(thinking): *That’s why I’ll fight whenever someone disrespects you, or makes fun of your adorable, admirable, and contagious personality.*

Using Esau ability, a repelling wave of Seiõr expelled from Saku’s Absorption Eye, barely pushes Katsu away. Sending him just across the street.

Katsu continues to confidently chuckle.

Using his upper body strength, he twists his torso with a protruding back fist, perfectly connecting with Berserk Saku’s jaw, and on contact, the force breaks all the glass on the street.

Shelly(thinking): *I didn’t think you could get any cooler than your high energy and your confidence in others, but I was wrong...*

Saku bounces off a building and Katsu comes in throwing a right fist, but the haywire Absorption Eye opens back after flinching and immediately recognizes the threat.

The symbiote shocks Saku’s brain and signals the vessel to dodge.

Smiling Katsu’s fist barely whiffs, and the missed punch cracks the side of the building.

As Berserk Saku swerves the swing, he grabs the arm, twists, and over the shoulder throws Katsu, cannonballing the Yang Vessel into the side of a delivery van.

The box truck falls to it’s side but Katsu easily jumps back up to his feet from the dent he created in the truck. His chuckling smile still visible during this dangerous fight.

Shelly is blushing, seeing Katsu smiling in his fight. She immediately remembers one of the heroes Katsu idolized and loved.

The modest female warrior hides her own uncontrollable smile with her right hand. No longer caring about why or how Katsu got his currently strength and confidence, just happy to see him happy.

A younger Katsu’s voice echoes in her head.

Y. Katsu Voice: "You see that goofy character, Shelly?!!

Wherever there are people suffering in the world, he always saves them with a smile!

Now that you’re my strong, reliable #2, we are going to be just like them!

You and I are going to be the greatest someday, Shelly!"

Shelly(to herself): *giggle*

"Go get ’em, Katsu."

While standing on the concaved side of the turned over vehicle, smiling Katsu crouches while an incoming Saku’s swinging leg misses.

Katsu does a spinning sweep kick that perfectly connects with Berserk Saku’s ankle before his foot can land on the truck.

The incredibly powerful kick makes Saku begin to cartwheel in mid-air from the attack.

Before his out of control body can touch anything, a fist covered in a pure white SoulSeiõrShield connects with his stomach.

However, all of a sudden, time seems to stop on contact between the contrasting forces, and at the same moment, the two young men EyeEngage with their blessed symbiotes.

As if in a snapshot, everything around the city seems to have paused in time as well.

The giant Icemen and their destruction can no longer be heard.

Saku has also stopped, stuck upside down, mid air. His sobbing also on hold, but his human and Anjell Eye are clearly conscious in the moment, locked with his eternal rival’s gaze. The Yin vessel is only able to move his green human optic sensor because of the EyeEngagement.

To his surprise, Katsu snickers while he slowly takes his fist away from Saku’s stomach, and steps back.

Clearly in full control of his body while everything else in the universe remains still.

Katsu: *giggle* "It’s a tale as old as every universe, Saku.

Ever since the realization of the sun’s importance to our comfort and it’s brief absences making everything dark and more dangerous.

For everyone with only one true conscious lifetime, the story is entertaining and inspiring.

But it gets reeeally old, reeeally quickly, when you’ve already seen it happen an infinite amount of times.

It’s a tale that just gets retold..."

Katsu stomps his foot down on the already damaged metal truck, making footprint dents with every hit.

Katsu: "...again, and again, and again, and again, and aga-!..."

He stops, and while keeping their symbiotes locked, he starts to maniacally laugh for a moment of realization.

Katsu: *cackle*

"Good and Evil."

Shelly is frozen and unaware of the current glitch in reality. Her beautiful blue eyes and hair are stuck in the same spot like a statue.

Katsu: *giggle*

"Love and Hate."

With his Above Sanpaku glare, the Yang Vessel is looking down on his flipped opponent. He has an uncontrollable, deranged smile on his face and he’s trying to hold back his laughter while talking.

Katsu: *giggle*

"Life and Death.

