Part 1: Aoi Mizuka's Strike (Void Burst)
Upon hearing Hayate Shiro's threat, the Stellar Flow within Aoi Mizuka's body suddenly began to stir in a frenzy. Her deep blue eyes turned darker than ever, and the black linear markings beneath them became starkly prominent against her pale face.
"Wooooooo!!!"
A violent surge of Void Stellar Flow erupted from her body like a tidal wave, causing the ground to tremble visibly. Aoi was no longer even aware of Takuto and Kaori standing beside her. Within her consciousness, nothing remained but a relentless, consuming hatred for The Shadow Syndicate.
Aoi thrust both hands forward toward Hayate.
"Demon's Call...!"
Her voice sounded less like a human and more like the primal cry of a deep shadow. From her palms, dark blue Demon Flames and destructive Power Orbs lunged toward Hayate in a chaotic, high-velocity assault. Simultaneously, jet-black Shadow Chains burst from beneath the earth, seeking to entwine him.
Hayate Shiro, watching the inescapable onslaught, merely maintained a calm, mocking smirk. His eyes sparked with a brilliant yellow lightning.
Hayate: "Your power is strong... but just like a child, you have no control!"
"Raijin no Mai (Lightning God's Dance)!"
Hayate's body seemed to dissolve into yellow sparks, vanishing instantly from the path of Aoi's attack. The Demon Flames she launched lost their target, striking the alley walls and triggering a series of violent explosions.
Hayate moved in a circular blur of yellow electricity around Aoi. While his speed hadn't yet reached the supersonic level, he was far too fast for the average human eye to track. He waited calmly, watching for Aoi's unstable Stellar Flow to begin its inevitable collapse.
"I'll end this... now!" Aoi screamed through gritted teeth.
As she attempted to manifest a massive Shadow Orb, Hayate appeared behind her in a flash.
Hayate: "Is this all the mighty Void Oculus owner is capable of?"
Hayate launched a precision Electric Shock Wave directly into the Stellar Flow Channel on Aoi's back.
(ZAP!!!)
The deep blue light in Aoi Mizuka's eyes flickered and died. Her entire body stiffened from the intense pain before she collapsed to the ground. The side effects of her imperfect Step 2 state—exhaustion and temporary paralysis—overwhelmed her instantly.
Hayate casually gripped the shoulder of the fallen Aoi and turned his gaze toward Takuto and Kaori.
Hayate: "My business here is done. Now, I just need to take this girl with me."
Part 2: Intervention of Phoenix & Aegis
The moment Hayate prepared to carry the fallen Aoi away, Kaori Ichinose broke free from the shock of the initial attack, fueled by a surge of intense fury.
Kaori: "Let her go!"
Shadows of anger flashed in Kaori's eyes. A crimson Stellar Flow (Aegis Boost)—amplified by the presence of the Phoenix Gaze—exploded around her. She lunged toward Hayate like a released arrow, reaching out to reclaim Aoi.
However...
Hayate Shiro didn't even turn his head; he simply gave a cold, mocking smile. A split second before Kaori's fingers could graze his clothes, Hayate vanished into a streak of yellow lightning.
Kaori: "What...!"
Kaori struck only empty air, her momentum causing her to stumble slightly. When she spun around, she saw Hayate standing calmly next to Takuto, with Aoi draped over his shoulder.
Hayate: "Ahem... is that all the speed your power offers? How pathetic," Hayate mocked.
The sight sent a chill down Takuto's spine. While Kaori's lightning speed was enough to decisively defeat ordinary Syndicate agents, Hayate's Electro Flash (Lightning God's Dance) was on an entirely different level.
Inside Takuto's eyes, the Step 1 Crimson Spark was reacting to the red Stellar Flow radiating from Kaori, while simultaneously trying to analyze the intricate patterns of Hayate's yellow energy flow.
'Speed! He's too fast! Even Ichinose-san's pace can't keep up with him!'
