The ice clinging to the door was a stark reminder of my helplessness. Strapped to this damn chair, my hands bound, I was nothing but a spectator. "You're just in time, Sumeragi-san and Rendo-san. I wasn't really expecting that Kazenagi-kun would have teammates like you. He really is loved and blessed."

  I could feel the tension radiating from Ayaka and Tatsuya as they stood their ground, ready to fight. "Ren! We'll get you out of here!" Ayaka's voice was a beacon of hope in this frozen prison.

  "Don't stand against them," I warned, my voice strained. "They're Mei-rank. Shionari-san can turn anything she touches into stone or something hard. That's how they froze the ropes binding me."

  I saw the calculations running through Ayaka's mind, the weight of the situation settling on her shoulders. "That's troublesome. We really don't stand a chance against them. We're still just students. But we need to rescue Ren. They know about his secret, and if we let them live, they might reveal it."

  Yuuto stepped forward, his gaze intense, his presence radiating a chilling calm. "Rendo-kun, you're a cautious person. But what do you hope to gain by coming here? To rescue Ren?"

  Tatsuya didn't answer, his grip tightening on his sword. The room was large enough for a fight, but the roof loomed above, a constant reminder of the destructive potential of our Shin'en, a potential that could bring the whole place down on our heads.

  "Why did you send that photo? Were you spying on us?" Ayaka demanded, her eyes narrowed, her voice laced with suspicion. As she spoke, I noticed her subtly manipulating the water dripping from the ceiling, connecting it behind me. She was infusing it with tiny particles of her ice Shin'en, a delicate operation that could turn the tide if executed perfectly. I caught it immediately, but Yuuto, Kouki, and Aya were too far away, their attention focused on the immediate threat.

  "We didn't call you here to fight... we wanted to know about your relationship with Kazenagi-kun," Yuuto said, his tone measured, his eyes boring into mine.

  "Then there's no reason to tie Ren up!" Ayaka countered, her voice firm, her stance unwavering. "We didn't come here to fight either. If possible, we can talk this out."

  Yuuto sighed, a flicker of something that might have been disappointment crossing his face. "What's wrong?" Ayaka asked, sensing the subtle shift in his demeanor.

  "That's not what I meant. I guess I'm too dumb to explain. I'll change our motive then. We'll kill anyone who knows about Kazenagi-kun's hidden power. Even if it means killing the youngest daughter of the Sumeragi family and the founder of the Tenka Corps."

  "Isn't that going too far?!" Ayaka exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief, her eyes wide with shock.

  "Really? Then what are we even fighting against? Yomurei? Or humans?" Yuuto's words were laced with a chilling cynicism. He slowly settled into the chair, then, with a sudden, unexpected burst of violence, punched it, shattering the wood into splinters.

  "What did he just do?" Ayaka muttered, unease creeping into her voice.

  I saw a flicker of movement, a sudden flash of lightning from Tatsuya's hand. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but I knew what it meant. He was getting ready, preparing to unleash his power. Yuuto moved back in front of Ayaka and Tatsuya, his gaze hardening, his intentions clear. "I don't want to play nice anymore, Kouki, Aya," Yuuto signaled, the words hanging in the air like a death sentence.

  "So it has come to this, Yuuto..." Aya said, her voice calm, almost resigned. "He may not like your decision, but it will secure the future of the Kokkyokukō Butai."

  "Well then..." Kouki raised his hand, and chains erupted from his palm, snaking through the air, slowly but surely forming a wicked-looking axe at the end. He swung it, the air around him trembling, a mini-earthquake threatening to erupt. He was holding back, mindful of the room, but the raw power was undeniable.

  "TATSUYA!" Ayaka shouted, her voice a warning, a call to action.

  Suddenly, the water dripping from the roof solidified into sharp, spiked ice, plummeting towards my back. It reached me in an instant, freezing the ropes while somehow avoiding my hands. It was Ayaka's precision, her control over her Shin'en, that made it possible. Simultaneously, Tatsuya drew his sword, leaping towards me, a streak of blue lightning in his wake. The sound of thunder echoed through the room. He arrived behind me, slashing through the ropes, infusing his blade with lightning. My hands were free, the ropes, now brittle with Aya's Shin'en, shattering into dust. The entire sequence unfolded in mere seconds, a testament to their skill and their unwavering determination.

  I surged to my feet, summoning my own sword from the ground, the familiar weight a welcome comfort in this chaotic situation. The fight had begun.

