One Bright Light || Episode 3 "Black Draft"

  Denji felt a surge of adrenaline as he sensed the ice chains materializing out of thin air, connecting seamlessly to Lex's cleavers. The sound of his scarf—a writhing chain of black steel with razor-sharp teeth—clinked and rattled against the thick, black armor-like skin enveloping him. His chainsaws growled with a low, menacing hum, their serrated edges glowing faintly with an infernal orange hue. The atmosphere buzzed with quiet intensity, the air itself electrified by the sheer exhilaration of his new form.

  Thick, black armor-like plates encased his body, shimmering like polished obsidian under the dim, flickering light. His head had transformed into a jagged, grotesque chainsaw, its angular, macabre design forged from black steel that hissed with bursts of steam, radiating blistering heat. The chainsaws sprouting from his arms and head pulsed with raw, predatory energy, their serrated teeth whirring with an almost hungry fervor.

  Steam vents across his body expelled bursts of scalding vapor, as though releasing his pent-up rage in heated exhalations. Coiled chains wrapped around his neck like a living scarf, their razor-sharp teeth glinting dangerously with each subtle movement. The faint clinking of metal and the relentless hum of the chainsaws created an otherworldly symphony—a sound that was both eerie and exhilarating, perfectly encapsulating the chaotic energy of his form.

  Lex stood dumbfounded, his wide-eyed expression betraying his shock at Denji's new form. It was a drastic transformation, far more imposing and monstrous than the form Denji had wielded mere minutes ago. The sheer absurdity of such a radical change—both in appearance and power—hit Lex all at once, and he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, his laughter echoing with a mix of awe and disbelief. Whatever this "Chainsaw Man" was, it was undeniably incredible. Lex couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement at the thought of battling such a towering beast.

  With an easy grip on the ice chains, Lex swung his cleavers with practiced precision, the blades cutting through the air in smooth arcs. The sunlight glinted off their edges as he twirled them effortlessly before catching them and settling into a combat stance. Across from him, Denji grinned, his jagged teeth gleaming as he mirrored the gesture, planting his feet and preparing to strike.

  Denji wasn’t entirely sure how strong Lex was—he’d just met the guy, after all—but something about the confident swagger and skillful handling of the cleavers told him this "pretty boy" wasn’t weak. Far from it.

  The crunch of boots on rough ice echoed faintly as a sudden blizzard engulfed the battlefield, snowflakes swirling in chaotic patterns. The wind howled, and visibility diminished as the storm grew thicker and fiercer by the second. Denji and Lex stood at a distance, their gazes locked, both waiting for the other to make the first move. The faint glow of Denji's fiery orange eyes cut through the white haze like smoldering embers, giving his towering form an ominous presence.

  Denji’s eyes narrowed as he studied Lex, who stood calmly amidst the storm, his dark figure barely visible through the snow. Something was off. Denji blinked in realization—one of Lex’s cleavers had vanished. A smug grin crept onto Lex's face as he yanked on an ice chain in his hand. Instinctively, Denji dodged to the side—only to realize he had dodged... nothing?

  “What the hell?” Denji muttered, momentarily thrown off.

  Before he could process, a sharp whistling cut through the air. Lex had flung his cleaver at blinding speed, the weapon slicing through the blizzard like a bolt of ice-cold death. Denji barely managed to block it, the impact sending a jarring vibration through his chainsaws. The sheer force of the strike staggered him, and for a moment, he struggled to hold his ground.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Denji caught a glimmer of light not far away—another cleaver. Lex had already set his next move into motion. With a feral grin, Denji braced himself as the second cleaver came crashing toward him. He raised his chainsaws to intercept, and the clash sent sparks flying. The powerful strike overwhelmed him momentarily, forcing him to step back. His chainsaws groaned under the pressure, cracks forming along their jagged teeth. Some teeth shattered entirely, breaking loose from the blades—but to Denji’s surprise, they regenerated almost instantly, knitting themselves back together with unnatural ease.

  Denji glanced at his chainsaws, momentarily impressed. “Not bad... I like this,” he muttered, his smirk returning as he turned his attention back to Lex.

  Lex, still holding one of the ice chains, smiled faintly as he watched Denji regain his footing. “Getting the hang of it?”

  Denji’s grin widened, his confidence practically radiating from him. He stood taller, both literally and figuratively, the towering beast that was Chainsaw Man ready to strike. “Got the hang of it? Fuck yeah, I did!”

  Lex chuckled, his icy breath visible in the cold air. “There we go,” he said, his smile curling into something more playful. “Show off some confidence. It’s no fun without it.”

  The tension between them crackled like static, the blizzard around them whipping into a frenzy as the battle was far from over.