Anxiety and anger clouded Takuto's face. Seeing Aoi—the girl he wanted to protect—being captured right in front of him made him feel utterly useless. It was clear that the meager Crimson Spark power he had trained with was nowhere near enough to face an Elite Agent like this.
Hayate, still carrying Aoi, looked at Takuto with a challenging glare.
Hayate: "Well now, little Phoenix Eye. Let's see how you intend to resist."
Hayate: "Is your Phoenix just a tiny spark? Or can you show me something a bit more... burning?"
Hayate's eyes glowed fiercely as yellow lightning began to arc into the surrounding environment.
Part 3: Coordinated Strike of Phoenix and Aegis
Hayate Shiro remained standing with Aoi Mizuka effortlessly slung over his shoulder. He didn't even view Takuto and Kaori as enemies; he looked at them with the patronizing smile one would give to children.
Hayate: "Fine. Little Phoenix Eye... let's see how well you can play along with your girlfriend."
Takuto's crimson eyes focused intensely on how Hayate's yellow energy was flowing. Kaori moved into a ready stance beside Takuto and whispered softly:
Kaori: "Takuto-kun... I'll pin down his movements. Use your power to cover me. We have to strike at the same time!"
Takuto nodded. He immediately unleashed the full extent of The Phoenix Gaze (Crimson Spark). A crimson Stellar Flow aura enveloped his body, significantly enhancing his physical strength and reaction speed.
Takuto: "Ready!"
With the Phoenix Gaze's boost, Kaori transformed into a streak of red lightning. Together with Takuto, they lunged at Hayate. Their Stellar Flows resonated and linked, making their teamwork smoother and more synchronized than ever before.
Hayate seemed momentarily intrigued. He gently set Aoi on the ground and activated Raijin no Mai (Lightning God's Dance), engaging them as if he were merely playing with children.
Takuto threw a high-speed punch reinforced by his red aura, but Hayate evaded it effortlessly with the speed of his Electro Flash. At that exact moment, Kaori attacked from the opposite flank. However, Hayate vanished like a bolt of yellow lightning and reappeared instantly behind Takuto.
Hayate: "Still too slow... little Phoenix!"
As he spoke, Hayate gave Takuto's back a light, mocking tap with a fist—devoid of electricity. It was a pure gesture of ridicule.
Kaori immediately followed up with a full-speed kick toward Hayate's back, but Hayate, radiating yellow sparks, reappeared behind her. No matter how perfectly they coordinated, they couldn't touch him. They were merely swinging at air.
Suddenly, Hayate stopped playing. He cranked his electrical output to the maximum. In a blur too fast for the eye to follow, he moved toward Takuto's blind spot.
"Danger!"
Kaori realized the threat and threw herself in front of Takuto to shield him. Hayate's strike, fully charged with yellow lightning, slammed directly into Kaori.
(CRASH!!!)
Kaori couldn't even scream from the pain as she was sent hurtling backward, crashing into a roadside wall before collapsing to her knees. Her red aura flickered and dimmed, and a trickle of blood ran down her face.
Takuto: "Ichinose-san!"
Takuto's voice trembled. For the first time, a terrifying, primal rage began to brew deep within his chest.
Part 4: The Shadow of Treachery and the Awakening of Phoenix Ember
Hayate was done playing. Taking advantage of Takuto and Kaori's exhaustion, he moved to reclaim Aoi from the ground.
Hayate: "Let's end this game! Your teamwork was commendable... but in front of my speed, everything is just a slow-motion reel!"
Despite her agony, Kaori forced herself up, gritting her teeth. She gathered her last remaining embers of energy for one final strike. Simultaneously, Takuto, nearly exploding with rage-fueled Stellar Flow, charged at Hayate.
He used his entire body to pin Hayate from behind, locking him in a desperate embrace.
Takuto: "Kaori! Now... DO IT!!!" Takuto screamed with everything he had.
