Echoes of swords clashing with the red essence of the magic radiating off of Mazaki's arms bounce off the nearby skyscrapers. Heizu struggled against the magic, his pistol freezing from the effect of the essence freezing its mechanisms.
"Agh!" Heizu tries pulling away from the magic wrapping around his fingers, though not successful due to its grasp.
Gyonu quickly interferes, slashing the thick string of magic with his double-sided spear, the string dissipating into thin air. Mazaki grins, creating several slashes into the air, the slashes swirling violently towards the other two in the vicinity. The metal on the car's screeches in agony as the cuts dice them and continue hurdling forward. Gyonu quickly parries, gripping his spear and making a makeshift barrier by swirling the double-sided spear around, whirling the slashes back at Mazaki. Surprised at the quick thinking, Mazaki flips her index fingers upward, twisting her wrists as she prepares a technique.
Heizu flings himself forward, jumping from the roof of a car and aiming his pistol at Mazaki. Pressing the trigger, the bullet exits the pistol, piercing the slightly misty air as it spirals towards the witch. When the bullet appears to have pierced her skin, Mazaki suddenly disappears. Shocked at the scene before him, Heizu lands onto the asphalt. Gyonu scans the nearby area, trying to search for where Mazaki could've possibly vanished to. She had to be concealing herself.
Out of thin air, Heizu hears a click behind his head, quickly using his pistol as coverage and aiming it at the air behind him while he turns around. Massive magic swirls swing at Gyonu, slicing the skin on his knee and ankle. Feeling the sharp burning pain, Gyonu falls onto his back, his leg pulsing with a burning sensation as the pain worsens. Blood oozes from the cuts on his leg, and he quickly grabs cloth to bandage the open wounds.
Mazaki appeared, slicing Heizu's pistol in half, the weapon falling out of his hand, "This'll be easy."
Heizu's eyes widen as he is left completely defenseless, trying to quickly discover a way to somehow hold off Mazaki while Gyonu recovers from his mild injuries. Mazaki quickly prepares her technique, noting how she has the advantage now of winning due to her overwhelming strength. Heizu quickly picks up a shard of his gun, throwing it at Mazaki as he desperately tries to find something to defend himself with.
"Death of the Withered Flower!" Mazaki unleashed her technique, a large maroon colored flower sprouted from her hands, vines lashing out from her fingers at Heizu. His eyes widen as the vines approached him. Would this be it for him? Would he not be able to achieve becoming stronger like the rest like he wanted to? It was like his life flashed before his eyes as the vines approached his body, the hairs on his skin prickling straight up from the bad sensation he's always known.
Tokima sprinted through the empty streets of downtown, passing each shop and restaurant the once bustling street. She had to get to the central building nearby Shibuya; the building that soared through the clouds and was higher than every other building in the city. With every explosion she heard from her right, left, and even behind her, she became increasingly worried. Would everyone be alright that I'm heading straight to the source? Are they encountering her henchmen?
The sky rumbled with booming thunder; Tokima noticed the sky had darkened into a darker grey after landing in the city. Tokima knew something was off, what could Akujin have possibly meticulously planned this time. It had to be something unique and dangerous. She had to get to the central building, and it had to be quick.
Nitaru slashed Riku's bow in half, the purple flame flickering against Nitaru's black daggers. Riku lunged backwards, throwing a series of needles that shimmered with blue light at Nitaru. Nitaru grinned, countering with a shadow slash of his dagger, the slash causing the needles to rebound back at Riku. The needles pierced Riku's arm, making him wince in pain from the shock of the needles.
"Nice moves," Riku glared at Nitaru, blood trickling down his arm.
Riku suddenly launched himself forward, laughing maniacally as he sliced the air violently with his knives. Nitaru parried with his dagger, the metal clashing with Riku's knives. The clash caused a massive whiplash, the air around the two swirling with force as the nearby buildings crack and shake from the strong gust.
Nitaru raised his leg, kicking Riku harshly in the abdomen, sending him flying backwards into the building. As he landed against the brick wall of the building, the wall dented in and blood spurted from Riku's mouth, dripping down from his lips down his chin. His vision blurred as he struggled to stay awake, though Nitaru mercilessly approached. His steps were slow and calm, though his eyes burned with an unseen anger. Vengeance creeped next to Nitaru as if it was its own. Thats the overwhelming presence from the emotions Nitaru felt.
Riku looked at Nitaru with a weak look, his abdomen pulsing from the earlier kick. His mind raced with many thoughts, wondering how Nitaru managed to become this strong in such a short time. Nitaru stood in front of Riku, watching Riku struggle to fight against the pain. They looked at each other, somehow understanding each other without saying a word. Riku coughed up blood, spitting it onto the ground beside him.
"Why did you do it?" Nitaru asked coldly, glaring at Riku as if he was an enemy, no, Riku is the enemy.
Riku grinned, rolling his eyes, "Do what? Be clearer with what you're getting at."
Nitaru suddenly grabbed Riku's chin, leaning down to be at Riku's level as he spoke clearer to him as he asked.
"Why did you report information to Akujin? Why after all this time pretend to be on our side but you were gathering information for Akujin all along? Why'd you kill your own friends?!" Nitaru paused, "Why'd you deceive me, and make me believe you were my friend?!"
Riku's eyes widened, feeling Nitaru's emotional response somehow despite it being against himself.
Riku began speaking, his voice hoarse and rough from coughing up blood, "I..."