  Lex began to circle around Denji, his movements deliberate yet playful, the grin on his face betraying his enjoyment of the hunt. Of course, Denji wasn’t the type to play the prey. He mirrored Lex, matching his circling steps, his chainsaws revving louder, the screeching growl echoing through the snow-filled air.

  Lex, ever playful, twisted and twirled his cleaver connected to the ice chains, spinning it around his body with effortless precision. The blade’s sharp edge skimmed the ground in dangerously close arcs, kicking up small sprays of ice. The ice chains coiled and uncoiled around him like living serpents, allowing the cleavers to swing behind him before returning in swift, lethal spins.

  Denji’s fiery orange eyes narrowed as he analyzed Lex’s movements, the blizzard whipping fiercely around them. “This guy’s a tricky bastard,” Denji muttered, the grinding growl of his chainsaws growing louder as if in agreement. The snowstorm wasn’t just annoying; it was killing his visibility and making the fight harder. Then, a thought struck him. Those damn chains. If I break them, he’s got nothing. I can win this. Hell, I WILL win this.

  A wild grin split Denji’s face as his chainsaws roared to life, spinning faster, louder, hotter. The snow melted in bursts around him, the intense heat from his form clashing against the biting cold of the blizzard. Without hesitation, he charged, his towering, armored form barreling toward Lex like a living juggernaut.

  Lex ducked under Denji’s first swipe with ease, the chainsaw whistling inches above his head. Denji snarled, following up with a brutal knee strike aimed at Lex’s ribs, but the ice devil hunter rolled effortlessly to the side, moving like liquid in the snow. With a swift motion, Lex hurled one of his cleavers, the blade cutting through the air with incredible speed.

  “Heh, got you now!” Denji barked, confident he’d closed the gap. His chainsaws revved to maximum speed as he lunged, bringing them down in a devastating vertical slash. The ground trembled as his chainsaws tore through the frozen earth, sending shards of ice and dirt flying into the storm.

  But Lex was gone.

  Denji’s eyes widened in surprise, his predatory grin faltering for a split second. Lex had dodged—not just dodged, but executed a series of backflips that were almost theatrical, each one as smooth and precise as if he were showing off. The memory of their earlier race flickered in Denji’s mind, fueling his frustration.

  Before Denji could recover, pain lanced through his arm. One of Lex’s cleavers had appeared behind him, its edge slicing through his thick, black armor like a hot knife through butter. Steam hissed from the wound as Denji stumbled back, clutching his arm in surprise and pain. The chainsaws on his forearms sputtered briefly, the damage startling him more than he’d expected.

  Denji’s arm regenerated in an instant, the wound sealing itself with a hiss of steam and molten heat. His confidence wavered for just a moment as his fiery orange eyes scanned the swirling blizzard. Dark, shifting shadows danced within the storm, their rectangular shapes flickering ominously like specters of steel. The biting cold stung at him, but Denji wasn’t about to back down. He still had a shot—break those damn chains, and Lex would lose his edge.

  With that thought fueling his resolve, Denji charged forward, his chainsaws roaring to life, their vicious teeth spinning faster as they carved through the icy air. Lex, ever composed and playful, hurled both cleavers toward him.

  Clang! Clang!

  Denji swiped them aside one by one, the force of his chainsaws deflecting the blades. The sound of ice chains clinking against his black, armor-like skin filled the air, but Lex didn’t stop. He kept throwing his cleavers relentlessly, the blades arcing back to his hands in perfect synchronization.

  Every time Denji blocked one, it returned faster than he could react, forcing him to keep up an exhausting defense. The cleavers moved with an almost supernatural speed, leaving him no room to counterattack. Denji gritted his teeth, his frustration building. He needed to cut those chains—now—or he was doomed.

  Thinking fast, Denji ducked low as a cleaver whizzed past, the chain rattling just above his head. In a sudden burst of instinct, he grabbed hold of the ice chain with his clawed hand and yanked it hard. The force sent Lex hurtling toward him, closing the distance in an instant.

  “Heh, gotcha now!” Denji growled, his voice brimming with wild confidence.

  With a mighty leap, Denji launched himself toward Lex, his chainsaws ready to shred him midair. But just as he closed in, the sound of snapping ice rang out. One of the ice chains broke free from the others, severing the connection. Lex twisted in midair, effortlessly dodging Denji’s attack with acrobatic finesse.

  Before Denji could react, Lex landed lightly on Denji’s outstretched arm. With a swift motion, Lex wrapped an ice chain around Denji’s neck, pulling it tight—not enough to choke, but enough to annoy the towering devil hunter.

