In a valley shrouded in ash and despair, remnants of a once-thriving forest lay scattered and broken. The trees, now mere stumps and charred remains, reached towards the sky like desperate hands grasping for salvation, while the ground was littered with the remnants of what used to be a sanctuary of life. Birds had long abandoned their nests, and the only sounds that disturbed the eerie silence were the echoing crackle of burnt foliage and the distant rumble of clouds gathering overhead. Noctis Lucis Caelum stood at the edge of the devastation, black hair blowing in the cold wind, the red glow in his blue eyes flickering with discontent. He was dressed in his signature black attire, and despite the chaos around him, there was a calmness in his demeanor – almost as if he were still half-asleep, eyes dimmed by the remnants of a video game he had just conquered in his mind. "Is this really your doing?" he muttered to no one, as he surveyed the destruction. His heart felt heavy. This was Lucis, his homeland. Who would dare render such calamity? From the shadows emerged Akaza, his pink hair contrasting with the bleak surroundings, eyes swirling like the storm clouds above. Stubborn and headstrong, Akaza's demeanor was a stark contrast to Noctis's lackadaisical nature. He stalked toward Noctis, feeling the anger and battle-crazed energy pulsating through him. "You! You think you’re the one to question me?" Akaza sneered, body bursting with dominion. His position in the Twelve Kizuki granted him exceptional power, and he surely did not fear this young prince. “What’s your deal?” Noctis replied, stretching as if he’d just woken up from a nap. “I didn’t do this. But, I guess it doesn't really matter who did, right?” He casually summoning the Engine Blade, a weapon that shimmered with royal heritage. The tension in the air grew thicker as Akaza advanced, fists clenched, showcasing his martial prowess. "If you didn’t do this, then you’ll have to pay for it nonetheless," he rebuffed, demon aura radiating off him like steam from an erupting volcano. His blood demon art, Destructive Death, crackled with energy, ready to tear through the remnants of the forest. “Let’s find out who’s really responsible, shall we?” Noctis replied, his voice steady. He shifted his stance, legs subtly bent as he prepared for what was to come. The moment hung heavily, seconds stretching infinitely. Akaza broke the stalemate first. He lunged forward, propelled by the very essence of rage. His fists, imbued with the raw force of Soryu Style, moved faster than the eye could see, aiming for Noctis’s face—this demon was no fool; he aimed for a quick knockout. But Noctis was quicker. With a flick of his wrist, he phase-shifted to the side, narrowly dodging the attack. The ground where he stood moments before shattered under the force of Akaza's punch, shockwaves rippling outward. “Not bad, demon, but try a little harder!” Noctis taunted, whipping around and slashing with the Engine Blade, leaving a trail of shimmering light. Akaza’s reflexes kicked in. He weaved left, dodging deftly once again. This time, he responded with his own blood demon art. “Destructive Death!” His fist smashed into the ground, releasing a surge of shockwaves that rippled through the air, aimed at Noctis with ruthless precision. Noctis stood firm, summoning the royal power within him. He activated Armiger, binding his weapons with limitless potential. In an elegant fluidity, he called upon his royal arms, the air around him shimmering with ethereal energy as multiple swords floated around him. “Let’s see your shockwaves withstand this!” he roared, swinging his blade forward. The swords careened at Akaza like falling meteors, each ready to cleave through darkness itself. With his tactical intellect, Akaza calculated his next move. The shockwave he released earlier intensified as he pivoted, pushing against the incoming barrage with his unyielding endurance. “You think those toys scare me?” Akaza bellowed, charging through the oncoming blades, the impact creating a whirlwind of debris as he shattered through their onslaught. The dust settled, and as it parted, there Akaza stood, his body not only intact but invigorated, seemingly unharmed—a testament to his immense regeneration. “Is that all you’ve got, prince?” Noctis took a moment. The resilience of this demon posed unexpected challenges, and it was crystal clear that holding back wasn’t