The four marched forward with pride, facing the swarm of seeles ahead.
Itoshi, the man, and Ryujin charged downhill, forming a frontline as they began cutting through the enemies. Ayro remained at the top of the hill, kneeling with both hands pressed into the ground. Shadows spread from his palms, gathering dirt and energy from the earth.
"Immerse."
Ryujin took the lead against the flame-type seeles, striking with fluid, precise movements, dropping them quickly. The man stayed right behind him, matching his pace with ruthless efficiency. Itoshi, however, was struggling.
"What the hell is that strength? I'm already pushing myself to the limit... How are they still so far ahead?"
The man glanced between his teammates as he fought, analyzing them.
"Why the hell are there so many here all of a sudden?.. Where are they coming from? ...Doesn't matter. They're cooked anyway."
He watched Itoshi and Ryujin carefully.
"That flame guy — he's drained. His flames are dimmer than before. Blue flames though... he's not ordinary. Ryujin's different. Young, but fast. He flows with water like it's second nature. He's had a different path... interesting."
Watching closely, he caught the sudden slowdown in Itoshi's strike.
"Oi! Ryujin! Watch that flame guy — he's about to drop!"
Ryujin threw a brief glance his way, then continued slashing through the crowd without a word.
Catching Ryujin's reaction, the man flinched in disbelief.
"W-what the hell? Does this man not care about his men?" he thought.
Itoshi faltered as the Seele advanced, his head turning toward Ayro, who stood atop the hill.
"Oi! Ayro! How long is this gonna take?!"
"I need more time!"
[Ayros Mind]
-Few Minutes Before-
Ryujin: Ok, so here's what we do. We've got four elements against us right now. Meson types are Wind, Flame, and Earth. Then we've got that big dude walking slowly — that Größer is a Water type. Perfect timing, right?
He paused, taking a breath,
"Thankfully, the Wind, Flame, and Earth seeles are approaching from different directions: left, right, and center. So we'll each take on the ones we're best against."
Itoshi scratched his chin, as he completed the puzzle.
"So me, left?"
The hooded stranger followed.
"Me, right."
Ryujin nods in agreement as he continued,
"Exactly. I'll take the center — the flame ones. Meanwhile, Ayro, you stay up here and absorb as much sand as possible."
"Ok, I get what you mean."
Ryujin: The three of us are going to clear a path. We hold them off and carve out an opening while Ayro gathers enough material. Once he's ready, we aim everything at that Größer. If we take it down, the other seeles will scatter.
The Man, Ayro, Itoshi: Got it!
[4:45am]
"Not yet..."
Ayro thought to himself.
The three were still holding off the seeles as Ayro continued to absorb sand. Suddenly, the Größer als Männer class seele made its move—it started running straight towards Ayro, as if it sensed what he was preparing.
"He's coming."
The Größer knocked some of the flame-type seeles aside as it charged forward.
Sensing the move of the beast, Ryujin squinted his eyes. Trying to get a better shot of the seele barreling towards them.
"He's on the move!"
It headed toward Ryujin, the closest target. Its mouth opened wide, screeching as it lunged to devour him. Ryujin barely dodged in time.
"What the hell!! This is not Attack on Titan!"
The seele crashed headfirst into the ground. Its massive head got stuck. It took three heavy attempts to wrench itself free while Ryujin simply stood there, staring.
"Things just got complicated..."
Itoshi: Shit!!
Ryujin snapped his head toward Itoshi.
Itoshi was overwhelmed—wind-type seeles were piling on him fast.
"Why is there no flame coming out!?"
Ryujin's eyes widened, catching the sharp panic flashing across Itoshi's face. The boy's hand trembled, blue sparks flickering but refusing to ignite. His flame—his very lifeline—wouldn't come out.
"Itoshi! Watch out!!"
Itoshi gritted his teeth, out of frustration and nervousness.
"COME OUT, DAMN YOU!!"
A seele leapt on Itoshi's head, slamming him into the ground. More followed, dogpiling him. Without hesitation, Ryujin dashed in, spear in hand.
"Fuck. It's a horrible time for a burnout. I made him fight for too long."
With one clean sweep, he knocked the seeles off Itoshi.
"Itoshi! Get back for now!"
He ordered, turning back to Itoshi.
As Itoshi sat on the dirt, his chest heaving, he lifted his eyes toward Ryujin.