  “What the hell!, you’re pissing me off!” Denji snarled, his glowing eyes narrowing as he struggled against the chain.

  Using the momentum, Lex yanked Denji downward, sending him crashing onto the rough, frozen ground with a thunderous impact. The weight of Denji’s massive form cracked the ice beneath him, fissures spiderwebbing outward from where he landed.

  Lex quickly jumped back, putting distance between them as Denji’s heavy form began to sink into the fractured ice.

  Steam hissed from Denji’s body as he lay submerged, the blizzard around them howling louder. The tension in the air was electric, both fighters bracing for the next clash.

  The roar of Denji’s chainsaws echoed even underwater, their relentless teeth slicing through the frigid depths with ease. His glowing orange eyes burned like beacons, piercing through the murky cold. The thick black scarf of chains wrapped around his neck flowed ominously, trailing behind him as he sank lower into the abyss.

  As his feet touches the sea floor Denji crouched, coiling his powerful legs, the ground beneath him trembling from the tension. Then, with explosive force, he launched himself upward, shattering the seafloor in his wake. He broke the surface with a violent spray of water, landing in the middle of the icy battlefield. The blizzard’s chill stung against his wet armor, but he didn’t care. His focus was locked on the fight.

  Suddenly, a cleaver came hurtling out of nowhere, its sharp edge catching him off guard. It smashed into the chainsaw on his head with a deafening clang, the force twisting Denji’s head slightly to the side. For a moment, steam hissed from the damaged saw, but Denji’s fiery gaze snapped back in the direction of the attack.

  There—Lex stood at a distance, smiling that infuriating grin of his.

  Denji snarled and charged, his chainsaws revving louder with every step. Another cleaver came flying toward him, but this time, Denji sidestepped it with ease, his movements more fluid and aggressive.

  Lex’s grin widened. He bolted forward, closing the gap between them in seconds. As Denji prepared to strike, he noticed something unusual—the cleavers Lex had thrown were now using the emerging ice pillars to wrap and redirect themselves, aiming straight for Denji’s blind spot.

  However, the maneuver came at a cost. The cleaver, slowed by its trajectory giving Denji enough time to block. With a loud clash of metal, His chainsaw arm intercepted the blade with a metallic screech, shoving it aside before swiping at Lex with his other arm.

  But Lex was ready. One of his cleavers swung back just in time to intercept the attack. The force shattered Denji’s chainsaw arm, jagged teeth flying into the air with a spray of sparks.

  "Tch, like that matters,” Denji growled, gritting his teeth. With his chainsaw broken, but despite that he continues his attack as he cocked back his fist and threw a punch instead.

  Lex sidestepped the blow with a fluid twist, his remaining cleaver whirling around Denji, the ice chains spiraling with precision. The shattered chainsaw was already repairing itself, but Denji didn’t wait. He grabbed the chain of the same cleaver that broke his chainsaw in mid-air, stopping it from wrapping around him, and hurled it back at Lex with raw strength.

  The thrown cleaver flew off course, its trajectory wild and imprecise. Lex didn’t even bother dodging. He smirked, yanking on the chain to recall it, though it would take a few crucial seconds to return.

  In the meantime, Denji pressed his advantage. He lunged, unleashing a relentless barrage of chainsaw strikes with his repaired arm. Sparks erupted as Lex used his remaining cleaver to parry the assault, the spinning blade barely keeping up. The cleaver's ice chain whipped around Lex’s body with near-perfect precision, moving like a shield to block Denji’s attacks.

  Lex stepped back in rhythm with each clash, trying to create distance. Sparks flew, jagged teeth ground against tempered steel, and the air filled with the shriek of metal grinding on metal.

  Finally, the cleaver Lex had recalled snapped back into his hand. Without hesitation, he slashed at Denji in a rapid counterattack. Denji managed to dodge most of the strike, but not all of it—the blade carved a shallow gash across his chest, sending droplets of blood sizzling onto the frozen ground.

  Denji staggered back, his glowing orange eyes narrowing as he glared at Lex. His chest rose and fell heavily, steam pouring from his armor. The wound wasn’t deep, but it stung enough to ignite his fury.

  Denji felt a surge deep within him, a pulse that made the blood in his veins rush faster. His chainsaws roared to life, spinning with a vicious intensity as time seemed to slow around him. His vision sharpened, and in that split second, he saw Lex standing there, a grin still playing on his lips, completely unaware of the attack coming his way.

  With a wide, sweeping motion, Denji unleashed a devastating slash, the chainsaw roaring as it carved through the air with brutal force. The blade met its mark with a sickening rip, catching Lex off guard as it tore through his body, The strike was brutal and unforgiving, tearing through flesh and muscle, sending a spray of blood and bits of frozen ice into the air . Lex’s confident smirk wiped away in an instant as the chainsaw shredded through flesh and bone. The powerful slash left a messy, gruesome wound that screamed of Denji’s unstoppable power.

