The spectators in the rumbling layer watched as Kaizen loomed over the spirits.
"We are here to explore hell," Isaac explained, trying to hide the fear in his voice.
"We're explorers from within the flow. We transformed ourselves into spirits and, we'd like to learn more about hell and its inhabitants."
"Ah," Kaizen said as the mask he removed from his face disappeared.
He was a tall man with gleaming golden eyes and long black dreadlocks that stretched down his back.
"So," Kaizen continued, "what makes you think you can just come to hell and do as you wish?"
As Kaizen said this, the rumbling continued to grow and, the spirits continued to fade.
Unsure of how to respond, the spirits stepped back.
"We have to get out of here," Isaac whispered to his family, "if we don't, there will be nothing left of our spirits."
"We can't just leave," David countered, "no matter how strong this guy is, he can't be able to take all of us on at once."
"I agree with David," Aziel added, "this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore a construct beyond our imagination."
"Well," Rosa began, "when you put it like that, it seems like we have no choice."
All the spirits looked towards Isaac expectantly.
"Fine," Isaac conceded, "but let's make this quick. Our spirits are on the brink of destruction."
"So you have no answer?" Kaizen asked as he lifted his hand, "I guess I'll just have to get rid of you."
In an instant, Aziel appeared before him.
Kaizen looked up and noticed that the other spirits were no longer there.
"The naivete of you humans," Kaizen said.
Before Aziel could attack, he dissolved due to Kaizen's aura.
"Such a minuscule aura," Kaizen muttered, "that couldn't have been the real one."
Still not moving, Kaizen noticed Aziel dashing toward him in the corner of his eye.
Once again, before Aziel could make contact, Kaizen's aura caused him to dissolve.
In every direction, hundreds of Aziel's clones sprinted at Kaizen.
"What a silly trick," Kaizen said as he allowed more of his aura to leak out.
Kaizen's jet-black aura erupted, eradicating all of Aziel's clones.
The buildings around them began to shatter and, the flame-like ground began to dissipate.
"I'm getting reckless," Kaizen whispered, "I have to end this."
As Kaizen's aura began to subside, Isaac and Rosa sprinted through the remainder of his dark aura, using Kaizen's golden eyes for navigation.
Isaac extended his right arm and began to manipulate his prana.
"Conjuring Prana: Katana!"
Isaac now held a keen, curved silver blade with a white handle.
"I shouldn't risk getting too close," Isaac whispered, "his aura is too powerful."
Isaac coated his hand with prana to enhance his strength. Using Kaizen's golden eyes as a reference point, he aimed just above in an attempt to pierce Kaizen's brain.
The blade soared toward Kaizen at tremendous speeds.
Calmly, Kaizen lifted his hand and caught the blade between two fingers.
As the blade made contact with Kaizen's fingers, it dissolved into nothing.
Kaizen's aura had now nearly dissipated, revealing the location of all four spirits.
Each spirit now held a katana identical to the blade Isaac had thrown at Kaizen.
They simultaneously dashed at Kaizen as Rosa began to manipulate her prana.
"Enchantment Prana: Healing Nullification!"
"An enchantment that nullifies healing," Rosa whispered, "as long as we can strike him, our victory is almost guaranteed."
"I'll make fewer clones this time," Aziel said as they ran, "with fewer clones, I can give them more power."
Beside each spirit, a clone of themselves appeared, also wielding a katana.
"I can't do much," David murmured as they closed in on Kaizen, "since space doesn't exist here, my prana is practically useless."
They all lunged their blade at Kaizen, piercing through his body.
A smile formed on each of the spirit's faces.
"We got him," David announced.
A cocky smirk formed on Kaizen's face as he let out a laugh.
"Now, do you see the futility of your efforts?" Kaizen asked.
As the spirits moved their blades, they realized that they did not make contact with Kaizen's body.
"It's as if our blades somehow passed through him," Rosa said, "what's going on?"
"My turn," Kaizen said menacingly.
The spirits jumped back and, Aziel swung his arm down.
"Mirror Prana: Flame Pillar!"
A massive pillar of flames appeared in the sky and soared straight down, slamming into Kaizen.
The flames engulfed Kaizen, along with the rest of the battlefield.
After being blasted away by the battle, the spectators watched as Aziel landed just beyond the reach of the inferno he had created.
The other three spirits landed beside him and, they all gazed at the center of the raging flames.,
A golden glow emanated from within the flames and, Kaizen walked out of the blaze, unfazed by Aziel's attack.
Floating katana's appeared beside Kaizen as he calmly walked toward the spirits.
Kaizen flicked his wrist and, the blades shot towards the spirits. The blades pierced through them and pinned them to the ground.
"Conventional blades shouldn't work on spirits," Isaac said, "in fact, he shouldn't be able to affect us at all. What kind of power does he possess?"
Kaizen glared down at the spirits who lay helpless below him.
"What are you?" the spirits all asked in sync.
"Knowing that wouldn't get you out of this predicament," Kaizen replied as a katana appeared above each of the spirits.
Kaizen coated each blade with his prana and pointed his finger down.
The blades struck the spirits and, they dissolved into nothing.
The spectators began to clap and cheer in celebration of Kaizen's flawless victory.
"Amazing!" one shouted.
Kaizen tilted his head up, glaring into the sky expectantly.
"That wasn't them," he murmured to himself, "It was just another trick."
An enormous mirror appeared in the sky and, Aziel and David emerged from the mirror, charging down at Kaizen.
"Alright," David said, "we just need to distra-"
In an instant, David and Aziel appeared in Kaizen's clutches. In each hand, Kaizen gripped both of them by the neck.
"Now," Kaizen said, "where are the other two?"
"W- We've got you," David uttered with a sly grin.
A mirror appeared behind Kaizen and, Isaac walked out with his arm extended forward.
"Ririsu Prana: Sever!"
"The ties between you and existence will now be severed!"