The cold night air bit at Aiko's skin, but her breath remained steady, unwavering as steel. Her gaze sliced through the darkness, fixed on Grizy—the ruthless leader of the thieves—who charged forward, sword gripped tight in both hands. His shout tore through the quiet like a savage howl:
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Aiko rooted herself firmly, feet grounding into the earth beneath, awaiting his assault with unyielding resolve. As Grizy closed the distance, steel gleamed under the faint moonlight, slicing forward with deadly speed—but Aiko bent like the willow in a storm, effortlessly avoiding each strike. Sword swung in a fierce dance: the first three blades sang past her in swift succession.
On the fourth attack, time seemed to fold. Aiko's palm caught the blade—cold and unyielding—halting Grizy's fury midair.
Frustration flickered in Grizy's eyes, darkening the night like a brewing storm.
Aiko's lips curled into a slow, merciless smile.
"That look—oh, how I relish it," she murmured, voice sharp as a blade's edge. "That same fear. That same helplessness. The same despair that your captives—the poor souls your band has stolen away—felt. Today, I put an end to that. Here. Now. You die."
Gathering every ounce of power and fury in her fists, Aiko's punch thundered toward Grizy's face. But quick as a cornered wolf, Grizy dropped his sword and raised his arms in an X-block, intercepting the blow. His counterstrike came swift and hard—fists collided, cracking in the silent night as both combatants tasted the sting of blood and iron.
Above them, on the second floor, Noriyuki and Haru pressed forward, flanked by two remaining thieves. Noriyuki's blade flashed with lethal precision as he lunged at the first guard. The thief raised his weapon, but Noriyuki was merciless—his sword cleaving deeply through both wrists in a single, fluid motion.
The man collapsed to his knees, agony ripping through him like wildfire.
"Aaaaaaaaaaa! My hands! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Noriyuki's gaze was cold, resolute as he stepped forward and severed the man's head with a decisive stroke.
"There," Noriyuki said quietly, "I've spared you further pain."
The last thief rushed at him in desperation, but Noriyuki's blade moved faster—a practiced flick, shearing the man in twain. His sword slid back into its sheath.
"Easy," Noriyuki chuckled softly, breath steady despite the grim work.
Back on the third floor, Aiko forced herself upright, blood staining her lips. Grizy mirrored her struggle, spitting disdain onto the rickety floorboards.
Not bad in close quarters, she thought, eyes narrowing. Time to shift tactics.
She focused intently, drawing her mana inward.
"Physical Enhancement: Speed…" she whispered, weaving magic with practiced ease, channeling thirty percent of her essence into blurring her movements, the rest burning through her as raw power in her fists.
Grizy sneered, licking his lips—brimming with unchecked arrogance.
"We're just getting started. That was only the warm-up."
Aiko moved faster now, fists crackling with renewed vigor, but Grizy parried every blow seamlessly.
"How?" she breathed, astonished.
Before she could react, a brutal kick slammed into her gut, yanking her against the cold stone wall.
"Cough, cough, cough… Breathe, breathe," Aiko gasped, clutching her abdomen.
Grizy's eyes glittered with dark pride. "Predictable, young Aiko. I never became leader by barking orders alone. Fighting—true fighting—is my addiction."
She tasted blood where he struck, thoughts burning: Damn, that hit deep.
"Soon," she spat, rising, "I'll wipe that smug smile away. This cramped den's no place for us—let's finish this outside."
Without hesitation, Aiko burst through the door, racing toward the rooftops. Grizy followed, snarling, as Noriyuki vaulted to a nearby roof and seated himself to watch the final duel unfold.
The wind whipped cold and angry beneath the starlit sky—harsh and restless, much like Aiko's own heart. Between rooftops, two figures stood poised: Aiko, burning with vengeful fire; and Grizy, the ruthless bandit chief.
Grizy lunged, sword descending like a vengeful thunderbolt.
Aiko smirked, reading the dance before her.
"You idiot."
Her fists shimmered, wind mana swirling quietly around them—a small but potent presence Grizy immediately sensed.
"Damn it…" he muttered bitterly.
Grizy raised his blade to meet Aiko's fist—the steel sang as it absorbed the impact, but then, with a sickening snap, his sword shattered.
What was that strength? Grizy's mind reeled. A single strike from her could have ended him.
Thrown back, he struggled to rise—but Aiko was relentless.
"Not this time!" Grizy growled, launching himself forward.
They collided once again, crashing like titans. Grizy dodged a blow and, with brutal force, seized Aiko's throat, squeezing the air from her lungs. She crumpled to the rooftop, vision dimming.
I'm going to pass out... she thought, panic flaring.
But deep within, her resolve blazed brightest. Concentrating fiercely, she channeled every last drop of mana into her knees, driving them upward into Grizy's stomach. He stumbled back, breath rattling from the sudden assault.
Aiko rose once more, summoning her dwindling power, fists blazing with vengeful energy.
She swung—a punch meant to end the fight—but Grizy twisted away, agile and alert.
Mana's nearly gone, Aiko realized, heart pounding. This next hit... must be the end.
Grizy's eyes darkened; his aura roared like a tempest surrounding a dying storm.
It's all or nothing.
"Unique Skill: Divine Shield, protect me!" he commanded.
A massive, shimmering blue shield erupted around him like a wall of water, trembling with magical energy.
"You won't escape!" Aiko vowed, crashing her fist into the barrier.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the shield's surface, refusing to yield… until, at last, it shattered like glass.
Grizy gasped in disbelief.
Impossible!