  But before Lex could be fully cleaved in two, ice shot up from the wound, quickly sealing and patching the damage with unnatural speed. The freezing surface halted Denji’s chainsaw’s progress, but the damage had been done.

  Lex, however, wasn’t done yet. Without missing a beat, Lex’s cleavers came alive. He moved faster than Denji could process, twisting both of his cleavers upside down and slashing them upward in a single fluid motion. The ice chains wrapped around them, pulling them with surgical precision, and Denji barely had time to react before both cleavers struck his arms, severing them cleanly. His chainsaws fell with a heavy thud, sparks flying from the Chainsaw arms hitting ground and sawing thru the thick rough ice.

  Denji stumbled back, but the pain was almost nonexistent. In an instant, Denji’s severed arms began to regenerate, the black armor-like skin mending itself as if nothing had happened. It was like the sensation of pain from his injury was more like an inconvenience rather than an injury. he didnt really have time to watch his arm regrow, as his body healed faster than he’d anticipated.

  Then a realization hit him—something shifted in his mind. His blood. It wasn’t just a source of power; it was his power. If he focused on it, if he channeled it, his strength could grow exponentially. Denji smirked, a spark of realization igniting within him. "Bazinga!" he muttered, the words slipping out like a triumphant exclamation. If I can use this right, I might actually stand a chance. This cocky bastard won’t know what hit him.

  He glanced at Lex, who was already standing tall, the ice sealing his wound dissipating as if it never existed. Denji’s smirk widened as he noticed the ice melting away, revealing the heavy injury beneath. Guess I got a little too serious with that one, Denji mused. Hope he doesn’t mind that.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Lex stood across from him, a few steps back now, his expression unwavering despite the damage.

  Denji’s thoughts raced as he assessed the situation. "I need to win. No matter how much I break his ice, he’ll just fix it. And this damn snow… it’s getting in my way, messing up my vision and making everything harder." He gritted his teeth in frustration, the cold air biting at him like a thousand needles. "If only there was some light or something to melt all this crap..." His eyes flickered, a spark of realization igniting in his mind. "Wait a minute—light! What comes from light? uh Light? wait uh oh Heat! yes Heat!" He almost laughed out loud at his own stupidity for not thinking of it sooner. . "yeah! But can I even do that? Where the hell do I get heat from?"

  Then it hit him—one memory from his past. The old, rusted chainsaw he used to heat up his hut with Pochita. The absurdity of it flooded back, and the faint warmth he once created by sheer desperation. Could he do that again? His heart pounded as he looked at the chainsaw protruding from his head and the two that were now embedded in his arms, their engines still roaring.

  Denji’s mind raced, thinking about the possibility. “Wait... can’t I transfer heat out of my body like... science and shit?” His eyes narrowed as the idea took root. "Yeah, that’s how it works, right? Like... heat transfer, conduction, radiation... all that stuff I’ve never actually thought about before." He scratched his if he could head right now, trying to piece it together, but the concept seemed pretty simple: if heat could be generated, why couldn’t he direct it, control it, push it out like a damn furnace?

  "Well, I won’t know until I try," Denji muttered under his breath with a grin. His blood surged faster, almost instinctively. It wasn’t just the flow of his blood—his body was working overtime, creating a connection between the chainsaw engines and his inner drive. Heat. Heat, he realized, wasn’t just something he could generate from an external source; it was built into his form after all he is a genuise XD.

  A strange, subtle shift began in his body. The chainsaws hummed with power as their engines worked in overdrive. But this time, the energy didn’t stay contained within his body—it began to radiate outward. It wasn’t the usual chainsaw roar that Denji was familiar with, but something new. Like the heat that blasted from ventilation ducts in a cold house, a wave of warmth poured out of him. The cold, biting wind of the blizzard seemed to falter, giving way to rising heat. The chill began to evaporate around him, as steam hissed from his armored skin, the temperature rising in an instant.

  Lex, who had been watching intently, narrowed his eyes. He could feel the change, could see the air thickening with warmth as Denji’s body seemed to glow from within. "What the hell?" he muttered to himself, momentarily thrown off by this unexpected shift. The chainsaw-powered heat that surged from Denji cut through the frozen atmosphere, distorting the snowflakes in mid-air as they fell.

  Denji felt the power coursing through him now—his form radiating heat, sending ripples through the cold battlefield. The chainsaws on his arms and head hummed louder, their engines more intense than ever, releasing more warmth into the air. It wasn’t just a defense against the cold anymore—it was a weapon.

