"You again. It seems the universe is saying something," a thick, manly voice said. It was a familiar voice that Tobi recognized. He turned to see the man he had seen twice already. He frowned at the sight of the man. He gripped the sheath of his sword in the middle and gripped its hilt. He was ready for a fight, unlike the last time.
"Hey, Hey, are you serious about fighting me? Alone?," the man asked with his hands placed on his waist. He was unfazed by Tobi's stance. Tobi, on the other hand, glared at the man and tightened his grip more.
"If I were you, I would wait for my teammates. Well, that's if they would get here," the man continued with a cheeky smile on his face.
"What do you mean by 'if they would get here' ?," Tobi asked as he unsheathed his sword. He pointed the sword at the man. "I will fight you and defeat you, here and now," Tobi yelled out.
"I'll see you try," the man said as he laughed at Tobi's statement.
Tobi was annoyed at the man for underestimating him. He took in a quick breath and dashed forward and swung his sword at the man, aiming for his stomach. The man shifted back and dodged Tobi's attempt. Tobi leapt forward again and swung at the man's neck.
"Boring and basic," the man said as he caught Tobi's hand with his left hand. Before Tobi could think of any reaction, the man punched Tobi in the stomach. Tobi spouted spit from his mouth. The man did not let go of his hand and delivered another punch to his stomach. Then, he kicked Tobi which sent the young lad flying backwards. Tobi fell on his face and scowled in pain.
"Is that all you've got? So much for your cheeky words," the man said this and moved closer to Tobi. Tobi was still on the floor. He got not stand up. The man grabbed Tobi's jaw and said, "This is for not heeding my advice," before he punched Tobi's face. Tobi coughed out blood and fell on the floor. The man grabbed his jaw again and punched it with twice more force than before. Tobi was face was covered with his blood. The man did not stop there.
He held Tobi's shirt by the neck, raised him to the level of his face, and head-butted him. At this point, Tobi's face was swollen and covered in blood. His nose, mouth, and ears bled. The man dropped him and stomped his belly.
"Take this as a lesson. You can never defeat me on your own, not on your life," the man said and turned to walk away. He planned to go check out how his subordinates were doing before he paused.
"This isn't over. This isn't over! I will defeat you, here and now!!!," Tobi said. He knelt on his right knee with his sword in his right hand. He managed to stand and wiped his nose. He tightened the grip on his sword and squeezed his face harder. He proceeded to coat his sword with fire. "Firesword," he said as he glared at the man.
The sight of the fire gleamed right through the man's eyes. A vicious smile appeared on the man's face. "This is going to be fun. The universe has delivered you into my hands. I knew it," the man paused. "Come right at me, kid," he said as cracked his knuckles.
Ebun, Chioma, and Andrew had almost reached the entrance of the most when they confronted members of the gang. They had been stationed by their leader. He told them to block anyone, especially, Team Ebun from entering the port. He knew they would come for Tobi. He gave this order when he saw Tobi enter the port. He stationed seven of his men there. Their job was simple—delay and prevent entrance.
"What took you so long? We have been waiting all night for you," one of the seven men asked.
"We can do this the easy way. Let us pass and you will not be harmed," Ebun said.
The men looked at one another and laughed.
"You are three and we are seven. You are outnumbered. This fight is lost already, for you, that is," the man retorted.
Ebun gestured for Chioma and Andrew to come closer. She knew they would have to fight. She continued the conversation to observe the men and environs.
"I will take care of these men. I will create an opening for the two of you. Make sure you find Tobi. Wait for my instruction and move. Understood?," Ebun explained.
"Understood, but will you be fine?," Andrew noted.
"I will be. I am a captain," Ebun responded.
Ebun took two steps forwards towards the men, raised her hands towards the sky and closed her eyes. "Move backwards," she commanded Chioma and Andrew. The two of them moved back. The men ran towards her to attack her. Five of them carried clubs, and two of them carried flails with chains and spiked balls their weapons. The chain connected the sand haft of the flail with the spiked ball. The spiked ball was metallic.
One of the men, extending the chains of his flail, swung at Ebun. Chioma and Andrew, in concern, saw the swift movements of the metallic ball as it neared Ebun. Meanwhile, Ebun still closed her eyes. As the metallic ball neared her, the environment became silent. Not a thing could be heard. Even the sounds of the wind stopped. The metallic ball that was swung at her halted its motion and fell to the ground. Everyone in the vicinity, except Ebun, was surprised. Even their voices could not be heard. There was no way any of them could communicate. Only Ebun can speak and she can decide who listens and speaks.
"Hey, Chioma, Andrew. Go" Ebun said.
"Now?," they asked. They were confused. They could not understand the concept of what their captain just did. Was it a technique, art or a summon? Or Was it an enemy?
"Now!," Ebun exclaimed.
"Yes, captain," Chioma and Andrew replied. "But won't they attack us," Chioma asked unsure of the situation.
"They can't, even if they want to. Now, go!," Ebun started.