  "That was fast, but you used too much Shin'en for that speed. I'm starting to doubt your reputation as a cautious individual," Yuuto said, turning his gaze to Tatsuya, his voice laced with a hint of mockery.

  "You're right..." Tatsuya replied, relaxing his stance slightly, his eyes narrowed, his focus absolute. "...but it's not enough to deplete all my energy." A faint spark of lightning flickered in his eyes, a promise of power yet to be unleashed, a warning to our enemies.

  "We have the advantage," Ayaka thought, her mind racing, analyzing the situation, calculating the odds. "The room is large, but the roof will collapse if the fight gets too destructive. They'll have to hold back. Unless they have a Shin'en that allows them to escape."

  As she strategized, three fast rocks hurtled towards her, projectiles launched with deadly accuracy. She reacted instantly, erecting an ice wall, a shimmering barrier of frozen energy. The wall slowed the rocks, but it shattered under the force of the impact, a testament to Aya's incredible power. Ayaka leaped back, creating distance, but Aya was already above her, poised to strike, a whirlwind of hardened steel. There was no time to dodge, no time to think. Ayaka raised her sword, directing the sharp edge upwards to meet Aya's descending attack, a desperate attempt to defend herself. The impact was a deafening clang, a shockwave that resonated through the room.

  "Her hand is like it's made of steel!" Ayaka exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise, her eyes wide with shock.

  Aya used her right foot to push Ayaka's sword away, creating space between them, breaking the stalemate. She landed gracefully, her movements fluid and precise, a testament to her training and her control over her Shin'en.

  "Can she harden her body too? So she doesn't just make anything she touches hard, but herself as well," Ayaka wondered, her mind racing, trying to decipher Aya's abilities, trying to find a weakness, a chink in her armor.

  "Sumeragi-san, I'm honored to fight someone like you," Aya said, her voice calm, almost polite. "But if this is all you've got, this fight won't be very exciting." She casually tossed rocks in her hand, a display of power that was both arrogant and terrifying.

  "Heh... I'm sorry I'm not strong enough," Ayaka said, trying to laugh it off, trying to mask her fear. "I honestly thought I'd die before I ever killed the Juma that murdered my family."

  Aya threw a rock at her, incredibly fast, a projectile that seemed to defy the laws of physics. Ayaka dashed towards it, infusing her sword with ice, a desperate attempt to intercept the attack. She sliced the stone in half, the icy energy shattering the fragments, but then she kept moving, charging towards Aya, her sword raised, her eyes filled with determination. Aya blocked with her left hand, a move that seemed almost casual, almost dismissive. The moment she touched the sword, her hand began to freeze, the icy energy spreading rapidly, encasing her fingers in a layer of frost. "What the...?!" she exclaimed inwardly, her voice laced with surprise, her eyes wide with shock. She threw a rock with her right hand, shattering the ice on her left, but her hand remained partially frozen, the cold seeping into her bones. Ice was now creeping up her feet, encasing her ankles in a prison of frost. "This is...!"

  "What's wrong, Shionari-san?" Ayaka mocked, her voice laced with triumph. "This fight isn't very exciting, is it?"

  "Tsk!" Aya lifted her foot, making it seem deceptively light, almost effortless. Ayaka recognized the feint, years of training and instinct kicking in. Aya was planning a knee strike to her stomach, a devastating blow that could cripple her if she didn't react in time.

  Ayaka immediately reinforced her stomach with ice, creating a barrier of frozen energy, trying to protect herself from the impending attack. She also tried to step back, creating distance, but it was too late. Aya's knee slammed into her, the ice cushioning the blow slightly, but still forcing a gasp from her, a wave of pain that almost brought her to her knees. She was sent flying, crashing into the wall, the impact jarring her senses, threatening to knock her unconscious. Before she landed, she reinforced her back with layers of ice, trying to minimize the damage. The wall cracked, a testament to the force of the blow, the room trembling from the impact.

  Aya walked towards her slowly, ice still clinging to her feet, her expression unreadable, her intentions unknown. She threw her last stone, a final projectile aimed at the downed Sumeragi, a desperate attempt to end the fight.