  "Now we’re cooking," Denji said, his grin growing wider. "Let’s see how you handle this, Lex."

  Denji could feel the air shift. The temperature around him fluctuated, his chainsaw engines roaring in overdrive, filling the air with a scorching heat. His body was almost radiating flames now, the cold blizzard no longer an obstacle but a mere background to his newfound power. The heat was intense—like a furnace set loose in the middle of a frozen wasteland.

  Lex, eyes narrowing in disbelief, stepped back, clearly caught off guard. The heat wave distorted the icy battlefield, causing the snowflakes to twist in the air like confused dancers caught in a storm, clearly calculating. The chill had been his ally, keeping his ice creations sharp and relentless. Now, his advantage was slipping away, evaporating into the rising warmth. his usual composure momentarily faltering. The rising heat from Denji was disrupting the carefully controlled blizzard. This wasn’t in the plan—this wasn’t supposed to happen. "How the hell is he creating heat? Isn’t he Chainsaw Man? What part of that screams ‘freakin’ furnace’? Lex thought, his mind racing to adjust to this new threat.

  Still, Lex’s grin quickly returned, his competitive spirit ignited. “Fine then,” he said, his tone playful but laced with challenge. “If you somehow manage to beat me, I’ll... let you take my spot at the H.G.O. Thee Top Two.”

  Denji’s eyes lit up at the proposal, his feral grin widening. “For real?!” he shouted, his excitement surging. “Then it’s a deal! You’re dead meat now!” Without hesitation, Denji launched himself forward with explosive force, the ice beneath his feet shattering under the sheer power of his leap.

  His chainsaws roared, spinning so fast they created a deafening whine, vibrating the air and disrupting the sound barrier. The battlefield shook as Denji barreled toward Lex, .The speed of his charge was astonishing, the raw power behind each step causing cracks to spiderweb across the ice Lex had so carefully laid down. Lex barely had time to react, quickly reinforcing the ground beneath him with thick layers of ice to stabilize his footing. With both cleavers raised, he met Denji’s dual chainsaw strike head-on. The clash was deafening. freight train.

  Denji grinned maniacally, leaning into the attack. The chainsaws’ furious teeth dug deeper, forcing Lex’s cleavers downward slowly inch by inch. Lex gritted his teeth, muscles straining, but it was a losing battle. The reinforced ice beneath him groaned under the pressure, cracks spiderwebbing outward as Denji pushed harder.

  Lex struggled to hold his ground. The strength of the chainsaws was monstrous, the vibration rattling through his arms as the pressure mounted. But the speed, the force, the teeth—it was all too much. Denji’s chainsaws slammed into Lex’s cleavers with a resounding clash, the sheer power of the impact forcing Lex to cover the cleavers with frost to last long as possible. But he struggled to hold his ground, but the relentless whir of the chainsaws, combined with their impossibly sharp teeth, began to eat through the cleavers’ defense like they were paper.

  Then, with a final, crushing roar from Denji’s chainsaws, a sickening crack on Lex’s cleavers shattered, the once formidable weapons reduced to jagged shards in the air. What the remnants of Lex’s cleavers were slammed into the ice below, shattered beyond recognition. Lex was wide open.

  Without hesitation, Denji took full advantage of the opening, With a triumphant roar, his chainsaws now carving into the rough ice beneath them, slicing through it like butter. The ice split apart with ease, and in the blink of an eye, Denji’s chainsaws were arcing upward, aiming straight for Lex. The blades slashed down with a sickening precision, and Lex’s arms were severed in an instant, The gruesome sound of slicing flesh and bone echoed across the battlefield, the shockwave of Denji’s attack sending ice and blood flying.

  But just as quickly as the damage was done, the ice began to reforge itself his body working at a supernatural pace. , crawling up from the severed stumps where Lex’s arms once were. The ice mended the injury with unnerving speed, quickly replacing his limbs.

  Lex’s breath came in sharp gasps as he lifted his head, eyes locked onto Denji with defiance. He wasn't done yet.

  With terrifying speed, Lex formed new ice cleavers. The blades, honed to perfection, shot forward like javelins, each one aimed straight for Denji’s chest. In an instant, Lex lunged with both cleavers raised, the cold gleaming in the dim light.