Upon hearing this, Chioma and Andrew ran towards the direction of the men and ran past them. The men made zero movements or reactions as they ran past them.
"What kind of technique was that? I can't even wrap my head around it," Andrew thought to himself.
Chiima and Andrew arrived at the port and entered. The port was big for two of them to search for one person. They needed a quick lead.
"Andrew, look. Isn't that a familiar smoke?," Chioma said pointing towards the direction of the inventory store.
"I see it. Moreover, look at the surroundings. It looks like a fight ensued here," they paused to look at the surroundings. "This is definitely Tobi, Let's go to where that smoke is," Andrew concluded. Chioma handed Andrew one of the arrows, coated her body with lightning, and sped away leaving Andrew behind.
As she arrived at the place, she teleported Andrew to where she was. The whole place has been demolished and there was smoke everywhere. All of a sudden, Tobi was sent flying away from the smoke. He landed a few metres away from them.
"Tobi!," Chioma screamed as she ran towards him. He had been battered and could barely stand. Andrew looked around searching for the person who could have put Tobi in such a state.
"Can you stand or that's all you have in you?," a loud voice echoed.
"Who is that?," Chioma asked looking at the direction the voice came from.
Tobi coughed and managed to get on his knees. "He is the leader of the gang we have been trailing? I could barely land a hit on him," Tobi said as he struggled to stand.
"How can he still stand in such a state? Must be good to have a large reserve of energy," Andrew thought. "I don't know how strong he is, but we have a chance, now that the team is here," Andrew said.
"Captain Ebun, where is she?," Tobi asked noticing she was not with them.
"She is fighting the guys we encountered on how way here. She gave us an opening and to add, she is super dangerous,"
Their little chat got interrupted by the man. "Oh oh, the team is here. Wait, where is the other lady? Well, not that it matters," The man paused to look at Chioma and Andrew before cracking his knuckles again. "I will give you a chance. Leave with your comrade and nobody will get harmed," the man said.
"I must say, it's a great offer but that's bullshit. You can never go scot-free. Look at the town, the people and the destruction you've caused. Have you no dignity?" Andrew said to the man.
"Dignity? Dignity has nothing to do with this. Dignity will never guarantee your survival. Cut the crap. Since you've made your choice, let me show you the results," the man declared.
The there of them—Tobi, Chioma and Andrew—took their stances ready to fight. The man chuckled and gestured for them to attack him. Tobi coated his body with fire and channel his energy to his limbs. Chioma threw her opened quiver up and the arrows in it scattered around the space. Andrew rotated his spear, above his head. Then, Tobi dashed towards the man aiming for his neck. As he was about to land his attack, Tobi switched with one of the arrows behind the man. Tobi swung his sword at the man's neck.
Even though the attack had caught him off-guard, he was able to turn and block the slash. Just as the man was about to counter Tobi's attack, Tobi switched with another arrow. At the time of the switch, Andrew had stopped rotating his spear. He held the bottom of the spear. As Andrew was about to swing his spear longitudinally, he teleported—just in time that Tobi switched—to the back of the man.
"Swoosh," Andrew said as landed a hit on the man. A cracking sound and clouds of dust emanated from the ground where the man stood. The sheer force of the attack had pushed the man which created a crater on the floor. It was a clean hit. He had aimed for the man's head.
All of a sudden, Andrew received a punch to his chest. The punch pushed him backwards and fell on his back. Andrew was surprised at the attack. "Did I not land the gig or what?," he thought.
"That was a great team attack. I am jealous. How do I wish my members can replicate this? But how long can you hold this? You need to land a hit on me," the man said. He dodged the attack at the last second. He could have gotten significant damage if the attack had landed. Tobi came up with an idea.
"Guys, the only way we can get to land a hit is if we keep working as a team. I have an idea," Tobi said.
"What is this idea?," Andrew asked.
"We attack all at once. Chioma will be at the centre of the attack while Andrew and I will do the landing," Tobi explained. "I will use my combo techniques, Andrew will use his swoosh and Chioma, you will keep changing our positions with your technique. He can't dodge the successive change in positions," Tobi explained further.
"But for this to work, someone has to protect Chioma. Tobi, you focus on the attack. I will focus on the defence. This should work," Andrew added.
Tobi channelled the remains of his energy to his limbs. He closed his eyes, took a long and heavy breath and opened his eyes.
"Combo Technique: Whip of Fire + Flowing Furnace," Tobi said and sprinted in a zigzag and spiral form. He aimed for the man's upper hand. He relied on speed. The man also engaged Tobi. He reacted to all of Tobi's attacks until Chioma activated the switch and teleport. Tobi switches successively, dodging the man's attack and landing attacks—which were still blocked. They kept on with the attack.
Tobi was getting weaker by the second and an attack was yet to be landed. Even as the fight was heated for the young lads, the man was having fun with them. He had plans of his own, but he kept up with the fight. He noticed that Tobi had become slower and he (the man) increased the speed of his attacks. Despite this, Tobi was able to dodge his attack. He wondered how. Suddenly, he stopped his punches and dashed to where Andrew was.