  Tatsuya and I readied our stances, prepared to engage our opponents, our eyes scanning the room, assessing the threats, calculating the odds. The large axe hurtled towards us, a whirlwind of steel and destruction. Tatsuya moved in a blur, leaving streaks of lightning in his wake, his movements almost too fast to see. I blocked the attack with my sword, the impact jarring my arms, a testament to Kouki's raw power. Somehow, I felt stronger, more focused, my Shin'en surging within me, fueled by adrenaline and desperation. The axe returned to Kouki, a weapon drawn back for another devastating strike. Tatsuya leaped from wall to wall, ceiling to ceiling, his movements impossibly fast, a blur of motion that seemed to defy gravity. He found an opening, aiming a strike at Kouki's head, a lightning-fast attack that could end the fight in an instant.

  But even as I watched Tatsuya's incredible display of speed and power, I felt something tighten around my hands, a subtle pressure that sent a shiver down my spine. "Is this...? Thread?"

  "Kazenagi-kun, you'll be fighting me," Yuuto's voice was close, too close, his footsteps heavy, deliberate, each one a drumbeat of impending doom. He was using thread as a weapon, a seemingly innocuous material that, in his hands, became a tool of deadly precision. This would be difficult, a test of my skills, my resolve, and my very survival.

  "Hienami-san, you said the world rejected you," I said, my voice calm, almost conversational, trying to break through his stoicism, trying to reach the man I once knew. "That no one accepted you except the woman who adopted you. Do you think he accepts you? The one who gave you a reason to live again?" I reached out, extending my hand, offering a connection, a chance for redemption. He reached out a finger, a thread connecting it to my hand, a silent response that gave me a flicker of hope.

  "He may not acknowledge us, but we share the same goal," Yuuto said, his voice devoid of emotion, his eyes cold and distant. "He is right. He is strong. He gave us the power to fight." He began to walk slowly towards me, his movements deliberate, each step a threat. "Unlike you, who is loved by everyone, I'll give you the one person who hardly acknowledges your existence: me." He pulled his finger, tightening the thread around my hand, a subtle pressure that quickly escalated into excruciating pain. Blood welled up, a crimson stain spreading across my skin, but only a few drops, a testament to the precision of his control. I immediately slashed at the thread with my sword, a desperate attempt to break free, not really expecting it to work, but driven by instinct, by the need to survive.

  The stone that Aya had thrown at Ayaka was turning into ice, a testament to the power of the Sumeragi bloodline. Ayaka reached out, encasing it completely, her left eye swollen shut from the earlier impact, her vision impaired, her senses heightened. Before the stone could reach her, it stopped, inches from her face, frozen solid, a testament to her control over her Shin'en, her unwavering determination. Ayaka coughed, pushing herself to her feet, her body aching, her spirit unbroken. "How did she manage to lift her knee, even with her legs frozen?" she thought, her mind racing, trying to understand Aya's abilities, trying to find a weakness, a way to exploit her opponent. "It should have been too heavy!" Aya was slowly walking towards Ayaka, her movements deliberate, her intentions unclear. Then, suddenly, she leaped, ready to strike, a whirlwind of hardened steel. "No way! Is she...?! Impossible, her legs should feel heavy." Ayaka scrambled to the right, trying to escape the impending attack, trying to create distance, trying to buy herself time. As she did, Aya smiled, a subtle, almost imperceptible expression that sent a shiver down Ayaka's spine. "Heh," she said quietly, the sound almost lost in the din of battle. The ground shattered beneath her, her heavy leap cracking the floor, a testament to her incredible strength, her unwavering resolve. The air around her seemed to gather, a vortex of energy that crackled with power. Time seemed to slow, the world shrinking to a single, terrifying moment. Aya, hurtling towards Ayaka, readied her fist, her knuckles white with tension, her eyes focused, her intent clear. Ayaka had no time to think, no time to react.

  "This is bad...!"

  Aya's fist connected... or almost connected. Before it could land, she stopped, her hand a millimeter from Ayaka's face, a testament to her control, her ability to manipulate her own density. "How'd you like that, Shionari-san?" Ayaka said, panting, her voice laced with defiance, her eyes narrowed, her gaze unwavering. "My legs... they won't move!" Aya exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise, her eyes wide with shock. The ice from her legs had crept upwards, encasing her fist, a prison of frozen energy. She was petrified, unable to move, her power neutralized, her strength rendered useless. "I didn't know how you managed to move so fast with your legs frozen, but as long as my ice is inside your body, I can control it," Ayaka said, her voice laced with triumph, her plan unfolding perfectly. "That was just a bluff. I can't fully control the ice inside her. I just used a huge amount of Shin'en to make it look convincing," she admitted to herself, knowing that this was a gamble, a desperate attempt to gain an advantage, a bluff that could cost her everything if it failed.

