Road

The man standing before Sifa, nearly identical to him, spread his arms like an actor thanking the audience onstage. Then he placed his right hand over his chest and gave a slight bow, a wicked smile curling across his lips. "Road."

"You wanted me to walk a different road from yours—to walk the road you didn't dare take. That was why you gave me this name."

"Well? Do you remember now, Li Zexi?"

Sifa raised a hand and hurled a Fireball. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"

The man who called himself "Road" slightly raised his head. Strange dark-purple flames rose before him, forming a wall of fire that effortlessly blocked Sifa's Fireball.

Then the fire wall parted to either side like a curtain. Road elegantly stepped through it, dark-purple flames surging and condensing in his right hand into a katana identical in shape to Ghost Scream, though it was forged entirely from purple fire.

"You really are forgetful."

"Don't forget who taught those people who humiliated you a lesson. It was me!"

As he spoke, flames flickered beneath Road's feet. In an instant, blazing fire erupted and propelled him into the air. He flipped and shot downward.

Clang!

Ghost Scream left its sheath, barely catching the descending slash in time. But Road's strike was so heavy that Sifa had to lower his center of gravity and bend his legs just to withstand it.

Road smiled and opened his palm toward Sifa. A ball of purple flame danced in his palm. At the very last instant, Sifa tilted his head aside, letting a stream of dark-purple fire graze past his face. He smelled his hair scorching as Road used the blast of flame to retreat. Purple flames surged beneath Road's feet, and he freely adjusted their intensity to