Boom!
The ground trembled as two fists, one glowing yellow, the other shimmering green, collided with thunderous force.
Kirara's eyes darted across the courtyard, following the blur of motion as two Spirit Riders clashed in a dazzling display of speed and power. Both figures were clad in ornate armor, one radiating with a viridian glow, the other pulsing with golden light.
The green Rider wielded a spear whose blade was exaggeratedly broad, its tip forged around a pulsating emerald core that throbbed with energy. Every thrust cut the air like a thunderclap.
Opposite him, the yellow Rider carried a weapon that seemed almost absurd at first glance, a massive ship anchor, far too large for any normal human to swing. Yet in her hands it moved with frightening ease, as though weight didn't matter.
With her hand inside the hole of the handle, she spun the anchor around her wrist like a fan. Each swing dragged the air behind it, creating pressure waves that split stone and shattered flagstones beneath their feet.
When their weapons met, the clash birthed deafening sonic booms that echoed across the courtyard, leaving craters etched into the earth with every strike. The once-pristine grounds now looked like a battlefield scarred by miniature meteors.
At last, the green Rider lunged recklessly, his spear darting forward in a streak of light. But the overextension proved fatal. In a single fluid motion, the yellow Rider hooked her anchor around the spear's shaft. With a sharp yank, she dragged him forward, closing the gap between them in an instant.
The green rider stumbled forward, caught off guard by the sudden pull.
Before he could recover, the yellow rider twisted her grip and swung the anchor upward. The sheer force of the blow knocked the spear from his hands and sent him skidding across the cratered courtyard, his armor screeching against stone.
Kirara hummed as dust and shards of rock sprayed out from the impact.
The green rider was quick to rise, though. Planting his foot, he summoned his spear back into his hand with a burst of green light. His visor seemed to darken. The glowing core of the weapon pulsed brighter, responding to his fury.
The yellow rider only tilted her head amusedly. Resting the anchor lazily against her shoulder, she tilted her head, almost taunting. Sparks of yellow lightning danced across the weapon's edges, crackling faintly in the air.
When the green rider charged again, the ground split under his feet from the force. His spear thrust forward, faster and heavier than before, aimed straight for her chest.
This time, the yellow rider didn't evade. She swung her anchor down in a brutal arc.
The two weapons collided.
The resulting shockwave tore through the courtyard, a blast of force so violent it shattered the nearby stone wall into rubble.
Kirara shielded her eyes from the blast.
Both riders stood locked in the clash, neither giving an inch, energy pouring off their weapons in waves.
The crater widened with every passing second, the ground groaning beneath the strain. Overhead, the sky churned into chaos, clouds twisting as wind and lightning elements collided, birthing a violent storm.
A sharp buzzer blared through the storm, cutting clean through the roar of the battlefield. Instantly, the clash ended.
Both riders disengaged at once, springing back to opposite ends of the ruined courtyard. For a heartbeat, silence reigned, then the green rider lost his footing and dropped onto his rear with a grunt.
"Damn… my body's still stinging, even though the fight's over. It hurts, man." His armor gleamed briefly before dissolving into light. In its place stood a brown-haired teen, scorch marks scattered across his arms and shoulders, his chest rising and falling heavily.
Across from him, the yellow rider's armor also shimmered away. A young woman with fiery red hair emerged, her expression calm despite the storm still brewing above. A faint cut split her lower lip, the smallest trace of blood glinting under the dim light.
"If it's any consolation, kid," she said evenly, wiping the blood away with her thumb, "your attack did graze me."
These were Rick and Azeeza. Two of the newly formed Spirit Riders.
"Better than last time," Kirara finally said, her voice carrying easily through the ruined courtyard. "You lasted longer, Rick."
The boy grimaced but nodded. "Yeah. Barely."
Azeeza rolled her shoulders, the anchor vanishing into particles of light before resting back within her spirit bond. She exhaled, lightning still faintly snapping across her skin. "He's improving. But he hesitates when pressured. That's why I took his weapon so easily."
Rick scowled. "Also because you used to be an officer of the state, Miss Air Force captain? You were already good at fighting."
Azeeza let out a long sigh, brushing a strand of red hair behind her ear. "Trust me, kid… that's not exactly something I'm proud of anymore."
Rick's expression faltered, his shoulders slumping as guilt tugged at him. He lowered his head, chastened.
Trying to soften the mood, Azeeza's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "Honestly, compared to that place, this world is way better. Not to mention…" her fingers sparked faintly with golden arcs, "the lightning."
Rick let out a small chuckle. "Yeah. Way better than living off the streets back home." He rolled onto his back, staring up at the swirling clouds above, before kicking up and bouncing to his feet with renewed energy. "The wind's cool too."
Kirara, who had been watching quietly, allowed herself a small smile. "Glad to know you two are alright. Honestly, you're taking this way better than we did when we first arrived."
She turned back toward the others waiting behind her, the rest of the Spirit Riders, lined up in the battered courtyard like soldiers awaiting inspection.
"Alright," she said, her tone firm but encouraging. "Who's next?"