  Aya struggled, her muscles straining, her body trembling, the ice on her body starting to crack, a testament to her incredible strength, her unwavering will. "What!" Ayaka exclaimed, shocked, her plan beginning to unravel, her bluff about to be called. She grabbed her sword, trying to stab her before it was too late, before Aya could break free, before she could unleash her full power. But Aya caught Ayaka's blade with her other hand, her grip like a vise, her strength seemingly limitless. "AAAGGHHH!!" Aya screamed, her voice a primal roar of defiance, her body convulsing, her power surging, trying to break the ice and Ayaka's sword, a desperate attempt to regain control. "Her hand is so hard, she's trying to break my sword?!" Ayaka thought, her mind racing, trying to find a solution, trying to regain the upper hand. She desperately infused her blade with more ice, hoping to freeze Aya's other hand as well, to create a more stable prison, to regain control of the situation.

  After infusing her sword, Aya finally shattered the ice on her body and legs, her power surging, her will unbroken. She released Ayaka's sword, her hand bleeding, her expression a mixture of rage and determination. She raised her right fist, her knuckles white with tension, her eyes burning with fury. She punched, but Ayaka ducked, dodging the blow, her reflexes honed by years of training, her survival instincts kicking in. Ayaka rolled away, using the wall and her ice to propel herself back to her feet, creating distance, buying herself time to regroup. As she rolled, she raised her hands, summoning ice shards, shaped like triangles, deadly projectiles that could pierce through steel. They launched towards Aya, a barrage of frozen energy, a desperate attempt to regain the offensive. Aya knocked them away with her left arm, her movements precise, her power undeniable, but Ayaka was one step ahead, her plan unfolding perfectly. Aya sensed Shin'en behind her, a subtle shift in the air, a warning that she had let her guard down. "I let my guard down!" Five more ice triangles were hurtling towards her, their speed almost too fast to see, their intent deadly. She didn't have time to dodge, no time to react. She crossed both of her arms, blocking the attack, bracing herself for the impact. The ice stabbed into her arms, piercing her skin, drawing blood, but it did not pierce through completely, her hardened flesh resisting the assault. Aya was thrown back by the force, crashing into the debris, the impact jarring her senses, threatening to overwhelm her.

  Ayaka panted, her chest heaving, her body trembling, but she stood tall, her sword raised, her spirit unbroken. "That should do it..." she whispered, her voice laced with exhaustion, her plan seemingly successful.

  Aya lay on the ground, ice splattered around her, a testament to the power of the Sumeragi bloodline. The ice was growing, spreading across the floor, encasing her in a prison of frozen energy. "Damn it... I should have been more careful," she muttered, her voice laced with regret, her eyes burning with frustration. She tried to split the ice, struggling to free her crossed arms from the frozen prison, but it was no use, the ice was too strong, her power too depleted.

  "Is she trying to break it again?! How can she do that?!" Ayaka said in her mind, her surprise genuine, her understanding of Aya's abilities incomplete. She didn't take the chance to attack, her caution prevailing, her desire to understand her opponent outweighing her need to end the fight. She wanted to observe how Aya kept breaking her ice, to decipher the secrets of her Shin'en, to find a weakness, a vulnerability that she could exploit. She knew that if she attacked now, it would be reckless, a gamble that could cost her everything. She still didn't fully understand Aya's real Shin'en, its nuances, its limitations. It wasn't just a simple matter of making anything hard.

  Aya resisted, her body trembling, her muscles straining, her will unbroken. She concentrated, focusing her energy, trying to shatter the ice, trying to break free from her frozen prison. Ayaka had a thought in her mind to attack right away, to end the fight before Aya could recover, but she resisted the urge, her patience prevailing, her curiosity overriding her fear.

  Then, she heard a sound, a sharp crack, the sound of ice breaking. "She really broke it," Ayaka whispered, her voice filled with disbelief, her eyes wide with shock. Her intention was not to kill Aya, but to figure out her ability and Shin'en, to understand the source of her power. There's no way a woman can just break an ice from a Sumeragi, an ice known for its unbreakable nature, an ice that reached the lowest degree, negative two hundred fifty degree Celsius. Aya should be freezing right now, her body shutting down, her power extinguished, but instead, she kept resisting, defying the laws of nature, pushing herself beyond her limits.

  "That was really annoying, as expected of a Sumeragi..." Aya said, her voice calm, almost conversational, her expression unreadable. "...I guess I'm done holding back. There's no point of hiding my Shin'en from someone who is about to die."