The tale has been force fed to us, reinforcing the notion that our existence is meaningful.

That we should continue growing as a species, and reproduce to create a future.

*giggle*

At some point, that bittersweet tale we’ve been forced to accept, turns sour, Saku.

Any rational mind, with a completely objective view of humanity, would reject the legitimacy of that artificially manufactured tale.

*giggle*

All of us are cursed with self-will, and the freedom to search for a purpose to cherish.

You know all too well, ’vessel for all that is yin’, because of human emotions, human greed, and our insanity diagnosing history, it is no longer possible for humanity to obtain both freedom and purpose."

Katsu puts his tattooed hand over his human eye while cackling, but keeping the EyeEngagement.

Saku’s human eye is focused in fear.

Katsu: *giggle*

But that’s the funniest part, Saku.

There will always be another human with their own self-will, desires, and imagination, who will want to take or threaten what you cherish most.

*giggle*

Free-will creates ’winners’ and ’losers’.

But what if my free-will makes it so there are no losers...only Shelly and I?"

*giggle*

I’m going to do it this time, Saku.

Heheheh...

I am going to change that old clichéd tale.

Once and forever...with Shelly."

Saku’s green eye darts to the ’stuck in time Valkyrie’, unable to hear the monologue of Katsu’s inner darkness.

Katsu: *giggle*

All stories need conflict, suffering, and struggle to create a universe...

Main characters going through trials and tribulations...

Side characters to provide support and diversity...

Antagonists who must exist to supply that conflict...

But most unfortunate, nameless characters, living entire respectable lives, only to have their death exhibited as an example of tragedy.

I think I have an idea of what a ’universe’ is, Saku.

Despite unrelenting toxicity towards each other, all those fictional stories, stage plays, tv shows, and art pieces with profound imagery try to justify the protection of the greater good as ’the righteous ending’.

*giggle*

But a ’happily ever after’ isn’t a true reality, Saku.

As long as the rest of humanity continues to survive, it will eventually ruin everything the plot fixed, even when the story is over. It just never gets seen.

There will always be losers in hiding and the suffering never truly ends.

*giggle*

But together, Shelly and I will change the entire logic of that tale."

After another hearty laugh, Katsu lowers his hand from his face, revealing his green human eye is filled with tears...but from his clearly broken minded laughing.

Perfectly juxtaposed to the sorrow and rage causing Berserk Saku’s tears.

Katsu:*giggle*

In due time, I will do to the entire world, what I did to Roronora City tonight.

Not just half.

Not 80%.

I will be completely free with her forever!

The two of us will stop all the suffering you are trying to continue, Saku."

He crouches to upside-down Saku’s eye level with a cackle.

Katsu: *cackle*

So you better get ready, you bastard. Cuz by the end of tonight, you will be on the receiving end of a preview, for the day Shelly and I finally kill you!"

A Seiõr pulse releases from his Anjell Eye, almost like the same technique he used to knock out the citizens of Roronora City when he and Shelly invaded.

Time starts back and their superior symbiotes disengage.

Instantaneously, to his own surprise, the Berserk Yin vessel coughs up blood and spit while his stomach caves in, as if finally reacting to Katsu’s punch from before the pause.

Once again, the incredible power from the connection between the conflicting SoulSeiõrShields, releases a visible wave into the atmosphere that separates the moisture in the air.

Berserk Saku gets launched. His human eye is white indicating a knock out, but his controlling Anjell Eye is wincing.

The Yin Vessel flies completely through a few buildings, his bleeding fingertips are losing their nails, trying to slow himself down, but to no prevail.

Shelly becomes no longer paused in time and since the Squad 40 captain was not chronologically conscious for the conversation between her two peers, she is confused, unable to see where Saku went.

To her surprise, she gets scooped up by Katsu and the smiling Yang Vessel looks at his blushing adopted sister in his arms, covered in his pure white SharedSoulSeiõrShield.

Katsu: *giggle*

"I think I weakened him a bit with that last hit.

He’s this way.

Let’s finish this and get back home safe, Shell."

With a confident but adorable smile, she gives him a soft *hmph* and a nod.