  Denji’s heart pounded in his chest as he barely reacted in time, his body moving on instinct. The cleavers struck, but something was wrong. The ice suddenly froze mid-stab, the blades lodged into his chest with the force of an avalanche. Denji could feel the coldness of the ice pressing into him, but it didn't stop him

  Denji’s growl was guttural, his eyes burning with an uncontrollable rage as he lowered his head, his chainsaw roaring to life. Without hesitation, he charged at Lex, his body moving with a brutal grace, intent on ending this fight. Lex barely had time to react as Denji's chainsaw sliced through the air with frightening speed. Lex tried to evade, but the black blade of Denji’s chainsaw came too close. It only barely missed Lex’s head, cutting through the air just inches from his skull. However, the chainsaw’s serrated teeth dug into Lex’s shoulder with a sickening sound, severing the flesh with terrifying ease.

  Lex gritted his teeth, trying to pull away, but Denji wasn’t finished. With a wild, unhinged swing, Denji attempted to drive his chainsaw deeper into Lex,

  Lex gritted his teeth, yanking the ice chains with both hands. His cleavers, embedded in Denji, tore free with a sickening squelch, blood spraying through the air as steam hissed from the exposed wounds. With a flick of his wrist, the chains extended, giving his cleavers greater reach. In one fluid motion, Lex swung the nearest cleaver in a wide arc, the blade slicing cleanly through Denji’s head. The blow landed with brutal precision, and Denji staggered as consciousness slipped away.

  The heat radiating from Denji’s body faltered, and Lex wasted no time. Stepping back to a safer distance, he manipulated the ice chains to whip his cleavers with surgical precision. The blades slashed left and right, carving deep gashes into Denji’s arms and torso. Blood, steam, and scalding air burst from the wounds, creating an eerie mist that enveloped the battlefield. Lex pressed his advantage, severing one of Denji’s legs at the knee. The Chainsaw Devil crumpled to the ground in a heap.

  But even in defeat, Denji’s body refused to surrender. His remaining leg dug into the ice, propping him upright as his severed limbs began to regenerate almost instantaneously. In mere seconds, the damage was undone. With a deafening roar, Denji surged back to life, his chainsaws revving violently.

  Lex’s eyes widened as the heat from Denji’s body intensified. Each step Denji took melted the ice beneath him, the cold battlefield transforming into a treacherous arena of slush and water. Lex swung his cleavers again, using the ice chains to control the distance, keeping himself just out of Denji’s immediate reach. But Denji was relentless, swinging his chainsaws with feral abandon.

  The furious assault pushed Lex to his limits. Denji’s chainsaws began to crack under the strain, their teeth snapping off and chains dangling uselessly. Yet with each swing, the blades regenerated instantly, sharper and deadlier than before. The oppressive heat emanating from Denji grew stronger, warping the air and causing Lex’s ice chains to weaken and drip.

  Lex’s advantage was slipping. The heat was relentless, and with a loud metallic clink, the chains connecting his cleavers snapped. His weapons flew out of his hands, clattering onto the melting ice. Desperately, Lex dove for one of the cleavers, rolling to avoid a chainsaw aimed at his back. As he tumbled to his feet, he formed a new ice cleaver in his free hand, the blade gleaming with frost.

  Before Lex could fully recover, Denji was upon him, swinging his chainsaws with a crazed intensity. Lex managed to block the strike, but the sheer force of the impact caused the already weakened ice beneath them to crack and shatter. The frozen ground gave way, revealing the dark, churning sea beneath. Water surged up through the cracks, destabilizing their footing as the once-solid battlefield became a perilous mixture of fractured ice and rising tides.

  Lex’s ice cleavers began to melt under the relentless heat, the frost barely forming fast enough to keep them intact. He gritted his teeth, rapidly reinforcing the blades with fresh ice, but Denji’s attacks were unrelenting. Each block sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, further destabilizing the surface.

  The battle reached a fever pitch as Lex struggled to maintain control. The ground beneath them heaved and swayed, chunks of ice breaking free and drifting in the rising sea. Lex’s movements became more desperate, his ice cleavers barely holding together as the heat threatened to overwhelm him. Yet, even as the battlefield crumbled around them.

  Lex’s ice cleavers clashed violently against Denji’s chainsaws, the force of their strikes causing the sea to shift and swell beneath them. The ice beneath their feet creaked and groaned, giving way to the relentless heat emanating from Denji’s body. As their weapons collided, the temperature skyrocketed, causing the frozen surface to melt rapidly, turning the once solid battleground into a chaotic mass of water and slush. With each impact, the ice splintered, breaking apart and sinking into the rising sea.

  Denji’s brutal, unrelenting swings were met with calculated precision by Lex, who deftly blocked and countered with his ice chains. Yet, the strain of the battle began to show. The heat was too much. Suddenly, Lex’s counterattack landed—a sharp strike that sent Denji reeling. The air around them seemed to ripple as Lex backflipped out of reach, his body moving with the fluid grace of a seasoned fighter.