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  "As I thought, she was still hiding something," Ayaka thought, her mind racing, her senses heightened. I should also keep my act together, she added mentally. She will get serious from now on and so will I. Ayaka held out her sword, gripping it tightly, ready to defend and attack, her focus absolute, her determination unwavering.

  "Now then..." Aya summoned small metal objects, shaped like rocks, behind her, all of them floating in the air, suspended by an unseen force. They began to multiply rapidly, their numbers growing exponentially, a swarm of deadly projectiles ready to be unleashed. "...Kazenagi-kun was right about my Shin'en, anything I touch will get hard," Aya continued, her voice calm, almost clinical. "Well, of course, Yuuto told him, but there's more things about my Shin'en. My Shin'en is called 'Density Manipulation.' I can also make anything lighter and heavier, harder or softer. The reason I broke your ice is because I made my arms, legs, and body harder. I was struggling because an ice is hard to manipulate when sticking in my body. It can't be heavy or light. It just sticks in my body, so I left it out and didn't manipulate its density." Aya explained her abilities and Shin'en, revealing the full extent of her power, her control over the very fabric of reality.

  "That explains everything, huh?" Ayaka said, her voice laced with sarcasm, her mind racing, trying to formulate a plan, trying to find a way to counter Aya's incredible abilities. "But I'm still confused when you said you don't have any reason for hiding your Shin'en on someone who's going to die. I'm afraid to say, but I'm not the one who's going to die here!" Ayaka dashed towards Aya, her movements lightning fast, her sword raised, her intent clear.

  On the other side of the room, it was Tatsuya and Kouki fighting, their battle a whirlwind of speed and power, a clash of titans that threatened to tear the room apart. Kouki blocked Tatsuya's attack from earlier using the metal wristband, his strength seemingly limitless, his defense impenetrable.

  "Tch," Tatsuya clicked his tongue, his frustration evident, his movements becoming more frantic, his attacks more desperate.

  "You're a fast boy, so let's test how fast you will be," Kouki said, his voice laced with mockery, his eyes burning with anticipation. He swung his linked chain with axe in the air, the air around it crackling with energy, the sound like thunder echoing through the room. "It's hard to go near him because of his huge axe," Tatsuya said, his mind racing, trying to find an opening, trying to exploit Kouki's weaknesses. Kouki threw the chains towards Tatsuya, the axe hurtling through the air, a deadly projectile aimed at his heart. Tatsuya moved swiftly, his movements almost too fast to see, his body a blur of motion. But the axe changed direction, its trajectory altered by an unseen force, its eyes only for Tatsuya, its intent to kill.

  "It can change direction?" Tatsuya exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise, his eyes wide with shock. He moved faster, his speed increasing exponentially, but he didn't went near Ayaka and Aya, knowing that their battle was too dangerous to interfere with. He dashed through the wall, his body leaving a trail of lightning, his power surging within him. He leaped and put his feet on the ceiling, defying gravity, his movements seemingly impossible. As expected, the axe followed him, its trajectory altered again, its pursuit relentless. But before the axe can reach him, he leaped on the ceiling and circled on the chains heading towards Kouki, using the chains as a path, his ingenuity and adaptability shining through. "He used that as an advantage?! I see now..." Kouki said, his voice impressed, his eyes widening with understanding. He pulled the chains quickly, the axe is coming back from him, but Tatsuya was in front of it, his movements precise, his timing impeccable. Tatsuya put his feet on the chain and pushed himself off to dodge the axe, using the chain as a springboard, his agility and resourcefulness saving his life.

  The chains went back to Kouki, and also the axe, its movements fluid, its return seamless. "... he's not just fast or strong, he is adapting while fighting," Kouki said, his voice filled with admiration, his respect for Tatsuya growing. "Is he one of the strongest in the academy? Then if that's the case...!"

  Kouki removed the chains from his axe, detaching the weapon, altering his fighting style. He held the chain on his other hand, his intentions unclear, his plan shrouded in mystery. "Why did he remove the axe? Is he planning on doing something?" Tatsuya said while standing, his mind racing, trying to anticipate Kouki's next move, trying to prepare for the unknown. "Rendo-kun, don't blame me if you get killed..." Kouki stomped his foot on the ground, his power surging, his intent deadly. A shockwave was sent towards Tatsuya in the ground, a force of pure energy aimed at his destruction. "Tch, troublesome," Tatsuya clicked his tongue, his frustration evident, his body reacting instinctively. Tatsuya's body was light up by lightning, his Shin'en surging, his power unleashed. Sparks all over his body, a display of raw energy, a testament to his potential. On a split second, he jumped and landed on walls, he dashed and leaped evading and dodging the shockwave, his speed and agility saving his life once again.

