“Alright, stay where you are…Officer Venkel, have the others comb the area. We’ve got injuries,” the captain said.

Ekzera approached the blonde-haired female officer. “Thank goodness you’ve come! These two require your assistance.”

Officer Venkel crouched beside Amali and Kaffron. “What in God’s name has been happening out here?”

Alia tugged the woman’s sleeve. “There, Grady needs help too.”

“Can do. Are you alright, Miss?” Venkel asked.

“Yes,” Alia replied, her eyes weaving around the area.

Niko stood midway on the stairwell while the officers helped the injured, his head bobbing all around. “Kaffron? You guys are leavin’?”

“I don’t want to, Niko, but we’re in bad shape,” Kaffron replied, leaning on one of the officers.

“Naw, you’re right. I’m really sorry, man. But thanks for stickin’ with me.”

Kaffron weakly lifted his arm and shook Niko’s hand. “Won’t be the last time, buddy. Do what you have to do.”

“You bet.”

Amali waved Niko over. “Sorry to bail like this. Crazy as it sounds, I’d probably do it again. You’re one of the few friends I’ve got.”

Niko crossed his arms. “Amali, are you gettin’ soft on me?”

She smiled, and softly slugged him. “Nah, not a chance, you big dork. Oh, tell Princess there I said thanks for helping us.”

“Who? Oh, right…take care, you guys.” Niko sighed as he watched the officers cross through the ring to the tunnel at the other end.

“Pardon me, son,” the police captain said. He stepped down, dragging Jirani in handcuffs. Jirani stared at Niko, his hideous grin widening with every step.

Alia stood beside Niko, holding his arm while the cavern emptied. The voices in the distance faded, leaving them standing at the height of the temple, the golden sunlight glistening over the field. She slumped onto the stairs. “It’s finally over…thank goodness.”

“I can’t believe he did this,” Niko said, sitting down.

They leaned close to one another when a shrill scream sounded in the distance. Niko’s body shot up. “What the hell was that?”

Alia’s eyes widened as loud shrieking bled from the tunnel depths, gradually fading. Her heart thumped when Jirani appeared from within the tunnel, calmly stepping back towards the ring. “It can’t be.”

A loud click behind them made her flinch, and she shrieked upon seeing Jirani suddenly standing behind her, his gun aimed right at her. Niko and Alia jumped back, tripping along the stairs as Jirani towered over them.

“This can’t be happening! How’re there two of ‘em?” Niko said, his body shivering.

Alia jerked his sleeve, her shaky hand pointing behind them. Before their eyes, the Jirani clone rippled and stretched, slowly shifting into Jijikku.

“Oh my God…th-there’s no way,” Niko said.

“I may have made a deal with the devil…but it was worth the price!” Jirani said.

“What did he do?” Alia said, clinging to Niko’s shirt.

“You’ve much to learn about the world!” Jijikku called. “Now get down here; my patience is wearing thin!”

Jirani prodded Niko with the gun. “Enough of this! This is the last time I will see your face, Niko! Go!”

Niko tensely walked down the steps, his hand slipping from Alia’s fingers. Alia looked up at Jirani, her watery eyes shaking. “You heartless bastard! You’re gonna get yours!”

“Shut your mouth, girl. The trouble you’ve caused will never be forgiven! I’m glad you’re not my daughter!”

Niko entered in the ring, where Jijikku stood rigidly, his burgundy cloak flapping with the wind. “It’s now or never.” He grimly stared across the cracked, blood-spattered ring, his clammy body tingling. I don’t even know what to do. This guy’s a monster! The reaper-like Jijikku stepped forward, the clear jewel encased in his scepter shimmering in the light. Niko swallowed. I’m sorry I left, Pop. None of this would be happening.

“We will begin,” Jijikku said, shifting his body and clenching his scepter.

Niko locked his arms, his eyes glued to the robed menace. Jijikku darted across the ring and thrusted his wand over Niko’s head, its heavy shaft clanking down on Niko’s arm. Niko grabbed Jijikku’s arm, yanked him forward and punched him in the face. Jijikku pitched the staff upward, knocking Niko in the chin. Niko bound forward again and nabbed Jijikku’s cane with both hands.

“Impertinent boy!” Niko stomped forward, kicking Jijikku’s gut. Jijikku snarled, his pasty arms trembling as he shoved his cane down on Niko’s chest. On his heels, Niko tripped and tipped over on his back. “Get up!”

“Why don’t you put that thing down and fight fair?” taunted Niko.

“That is what you desire?” Jijikku jeered.