Before he could recover, Aiko thrust her fist deep into Grizy's chest, her mana piercing through flesh and bone.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" he roared, blood erupting from his mouth, crimson spilling over his shattered heart.
Their eyes locked—predator and prey—as Grizy's lifeforce ebbed away, fading like a dying ember.
With a final, wrenching pull, Aiko withdrew her hand.
Grizy crumpled to the rooftop, silent.
Noriyuki leapt across the rooftops, landing beside Aiko with a respectful nod.
"That was one hell of a fight, Aiko."
A soft smile lifted her lips as she gazed up toward the heavens.
"Thanks."
Noriyuki's brow furrowed. "What of Alex?"
Aiko shook her head, unease creeping in.
"Don't know. He bolted with the cage in tow—no clue where he's gone."
East Coast—The Battlefield Ignites
Alex faced Liam with a wry smirk.
"Fighting an unarmed man? That's hardly fair."
Liam straightened, arms dropping from behind his back. Razor-sharp claws sprouted like wicked shadows from his fingertips. His eyes glowed a fierce crimson as his aura flared violently.
"Forgive me," Liam said, voice low and dangerous. "I wield no steel, only my own fury."
Alex's grin widened with excitement.
"Now this is what I meant!"
Liam surged forward, a blur of deadly speed. Alex nimbly retreated, summoning three towering stone golems to block the path. But Liam's claws raked through them effortlessly, shattering their stony frames in an instant.
Perfect, Alex thought. Just enough time to enchant my sword with Black Thunder.
The clash that followed was brutal—a ballet of speed and skill stretching across the rugged coastline. Neither gave ground easily. Liam's demon-summoned magic circles flickered to life, spewing forth hellish fiends to overwhelm Alex.
"Low blow," Alex hissed.
"When on the battlefield," Liam growled, "everything is fair."
Undeterred, Alex unleashed fiery swords forged from pure flame, lancing through the demonic horde. Liam tore through the storm of fire with his claws, relentless as ever.
Placing a hand on his shoulder, Liam spoke with chilling authority.
"My true name is Grand Fahir, Executioner of the Demonic Nobility."
Alex's heart pounded harder. So he is no mere fiend... but a demon lord.
Steeling himself, Alex replied, "I am but a commoner—a citizen of the Royal Empire."
Grand's eyes flared as two monstrous horns erupted from his forehead. His skin shifted to a sickly green as silver armor sprouted, intricate and shimmering, covering him like an unbreakable shell. His claws morphed, the black turning to gleaming silver.
Incredible, Alex thought. Silver manipulation. This guy is a nightmare.
The battle escalated. Grand's silver claws smashed toward Alex, who countered with sheer will and skill, slashing through armor only for it to knit itself back together in moments.
"Got you," Alex taunted, sword piercing Grand's chest plate—only to watch the silver mend almost instantly.
Realizing that brute force alone wouldn't suffice, Alex crafted ten lions made of earth, each spewing explosive magic. Grand crushed each beast, but one bomb hit him square in the back, forcing a rare grimace as he swiftly regenerated.
Maybe wind magic will break through? Alex pondered and exhaled a volley of wind bullets. Three struck home, but minutiae wounds healed too fast to make a dent.
The dance of death spun on, both warriors pushed to their limits. Grand tore through Alex's defense, drawing blood with a brutal swipe.
"Breathe, breathe, you bastard," Alex whispered, staggering back.
Grand snarled, "Soon your mana will run dry, and only death awaits."
Alex laughed, breath ragged but defiant.
"Your arrogance will be your undoing!"
Enchanted with Black Thunder, Alex blocked Grand's unleashed fury and landed a crushing kick. The demon was sent tumbling, but the fight was far from over.
Closing his eyes, Alex shifted elemental power from thunder to purest fire, flames black as night licking his blade as he enveloped it with darkness too.
Grand rose, sneering, "You're finished, kid."
"Then prove it," Alex challenged, muscles coiling for one last charge.
They collided—claws meeting sword in a brutal, synchronized showdown. Sparks flew and sweat ran cold down Alex's temple. Then, the world flipped—Alex found himself trapped, paralyzed in a void, powerless.
Grand loomed over him, raising the sword for a fatal strike.
Missed chance? No — Alex's eyes snapped open, a barrier blossoming like morning light. Grand struck, the blow partially piercing the magical shield before Alex sprung free.
Seizing the moment, Alex vanished, appearing behind the demon lord and driving his flaming blade into Grand's heart.
"Arrogance is a fool's blade," Alex murmured.
Grand's stunned gasp echoed. "Impossible... How?"
"Simple enough," Alex said. "I used the barrier as a base for my Soul Clone skill—and moved unseen."
Silver armor began corroding, black flames licking away its strength.
"You planned everything..." Grand hissed.
Alex sank onto the beach sands, exhausted.
"That was my last move. If it hadn't worked, I'd be dead."
A haze fell over his vision as a sudden dizziness seized him.
"Poison…"
His world slipped into darkness.
A Voice from the Void:
"New skills acquired."
Extreme Mana Manipulation: Beyond elemental control—you can now bend pure mana itself to your will.
Illusion: Upon contact, you weave dreams and whispers, dragging foes deep into their own minds, bending reality as you desire.
Silver Creation/Manipulation: Forge unbreakable silver from nothing; wield it for shield and sword alike.
Self-Regeneration: Heal wounds swiftly—yet true death is no mere inconvenience.
Metamorphosis: Transform your form at will. Become whatever shape your heart commands.
Continued...