  "Getting serious already?" Kouki said, his voice laced with amusement, his eyes burning with anticipation.

  Tatsuya landed on his feet, his movements precise, his focus absolute. "Enkuroda-san...was it? You may be a Mei-rank, but I have the advantage in this room," he said, his voice calm, his confidence unwavering.

  He moved sidewards so fast, he's so fast that when a normal person is looking at him, he's multiplying, his movements creating afterimages, a testament to his incredible speed.

  The air crackled with anticipation as Tatsuya, a whirlwind of motion, engaged Kouki in a fierce battle. His movements were so swift that he seemed to multiply, afterimages shimmering like silver-blue lightning, encircling Kouki in a mesmerizing dance of speed. The room groaned under the force of Tatsuya's footwork; tiles splintered and cracked, sparks tracing chaotic patterns across the floor.

  Kouki, unfazed by the spectacle, squinted, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "You’re finally getting serious, huh… Rendo Tatsuya."

  Tatsuya remained silent, his voice a potential giveaway, his focus absolute. In this high-stakes confrontation, silence was his most potent weapon.

  Kouki twirled his chain, the heavy links clattering against each other, the metallic sound echoing like a foreboding bell. "You think speed alone can overwhelm me?" he muttered, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and challenge.

  Tatsuya's afterimages converged, three to Kouki's left, two behind him, and one directly in front, creating a multi-dimensional assault, a sensory overload designed to overwhelm his opponent. But Kouki remained rooted, his eyes closing as if to shut out the visual chaos, his focus shifting inward.

  He’s not tracking with sight… he’s listening… Tatsuya realized, his muscles tensing, lightning gathering around him, his instincts screaming at him to prepare for the unknown.

  Kouki stomped, the force reverberating through the room, shaking the very foundations of the building.

  BOOOOOM—!

  A circular shockwave erupted, dust billowing, broken crates toppling, the air shimmering like heated metal. But Tatsuya, with his uncanny agility, had already moved, each afterimage shifting in perfect synchronization, his movements precise, his timing impeccable. He ascended to the ceiling, clung to it momentarily, and then lunged downward, a human lightning bolt aimed at Kouki, his intent to end the fight with a single, decisive blow.

  Kouki's eyes snapped open, a flicker of surprise crossing his face, his focus shifting back to the immediate threat. "Tch—!"

  Tatsuya's foot connected with Kouki's crossed arms, the impact resonating through the room, cracking the floor beneath them, a testament to the force of the blow. Kouki slid back, his boots carving deep furrows into the ground, his momentum halted, his defense broken.

  Tatsuya pressed his advantage, reappearing behind Kouki, his elbow arcing towards his ribs, his movements lightning fast, his attacks relentless. Kouki twisted, blocking the strike with his wristband, the shock sending vibrations up his arm, a testament to the force of the impact.

  "Heh… sharp," Kouki muttered, acknowledging the force of the blow, his respect for Tatsuya growing.

  Tatsuya vanished again, his movements too fast for the eye to follow, his speed seemingly limitless. A knee drove into Kouki's back, staggering him, disrupting his balance. Another strike landed on his jaw, eliciting a grunt, a sign that he was beginning to feel the pressure. A spinning kick slammed into his side, twisting his body, a testament to Tatsuya's skill and precision.

  Kouki skidded across the ground, coughing, wiping blood from his lip. "...So this is what makes you dangerous."

  Tatsuya landed lightly, lightning flickering around his legs like restless serpents, his power surging, his intent to end the fight. His breathing was steady, controlled, a testament to his discipline, his years of training.

  But Kouki wasn’t shaken; his grin only widened, his eyes burning with anticipation, his thirst for battle unquenched. "Fast. Adaptive. Annoying," he said, his voice laced with amusement, his respect for Tatsuya growing. He rotated his wrist, rolling the chain back into position, preparing for his next attack. "But if speed is all you have…" His foot sank slightly into the ground, his power gathering, his intent deadly. "...then you’re already dead."

  Tatsuya's eyes narrowed, sensing a shift in the battle, a change in Kouki's demeanor. Kouki stomped again—but this time, something was different, the air thickening, the energy intensifying, the atmosphere charged with anticipation.