  In midair, Lex’s ice chains snapped into existence, wrapping around his arms as he swung both cleavers, slicing through the air toward Denji. The chains spun with mesmerizing precision, guiding the blades in a deadly ballet. Denji barely had time to react, but as the cleavers struck his torso, he felt a sharp jolt of pain. Blood spurted from his mouth as the impacts shook the ground beneath him, sending him crashing backward.

  Denji was thrown into the water, submerged as the waves churned violently beneath him. His senses swam in disorientation, his mind struggling to stay focused. Above him, Lex’s ice cleavers hovered like vultures, the glint of their edges catching the dim light. Without warning, they descended, their sharp tips piercing through the water and sinking into Denji’s flesh. One struck his torso, another his head, and more punctured his limbs as they stabbed through his body with unnerving speed and precision.

  Despite the vicious assault, Denji’s body began to heal. The heat radiating from his body was so intense it caused the water to boil around him, sizzling as the ice cleavers began to melt in the scorching heat. His wounds closed rapidly, flesh knitting back together as steam billowed from his form, the water around him turning to vapor. Yet, Lex’s ice chains were relentless. One coiled around Denji’s leg like a serpent, dragging him across the sea floor.

  Denji gritted his teeth, his body lurching with each pull as he was hauled toward the surface. Lex swung his ice chains with fluid speed, pulling Denji from the depths and throwing him high into the air. The force of the motion was so great it sent waves rippling through the water, pushing the surrounding sea into a frenzy.

  As Denji hung in midair, Lex spun his ice chains with grace, new ice cleavers manifesting at the ends of the chains. With a synchronized clink, the connection between his cleavers broke, and they were sent flying toward Denji like missiles. The air was thick with the sound of the cleavers slicing through the air, a deadly arc aimed directly at Denji’s chest.

  Denji’s chainsaws roared to life once more, the sound deafening as he swung them in a wild arc. The cleavers came at him with terrifying speed, but Denji was faster. With a savage cry, he slashed through the air, his chainsaws cutting clean through the cleavers mid-flight, the sound of shattering ice ringing in his ears.

  Denji’s massive form crashed back into the water with a resounding splash. The waves surged outward, creating a violent ripple effect that spread across the sea. His body, now a blur of raw power, thrashed in the water, sending waves crashing against the broken ice around them. The battle raged on, but the ground beneath them was no longer solid—shifting as it becomes unstable.

  The water exploded violently, massive waves surging outward as Denji burst from the depths like a predator leaping to catch its prey. His chainsaw roared with fury, slicing through the air as he swung it down at Lex with relentless force. Lex barely managed to block the strike, ice forming behind him as he flipped backward in a fluid motion. With a deft spin of his ice chains, he hurled his cleavers at Denji, who deflected them mid-swing.

  Denji pressed his assault, the heat radiating from his body intensifying. Each swing of his chainsaw pushed the water back, evaporating the sea around him in bursts of steam. He raised his chainsaw high and smashed it downward, aiming for Lex, but missed as Lex darted to the side with a smooth shadow step. The blade struck the sea floor with a deafening crash, sending shockwaves that pushed the water outward in a massive surge.

  Undeterred, Lex moved like a blur. Five ice cleavers materialized in the freezing air above him, spinning as gravity pulled them downward. With calculated precision, Lex unleashed a flurry of powerful kicks, striking the handles of each cleaver. The blades shot forward like missiles, piercing through Denji’s torso. Blood spattered into the steaming air, but Denji didn’t flinch. The cleavers melted within seconds, the heat from his body reducing them to nothing.

  Denji roared and rushed forward, swinging his chainsaw wildly. Lex ducked and weaved beneath the attacks, his movements smooth and precise. He froze his own arm mid-dodge, the frosty limb glinting as he delivered a gut punch to Denji, the force sending him staggering back. Seizing the moment, Lex froze his leg and struck Denji’s knee with a brutal kick, bending it unnaturally backward.

  Denji let out a guttural growl as his injured leg hit the water, the boiling heat around him instantly evaporating the liquid. His chainsaw roared louder as he slammed it downward toward Lex. Lex rolled away just in time, manifesting his ice chains in the process. The chains whipped through the air with terrifying speed, each strike crashing into Denji’s chainsaw with enough force to send sparks flying. Denji blocked and retaliated, but Lex’s relentless barrage kept him on the defensive.

  The ice cleavers at the ends of the chains struck like a whip, slashing at Denji with incredible speed. The relentless attacks pushed Denji back step by step, even as the ice cleavers and chains melted rapidly under his heat. Lex adjusted his tactics, extending the range of the chains to strike from afar, manifesting fresh cleavers at the ends to maintain the assault.

