Black Sun: Evening

Part 1
Hell, Limbo.

The crimson sky with nary a cloud obscuring its ominous glow loomed high above the metropolis below; countless white blocks of dilapidated buildings and blue alleys constituting the City of the Damned, suspended over a seemingly bottomless abyss. The hot, sultry air was filled with the scent of despair. Howls and groans of the suffering were drowning the city in a perpetual cacophony of madness.

However, there was a single individual pacing casually through one of the paths with measured steps. Clad in black robes with cape and a hood concealing their face, the figure appeared completely unperturbed by the widespread insanity that surrounded them. Suddenly, the individual halted and took off the hood, revealing his face.

"Quit your yammering!", screamed Hikari Maebure at a nearby group of Sinners. "Seriously, it's unbearable!"

There was no direct response, only even more moans and wails. The Togabito did not seem to even notice him. Hikari slowly shook his head and simply resumed his travel. He had a very specific goal to accomplish in this pit of insanity, and then he could return to his agreeably isolated refuge.

It did not take much time for him to finally detect his target; he seemed a shining lantern of burning amongst the sea of fireflies the other nearby Sinners were. Maebure would have used to close the distance much faster, but that would not have looked appropriately dignified.

At last, he approached another group of Togabito perched on one of the cracking, worn-down blocks. There were about dozen emaciated entities there, and only one tall and imposingly muscular.

Bingo.

"Pardon my intrusion", said Hikari in a raised voice, a smirk lingering on his otherwise indifferent face. "It seems you're conducting a training session."

He immediately drew the attention of the Togabito. The slender wretches who had been pretending to train martial arts cringed and retreated slightly at his sight. Only their apparent master remained unfazed, and looked at him with easily visible frustration.

"Aahn? What the Hell do you want!?", grumbled Ira. "You wanna fight or somethin', eh?"

The walked several steps toward Maebure, but then stopped abruptly and his face expression changed. This time the Tsumikami could not help himself but smile.

"You... you're Hikari Maebure!", shouted Ira, pointing his clawed index finger at the man in an accusing manner. "I've heard the rumours, but don't think you can simply barge in and boss everyone around!"

"I'm glad that even the likes of you are aware of my reputation", replied Hikari calmly.

The Hollow's yellow eyes glowed menacingly.

"The likes of me!? Whaddaya mean, dickhead!?"

"Apparently, you're training your own followers", remarked Maebure whilst taking a brief glance at the trembling Togabito beside Ira. "How adorable. But, explain one thing: I know you've been assigned to the Fifth Circle, so why are up here?", continued the Tsumikami with his head slightly tilted to one side.

Ira clenched his lifted fists and ground his sharp teeth.

"I'll conquer Hell, Circle after Circle, and become the Lord of Hell!", he yelled at Maebure. "I've come here so I can start from the beginning!"

Hikari raised an eyebrow in an expression of mild surprise.

"Surprisingly logical for someone of your... intelligence", he commented. "However, I think there's another reason for that: you've been scared by those who dwell below", he added with an ominous smile.

The Vasto Lorde widened his eyes. Subsequently, veins bulged out on his massive, flexed muscles, and the Hollow leapt forward. He landed heavily a couple of metres in front of the Tsumikami and looked him furiously into the eyes.

"How dare you... mock me... like this!", he seethed. "Die!"

One of his bulky fists burst forth abruptly. Although, it met no resistance, as it passed only through the sultry air; Hikari had barely moved, but managed to evade the punch and was now looking at Ira's outstretched hand.

"Anger management issues?", he asked in a malicious manner.

"HAAAARGH!", roared the Vasto Lorde in response.

Then, he turned around rapidly and struck another blow, but missed by an inch again. Several quick hits followed, all of them swiftly dodged by Maebure, who did not seem to require much effort to do that.

"Stop running around!", exclaimed Ira.

All of a sudden, crimson Reiatsu wrapped around his fist. Hikari had narrowed his eyes just before a big projectile of condensed spiritual energy erupted directly into his chest, resulting in a small explosion that briefly concealed both combatants with smoke. Once it subsided, the Hollow found no trace of his enemy.

