The world trembled.
The kusarigama spun in the Warlord's grip, chains shrieking against the night like tortured screams. Sparks burst as its blades caught the moonlight. Then—without warning—he hurled it forward.
The air shattered.
The weapon tore through the battlefield like a thunderclap, its chain stretching impossibly, a serpent of death lunging toward both Rayyan and Ryuu.
Ryuu roared, lightning bursting from his body. "Don't think you can touch me that easily!" He surged forward, fists glowing, thunder wrapping his knuckles as he punched against the incoming kusarigama.
Clang!
The sound was monstrous. Sparks erupted, lightning cracking—but the kusarigama didn't slow. Ryuu's arms shook violently, bones screaming as the sheer force flung him backward, smashing him into a wall of shattered ice.
Rayyan's eyes narrowed. His grip on the Emperor Blade tightened, his aura flaring like a storm of purple death.
"So this is the strength of a Warlord."
The kusarigama's chain snapped toward him, but Rayyan's sword moved in silence. A single slash—no sound, no wasted motion. The chain split mid-air, sparks dancing where it was severed.
Yet even as the broken chain clattered to the ground, the fragments dissolved into crimson smoke, reforming instantly back into the Warlord's grip.
The warlord's lips curved into a faint smile. "Not bad… kido . But do you think your steel can sever despair itself?"
Rayyan said nothing. His cold eyes were fixed, unblinking, his aura sharpening further until the very frost beneath his feet cracked.
Ryuu dragged himself from the rubble, blood dripping from his temple, his rage-fueled aura sparking violently.
"Don't ignore me, bastard!"
He lunged, lightning exploding from his entire body. His fists blurred, hundreds of punches thrown in seconds, each strike splitting the air. He hammered against the Warlord with everything, his body screaming as his Rage Mode consumed more of his mana.
But the Warlord stood unmoved.
His kusarigama whirled like a shield, deflecting every punch effortlessly. Chains coiled around Ryuu's arms like serpents, constricting, burning.
The Warlord leaned down, voice low. "You burn your life for strength. Admirable… but foolish. Power without eternity is dust."
Ryuu's teeth clenched, veins bursting on his arms as he screamed. "Shut the hell up!"
Lightning surged violently, bursting the chains apart. For a heartbeat, Ryuu's fist connected—directly against the Warlord's chest.
The sound boomed across the field.
Ryuu froze. His knuckles ached, bones cracking.
The Warlord hadn't moved an inch. Not a single scratch marred his chest.
Slowly, the Warlord's crimson gaze shifted to him. "You are nothing but thunder without a storm."
The kusarigama lashed forward, slamming into Ryuu's stomach. The impact bent him like paper before he was flung across the ground, blood spraying from his mouth.
Rayyan's voice cut through the chaos. "Get up, Ryuu."
His tone was commanding, cold as steel.
Ryuu coughed, clutching his ribs, eyes blazing. "Don't… order me around… I'm not done yet!"
Rayyan finally stepped forward, his sword humming, aura darkening.
"Enough testing. If he is truly a Warlord… then even together, we may not be enough."
For the first time, emotion flickered across Ryuu's battered face. His pride screamed, but deep inside, he knew Rayyan was right. Alone, he was dust. Together, maybe… just maybe they could last a little longer.
The Warlord spun his weapon again, his voice echoing like prophecy.
"The two flames that resist… will both be extinguished."
---
The Clash
Rayyan moved first.
His blade carved arcs of purple light, every swing silent yet devastating. The ground split under his strikes, shockwaves tearing through the battlefield. His footwork was flawless, his presence like death itself advancing.
Ryuu followed, his fists wrapped in lightning, his aura blazing brighter than ever. He moved like a storm incarnate, each step tearing the earth, each strike shaking the night.
Together, they attacked from both sides.
But the Warlord was untouchable.
His kusarigama whirled like a dance of death, parrying Rayyan's blade with the sickle while the chain lashed against Ryuu, deflecting his fists. His movements were effortless, not frantic, but graceful—like an executioner who had repeated this slaughter for centuries.
Clang! Crash! Boom!
The world itself quaked. The moon above seemed to bleed deeper, red light drowning the battlefield.
Rayyan's thoughts burned. Every strike… he sees it. He predicts it. My sword cannot reach him…
Ryuu's mind screamed. Damn it! Even in Rage Mode… I can't keep up. He's not just fast—he's reading me like a child's book!
The Warlord's voice rose above the chaos, calm and absolute.
"You struggle like insects against the storm. You believe yourself hunters… but to me, you are prey chained by your arrogance."
Rayyan darted forward, blade glowing, his cold voice answering.
"Then let the prey bite back."
His strike was a blur—an arc of purple that split the air itself. For the first time, the Warlord tilted his head, narrowly avoiding the blade. The edge grazed his face shaving off a fragment of crimson.
A silence fell.
Ryuu's eyes widened. "You actually—hit him?"
Rayyan lowered his blade, aura flaring violently. "Not enough."
The Warlord touched the shallow cut on his cheek . Blood dripped, crimson against crimson. For the first time, his smile faded.
"Interesting. You are not entirely worthless."
Then his chains erupted outward like serpents of blood, hundreds of them splitting the ground, tearing through the air.
Rayyan slashed desperately, Ryuu roared and countered with lightning. But the flood was endless.
Chains coiled around their limbs, dragging them down, crushing. Blood sprayed.
Rayyan's thoughts cut sharp. Even now… we are nothing but shadows before him.
Ryuu screamed, struggling. "I… I won't lose! Not like this!"
The Warlord's voice thundered.
"You cannot win. You never could."
The ground split open, swallowing light, as the two hunters' bodies were slammed down beneath the weight of despair.