Sasaki's figure vanished in a flash.
Before Alfie could react, he reappeared directly behind the boy, reaching out to seize his shoulder.
But Lucy had already anticipated his movement.
"Don't you dare touch my student!"
She activated Switch Mode, appearing behind Sasaki in an instant. Her left hand caught his wrist just before he could reach Alfie, while her right hand dismissed her sword.
Without hesitation, she pulled his arm aside and drove her fist straight into his stomach.
BOOM!
The impact sent Sasaki flying several metres backward. He crashed onto the ground and slid across the dirt, digging his heels into the earth until he finally came to a stop.
He remained bent forward, one hand pressed against his stomach.
Then, slowly, he straightened up.
A grin spread across his face.
That was a good hit.
He brushed the dirt from his shoulder without taking his eyes off Lucy.
I didn't expect you to be this strong.
A short distance away, Lyon watched the exchange in silence. His eyes narrowed as he carefully studied Lucy's movements.
Exca said she was a man when she visited Guhan... Was that a disguise?
He paused, reconsidering.
No. What if her current appearance is the disguise? Either way, something about this woman doesn't add up.
Lyon slowly stepped forward.
"Hold on, Sasa... Exca... whatever you're calling yourself these days."
He sighed after correcting himself.
"This woman is strong. We should at least try talking before turning this place into a battlefield."
Sasaki glanced at him but said nothing.
Lyon turned his attention to Lucy and raised his hands slightly.
"Ma'am, I understand that this situation might look suspicious, but we've spent days tracking you down."
He paused, carefully choosing his next words.
"Our Special Darkside Knight needs something from the boy. All he requires is a portion of the boy's Renshi to unlock his bloodline. Once that's done, he'll let him go."
Lyon maintained his calm expression, making no attempt to attack.
I'm trying to settle this peacefully. All I'm asking is for you to cooperate.
"No way that's going to happen!"
Rebekah stepped forward, drawing her sword. Anger was written all over her face.
"You're not taking Alfie anywhere. You Shinras are all the same. You only care about yourselves. Go to hell."
Lyon let out a quiet sigh.
This isn't going to be easy.
Alfie stepped beside Rebekah, his expression turning serious.
"Your Special Darkside Knight wants to steal my Renshi just to awaken his bloodline?"
He tightened his grip on his sword.
But why?
"That's not real strength. If I hadn't been born with this Renshi, I'd never steal someone else's just to become stronger."
Moving slightly in front of Rebekah, he stared directly at Lyon.
"You're not getting anything from me."
"Both of you, step back," Lucy ordered firmly. "Don't attack unless you have to. Focus on protecting yourselves."
Alfie and Rebekah reluctantly obeyed, though neither lowered their guard.
Lucy turned toward Lyon.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Pro Darkside Knight, but I can't allow you to take this boy."
Lyon's expression shifted.
Wait... How does she know I'm a Pro Darkside Knight?
He studied her more carefully.
She's no ordinary woman.
Lucy raised both hands. Renshi gathered around her fingers, extending outward until two blades formed from her palms. Their edges shimmered with concentrated energy.
She lowered her stance, holding one blade forward while keeping the other close to her body.
"I'm giving you one last chance to leave."
Lyon's eyes narrowed.
Far away, in the Kingdom of Guhan, Exca's expression twisted with rage.
---
Inside the Obsidian Castle of the Kingdom of Guhan...
Exca abruptly rose from his seat, his fists clenched and his teeth grinding against each other.
"Damn you, Lyon! DAMN YOU!"
His furious roar echoed throughout the chamber.
How dare you make me look like a fool outside my own kingdom?
Through his connection with Sasaki, Exca had witnessed everything. He had seen Lucy strike Sasaki, heard Lyon attempt to negotiate, and watched the situation gradually slip beyond his control.
He couldn't tolerate it any longer.
Reaching into his storage ring, Exca pulled out an ancient scroll.
The moment he released it, the scroll unfurled in midair. Strange markings covered its surface, with a large palm symbol inscribed at the centre.
A powerful Renshical aura radiated from it.
Exca raised his left hand and pressed his palm against the symbol.
The markings immediately lit up.
His consciousness plunged into the connection he shared with Sasaki.
"Infinite Casting... Begin."
---
Inside Sasaki's Consciousness...
Golden light spread through the darkness.
Renshi surged in every direction as a massive golden triangle materialised beneath Exca's spiritual projection. Its shape resembled the Mind-Control Circle associated with his legendary abilities.