"You can't beat them!"
"I'll find a way!!"
Itoshi waved his right hand, forcing it through the air with grit, determined to prove himself.
"No! I must do it! I must prove myself!"
Ryujin looked at him—saw the fire in his eyes—and sighed.
"...Okay. Prove yourself."
Itoshi scrambled to his feet as Ryujin turned back to the battle. Seeles had already advanced again, reclaiming lost ground. The Größer was gone.
Ryujin's eyes scanned the field, searching for the blue beast.
"Where did that Größer go?"
From a distance, the man watched Itoshi and Ryujin.
"I'm getting distracted..."
Ayro: Itoshi is in trouble. I gotta hurry...
Suddenly, the Größer als Männer leapt—landing behind Ayro. It cast a towering shadow, blocking out the full moon's glow.
His eyes widened but he did not flinch, nor did it tremble.
"Tsk. Not yet."
The creature screeched and swung at Ayro with its massive claw. Ayro dodged but never lifted his left hand from the ground—it was still absorbing dirt.
They dueled on the hill, Ayro evading each blow with razor focus, all while continuing his absorption.
That night—March 31st, 2169—felt eternal. Every one of them pushed beyond exhaustion. They had never faced odds like this. Yet none of them backed down.
Then finally, Ryujin found the beast.
"It's on Ayro!"
Ryujin made a move to help Ayro but quickly got drawn back in.
"Ryujin! Keep fighting!"
Ayro requested.
Ryujin gasped, turned back, nods, and resumed battling the flame-type seeles.
Itoshi: Ayro needs time. Ryujin!!
Ryujin looked at Itoshi, still fighting but now visibly tired.
"Ever since I used this ability, more and more seeles started showing up. From this island."
Ryujin flinched, tryin to get Itoshi's point.
"Do you mean—"
"Maybe... it attracts them."
He suggested.
Ryujin disagreed.
"You're at your limit, Itoshi!"
"We don't have any other choice!!"
Itoshi argued, still full of determination and fire in his eyes.
Silence fell. Then—
The Squad leader decided.
"...Okay. Do it."
Itoshi retreated, slowing his breath. He took a deep inhale.
"Prominent... Rhythm..."
Gouts of flame burst from his body. A glowing aura flared around him, lighting the battlefield like a beacon. Everything paused—Ryujin, the man, Ayro, even the seeles froze in awe.
But the flame faded just as fast. The intense burst drained Itoshi completely, and he collapsed.
Every seeles' attention snapped to him.
The Größer charged toward Itoshi, claw extended.
But Ryujin intercepted it.
"Your plan definitely distracted him. Hang in there a little longer, Itoshi..."
He thought to himself.
Ryujin clashed with the massive seele—fierce, relentless. But he couldn't hold forever.
The hooded stranger landed beside him, offering cover.
"I'll take the hordes. You focus on that big guy."
"Got it."
They split. Ryujin fought the Größer, while the man defended Itoshi's unconscious body.
As Ryujin dashed towards the beast, He turned his head towards Ayro atop the hill.
"Ayro, how much longer?!"
Ayro: A little bit more!!
Ryujin clicked his tongue.
"Hurry!"
Ayro was drenched in sweat, breath ragged.
"I'm at my limit... tsk..."
Ryujin and the beast clashed, each blow and block bursting with force, spewing air around them. At last, fatigue crept in—his foot slipped. The beast's strike landed, sending him crashing to the ground. Ryujin struggled, trembling, forcing himself to rise.
"DAMN IT!! MOVE YOUR BODY!!"
The Größer loomed over him. Then its eyes twisted... and locked onto the man.
It sprinted toward him.
The man was too slow to dodge. The creature struck. He too fell.
The beast snarled. Slowly turning it's head to Ryujin with a sinister smile etched on its face.
Ryujin: Water...
Ryujin coughed. On one knee, he faced the approaching creature.
"Look at you with that big-ass smile. You seem very happy."
The seele's twisted grin grew.
"Need to make an opening..."
Ryujin thought to himself.
The man began to rise behind the creature. Their eyes met. Ryujin grinned.
"You're gone."
He and the man stood up—wind and water swirling around them—and held off the Größer. The coordinated strike made a perfect opening.
Atop the hill, Ayro finally completed the transformation. His left arm—now a massive cannon-like structure of shadow and stone—locked into place.
He took aim.
And—
To be Continued