In the meantime, Maebure reappeared in the air with the faint sound of Shunpo. It took Ira several seconds to realise that, and he turned back quickly afterward.

"You won't simply yell me to death, so how about landing a single blow?", asked Hikari in a slightly condescending tone.

"Damn you!", screamed the Hollow.

This time both of his fists shone with currents of energy. Then, Ira fired one projectile. Maebure evaded it with the use of Shunpo, but the moment he halted after the movement, the second bullet had been already speeding in his direction. Still, he managed to dodge that one as well. The Vasto Lorde continued the barrage of s, some of them colliding with and punching holes in the white blocks surrounding the fighting Sinners.

Suddenly, he lost track of Hikari's movements. He widened his eyes and began looking around hastily, but then something crashed into the back of his head, throwing him off balance. Maebure had jump kicked into him, and even though Ira recovered nearly instantly and reached with his hand to grab the Tsumikami, the man had already relocated with the use of Shunpo.

Right in front of the Hollow.

"", declared Hikari.

Subsequently, his right fist impacted with Ira's oversized chest with force that released a potent shockwave. The Vasto Lorde gasped and then flew backward with speed of a bullet, ending his abrupt flight by crashing into one of the hovering blocks. The prism's force shattered and numerous cracks appeared in its walls, causing the top of the formation to completely crumble.

However, before the ensuing cloud of dust had time to spread, it had been swiftly dispersed by a wave of red Reiatsu. Ira had stood up, and apart from the injury on his chest and several light scratches, he looked extremely infuriated.

"Oh", blurted Maebure, his eyes widened in mild surprise. "I've thoght that would affect you a bit more. Impressive."

"IMPRESS THIS!", roared Ira in response. "Cero Sobrecargada!"

He opened his maw and a swirling sphere of energy proceeded to rapidly accumulate in front of it. Maebure's face expression became serious once the orb increased rapidly, surrounded by electric currents. Then, the attack burst forth in the form of a wide beam of destructive energy.

A hasty incantation resounded within the Tsumikami's mind, finished with a short command.

Hadō #70, Hisame Akahi.

Highly condensed pillar of red flames erupted from his palm and clashed with the Cero fired by Ira. There was a momentary flash, and then a powerful explosion quaked the entire area. The thunderous noise reverberated across the neighbourhood, prompting numerous Togabito to become silent and look anxiously around. A large column of smoke shot upward.

"How do you like that, eh!?", asked the Hollow with a wide grin. "I've got more of...!"

Something emerged from the dust, but too fast for the Vasto Lorde to react. Great pain surged through his body like a bolt of lightning as his right hand was separated from his body in one clean cut. Maebure landed a few metres behind him, his Karadawaru drawn and its ebony blade covered with dark red blood. Ira swayed and took a step forward, whereas Hikari turned around to him.

"Curse... you...", grumbled the Hollow, attempting to close the gaping wound with his remaining hand.

"Excessive power in a clumsy and dull package", remarked Maebure in a grim tone. "You remind me of someone."

Purple aura enveloped the blade of his sabre: Hadō #54,, powered with Naiteki Eishō. Ira noticed it with the corner of his eye and tried to turn rapidly. However, it was too late, and when Hikari swung his Karadawaru, an oblong blast burst forth from its blade and rapidly engulfed the Hollow in incinerating flames.

"I used to be similar you", stated Maebure sternly, watching the Vasto Lorde turn to dust whilst screaming terribly. "That's why I've ended up here."

Soon, there was little left of Ira aside from ash and several fragments of charred bone. After a moment all of it faded away into nothingness. Hikari remained observing that spot for a short period of time, and then turned around. The Togabito followers of the Hollow had been observing him anxiously from a distance, and cringed visibly once he glanced at them. Subsequently, they started running away with great haste.

Maebure lifted his left hand. Then, a single burst of energy directed at them escaped from his palm and a medium-sized explosion followed right afterward. Subsequently, he sheathed his Karadawaru and jumped from the top of the ruined block on the blue alleyway below.

Once he landed softly on its slightly translucent surface, he began walking in a casual pace.