  The shockwave didn’t explode outward, its energy contained, its power focused. The air compressed, a small ripple forming beneath Kouki’s heel, then launching in a straight, invisible line across the room, a concentrated beam of pure energy aimed at Tatsuya's destruction.

  Tatsuya felt the danger immediately, his instincts screaming at him to evade, his senses heightened, his body reacting instinctively. "What—?"

  SHOCKWAVE LINE

  It hit him before his body could fully react, a force of pure energy that seemed to defy the laws of physics.

  KRRRACK—!!

  The blast smashed into Tatsuya’s chest, lifting him off his feet and hurling him into the wall, a ragdoll tossed aside by an unseen force. The plaster cratered around him, dust spraying everywhere, the room shaking from the impact.

  Tatsuya slid down, coughing violently, his body wracked with pain, his senses reeling. That… wasn’t like the earlier shockwaves… it was focused… piercing…

  Kouki cracked his neck, a gesture of satisfaction, a sign that he had finally gained the upper hand. "Second form. Shockwave Line. Hard to dodge unless you know the angle."

  Tatsuya forced himself up, his body trembling, his limbs shaking, electricity sputtering around him, his power waning. Kouki was already charging, his movements relentless, his intent to finish the fight.

  WHAM—!

  A knee strike collided with Tatsuya’s guard, nearly breaking through, the force of the blow staggering him, his defense faltering. Tatsuya tried to counter with a right hook—but Kouki blocked and drove a fist into Tatsuya’s stomach, folding him instantly, stealing his breath, extinguishing his power.

  “Ghh—!” Tatsuya gasped for air, his lungs burning, his body aching, lightning bursting out uncontrollably, a sign that he was losing control.

  Kouki didn’t relent, his attacks relentless, his intent to crush his opponent. The chain wrapped around Tatsuya’s arm in one swift move, a constricting force that threatened to immobilize him. Eyes wide, Tatsuya tried to pull away—but Kouki yanked him forward and slammed his forehead into Tatsuya’s, a brutal attack that sent shockwaves through his skull.

  The crack echoed through the room, a sickening sound that made my stomach churn. Tatsuya stumbled back, vision swimming, his senses reeling, before a kick met his ribs, sending him sprawling across the room.

  THUD—! He flew across the room, rolling before crashing into debris, a broken mess of limbs and shattered pride. Lightning crackled weakly around him, a flickering flame on the verge of being extinguished.

  “Speed’s good,” Kouki said, slowly pacing toward him, his movements deliberate, his intent to intimidate. “But speed alone can’t save you when you’re cornered.”

  Tatsuya pushed himself to all fours, shaking, his body screaming in protest, his spirit unbroken. “…Shut up…” he muttered, forcing electricity back into his limbs, trying to reignite his power, trying to find a way to fight back. The sparks were dimmer now, unstable, a sign that he was reaching his limit. “You’re… not finishing me that easily…”

  But Kouki had already wrapped the chain around his arm, rotating it like a whip, preparing for another devastating attack. "You’re still trying to stand? You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that," he said, his voice laced with admiration, his respect for Tatsuya growing. He flicked the chain, testing its weight, preparing to unleash its power.

  The chain shot forward, curling around Tatsuya’s leg, a constricting force that threatened to immobilize him. “—!”

  Kouki pulled, his strength seemingly limitless, his intent to break his opponent.

  Tatsuya’s world flipped upside down as he was dragged across the ground, his body battered and bruised, his senses reeling. Before he could recover, Kouki spun and slammed him into the ground like a ragdoll, a brutal attack that threatened to end the fight.

  BOOM—! Dust billowed, obscuring the scene, the room shaking from the impact. Tatsuya groaned, the force rattling through his bones, his body screaming in protest.

  Kouki wasn’t done, his attacks relentless, his intent to crush his opponent. He lifted Tatsuya by the collar and slammed him into a wall, his power seemingly limitless, his brutality unmatched. Then another. And another.

  WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

  Each hit forced the air out of Tatsuya’s lungs, his body convulsing, his power fading, his spirit wavering. Lightning bursting then fading each time, a sign that he was reaching his limit, that he was on the verge of defeat. Kouki finally threw him across the room, a final act of dominance, a sign that he had broken his opponent. Tatsuya slid to a stop, barely moving, his body a broken mess of limbs and shattered pride.

  He stood again.

  Barely.