“Yeah,” Niko replied. Jijikku slowly unwrapped his fingers from the scepter, which began to float in midair as the crystal inside cast a gleaming shroud over it. “How’re you doing that if you’re not a magician?” Niko asked.

“I come from a world you could never fathom!” Jijikku raised his arms, forcing the cane to rise high into the air.

“What are you doing?”

“You wish to fight with me hand-to-hand, so I shall accommodate you, but I will keep my scepter out of your reach lest you try anything.”

Niko scowled. “What would I do with it?”

“Enough talk!”

Niko sprinted forward, swinging into a high kick. Jijikku grabbed Niko’s leg and jabbed his ribs. With a growl, Niko shook himself free, booting Jijikku’s hip with his other leg. He glanced up at the mystical wand hovering overhead, its brilliant light shining over the entire ring. Jijikku glided towards Niko, tackling his midsection. Niko staggered aside, picking up speed as he chased the whizzing phantom.

This has to be a dream, Niko thought, his feet sliding along the ground while Jijikku circled around him. He crashed down when Jijikku sped by, his hand running along the dirt. Niko gasped, his hand latching onto a nearby rock. He slowly got up, dust falling from his shirt. Niko’s eyes followed Jijikku as he coasted along. When Jijikku sped past him, Niko quickly heaved the rock at Jijikku, nailing him in the head. Niko dashed over and snatched Jijikku’s cloak, dragging him into his fist. Jijikku flailed his arm, knocking Niko in the back. Niko tripped over himself and yanked off the hood completely, entangling himself within it.

“Vapid human!” Jijikku shouted.

Black, primitive-looking markings and symbols covered Jijikku’s entire pale-toned body. In his early forties, his long face appeared wrought and leathery, his nose wide and stout, with short, greying black hair pulled back. Deep, bruise-like depressions encircled his yellow eyes.

Jijikku flexed his thin arms. “Enough staring, boy.”

Who is this guy? Maybe he is from another world, Niko thought. He shook his head. No, that can’t be right!

Jijikku locked his hands together, emanating with strange, green light.

Niko jerked. He’s about to do somethin’. Looks like he can use magic even without that stick.

A beam of vibrant, pink magic energy shot from Jijikku’s hands, drowning the field in vivid light as Niko leapt away. Niko’s head shot up as he watched the blast crackle into the walls, crumbling them. He tensely stood up, his eyes bulging.

“Our abilities are worlds apart, boy.” Jijikku snickered. “This was never a contest!” A pink shroud formed around Jijikku’s body, lighting the air with a warm, radiant glow.

This can’t be happening! I-I don’t know what to do!

“Away with you!” Jijikku threw out his hands and fired a barrage of multicolored magic beams. Niko cowered under their stifling heat as they closed in on him.

“You are not alone, Niko,” a mysterious voice said to him.

Niko shielded himself, his body suddenly emitting a bright blue light as the energy beams crashed against him. Its piercing light washed over him, its immense force singeing his sleeves. On his knee, Niko thrust his arms out, vaporizing the beams. He fell through the smoke, coughing. Holy shit! What, who was that? No way I could’ve done that!

“Very impressive,” Jirani said, his wide eyes fixed on the ring.

“Preposterous! My magic is perfect! It cannot be repelled by a mere human! Burn in hell!” Jijikku yelled, firing another beam.

Niko threw up his arms. If I can do that again—

His arm warmed rapidly against the magic beam crushing down on him. Niko flung his arm, ricocheting the beam upward right into Jijikku’s scepter. The wand exploded in a carnival of metal shards, showering the field with smoking, charred fragments.

“Impossible! He destroyed my scepter!” Jijikku said, stamping his feet.

Niko looked over his smoky, calloused hand. I don’t know how I did it…

“What the hell are you? No! You-you are nothing!”

Jijikku raced forward, slinging his arms. Niko leaned back and thrust his elbow into Jijikku’s gut, knocking him on his back.

Up on the stairwell, Alia cowered behind a column. “What happened to him?”

“Say you give up,” Niko demanded.

Jijikku shakily got to his feet. “What did you say?”

“You heard me. This whole thing’s pointless.”

“It’s over when I say it is!”

Jijikku closed in, his fists flying. Niko swung around, burying his knee in Jijikku’s gut. As Jijikku fell over, Niko bludgeoned the back of his head, and he collapsed. Niko panted heavily, his legs buckling slightly. Jijikku remained motionless, and Niko plodded out of the ring, wiping his bloody mouth. Alia scurried along the stairs and grabbed his shoulders. “What happened to you out there?”

“What do you mean?” Niko replied.

She glared at him. “There’s no way you could’ve repelled that!”

