The fog shifted, curling away to reveal Kurosai standing tall, his sharp eyes locked on Nazan.
The first raindrops fell, slow at first, then steady, the sound of water mixing with the distant groans of the wounded and the creak of collapsing walls.
"I'm gonna kill you," Nazan said, voice steady despite the blood dripping from his chin.
Kurosai smiled like a predator finding a worthy meal.
"Good. I was getting bored."
He rushed forward with a burst of speed, his body twisting mid-air. His palm opened and came for Nazan's face.
Nazan stepped aside, his own hand smacking Kurosai's away.
"You think you can kill me, brat?" Kurosai's voice was low and almost playful.
His palm slashed forward again. This time, he summoned tiny black bombs that scattered on the floor and latched onto Nazan's jacket and arm.
"Touch that and you'll lose your arm," Kurosai said with a grin.
Nazan surged forward to land a blow, but Kurosai caught his punch and shoved his burning palm into Nazan's chest. The skin sizzled. Pain stabbed deep.
Nazan stumbled back, and one of the bombs detonated. The blast hurled him into the rain-filled air.
Before he could hit the wall, Kurosai's hand caught his shirt. Laughing, Kurosai swung him around and flung him violently through the shattered windows of a nearby building.
Nazan crashed through shelves on the fourth floor, books and concrete chunks raining over him.
Kurosai strolled in through the hole in the wall, cracking his knuckles.
"Still breathing? Good. Don't disappoint me yet."
Nazan tried to block the incoming blow, but Kurosai seized his arm and dragged him across the floor, smashing him into a second room. Fists pounded into him, each strike heavier than the last.
The floor gave way, and Nazan fell into the lower level. His body hit hard, but before he could move, Kurosai landed beside him, grinning like a man enjoying every second.
"Is that all you've got?"
Suddenly, a shimmering wall of energy slammed into Kurosai's chest. His grin faltered as the force hurled him back.
He snarled and rose to his feet, but another barrier hit him from behind, making him angrier.
"So you're still alive?" Kurosai said.
The barrier teacher emerged from the shadows.
"I will make you pay for what you've done," the teacher said.
Kurosai stood up, flew into the air, and launched himself at the barrier teacher.
They exchanged punches, dodging each other's attacks.
Kurosai punched the barrier teacher, flew high into the air, and threw him to the ground.
The barrier teacher crashed into the ground, shattering his bones. He stood up, angry.
"What? You're not gonna give up?"
Kurosai said.
The barrier teacher created a small barrier ball and caught Kurosai. Kurosai tried to get out.
The barrier teacher controlled the ball and slammed it hard to the ground, then used a barrier wall to pin Kurosai down.
Kurosai was trapped and couldn't use his power properly. He tried to unleash explosions, but the barrier wall wouldn't break.
The barrier teacher pressed harder to pin Kurosai down.
Kurosai closed his eyes and opened his palms. Suddenly, they lit up and created a small ball. The small ball's energy surged into Kurosai's body, making it heat up.
The ball shrank each time until Kurosai touched both palms and said,
"Suction of Destruction..." His voice was a growl of excitement.
The sphere in his palms grew brighter and brighter until the air hummed with force.
BOOM!
The explosion tore through the floor and shattered the barrier. Shards of light vanished into the smoke, destroying half of the school, as the teacher was blasted backward.
Meanwhile
Through the haze, Nazan's voice broke in.
"Hey, you monster."
Dark Shadow's form appeared faintly in the fog.
"Who do you think you're talking to, brat?"
"I'm your owner," Nazan said.
Dark Shadow laughed, the sound cold and hollow.
"I need your help," Nazan said.
"Why would I help you?"
Dark Shadow replied.
"You have to pay rent, buddy. You've been living in this body for years. It's time to pay."
Nazan said.
"Did I even ask to be here in the first place?"
Dark Shadow replied.
"I don't know. If I get killed, you probably die."
Nazan said.
"You said probably, so you are not sure, and I don't believe you."
Dark Shadow replied again.
"Well, you're not sure either if you will survive."
Nazan said.
"...Okay, brat. I will help you. Just listen to me."
Dark Shadow said.
"Deal."
When the smoke cleared, Kurosai stood facing the teacher, eyes blazing.
"You were worth fighting..." His grin stretched wide.
His gaze shifted as he sensed the massive presence behind him. Nazan stood there, Dark Shadow looming at his side.
"So you're still alive. Finally showing your power," Kurosai said, almost delighted.
"Let's do this, Dark Shadow," Nazan said, cracking his fists.
Dark Shadow's eyes narrowed.
"Didn't I tell you not to order me around?"
Both launched forward. Kurosai swung for Nazan's head, but Nazan ducked under. Dark Shadow's mouth opened wide, releasing a blazing bomb.
Kurosai dodged at the last second as the explosion lit up the night. He laughed like a madman, then Nazan slammed into him with a punch.
The collision shook the building. Kurosai wiped the blood from his lip and smiled wider.
"I like your powers, kid. I'm going to take them for myself."
Before he could strike, gunfire rang out. A bullet pierced Kurosai's back.
He twisted his head, spotting the gun teacher in the shadows.
"You... are dead."
He lunged for the teacher, but Nazan grabbed his arm, holding him in place.
Dark Shadow saw the opening and hurled another massive bomb at point-blank range. The explosion tore into Kurosai's side. The gun teacher kept firing, each shot forcing Kurosai back.
"Enough!" Kurosai roared, releasing a surge of blasts. Dark Shadow shielded Nazan, taking the brunt of it, then merged back into him.
Breathing hard, Kurosai gathered his strength and unleashed one final massive explosion, breaking free and charging the gun teacher.
Nazan was thrown into another building, too weak to stand.
Kurosai smashed the gun, choking the teacher with one hand. But before he could finish, a spear of pure barrier energy pierced his chest.
The barrier teacher stood there, face and body burned. He detonated the barrier spear, making it explode inside Kurosai's body.
Kurosai bled.
Smoke and blood filled the air. Kurosai dropped to one knee... then laughed.
"Is that all you've got?"
Kurosai flew at the barrier teacher and threw him into the gun teacher.
Kurosai punched the barrier teacher and gun teacher in the chest and exploded them.
He choked the barrier teacher by the throat and crushed the life from him.
"I'll sell you after this."
Kurosai turned around and exploded the gun teacher's chest, making him bleed.
Sirens wailed in the distance. The building began to collapse. Kurosai looked toward the sound and felt the approach of someone powerful.
Kurosai got angry and tried to get the bodies of the two but didn't have time.
"I'll be back for you, kid," he said with a grin before flying off and vanishing into the rain.
Meanwhile
Nazan crawled from the rubble, trying to go after Kurosai. He got tired and bled so much he sat against a wall.
Around him, unconscious students lay scattered. Others hid, too scared to speak.
Dark Shadow appeared beside him.
"Why didn't you use your human form?" Nazan asked.
"I can't. You're too injured, low stamina, brat," Dark Shadow said. "And I thought you were gonna kill him."
"Let's team up again soon."
Nazan said.
"No."
Dark Shadow replied calmly.
"Why would I team up with a dumbass?"
"And rescue is coming. Don't die or this whole mission of mine is pointless."
He vanished into the shadows, and Nazan's vision faded to black.
To Be Continued...