The air burned with tension.
The man before them stood motionless, his blade of black fire humming with a low, dangerous resonance. His presence was suffocating—like the canyon itself held its breath.
Rika was the first to speak, her flames flickering nervously around her fingers. "Another one of Ranshin's toys?"
The man's gaze cut to her, sharp and cold. "Ranshin? I am no servant of his. I stand for something far greater."
Mizu stepped forward, blue energy curling around his arms. "Then why are you standing in our way?"
"Because you carry what isn't yours." The man pointed his blade toward Mizu's chest, at the glowing blue pendant. "That flame… was meant for me."
Sayos, ever reckless, laughed to break the tension. "Oh, great. Another self-proclaimed chosen one. Can we fight now, or do we need a long tragic speech first?"
The man's eyes flashed. "You joke to hide fear. But you won't laugh when you understand what that flame truly is."
He raised his sword. "Let's see if you're worthy of keeping it."
Without another word, he lunged.
The ground split where he struck, a wave of black fire racing toward Mizu. Mizu countered with a burst of water energy, steam exploding around them as the elements collided.
"Stay back!" Mizu shouted to the others.
"No chance!" Rika yelled, hurling fireballs toward the man. But each flame vanished the moment it neared him, swallowed by his black fire.
"Damn it, he's absorbing my attacks!" Rika cursed.
Sayos darted around, launching razor-sharp wind currents. The man parried each one with a flick of his blade, moving with deadly precision.
Lucy growled, leaping forward in her wolf form, aiming for his unguarded side. But with a single swipe, he knocked her aside, sending her skidding across the stone floor.
"Lucy!" Rika ran to her.
Mizu gritted his teeth, dodging another swing of that cursed blade. Every time their powers clashed, he felt something strange—like his own flame was… resonating with the man's.
The man seemed to sense it too. "You feel it, don't you? The pull? Because that flame was forged for me. You are only its thief."
"I didn't steal anything!" Mizu countered, striking with a surge of water-laced punches. The man blocked easily, but for a moment, their energies locked—and Mizu glimpsed something.
A memory.
Not his.
A burning temple. Warriors kneeling before a massive crystal. And this man—kneeling among them, holding out his hand toward the same blue flame pendant Mizu now wore.
The vision shattered as the man shoved Mizu back.
"You saw it," the man said. His voice was no longer cold—just bitter. "I was chosen. Until they changed everything. Until they gave it… to you."
Rika stepped in, fire swirling around her. "Who gave it to him? Who are you?"
The man hesitated.
"Mikado," he finally said, his voice quieter. "My name was Mikado… before everything was taken."
Sayos raised an eyebrow. "Great, so you have a name. Can we—" He ducked just as a blast of black fire shot past him.
"This isn't a debate!" Mikado roared. "If you can't prove you're worthy, you don't deserve to breathe."
The fight intensified.
Mizu barely kept up as Mikado unleashed a barrage of strikes. His movements weren't just powerful—they were precise, calculated. It felt like fighting a mirror of what Mizu could one day become.
Honkai, who had been silent the entire time, finally stepped forward. "Mizu. He's stronger because his energy is stable. Yours is still… conflicted."
"What do you want me to do about that?!" Mizu shouted, dodging another slash.
"Stop holding back," Honkai said simply.
Mizu's eyes widened. Holding back? He wasn't—was he?
He remembered the figure in the mirror chamber, the words whispered in his mind. "Your fire was never meant to destroy."
He closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, focusing on the pendant at his chest. His energy shifted, flowing differently—less like a weapon, more like… a part of him.
When he opened his eyes, his blue flame glowed brighter, no longer flickering with hesitation.
Mikado stopped, watching him carefully. "So… you're finally listening to it."
Mizu lunged, faster than before. Their attacks collided in a shockwave of steam and fire. This time, Mizu didn't retreat—he pushed forward, driving Mikado back step by step.
Rika smirked, flames lighting up her face. "That's it, Mizu! Show him!"
Sayos laughed despite the danger. "About damn time!"
Lucy, limping slightly, growled in agreement.
Mikado's blade clashed against Mizu's water-formed strikes, sparks flying. "You're stronger… but not enough!"
He forced Mizu back with a blast of dark energy, sending him skidding across the ground.
Breathing hard, Mizu wiped blood from his lip. "I'm not done."
"You should be," Mikado said, lowering his blade slightly. His tone had changed again—less anger, more… sadness. "I wasn't sent to kill you. I came to see if you could carry it. And now I know…"
He turned his back, walking toward the black crystal. "You're not ready."
"Wait!" Mizu called out.
Mikado paused. "When you are… when you finally understand what that flame truly is… find me. Or you'll never survive what's coming."
Before anyone could stop him, Mikado stepped into the shadows and vanished, leaving only the humming of the violet crystal.
Silence.
Sayos broke it first. "So… are we gonna talk about how that guy just kicked our asses, or…?"
Rika ignored him, placing a hand on Mizu's shoulder. "You okay?"
Mizu stared at the crystal. "No. But we don't have time to think about it."
Honkai nodded grimly. "Take the crystal. We need to move."
As Mizu reached for it, the crystal pulsed once—then dimmed, like it recognized him.
The moment his hand touched it, the chamber trembled again.
Lucy's ears flattened. "We're not alone anymore."
From the shadows behind them… something massive moved.
To be continued in Chapter 33 – "The Beast That Crawls."