  Legs shaking, his body trembling, his spirit wavering. Blood dripping from his forehead, a crimson testament to his pain and suffering. Lightning flickering like dying fireflies, a sign that his power was almost gone, that his defeat was imminent.

  “I… I can still…”

  “You can’t,” Kouki said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion, his eyes burning with anticipation. He wrapped the chain around his fist, making a makeshift gauntlet, a weapon of brutal efficiency, a tool of destruction.

  Tatsuya inhaled sharply and rushed forward—one last desperate burst of speed, a final act of defiance, a testament to his unwavering spirit.

  Kouki swung, his movements precise, his timing impeccable, his intent to end the fight with a single, decisive blow.

  The chain-covered fist collided with Tatsuya’s jaw, snapping his head to the side, the impact sending shockwaves through his skull.

  CRAAACK—

  Tatsuya spun from the impact, his body reeling, his senses overwhelmed, but Kouki grabbed him mid-air and lifted him by the shirt, his strength seemingly limitless, his dominance absolute.

  “You fought well,” Kouki said, his expression calmer now, his respect for Tatsuya evident. “But this is your limit.”

  Tatsuya’s eyes widened, a realization dawning within him, a glimmer of understanding in the face of defeat.

  Kouki drove his fist into Tatsuya’s stomach—

  —and released a point-blank Shockwave Line, a final act of brutality, a sign that he had broken his opponent, that he had extinguished his power.

  BBBBWOOOOM—!!!

  A compressed detonation burst out Tatsuya’s back, vaporizing the ground behind him, the force of the blow shattering the very foundations of the building. His entire body arched from the brutal impact, his spine contorting, his muscles tearing.

  Blood sprayed from his mouth, a crimson testament to his pain and suffering, a sign that his defeat was complete.

  Kouki let go, his movements fluid, his actions decisive, his dominance absolute. Tatsuya crashed onto the floor, his limbs twitching weakly before falling still, his body a broken mess. The silence that followed was deafening — heavy and oppressive, like the calm before a storm. Dust filled the air, swirling around Kouki’s imposing silhouette as he slowly turned away, rolling his shoulders with a satisfied sigh.

  "And that," he muttered, voice echoing in the stillness, "makes you just another kid who thought speed was invincible."

  He stepped back, his figure framed against the dust-choked light, a grim reminder of the brutal, uncompromising fight. Tatsuya, defeated, lay sprawled on the ground, unmoving, his body battered beyond recognition, his breathing shallow. The room was a graveyard of shattered tiles, broken chains, and fallen hopes.

  "Now I'll check on Aya and yuuto, maybe they are finished with their fight"

  Kouki’s footsteps echoed as he walked away, the sound slow and deliberate. His silhouette disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind the wreckage and the silence that would haunt me long after.

  Tatsuya didn’t move. His eyelids fluttered, his breaths shallow, his spirit flickering like a dying ember. His eyes, however, still held a spark — a stubborn refusal to give in, a flicker of the warrior he’d been.

  Yuuto and I left the scene, ascending another floor to continue our fight, a silent agreement passing between us. I followed him, watching his back, my mind racing, my heart heavy with the weight of Tatsuya's sacrifice. "I know the reason you hate me," I said, my voice calm, almost conversational, trying to reach through his stoicism, trying to understand his motivations. "But I think it's not about hating. It's about jealousy. You're jealous because I have someone to protect, someone that could protect me, being loved by others. But you're the exact opposite..."

  He ignored me, his silence a wall, his emotions hidden behind a mask of indifference. He kept walking, his footsteps heavy, his purpose unwavering. He opened the door that led to the stairs, the metal cold against his touch, and went upwards, his silhouette disappearing into the darkness. As soon as we reached the other door, the one that led to our final confrontation, he stopped, turning to face me, his expression unreadable. "Kazenagi-kun," he said, his voice devoid of emotion, his eyes cold and distant. "If you ever manage to survive this fight, then he will take the job of killing you. And I'm doing this not because I hate you, but because you're a burden, a hidden wall on our plans."

  I didn't say anything, my silence a sign of my acceptance, my understanding of the situation. I just clenched my fists, preparing for what would happen, bracing myself for the inevitable clash, knowing that this fight would determine my fate, the fate of my friends, the fate of the world. He opened the door and light flashed before my eyes, blinding me momentarily, disorienting my senses.

  The room was vast, an open space bathed in the harsh glare of the sun, the air thick with anticipation, the silence broken only by the sound of our breathing. It was a rooftop, the city sprawling beneath us, a silent witness to our battle, a stage for our final act.