The entire space trembled beneath the growing pressure.
At the centre of the triangle stood Exca's spiritual form.
"There's no way I'm allowing my name to be disgraced."
Back in the physical world, Exca's real body began to tremble as the technique drained his Renshi. Sweat streamed down his face, and his breathing grew increasingly strained.
"This technique will restore the power Sasaki possessed as the Reaper," he muttered through gritted teeth.
His knees nearly buckled, but he forced himself to remain standing.
"Man or woman, it doesn't matter. He won't lose this fight."
---
Back at the Forest Border...
Sasaki's body suddenly went rigid.
A surge of golden Renshi erupted from him, spreading across the ground and sending loose leaves swirling into the air.
The earth beneath his feet cracked under the immense pressure.
Lucy immediately tightened her grip on her dual blades.
What the hell is this?
She took a cautious step backward, keeping her eyes fixed on Sasaki as his aura continued to change.
Slowly, he raised his head.
His expression was no longer the same, and the golden aura surrounding him grew stronger by the second.
Lyon's face darkened.
Damn it, Exca. What reckless thing are you doing now?
He glanced briefly at Alfie and Rebekah before turning his attention back to Lucy.
I'll leave the boy to Sasaki. He won't kill him... probably.
Lyon frowned at the thought.
I can't take any chances. I need to deal with this woman first.
He raised his right hand.
Silver Renshi gathered around his palm, gradually taking the shape of a blade that gleamed in the morning light.
"I guess there's no other choice," he said. "I'll defeat you and take the boy."
Without warning, Lyon activated Switch Mode.
He disappeared and reappeared directly in front of Lucy, bringing his silver blade down in a powerful diagonal strike.
CLANG!
Lucy intercepted the attack with her left blade.
The collision sent dirt scattering from beneath their feet, but she held her ground.
Before Lyon could pull his weapon back, Lucy twisted her wrist and swung her right blade upward, aiming for his side.
Lyon immediately activated Switch Mode again.
His figure vanished from her reach and reappeared several metres away, narrowly escaping the counterattack.
Lucy turned to face him, keeping both blades raised.
He's quick, too. I can't afford to focus on just one of his movements.
Lyon adjusted his grip on the silver sword.
"Not bad," he admitted.
"You're not exactly disappointing either," Lucy replied coldly.
They moved again.
Their blades collided in a series of sharp clashes, each fighter searching for an opening while refusing to give the other an advantage.
---
Meanwhile, Several Metres Away...
The golden aura surrounding Sasaki suddenly faded.
For a brief moment, everything went still.
Then his eyes opened.
They had turned a deep crimson.
His Renshi followed suit, transforming into a blood-red aura that spread around his body.
Sasaki lowered his gaze toward his right hand.
A mass of red Renshi gathered in his palm. It stretched outward, gradually hardening until it formed an enormous sword, nearly ten times the size of a standard Shinra weapon.
The weapon was so massive that its weight drove the tip into the earth beside him, carving a deep groove through the soil.
Sasaki rested the enormous sword against his shoulder and smiled.
"Now this is more like it."
Across from him, Alfie stared at the weapon.
His throat tightened.
He's coming for me.
Rebekah gripped her sword with both hands.
"That thing is terrifying..."
Alfie glanced at her before drawing his own sword from the scabbard on his back.
"Don't be scared, Honey Badger. I won't let him hurt you."
Rebekah turned toward him, irritation immediately crossing her face.
"Shut up, you idiot. You're the one he wants. Master is already fighting that other Shinra, so we need to protect ourselves."
Alfie gave a nervous laugh.
"Haha... Yeah, I know."
He shifted his feet and raised his sword, trying to steady his breathing.
That pressure is no joke. If I rush in carelessly, he'll take me down before I can even react.
His eyes briefly moved toward Rebekah.
But you know what? I had a feeling something like this would happen.
Rebekah frowned.
What are you talking about?
Alfie grinned, though his gaze remained fixed on Sasaki.
"Remember how much we've trained? We've gotten stronger since then. So let's show him what we can do."
He shifted into a defensive stance beside her.
"Together."
Rebekah's expression hardened. She adjusted her grip on her sword and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
Don't get in my way, Alfie.
"Same to you, Honey Badger."
Sasaki watched the two students prepare themselves. His crimson eyes moved from Alfie to Rebekah before settling on the boy he had been ordered to capture.
His grin widened.
"Well, then. Let's see how long you two can last."
He lifted the enormous sword from his shoulder.