A twisted grin crept across Davis's face.
"Wouldn't be the worst idea I've heard."
Akeno's eyes flared. "What the hell is wrong with you? Have you no shame?" Her stance lowered, resolve hardening. "I'm not helpless. Try me—I will fight back."
Davis laughed softly.
"No… you won't. Not against Longinus users."
Everything exploded at once.
Davis swept her legs out from under her, but Akeno hit the ground rolling. In the same motion, her hand flashed—shnk—a kunai buried itself deep in one man's throat. He dropped without a sound.
"Tch… Longinus users," Akeno muttered, retreating as her eyes scanned the field.
"Fighting up close is suicide. I don't know their abilities."
She melted into the shadows.
'Time to show them what a lifetime of ninja training looks like.'
"Plant Whip!"
A vine tore through the air like a bullet. Akeno twisted—but not fast enough.
The impact ripped through her arm below the elbow.
Blood sprayed as she screamed, her body hurled through foliage before slamming into the dirt. Pain detonated through her nerves, venom already spreading, her vision swimming.
"T-that ability…" she gasped. "I saw it in the tournament."
Her teeth clenched. 'Then they're all his men.'
'Which means...I have a pretty good guess on what the other abilities are.'
Davis and his squad closed in, smiles sharp and hungry.
Not yet.
Akeno forced herself upright, body shaking, rage burning hot enough to drown the pain. With a flick of her remaining hand, kunai streaked through the air—clean, precise.
Two more men collapsed before they realized she'd moved.
"Crystal Crush!"
A hundred crystal spears formed midair, glimmering with lethal intent.
The command snapped.
The volley roared forward, tearing the ground apart in a thunderous explosion.
Dust swallowed everything.
Silence.
Then—
"Seems I was right."
"Saki nö Oōh: Ki."
As the haze cleared, only a shattered log remained where Akeno had stood.
"Where is she?!" Davis barked.
"Saki nö Oōh: Shūken."
Her voice echoed from nowhere.
"Smoke?" one man started—
He never finished.
Bodies dropped one by one, silent and clean. Akeno moved through the haze like a ghost—strike, vanish, repeat.
She lunged toward Jaxon, blade raised—
Davis intercepted her.
In a blur, his hand closed around her throat, crushing. His other palm hovered inches from her abdomen.
"Terragrim."
Power surged.
The shockwave tore through her body, blasting a gaping hole through her stomach.
"H-how…" Akeno choked, blood spilling from her lips. "He… didn't have that ability… I saw someone else—"
Davis tightened his grip, voice cold. "You've been scurrying around like a damn rat."
Her vision dimmed. One arm gone. Her body shattered.
But pain became fuel.
With a scream, she drove a blade into Davis's arm
He grunted and released her.
Akeno didn't hesitate—grabbing her severed arm, she turned and ran.
"Captain! She's getting away!" someone yelled.
Davis only smirked, cradling his bleeding arm.
"Let her."
He flicked blood from his fingers.
"That should be enough to get the bastard's attention."
Turning away, he added casually, "Come on. Drinks are on me."
Laughter followed as they disappeared into the night.
...
"I'm coming with."
Boros's words echoed in Akeno's mind.
Regret crushed her chest.
"…I should've listened to him," she whispered.
Her legs gave out as she staggered through the forest, breath tearing out of her lungs in broken gasps.
Blood dripped steadily behind her, staining the dirt with every step.
Her vision swam.
"I—I'm blacking out… I can't…" She dropped to her knees, fingers digging into the soil. "I promised Shiro… I promised I'd come back…"
She crawled until her back hit the base of a tree. Her strength vanished all at once.
Tears spilled freely.
"I can't move anymore…" her voice cracked.
"…I'm going to die out here…"
Her lips trembled.
"Help me, Shiro…"
.....
Back at the Moonlit Inn.
Kinuko lay sprawled across the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Ugh… how long is she gonna be gone?"
Boros sat cross-legged nearby, eyes closed, posture perfectly still.
"What are you doing?" Kinuko asked.
"What does it look like?" he muttered. "Meditating."
She rolled toward him and poked his cheek. "I'm bored."
"Don't,"
"Can't you see I'm trying to concentrate?!" he snapped, brushing her hand away.
Then—
He froze.
One eye snapped open.
"Akeno's in trouble."
Kinuko blinked. "W-What? What do you mean trouble?"
"I don't know." Boros stood instantly. "Stay here."
Before she could respond, he was already at the window.
"Wait—Shiro!" she shouted.
Too late.
"Her Nexus is fluctuating," Boros muttered as he sprinted across the rooftops.
"Fear… no—this is worse."
His jaw clenched.
"Damn it. I should've followed her."
Hang on, Akeno.
"I'm coming."
....
"S-Shiro…"
Her voice was barely more than air when he found her, lips moving as if she'd been repeating the same word over and over.
Boros dropped to his knees.
"Akeno!"
"S-Shiro…" she murmured weakly.
"Don't talk," he said firmly, yet gently. "Just breathe. You're safe."
His eyes traced the damage—blood, torn flesh, missing arm.
His voice lowered, deadly calm.
"Can you show me who did this?"
Her remaining hand lifted, trembling.
"…There."
He nodded once.
"Alright." He slid beneath her carefully, lifting her onto his back.
"But first—we're going home."
"D-Didn't… drop it…" she whispered. "The arm…"
"Good," he said. "Hold on."
......
The inn door slammed open.
"You scared the hell out of me—"
Kinuko began—
Then she saw Akeno.
"…Akeno?"
Her face drained of color. "What happened to her?!"
"No panic," Boros ordered. "Lay her down. I'm using Sage Healing."
"O-Okay!" Kinuko rushed to help.
...
Hours passed.
Finally, Boros straightened, sweat beading down his brow.
"I stopped the bleeding," he said quietly. "Reattached the arm. She's stable. Sleeping."
Kinuko covered her mouth, tears spilling over.
"Thank you… Shiro."
"It's fine," he replied. "I'll handle the rest."
Her head snapped up. "Handle what?"
Boros turned away.
"I'm returning the favor."
Kinuko grabbed his arm. "Wait—don't!"
He stopped, glancing back. His eyes were cold. Focused.
"You'll get yourself killed," she pleaded. "Look what they did to her! They don't fight fair—if something happens to you—"
Her voice broke completely.
"I can't lose you too."
Boros pulled his arm free.
"Don't walk away like it doesn't matter," she cried.
"I… I care about you too."
Her legs gave out. She collapsed to the floor, sobs wracking her body.
Boros didn't turn back.