  One cleaver struck the top of Denji’s chainsaw head with a resounding clang. Denji grimaced, a sharp headache blooming in his mind, but he shook it off, determination burning in his glowing eyes. Planting his foot firmly on the sea floor, he focused his blood, channeling it through his entire body. In an instant, he closed the gap between them, moving faster than Lex could react.

  The heat radiating from Denji was overwhelming now, distorting the air around him. With a deafening roar, he swung all three of his massive chainsaws at once, each strike aimed with deadly precision. Lex reacted on instinct, manifesting his ice cleavers in a desperate attempt to block. Frost covered the blades as Lex reinforced them, but the impact was cataclysmic.

  The clash sent shockwaves rippling through the sea, the force pushing the waves outward in a miniature tsunami. The air sizzled with steam and energy as Denji’s unrelenting assault drove Lex back. The sea itself seemed to recoil from the intensity of their battle, the once-calm waters now a chaotic battlefield.

  As their battle raged on, the air around Lex and Denji crackled with raw power. The moment Lex’s cleavers collided with Denji’s chainsaws, the resulting clash erupted in a violent explosion of energy. The force sent a blast of air that rippled across the sea, sending sprays of water flying in every direction, as if the ocean itself recoiled from the sheer might of their battle.

  But before they could even catch their breath, a loud bang shattered the atmosphere, followed by a sudden flare of dark blue and golden smoke shooting into the sky. Denji’s gaze snapped upward, momentarily distracted. It wasn’t every day you saw a flare shooting up like that. The mood shifted instantly—what had once been a battle of pure adrenaline now came to a screeching halt.

  Denji squinted at the flare, his confusion mirroring the tense silence between them. “Is that a flare?” he muttered, eyes narrowing as he glanced down at Lex, who had frozen in place, his usual grin replaced with an expression of sheer panic.

  "Oh no. Oh no, no, no," Lex stammered, pacing in place on the uneven ground. "I’m gonna get in so much trouble!" His playful demeanor was gone, replaced by a real sense of worry.

  Denji blinked, confused. "Huh? What's going on?" He squinted at the sky, still trying to process the situation and then back at Lex.

  "Denji! That’s a Flare! from the H.G.O" Lex shouted, panic creeping into his voice. "We’ve been caught!"

  Denji’s eyes widened. "Wait, caught?! Oh, crap!" His heart pounded as he imagined the consequences. "Do we get fired for this?!"

  Lex groaned, running a hand through his damp hair. "I won’t, but you might!"

  “What?! I’m the one who’s gonna get in trouble for this? What about you?!" ” Denji gaped, his mind struggling to comprehend the situation.

  Lex winced, holding up his hands defensively. "Look, this fight might be a tiny bit unauthorized," he admitted, "but the H.G.O just set up shop in Japan! If they see us trashing the place, it’s gonna be bad news for their reputation. And, well, you're kinda new, so..."

  Denji’s heart raced, the weight of the moment hitting him like a freight train. “Are you seriously telling me we’re getting in trouble for this?"

  Denji threw his arms up in exasperation. "Oh, great! Of course, it’s on me! Why did we even start this fight?!"

  Lex let out a sheepish chuckle, but it was weak, lacking his usual carefree tone. “Yeah, well… you know, it was pretty awesome, though, right? I mean, come on it was worth it, that was one hell of a fight!”

  Worth it?!” Denji yelled, throwing his arms in the air. “I’m about to lose my job, dude!”

  Lex laughed, but it was nervous now, a forced humor. “Alright, alright, we need to come up with a plan before they show up. You think we can sell this as a training exercise?”

  Denji raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “A training exercise?! What kind of training makes the ocean look like it got nuked?!”

  “The kind that proves you’re ready for anything!” Lex shot back with a grin, trying to lighten the situation. He gestured to the waves crashing around them, their fury growing. “Come on, just play along. We’ll think of something. We always do.”

  Denji let out a frustrated sigh, but he was already resigned to the mess they’d gotten themselves into. They looked toward the horizon as the smoke from the flare slowly began to dissipate. It was clear now—this wasn’t over, not by a long shot. The adrenaline of battle still pulsed through their veins, but reality was coming for them, and it was about to hit hard as the shadow of the ocean water looms over them.

  “Alright, Denji, don—” Lex began, but before he could finish his sentence, the ocean surged violently, reclaiming the land where they stood. In the blink of an eye, a massive wave surged toward them, submerging them beneath the water’s surface.

  One Bright Light || Episode 3 "Black Draft"

  Revamped Black draft! I keep falling asleep while working on the story, and I’ve also been getting distracted by games—my bad! I want to apologize to anyone who’s been waiting for the next episode, and I really appreciate your patience.