The two flames charged towards each other, causing an explosion and rocks started to fly. Both men jumped up. Recca attacked from behind. Kurenai flew in and took the blow. Kurei fell, his mask broke into pieces, his purple flame transformed into a shape of the phoenix. Resshin immediately saw it as the sacred flame. Recca collapsed to the ground.

Kagero saw Resshin flying above Kurei. She gasped - Resshin had chosen Kurei to be the true flame caster! Resshin explained that this was the lonely destiny of Kurei. He was not born evil as the elder had claimed. Instead, the elder was afraid of the power of Kurei's sacred flame. Therefore, Kurei was the true flame caster and Recca would not stand a chance. Kagero saw Resshin's face changed into a human face - Resshin turned out to be Ohka.

However, Recca would not give up no matter how great the odds were. He got up despite the heavy bleedings he had. Yanagi begged for him to stop but Recca would not since this was his destiny. Kurei sent him another wave of flame, knocking Recca down. But Recca crawled back to his feet. Kurei ran up and beats him up, saying that when he was dead, Kagero would forever wander heartbroken and Yanagi would be Mori Kougan's lab rat. Recca fought back. He then took off his cast. The fire dragons questioned his motive because they had vowed to fight for him. Recca thanked them for their offer but this was fight that he had to fight alone. Kurei gave him another fire wave. 

Yanagi fainted, thinking that Recca had been killed. Kurei laughed but stopped at the sight of a glowing figure. Recca had survived the sacred flame! Kurei shot out fireballs but he was too shocked to produce any. He couldn't understand how Recca was able to stand up. Why? Despite the power and strength that Kurei had, why couldn't he protect his loved ones like his mother and Kurenai? Then, it came to the decision that both men had reached to the point where they had exhausted the usage of their flame and decided to settle the fight with their bare fists. From the timer from the scoreboard, the fight had been going on for 30minutes.

Kurei tried to bring Recca down but he kept on getting up. Kurei asked him why did he keep on standing up. Recca replied that he had friends and loved ones who were waiting for him. He would not lived in hatred just as Kurei had been living on. Kurei mocked at Recca's thinking of having friends. Who needed friends? Kurei himself was enough to make him stronger. Both men punched each other till they both fainted.

Neon asked Raiha on what they could do to help Kurei. Every time, they tried to reach out to him, Kurei shut them aside. Raiha believed that one day, Kurei would realise that he needed them. While the Hokages yelled at Recca to get up, Mori Kougan appeared with another Kurei! Mori Kougan was getting impatient and wanted to get Yanagi. Kurei (who had recovered from his fainting) demanded for an explanation for bringing a clone. Mori Kougan replied that unlike him, a clone lacked emotions. Therefore, he would not need Kurei any longer. The Hokages tried to protect Yanagi from the Kurei clone but failed.

Recca became angry and released his flame. Mori Kougan was impressed with his sudden energy but quickly ordered the Kurei clone to finish them off. The clone took off his protective bangles and his flame started to destroyed the whole battle dome. Mori Kougan laughed because if the clone was destroyed in the process, he could always make another one. Recca shielded himself. Kurei tossed Recca his cast, asking him if he wished to get himself killed. Like Recca, Kurei decided to have his own destiny. Somehow, the clone was having problems controlling his power that was getting out of hand. Recca called back the fire dragons who eagerly joined him. Koku told Resshin that both Kurei and Recca were true flame casters.

Both Kurei and Recca combined their flames against the clone. Resshin joined them finally and the clone was destoryed. Mori Kougan was stunned at their strength even though he had created the ultimate clone. Kagero explained that the power of the flame reflected on the mind of the flame casters. She attacked Mori Kougan and rescued Yanagi. The frightened Mori Kougan ran off with Kurei on his heels. The falling clone exploded, setting off some chain reaction. Recca quickly used Madoka to shield the audience.

As Mori Kougan drove off in his car. Kurei appeared, smirking. Mori Kougan ordered his driver to drive him off. The car speeded off, crashed and burst into flames. (Apparently, Kurei could have used one of his illusions.) Back to the battle dome, dust clouds were all over in the interior area of Madoka's barrier, everybody was held in suspense. Soon, the dust cleared, showing Recca. The referees immediately announced the winner of the Urabutousatsoujin was the Hokage.

However, the Hokages knew that this was not the end of their story. Kagero's curse of immorality had not been broken. Kurei and Recca had not settled their fight yet. And someone like Mori Kougan would come after Yanagi. Recca knew it too but he promised to continue to protect Yanagi for as long as he lived.

For now, the story ended with the Hokages watching the colourful fireworks produced by Hanabishi.

(Please read Flame of Recca Manga Book 17 - 33 to know the continuation of the story)

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