"As soon as we disagreed, he attacked. He is even angrier than I expected."
Lucien was met with two powerful kicks before he could adjust. His chest hardened instantly, taking the full force. The impact blasted him backward, sending him crashing through a long stretch of crumbling ruins. He finally skidded to a stop in a deep, jagged trench carved by his own body.
Uzui Tengen and Shinobu Kocho landed lightly on one foot, withdrawing their right legs as controlled breaths flowed through their noses and mouths.
Their eyes held nothing but killing intent.
Mitsuri Kanroji stood trembling, her hands balled tightly. Tears shimmered in her eyes, yet she still drew her whip-like Nichirin Blade and took her place beside Shinobu and Tengen, facing Lucien with resolve.
"How troublesome."
Lucien pushed aside broken stone and dust and rose from the rubble. A thin trail of blood slipped from the corner of his mouth, but his posture remained steady.
There was no need for another word.
Uzui Tengen and Shinobu Kocho charged. Mitsuri followed a heartbeat later, swinging her flexible blade in a smooth arc.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form, Roar."
Tengen was the first to strike. His chained dual Nichirin Blades cut through the air with immense force, the motion igniting the small explosives attached to his swords. Sparks flashed and erupted into a violent explosion, scattering chunks of earth.
Lucien blurred upward, dodging the blast. He barely had time to prepare when Shinobu leaped high into the air toward him.
Butterflies seemed to trail behind her slender figure, yet the threat she carried was far from gentle.
"Insect Breathing, Dance of the Dragonfly, Compound Eye Hexagon."
Her thin, needle-like Nichirin Blade, coated in lethal poison, stabbed six times in a motion so fast the air trembled.
Lucien deflected the rapid thrusts with his Nichirin Blade, flipped over her body, and aimed a heavy kick downward without holding back.
"Love Breathing, First Form, Thrill of First Love."
Mitsuri intervened with perfect timing. Her whip-like blade snapped toward Lucien's throat, attempting to disrupt his attack and pull Shinobu out of danger.
Sparks burst where their blades collided. Lucien did not abandon his strike. He twisted his grip on his Nichirin Blade and blocked Mitsuri's slash while his hardened right foot drove straight into Shinobu's back with brutal force.
The ground split open beneath her.
A large crater formed as Shinobu crashed into it, coughing up blood as her slender frame trembled.
Uzui Tengen seized the opening. He vaulted into the air with a burst of power, appearing behind Lucien. His blades dragged across the attached explosives, igniting them as he brought them down with mountain-splitting force.
A cloud of thick black smoke exploded around Lucien.
He was flung back, raising his arm to shield his body. Before he could regain his footing, Mitsuri's blade lashed out again, thrusting forward with incredible force.
The tip pierced through Lucien's chest.
Their coordination bordered on flawless. Even surrounded and under pressure, they created opportunities for one another without hesitation.
Debris scattered across the ground as Lucien crashed into the rubble once more, his clothes torn and his body buried beneath shattered stone.
"Are you alright!" Mitsuri shouted toward Shinobu, her voice tight with worry.
Uzui Tengen stood ready beside her, eyes locked on Lucien's position, yet his concern for his injured comrade was evident.
"I am fine," Shinobu replied softly, though her pale face and trembling breath revealed her pain. Her expression turned cold, her gaze locked on Lucien with unwavering resolve.
Suddenly, the night sky blazed with a golden radiance.
Lucien rose from the ruins.
A swirling golden storm engulfed him, accompanied by the metallic echo of countless blades clashing. Gold armor formed across his body, segment by segment, each piece locking into place like the descent of a celestial warrior. His amethyst eyes glowed fiercely.
Crackling golden lightning danced around him.
Every movement produced the ringing of metal.
Lucien held his kukri firmly in both hands as the pressure around him intensified. The air seemed to vibrate.
His voice was calm and steady.
"You three are stronger than I expected."
Golden sparks erupted around him like a storm ready to swallow the night.
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