The night bled with fire and thunder.
Yuto's eyes blazed with determination as he raised his sword. "Fire Power: Seventh Technique—Sunflare Strike!"
Flames burst to life around his blade, searing through the fog in a sudden, violent glow. The heat warped the air itself as he dashed forward—so fast the devil barely had time to move. He circled it in a blur, the trail of fire painting spirals through the darkness.
"Thunder Power: Seventh Technique—Flashstorm Barrage!" Sousuke's voice cracked like lightning.
Electric fury exploded from his twin blades, scattering arcs through the air. Each strike landed with surgical precision, shredding through the devil's flesh and nerves. The creature screamed, body convulsing as lightning tore through it.
Yuto didn't hesitate. He lunged, driving his flaming sword into the devil's chest. The air filled with the stench of burning flesh. He twisted the blade once—and ripped the heart free in a blaze of fire.
The devil's body convulsed, then collapsed into ashes that scattered across the charred earth.
Tatsusuke stepped forward silently, his tone cold and unshaken.
"Fog Power: Ninth Technique—Endless Dusk."
The battlefield vanished into darkness. Thick fog rolled outward like a living thing, swallowing everything—devils, fire, even the sound of breathing. The only light was the faint shimmer of Sousuke's lightning fading into grey.
Then, cutting through the silence, came Akari's voice—sharp, steady.
"Water Power: First Technique—Flowing Current!"
She moved like liquid, her blade gliding effortlessly. One devil lunged at her, but she was already past it. The edge of her sword carved a clean line across its chest. Its body froze, then split open, heart torn free in one fluid motion.
"Tatsusuke—Fog Power: First Technique—Vanishing Drift!"
His figure melted into the mist. A heartbeat later, he reappeared behind another devil. The kill was instant—one smooth strike, one crimson flash, one heart falling lifeless to the ground.
The fog thinned. Yuto and Sousuke stood shoulder to shoulder, facing seven devils closing in at once. Their breathing was heavy, but their stance never faltered.
Yuto raised his blade, flames dancing along the edge.
"Fire Power: Eighth Technique—Ashen Requiem!"
A spiraling inferno erupted from beneath his feet, consuming everything within reach. The ground cracked under the heat, molten light reflecting in Yuto's eyes.
Sousuke stepped forward, electricity coiling around him like armor.
"Thunder Power: Fourth Technique—Thundering Gale!"
A spear of lightning materialized in his hands, and he hurled it forward. The impact pierced through a devil's skull, bursting its eye in a violent flash. The creature shrieked—but before it could heal, Yuto was already moving.
His body burned brighter with every step, flames biting through the air. His mind flickered to Yuki's voice, a ghost from training.
Focus. Let the fire consume you—until you become it.
Yuto gritted his teeth. His temperature rose, heat waves shimmering from his skin. Then he vanished.
In a heartbeat, he reappeared between the devils—one, two, three slashes. The motion was clean, deadly, perfect. Flames traced every cut as hearts burst into ash and bodies crumbled. When he stopped, Yuto dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.
Sousuke reached down, steadying him with one arm. His own lightning flickered weakly now.
"We're not done," he said, his tone firm. "Not yet."
Yuto nodded, sweat and blood streaking his face. "Fire Power: Fifth Technique—Phoenix Rise!"
The ground split open beneath them. From the blaze erupted a massive fiery bird, wings stretching across the battlefield. It screamed—a sound that shook the air itself—and dove toward the devils.
"Devil Art: Sixth Technique—Blood Shield!" one devil howled. A crimson barrier flared, thick as steel.
Yuto's eyes hardened.
"Fire Power: Sixth Technique—Infernal Spiral!"
Flames coiled around him in a vortex of heat. His attack struck the shield and tore through it like paper, scattering sparks across the ground. The barrier shattered, and the air turned white-hot.
Sousuke seized the opening.
"Thunder Power: Eighth Technique—Endless Thunderclap!"
A torrent of lightning crashed down, splitting the earth itself. The devil disintegrated—no scream, no body, just a burst of burnt ash and a lingering smell of ozone.
Yuto didn't stop. His breath was ragged, his vision blurred, but he raised his sword again.
"Fire Power: First Technique—Blazing Slash!"
He swung with all that remained of his strength. The sword cut through the next devil's chest. The heart exploded in fire. The ground smoked beneath their feet.
Only two devils remained.
Yuto turned to Sousuke. "You take one. I'll take the other."
Sousuke grinned through the exhaustion. "Deal."
They moved together. No hesitation, no words. Just perfect synchronization.
"Fire Power: First Technique—Blazing Slash!"
"Thunder Power: First Technique—Roaring Flash!"
Flame and lightning converged, two arcs crossing through the night. Their blades met flesh, hearts were severed, and the bodies turned to dust in the same instant.
For a moment—just one—they stood in silence. Breathing hard. Listening to the echo of their own heartbeats.
Then the ground began to tremble.
The fog rippled. Shadows moved in the dark.
Forty devils emerged from the abyss, their eyes glowing crimson. The air grew thick with the scent of blood and ash.
Sousuke muttered under his breath, "You've got to be kidding me."
Yuto raised his sword once more, the flames flickering weakly but refusing to die. "No," he said quietly. "They're not done."
The four warriors took their stance again—fire, thunder, water, and fog—surrounded by monsters.
The night had only just begun.