—
The monster lunged—its claws tearing into the steel walls like paper. Hoshiro dodged low, his blue aura bursting like lightning around him. Ayame danced beside him, blades whirling in arcs of fire.
Kazuki watched from a high ledge, heart pounding. "I should help," he muttered, gripping his shock baton.
Below, the monster bellowed, a sound that bent the air and sent tremors through the underground. It was faster than it looked—each swipe a blur of molten fury. A single strike sent Ayame flying into a wall.
"AYAME!" Hoshiro shouted, rushing to intercept the next blow.
His mask flickered, revealing part of his face—determined, angry, and alive with power. He slammed his palms into the ground. Shadows erupted around him like chains, wrapping the creature's limbs, halting its charge.
Ayame groaned, wiping blood from her lip. "You've improved," she coughed.
"I had to," Hoshiro said, panting. "You weren't around to save me anymore."
She met his gaze. A beat passed between them—an old wound, still raw.
The monster tore free, roaring louder than before. Kazuki leaped into the fray, striking its head with a shock blast. It staggered.
"Thought you said stay out of it!" he shouted.
"I changed my mind!" Hoshiro replied. Together, the three wove between claws and fire. Ayame's flames scorched its back, Kazuki's tech disrupted its core, and Hoshiro's aura crushed its rage.
Finally, with a scream of unity, they struck all at once. The beast collapsed in a heap of smoke and embers.
Silence.
Ayame sheathed her blades. "We make a good team."
Hoshiro stared at her, then the wreckage. "We always did."
Kazuki groaned. "Please don't fall in love in front of me."
They laughed. Just for a moment, they were kids again.
But in the shadows… unseen eyes watched. And far above ground, the Crimson Syndicate was already planning its next move.
—