On the far left stood a towering man with long black hair that cascaded over his shoulders. He wore a flowing white robe that carried the dignified cut of old traditions. His hands were folded neatly in front of him, posture straight, face calm, almost unreadable.
This was Liu Fei, an IT technician back on Earth. A steady, dependable man who had once spent his days untangling office cables and troubleshooting screens, never expecting to die and wake up in another world.
Next to him stood a younger man with short black hair. He wore a loose, sleeveless blue top and equally loose black shorts that gave him a relaxed air. This was Andrew, a college student in Dubai before his summoning.
Beside Andrew was a girl of short stature with neatly braided hair. Despite her small frame, there was a spark of defiance in her eyes. This was Alexa, once a high school student back on Earth, caught too young in the tide of fate that had brought her here.
Not far from her stood a Japanese boy, roughly the same age as Rick. His hair was dark, his expression calm but watchful. This was Tetsu, a high school student before his life was cut short.
Next to Tetsu was a tall, striking young man with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore a long blue coat that gave him a dignified air. This was Eugene, who had just been admitted into college when his life ended and his new one began.
That was the last of the summoned humans from Earth.
Standing beside Eugene was an Orc girl, her frame wrapped in a hakama, with white bandages coiled tightly around her arms and chest. This was Odessa, broad-shouldered and fierce, her tusks just barely visible when she grinned.
Next came one of the two Dragonewts of the team, Floyd. Though he had taken on a more human form like Gaara, many dragon traits still clung to him, his skin bore patches of scales, and a greyish-blue tail flicked behind him with every shift of his weight.
The other Dragonewt, Fern, leaned more toward humanity in appearance, save for the pair of reddish horns curling from his head. His calm demeanor made him seem almost ordinary, if not for the quiet fire that lingered in his gaze.
Beside Fern stood a childlike girl dressed in a purple leafy gown. Her sharp teeth gleamed whenever she smiled, and her tiny wings fluttered with restless energy. This was Tingle, one of the thousand sprites that resided in Maple Tree, a mischievous but fiercely loyal little thing.
Next was Calen, a dark elf with sharp features and a calculating stare. Once a special soldier in Crimara's military, he now walked a different path. As a student of Shifu, he was arguably the most skilled combatant among the Spirit Riders.
Finally, standing tall with a radiant grin, was Shea, a blue-haired rabbit woman. A massive hammer rested casually across her shoulders.
Kirara's gaze swept over the lineup, lingering on each Spirit Rider in turn. The group was diverse, a strange patchwork of Earth-born souls, now Maple Tree's own people.
Her eyes settled back on Liu Fei.
"You first," she said simply.
The tall man inclined his head without hesitation. His steps were measured as he walked toward the center of the ruined courtyard, the folds of his white robe swaying lightly with his movement.
Rick muttered under his breath as he stepped aside. "Great. Mister Zen himself."
Azeeza smirked faintly.
Liu Fei reached the center and let out a slow breath. His armor unfolded around him in a shimmer of pale blue light, spirit metal like threads forming across his limbs until he stood encased in his spirit rider form. The transformation was smooth, almost serene, as though he had rehearsed it a thousand times.
In his hands appeared his spirit weapon, a long staff capped with twin crescent blades that curved inward, like a sharpened tuning fork forged of pale steel. Blue mist crawled faintly along its edges.
Kirara tilted her head. She hadn't seen Liu Fei wield it in earnest yet.
"Who'll face him?" she asked.
Before anyone else could volunteer, Odessa cracked her knuckles and stepped forward. The Orc girl's grin widened, her tusks showing as she hefted her hakama sleeves up to her elbows. "I'll take him. Been itching to show what I can do."
"Come to think of it, isn't she the only Orc in the capital?" Shea muttered with an amused chuckle, shifting the massive hammer on her shoulder.
Tingle bobbed her head eagerly. "Yeah! Most of the orcs live in Raja or one of the other states. She must've been really something to be chosen here." The sprite puffed her chest, wings fluttering. "Maybe she's almost as strong as me!" she added proudly, fists raised.
Shea only laughed softly, her gaze never leaving the courtyard.
At the center, Odessa strode forward, the faint crackle of lightning from the earlier duel still lingering in the air. Crimson light flared around her as her Spirit Rider armor manifested, layering across her frame in heavy plates. The design was broad-shouldered and thick along the arms, emphasizing her natural power and giving her the look of a walking fortress.
But then, her form shifted. The towering orc frame compressed, reshaping until she stood closer to a human silhouette, though even so, her armored figure still loomed over most at well over seven feet.
In her hands materialized her weapon: a pair of colossal gauntlets, their bulk absurd against her now-slimmer form. They looked comical at a glance, too large for her hands, but the air around them vibrated with promise, every strike carrying the weight of a mountain, enough to shatter stone with ease.
For a moment, silence hung.
Then Odessa lunged.
The ground cracked under her first step as she closed the distance in a heartbeat, fist cocked back like a cannonball ready to fire.
Liu Fei pivoted. The staff spun in his hands, pale blades humming as they caught her gauntlet mid-swing. Sparks exploded from the clash. Odessa snarled, pressing forward with brute force, but Liu Fei flowed with her momentum, turning her strike aside and stepping past her guard in one seamless motion.
