6:29 PM. OTHER SIDE OF TOWN.

  A soft wind swept past, kicking up dust and leaves across the empty terrain. Wrecked houses and buildings surrounded the space, the air thick with the scent of flames and charred wood.

  “Hmm.” Code exhaled, standing beside Finn. His eyes narrowed, breathing calm and controlled.

  Far ahead stood Terror, the Rubik’s cube in his hand pulsing with steady click-clacks. “Now,” Terror said, stepping forward. “Have you finally given up on escaping?”

  “Tch.” Code clicked his tongue and glanced at Finn. The boy’s hands shook, sweat rolling down his face. ‘Fuck,’ Code thought, jaw tightening. ‘There’s no way we can take an upper-class demon. If it were just me, escaping would be easy.’

  “What a hassle,” he muttered aloud.

  “You humans are mysterious creatures,” Terror said, drawing Code’s attention back.

  “What?” Code grunted.

  “I once admired how far you’ll go to protect yourselves and those you care for. You even risk your lives,” Terror continued. “But I soon realized that admiration was misplaced. You don’t fight to protect anyone. You fight to be praised and adored,” he accused. “You don’t truly care about the people you claim to shield. When real terror strikes, your true colors show.”

  Terror’s face twisted in disgust. “Despicable. I despise that mindset. You hunt demons not to save the masses, no. You do it for fame and applause.”

  “Arrgh.” A loud yawn cut through the monologue.

  “Huh?” Terror’s gaze snapped to Code.

  “C-Code, what are you doing?” Finn stammered.

  Code lifted a bored stare. “Man, I don’t give a damn about your philosophy on humans,” he said flatly. “Sorry, but I’m not the type to sit through that crap, especially since I don’t fight for praise or any of that nonsense.”

  His lips curled into a smug grin. “I fight for the profit.”

  “Oh my goodness,” Finn gasped, blinking.

  “So,” Code continued, dropping into a stance. “Are we fighting or not? Save the speech for someone who cares, because I don’t.”

  ‘Damn, he’s cool,’ Finn thought, eyes shining.

  ‘Heh, idiot,’ Code chuckled inwardly. ‘He just wants a fight. I’ll make him think I’m giving him one, then grab Finn and bolt.’

  “Oh, I see we’re similar,” Terror said coldly.

  “What did you say?” Code blurted.

  “You fight for profit. I live and fight for terror,” Terror replied. “Pain, torture, death. Those three birth true terror.”

  His gaze darkened as the Rubik’s cube pulsed furiously. “And I’ll make the world taste it.”

  “Oi! I said I don’t care!” Code roared. He dashed forward and skidded to a halt right in front of Terror. “None of this will matter when you’re dead,” he said.

  ‘Perfect. No way he can react this fast,’ Code thought. He dropped into stance and pulled his right arm back. 'Muscle Enhancement... pulverize!!' Code shouted, hurling the punch at Terror’s torso.

  But just before impact, Terror lifted one finger and stopped the fist cold.

  “Wha?!” Code’s eyes widened. ‘He reacted instantly? And he’s blocking with a single finger?’

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  “Is that… all?” Terror asked, tilting his head. His dead eyes locked on Code’s.

  Code couldn’t answer. Dread washed over him. He shivered.

  “Looks like it,” Terror said. He raised his free hand and the Rubik’s cube floated higher.

  “Then I guess it's my turn.” Terror reached forward and pressed his palm against Code’s torso.

  “Push,” he whispered.

  As the word formed, an overwhelming force erupted outward. Code’s left ribs shattered instantly. “GUHH!” Blood burst from Code’s mouth as the blast hurled him backward.

  “What?” Finn muttered. A gust whipped past him before Code slammed into the wall behind them with a devastating crash.

  “Code!” Finn shouted, spinning toward him.

  “Ugh.” Code groaned, rolling and wincing in pain. “What the hell was that?” he cried.

  “Code! Are you okay?” Finn asked, grabbing his back.

  “Do I look okay?!” Code snapped.

  “Oh, sorry,” Finn said, scratching his neck awkwardly.

  “I thought you were strong enough to back up your big talk,” Terror’s voice drifted over. “But it seems it was all empty.”

  ‘Tch, motherfucker!’ Code bit his lip and forced himself upright.

  “A-Are you sure you can stand?” Finn asked, supporting him.

