Kenny groaned as he struggled to rise, his legs trembling beneath him. Every muscle ached, and yet he forced himself to stand, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Kenny: How… How could this brat have this power? 

He shook his head in disbelief. The power they had been searching for, awakened in a kid like Kato Hamura. As he struggled to come to terms with this, he looked forward and saw Kato walking toward him resolute and unshaken by fear.

Kato’s eyes burned with determination, his body humming with shadow energy more intense than it was a few moments ago. 

Kato: This ends here. I’ll put an end to all this.

Kenny flexed his fingers, forcing a confident grin. 

Kenny: So… you finally want to fight, huh? Fine then… I'll give you one. BRING IT ON, KATO HAMURA!!!

Kato didn’t respond. He merely tightened his grip on the shadow energy coiling around his fists and lunged forward just as Kenny did the same. 

Kenny moved first. His attacks were precise and fast, enhanced by his Body Reinforcement technique. In normal circumstances, this fight would've been difficult for Kato. 

But he saw everything. He could see everything in an almost perfect, torturous slow motion. Each punch, kick, and step that Kenny took was visible to him in its entirety, as if time itself had bowed to his perception.

Kato dodged effortlessly, countering with strikes that forced Kenny backward. The air around them seemed to sizzle from the sheer energy radiating from them as they fought.

Kenny’s grin faltered. 

Kenny: He… So he can… see my moves? All my moves?! 

Kato: [BLACK: SHADOW RUSH]

The shadows coiled tighter around his fist as he struck and he moved so fast that Kenny barely managed to block, as the force rattled his reinforced bones. He staggered backward, eyes wide in shock.

Kenny: Impossible… My body technique is active…! How is he able to inflict damage on me?! 

The answer to that came right away but it was something Kenny didn’t anticipate. 

Kato: [BLACK: BODY REINFORCEMENT] 

Kato wasn't just fighting him, he was using Kenny’s own technique against him. The aura of invincibility that had protected Kenny for so long now became a conduit for Kato’s Shadow energy. Each hit landed harder than before, the impact amplified tenfold.

Kenny froze. His grin faltered, replaced by confusion, and then realization.

Kenny: Wait… The eye allows him to copy technique?! The condition must be that he has to see it first. And all this time… I've been using it foolishly in front of him. Damn it! DAMN IT ALL!!!!!

Kenny smashed the ground in an attempt to make Kato lose his balance and then he tried to land a blow on him but Kato swiftly dodged and jumped out of the way. 

As Kenny began to take in heavy breaths, a memory flashed through his mind on Zero’s words when they had broken Kato out of HFA custody:

"If you sensed something in him back then in that first fight… he could be the one we’ve been looking for. “____” has given us the location of where he is. Would you mind fetching him for me?”

Kenny’s eyes widened

Kenny: Is this what you were talking about, Zero?!

At that moment, Kenny Kentaro realized the boy standing before him was no ordinary Shadow. There was weight to him now, a presence that pressed against everything Kenny thought he knew. He could feel it in his bones that this was the power they had been hunting, condensed into flesh and shadow.

******

Kato continued to press his advantage. Every dodge, every counter, every strike flowed seamlessly, as though the shadows themselves guided him. Kenny’s attacks, once precise and terrifying, now faltered under Kato’s uncanny perception.

Kenny: No… There's no way…. THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING TO LOSE TO YOU!!! 

Kato didn’t answer and then he gathered the shadow energy into his right hand once more.

Kato: [BLACK: SHADOW RUSH]

Kato unleashed the move with everything he had left. Shadow energy erupted from him like a storm, a torrent of force that collided with Kenny. The impact sent shockwaves through the forest, toppling trees and shattering the earth. Kenny was hurled backward, landing hard, as the energy dissipated around him.

Dust swirled through the air, catching the fading light. Kato stood, panting heavily, his body trembling. Slowly, the markings around his right eye faded, along with the vivid lavender glow that had burned there moments before.

He glanced down at his fists and saw they were bleeding through the bandages again. His vision blurred, dark spots dancing at the edges.

Kato: Damn it… I used too much energy.

His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. The last attack had drained him completely, leaving his body weak and unresponsive.

As he lay there, barely conscious, he noticed a figure approaching. Kato’s eyes widened in terror as the silhouette drew closer.

Kenny: You thought you defeated me?! No… I’ll never lose to the likes of you! NEVER!! Now come along. There’s someone very interested in meeting you.

Kato was too exhausted to resist. Kenny grabbed him by the collar, dragging him across the ground with ease as Kato’s arms barely lifted. Pain and fatigue clouded his every thought.

Then Kenny stiffened. He sensed another presence behind him.

Arou: Hey. You mind letting go of him?

Kenny froze for a moment before turning to see who had spoken and immediately met a fist flying straight at his face.

Arou: [BLACK: SHADOW RUSH]

The blow connected with devastating force, slamming Kenny into the ground, knocking him out instantly. Arou’s fist remained raised as he stood over him, the power of the strike still palpable in the air.

Arou: I warned you, didn’t I?

He quickly turned to Kato, only to realize the boy had already succumbed to exhaustion, fallen into a deep sleep from overexerting his Shadow energy.

Arou: He’s asleep?