“I know, but something told me I could. Almost got me though,” Niko said, poking a finger through his charred sleeves. “I’m not tryin’ that again!”

Footsteps clopped behind them, and they turned to the end of the platform, where Jirani stalked nearer, his arm tensely holding his gun. “Y-you…you could not have…!” Jirani roared angrily, heaving his gun through the temple gateway, clacking along the floor inside. His wide eyes shook as he stomped toward them, rolling up his crimson sleeves. “I’ve had it! There’s nothing to hide behind now, Niko!”

Niko held up his fists. “Let’s settle this, then.”

Jirani cackled. “That we will! And I will savor every bit of it! Into the ring!”

Niko took one more look at Alia, her hand clasping his, and quietly stepped down. He fixed his gaze on Jirani as they descended, walking directly alongside the other.

“Whoever that was, we need you again,” Alia whispered.

The two enemies walked into the grainy, rocky arena, arms calmly resting at their sides. A few yards of empty space separated them, their eyes locked together. A nippy breeze blew across the ring, whipping dust along their feet.

“What do you gotta say for yourself?” Niko said, glowering.

“That I was foolish to trust him,” Jirani replied, pointing to Jijikku’s body.

“What the hell happened? Why did you do this?”

“You should have never gotten involved! I am responsible for her! She does not belong here!” Jirani yelled, his arm flailing.

Niko held out his hands. “None of us do! If you hadn’t blindsided me like that—!”

Jirani took a step closer. “You would’ve taken her away and completely fucked up my mission! I cannot go back without her!”

“But she’s nineteen, you can’t just control her like that! Your country’s fucked up! I woulda run off, too!”

Jirani grit his teeth. “You insult my country now? You ignorant…I’ll rip you in half!”

He lunged at Niko, swiping for his neck. Niko caught Jirani’s forearm, grunting as he shoved him off. Jirani pivoted on his heel, thrusting his leg against Niko’s hip. Niko ran towards Jirani, his fist swinging. Jirani swiveled his torso, bashing Niko’s back as he punched. Niko swung around, his other fist banging Jirani’s chest. Niko kicked up his leg, and Jirani tugged his ankle, twisting it fiercely while hurling Niko to the ground. Niko’s hands slapped against the ground as he pushed himself up, limping slightly. Their grunts and roars rang in the air while their swinging limbs crashed into one another. Niko and Jirani’s bodies buckled and swayed during their fierce exchanges; their joints cracked under crushing blows, sweat dribbling from their heads and necks as their swift-moving feet scraped along the rock. Niko’s leg banged into Jirani’s gut, and he collapsed as Jirani spun around and hammered him in the back with his fists like a sledgehammer. Jirani shifted around the ground, performing spinning kicks like a dancer leaping across a stage.

Now I see why Alia’s so tough, Niko thought.

When Jirani’s feet touched the ground, Niko swept his leg and tripped him off balance, then slammed his heel into Jirani’s chin. Dazed, Jirani tugged Niko’s sleeve and dragged him down with him, tightly squeezing Niko’s other arm. He shoved his knee into Niko’s belly and struck him over the head. Niko dropped to his knees, groaning in pain. While Jirani towered over him, Niko tightened his arm and plunged his fist into Jirani’s stomach, ruthlessly pounding his bruised abs. Jirani fell on his side, the warm taste of blood spatters tickling his lip. He pounced at Niko, trapping him in a headlock. Writhing to escape, Niko stomped down on Jirani’s feet, temporarily pinning him down. Niko sucked in a deep breath, his bruised face reddening as he hunched forward and slung Jirani over his shoulder.

Jirani tumbled away while Niko slouched over, gasping for breath. Jirani removed his black vest and crimson undershirt, the bolted after Niko, swiping his hands like claws. Niko’s head jerked as Jirani’s hard knuckles dug into his cheeks, his mouth streaked with blood as he staggered away. Niko’s posture drooped as his blistered feet dragged across the ground, his head thumping with pain. C’mon…fight it. Jirani's foot suddenly bashed Niko’s chin and he dropped to his knees, hands pressed against his forehead. Why’s this keep happening?

Jirani stomped onto Niko’s back, laughing. “This is the end!” He shoved Niko’s face into the ground and jerked his ankle with the other hand. Niko thrashed furiously, screaming and grunting. His cheeks scraped along the ground as he turned, his eyes peering behind him. Niko snatched Jirani’s arm and twisted while Jirani bent Niko’s leg up over his backside. Jirani punched Niko’s backside and smashed his face into the rock. Niko yanked Jirani’s arm from beneath him and crawled away, only to be ensnared by Jirani’s legs.

It’s gettin’ worse, Niko thought. I can’t beat him like this!