an option. “Time to up the ante!” he shouted, unleashing more of his abilities, weapons dancing around him with a ferocity that was palpable. With precise movements, he weaved in and out of Akaza’s strikes, creating openings for deadly counters. Akaza’s strikes were relentless, but Noctis had the grace of a king—his footwork was fluid and dynamic. He constantly kept moving, never allowing Akaza a moment to breathe. With swiftness, he summoned a polearm, spinning and slashing with unconventional angles. Each weapon in his arsenal told a different story of strength and skill. When he went for a thrust, Akaza sidestepped gracefully, positioning himself for a counter. But Noctis was adaptable. He ducked at the last moment and pivoted, sending the polearm swinging arc-style against Akaza’s exposed flank. The strike landed, drawing blood, yet it only fueled Akaza’s bloodlust further. “Now I’m getting excited!” Akaza roared, the wound revitalizing his fervor as he unleashed a flurry of punches near impossible to track. But Noctis was learning; he used his royal arms’ power and summoned the Sword of the Father. The air thickened with powerful magic as Noctis gathered energy, feeling the bond of his ancestry rushing through him. “Enough games, let’s end this!” he shouted, feeling the raw power surge as he swung the sword downwards, creating a rift in the air. With the force of a thunderstorm, the attack surged forward, aiming to obliterate everything in its path. Akaza, sensing the rising intensity, braced himself. “I won’t go down easily!” he growled, his eyes narrowing as he activated his full abilities. His own power flared as he summoned a shockwave to collide with the surge from Noctis. The clash of forces erupted in a colossal explosion of energy, sending shockwaves reverberating through the ruined landscape. Debris flew in all directions, and remnants of trees that dared remain were uprooted, turning to splinters. As the smoke began to clear and visibility returned, both fighters appeared, breathing heavily, bodies covered in scars of battle. But Akaza stood somewhat adorned with an insatiable vigor that only he could possess as a demon. “You… are strong, prince,” Akaza begrudgingly admitted, wiping the blood from his mouth. “But I’m far from done!” The clash had not dimmed his spirit; if anything, it reignited his desire for destruction. With newfound ferocity, he unleashed his technique development, transforming into a whirlwind of fists, a storm of unrelenting strikes aimed resolutely at Noctis’s weakened state. Noctis sensed the shift. He could feel the exhaustion creeping in, but he wasn’t going to yield that easily. “Let’s see how you handle my king’s power!” he yelled, invoking the essence of Lumina, focusing all his energy, feeling the resonating bond with his ancestors. In one fluid movement, he telescoped into his last resort, rifting between dimensions in a blinding flash—the Engine Blade now adorned with mesmerizing luminescence, glowing with primal energy as he prepared his final attack, ready to cleave, ready to win. With one gallant step, he charged forward, the battlefield collapsing into chaos as he struck with unparalleled intensity, unleashing a flurry of strikes, echoing as twin energies clashed, twisted by history and reluctance. The decisive moment teetered before both fighters, and as the mightiest clash culminated, their fates unfurled like the blossoming of a dark flower. Fire and wind gusted as Akaza's instincts kicked in, sensing danger and amplifying his own speed, aiming to outmaneuver. Then it happened—a moment where time froze. Akaza, driven by zeal and hunger, charged forward. Noctis, embodying royal legacy and prowess, clashed against the demon. Their wills locked in battle, both vying for supremacy, yet destiny had its own rhythm. The battle concluded, each exhausted but standing. Their weary eyes locked; both were formidable in their realms. But there could only emerge one victor in this tale of chaos. Winner: Noctis Lucis Caelum Noctis exhibited unparalleled adaptability and strategic finesse, using royal power in coordination with his Armiger, ultimately overwhelming Akaza’s relentless brute force with unwavering finesse and innate strength. The demon’s courage was undeniable, but in the end, the prince’s connection to his ancestry, skill with various weapons, and tactical intellect eclipsed the sheer might of the upper-rank demon.