His staff lashed out, the crescent edge kissing the side of her armored ribs. The blow landed with a crack, although Odessa didn't even budge even as a shockwave erupted from her other side.
The courtyard erupted in cheers and shouts from the watching Riders.
"Whoa!" Andrew barked, eyes wide. "First strike goes to Liu Fei!"
Odessa only laughed, her helmet muffling the sound, shrugging off the sting as smoke curled from the spot in her armor. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
Her gauntlets flared with crimson light, and she charged again.
This time Liu Fei moved faster. The staff whirled like a wheel of light, his calm expression never breaking as he turned her wild power into his rhythm.
Odessa released a flurry of blow but was perfectly parried without fail.
Kirara watched closely, arms crossed. Despite the fury of Odessa's attacks, Liu Fei's movements were steady, his focus unshakable. He wasn't the fastest, nor the strongest, but he flowed like water around each strike, answering every blow with exacting control.
Odessa leapt into the air, her visor flashing once as she called out, "[Crimson Eater]!"
Flames burst from her back like wings, twisting and folding until they formed two enormous flaming maws. With a guttural hiss, the maws lunged straight for Liu Fei.
He barely managed to dodge, springing sideways just as the ground beneath him dissolved into molten stone. The flaming maws were relentless, chewing through solid earth as though it were water.
Rick's eyes widened. "How hot are those flames!?"
The maws chased after Liu Fei, snapping hungrily, until he planted his foot and spun his tuning fork spear. With a precise swing, he roared, "[Icy Burst]!"
A violent eruption of frost exploded outward, swallowing the flaming maws whole. The collision birthed a cloud of steam that rolled across the courtyard in a boiling wave.
Andrew whistled low. "Their fight's way cooler than yours, Rick. Maybe I should take Azeeza on next, since you couldn't even make her use anything fancy."
Rick clicked his tongue. "Just wait till I learn to use my skill properly. Then you'll see."
Andrew chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Sure, sure."
As the steam cleared, the two flaming maws hovered in the air, now coated in a thin layer of frost.
"Look, the ice is melting!" Tingle shouted gleefully. "Go, Odessa!"
And she was right, the flames were already eating through the frost, droplets hissing away as the heat reasserted itself. But it was too late.
From the mist, Liu Fei appeared like a phantom, his movements calm and precise. Odessa gasped as he slid his spear beneath her footing at the exact moment she stepped down. With a sharp yank, he swept her leg out, flipping her sideways through the air.
As she twisted helplessly, parallel to the ground, Liu Fei spun his spear and thrust upward. "[Glacial Peak]," he intoned softly.
The earth rumbled. A massive spike of ice erupted from below, spearing into the sky with Odessa trapped at its summit. She flailed for a moment before the frost swallowed her midsection, leaving her dangling, suspended in defeat.
The courtyard fell quiet, save for the hiss of dissipating steam. The fight had ended as swiftly as it began.
Odessa coughed once, then laughed, her breath visible against the cold air. "Alright. Alright. You got me."
Liu Fei exhaled slowly, his staff dissolving into light as his armor faded away. With composed dignity, he bowed, as though nothing remarkable had just occurred.
Kirara's lips curved faintly, impressed by his poise.
"Aww, man," Tingle whined, flitting in the air. "Odessa almost had him! How did he get so close without anyone even noticing?"
"That's one of your skills, isn't it?" Eugene's calm voice cut through the chatter, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
Liu Fei glanced at him briefly but said nothing.
Eugene continued, his eyes sharp. "You can pass through mist, or anything made from water—without detection."
By now the ice had shattered, and Odessa had landed lightly on her feet. She dismissed her armor, returning to her normal form, curiosity flashing in her eyes as she stepped closer to listen.
Eugene smirked, locking eyes with Liu Fei. "No… that's not the full picture. Something like teleportation. You become mist itself, instantaneous movement through fog, steam, vapor. That's how you struck her before she even realized."
Kirara tilted her head, thoughtful. "That's… very intuitive." She of course knew the skills of her subordinates thanks to Eve, but she hadn't expected Eugene to piece it together so quickly from a single clash.
Eugene allowed himself a confident smile. "Of course." He offered no further explanation.
"…Alright then." Kirara turned back to the group, her voice steady. "Who's next?"
"I am." Eugene stepped forward without hesitation, his coat fluttering with the motion. His expression was calm, but determination radiated from him.
Kirara arched a brow. "Oh? Already? Very well. Who wants to join him..."
"Actually," Eugene interrupted smoothly, "I'd like to test myself against you, Commander."
Kirara blinked, caught off guard. "…What?"
Before she could say more, a brilliant golden light erupted around Eugene. His form was engulfed, shifting as armor materialized piece by piece, gilded plates gleaming like a radiant sun. A holy brilliance wrapped around him forming his helmet, until he stood transformed, resplendent and untouchable.
He thrust a hand skyward, his voice ringing with conviction. "Light of Justice!"
The radiance intensified, so bright it was as though the sun itself had descended, casting a divine spotlight upon him.
The Golden Spirit Rider stood revealed, his armor blazing with holy radiance.