Ignoring her injuries, Kaori turned into a bolt of red lightning and charged at Hayate's flank with maximum velocity. But in that split second, she saw a cruel, sadistic smirk form on Hayate's face.
'Wait, it's a trap!' By the time she realized it, it was too late.
Hayate didn't even bother to break free from Takuto's hold. Instead, he used Takuto's body as a Conductor. From his Electro Flash eyes, he channeled a massive surge of yellow lightning through Takuto and directly into Kaori.
"Shock Burst!!!"
"AAAAHHHHHH!!!"
The intense electric shock sent Kaori into convulsions in mid-air. Her aura vanished, and she slammed hard into the pavement.
In that moment, something strange happened inside Takuto's mind. Because he was holding Hayate while simultaneously being linked to Kaori's Stellar Flow of pain, their energies deeply resonated for a brief moment. Through this connection, Takuto saw a POV flashback of the cursed past dwelling within Hayate's eyes.
[Flashback]
An eleven-year-old boy with glowing yellow eyes was running for his life. Behind him, Hayate followed with the smirk of a leopard stalking its prey.
"Please stop! Spare me! I... I don't want to die yet!" the boy begged through tears. "My mother and sister are waiting for me at home... I have to go back!"
"Are you talking about... these two?"
Hayate spoke coldly, raising two objects in his hands. They were the severed, blood-soaked heads of the boy's mother and sister.
"Mom...?! Onee-chan...?! NO!!! This can't be happening!!!"
The boy fell to his knees in soul-crushing agony. Hayate approached him and whispered, "Don't worry... I'll send you to where they are."
The merciless Hayate pinned the boy down and gouged out the Electro Flash eyes while the child was still alive. The innocent boy died in a pool of blood, his small hands fruitlessly reaching out for the severed heads of his family in his final breath.
[Flashback End]
As the vision faded, Takuto nearly stopped breathing. Hayate seized the opportunity and delivered a full-force kick to Takuto's abdomen, sending him skidding away.
Hayate: "Is that it? Is this the limit of your effort?"
Lying on the ground, the pain of the murdered boy, the agony of Kaori, and the self-loathing of being unable to protect Aoi transformed into violent flames within Takuto. The Emotional Burst—shifting from grief to destructive rage—erupted inside him.
Hayate moved in for the kill, aiming a lightning-charged fist at Takuto's face. "Die!"
"TAKUTO!!!" Kaori screamed in desperation, but...
THUD!
With an eerie silence, Takuto caught Hayate's full-power punch with a single palm. It meant that Takuto had completely surpassed Hayate's speed.
Hayate: "What...?!"
Hayate looked at Takuto's face in pure shock.
Takuto's eyes were burning with a crimson red more intense than ever before. Black linear markings appeared clearly under both eyes. Even the tips of his hair had turned a fiery red.
The Phoenix Gaze: Step 2 (Imperfect State - Phoenix Ember)
"A power-up?!" Hayate recoiled in alarm.
The face looking back at him was no longer that of a gentle student. Takuto looked like a terrifying god of war, overflowing with Killing Intent.
Hayate tried to take the initiative with a high-speed strike—but Takuto evaded it with Supersonic Speed and countered with a single punch straight to Hayate's face.
(BOOM!!!)
Hayate was sent flying. When he struggled to his feet, his face was covered in blood and masked by sheer terror.
Hayate: "He... he dodged my strike and countered? This speed... it's impossible!"
Aoi and Kaori watched in stunned silence. Takuto took a step forward, one at a time. The sheer Pressure radiating from him made Hayate's hands tremble.
Takuto: "What's wrong... are you afraid?" Takuto's voice was as cold as the depths of hell. "If so, come at me... I'll make you regret ever being born into this world!"
In Takuto's hands, the crimson Stellar Flow began to glow like the fires of an impending apocalypse.
[END OF CHAPTER 4]