  “Yeah, barely,” Code wheezed, waving him off. His eyes fixed on Terror. ‘Things just got worse,’ he thought. ‘What kind of technique is that?’

  Terror slid one foot back into a stance. “I’ll make you stronger. Strong enough to back up your words,” he said.

  “Hmm.” Code breathed steadily. ‘If only I—’

  “Push,” the command halted him mid-thought.

  “Ah?” Code’s eyes snapped up. Terror was already inches away, palm driving toward his torso again.

  Another destructive wave tore through the air. ‘Shit!’ Code hissed. He twisted instinctively and dodged the attack by centimeters.

  The edge of the blast grazed his stomach, then obliterated a distant building in a cloud of dust and splinters. ‘Jeez, that could’ve been me,’ Code reeled, turning back.

  “Next,” Terror whispered. He crouched and thrust his palm forward again.

  ‘Fuck! He never left!’ Code gasped, trying to spin away, but it was too late.

  ‘I can’t dodge,’ he realized. He spun his body to shield his stomach.

  Terror touched his right ribs.

  “Push.”

  Blood boiled inside Code’s veins. Bones crumpled inward. Flesh shredded apart. Then his waist twisted grotesquely before tearing open in a spray of blood, as the force burst out of the other side.

  Code staggered back in agony. ‘My ribs,’ he winced, staring at the injury.

  But Terror wasn’t finished. “Again,” he said, crouching for another strike. “Push!”

  “Fuck!” Code's head spun. He couldn't maintain his balance due to the intense pain.

  Terror's palm was already coming. But just before contact—

  “Navigation Sorcery: Disorientation!” Finn shouted as a wave of tenzen surged from him and struck Terror in a blink.

  Terror glanced at the incoming tide and tried to leap, but the wave hit and shoved him back a few steps.

  “Arrgh… arrgh.” Finn panted, heart pounding. “Code!” He raced over.

  “Man, if you had a move like that, use it sooner,” Code rasped between pained breaths as he clutched his side. Blood poured from his injured waist, bone and muscle exposed.

  “Y-your wounds!” Finn cried, reaching for it.

  “Ow! Easy!” Code winced.

  “S-sorry,” Finn stammered. “I think I can stop the bleeding.” He placed a palm over the wound as a soft green light glowed.

  “Arrgh.” Code sighed and looked at Terror, who stood motionless. “What’s wrong with him? Is he out?”

  “Yeah,” Finn nodded. “Disorientation floods the target’s brain with my tenzen and scrambles their thoughts.”

  “Damn, that’s actually cool,” Code said with a weak grin.

  “I-It’s not that great. The duration depends on how strong the demon is,” Finn explained.

  “How long we got?” a calm voice asked.

  “Heh?” “Huh?” They turned.

  Terror stared back, unaffected. “Did you really think such a feeble technique would hold me long?” he asked.

  “Bastard,” Code hissed. “Are you finished?” he asked Finn.

  “Y-yeah,” Finn answered as the green light faded.

  “How do we beat this guy now?” Code muttered. ‘I still don’t understand his power,’ he thought, scanning Terror. ‘But every time he says “push,” a destructive force follows.’

  “This is a pain. If only Hina were here.” The words left his mouth before he could stop them. He shook his head. “What’s wrong with me? Relying on others isn’t so manly.”

  “If I can figure out how his ability works, I might be able to beat him,” he said, crouching slightly. “Oi, Finn,” he called.

  “Code,” Finn said at the same moment.

  “Uh?” Code turned. “You first.”

  “Okay. I think I have a plan to beat him,” Finn said.

  “You do?” Code’s eyes lit up. “Finally being useful, huh?”

  “That’s kinda harsh,” Finn mumbled.

  “Arrgh, ignore me,” Code said, completely unapologetic. “What’s the plan?”

  Finn nodded. “I can see his attacks before they land.”

  “I don’t follow,” Code said.

  “It’s a navigation technique. Four-dimensional perception,” Finn explained. “It lets me see how attacks distort the threads of reality.”

  “Thread?” Code repeated, still confused.

  “Exactly. From what I saw when he was hitting you—”

  “So I was the guinea pig,” Code grumbled.

  Finn ignored him and continued. “He controls gravity.”

  “Gravity?!” Code exclaimed, glancing at Terror.

  Terror already stood in stance, Rubik’s cube floating and pulsing above his head with steady click-clacks.

  His lips parted. “Duality Effect: Oblivion Blast!”