Andrew was unable to react to his speed and got kicked. The kick was powerful that it sent him flying backwards, about ten metres. Chioma was now left unguarded. The man stood before made to punch her. Chioma switched with an arrow and escaped the punch.
"I thought as much. You are the brain of the attack. So far you are still here, you won't lose," the man said acknowledging Chioma. Chioma did not respond to the man. She was focused on the fight. It will take Andrew a long time before he gets back—if he does get back. Tobi is already worn out. He has exhausted his energy reserves. She was the only one standing.
The man cracked his neck bones and muscles. Then, he dashed towards Chioma to land a punch aiming for her neck. Chioma coated herself with lightning and jumped up.
"Lightning Strike!," she yelled. Immediately, a bolt of lightning was shot at the man. The man evaded the attack and jumped to where Chioma was. Chioma, in turn, teleported. She picked the five arrows that were near her and took her arching stance. She coated the bow and arrow with lightning.
"Target Lock, Lightning Strike," she said and shot the arrow. The man dodged the arrow and dashed to attack Chioma since she was now open. As he was about to punch her, he got shot by the arrow he had dodged. "Shock," Chioma said and electrocuted the man. The man fell to his knees, trembling and surprised.
"How? I dodged that arrow. So, how did I get shot?," the man thought to himself. He was angry that a kid had gotten the better of him. "You do not think the battle is finished, right?," the man asked. "Let's finish this, young lady," the man said
"Blue Fang, Expanding Shatter," the man announced. For the first time, the man will be using a technique. The ground shattered, splatted and divided into stone pellets. The stone pellets were floating individually. After the formation of these pellets, they attacked Chioma. Chioma evaded these pellets due to her technique but not for long. The pellets kept increasing since the ground kept shattering.
Chioma also had to deal with the man himself as she was evading. She got hit by some of the pellets and she bled. Her speed was dwindling but the pellets were increasing. The man noticed and honed in on Chioma. He delivered a punch to her neck and Chioma could not react in time to the attack. She collapsed to the floor.
Tobi had been watching the scenery, but he could do nothing. He was deprived of energy and could not infuse any. He watched Chioma receive a fatal blow to the neck and became agitated.
"Chioma! Chioma!," Tobi yelled out. Yet another time he failed to save any of his friends. Was he any different than before? He had thought to himself. The man dragged the collapsed body of Chioma to where Tobi lay.
"I guess she was your strongest. Now, she will be gone, just like your sister, and you can do nothing about it," the man said and laughed viciously.
"Blue Fang, Compressed Shatter," the man pronounced. The pellets joined together and form a compressed fang. Just like that, the man stabbed Chioma, right in front of Tobi. Tobi saw this and could not but shout to the top of his voice.
"No!!!!,"
Suddenly, his energy channels were forced open and his body was covered in bright red flames. He activated the Supiringan and his sword was fully coated with fire. His aura had changed. He was not in control. He was in a rage.
"Arrrgh, Overdrive," Tobi yelled in rage. He sprinted towards the man aiming for his neck. The man activated Expanding Shatter but it was nought. Overdrive is the ultimate and uncontrolled use of combo techniques. It infuses and utilizes all the energy for the sake of survival. The downside is that it does not account for the body limit. Tobi's overdrive will shorten his lifespan depending on how much he uses it but it is 100x powerful than the normal rage form.
Tobi completely overpowered the man. The man had to go on the defensive.
"Blue Fang, Expanded Wall," the man activated. It is a wall made of compressed stone pellets. The wall lasted no bit. Tobi broke the wall with his Ball of Fire technique. Tobi had caused significant damage to the man but the man was still able to move. Meanwhile, Tobi's body had started to burn away.
Tobi's rage increased as the battle continued. This brought about an increased amount of energy utilization which is now above his body's capacity and limit. Tobi's body burned and the man could tell from the smoke emerging from him.
Tobi sprinted towards the man but was pushed back by someone—Ebun. Tobi got angry from being pushed back and wanted to attack Ebun. He tried to dart at her but Ebun threw one of her arrows at him. Tobi, to the amazement of the man, became calm. He became unconscious and collapsed.
"Who are you? What happened to my men?," the man asked.
"I have no obligation to answer your question. All I will say is you are dead," Ebun responded.
The man knew that Ebun was different from the kids. She was far from their league. He knew he had to get serious now. "She must be their captain. The aura she carries is different," the man thought to himself.
"Core Energy: Blue Fang, Heavy Shattering," the man said. The ground quaked and large stones emerged in many numbers. These stones moved speedily towards Ebun. Ebun took her stance, stretched her right palm forward, and closed it.
"Impossible! What was that?," the man yelled out in shock. All the stones were crushed. She only opened and closed her palm.
"You have finally met your end," Ebun said. Then, arrows from different angles appeared to have pierced the man. He had been stabbed in all vital organs.
"How? I could not even se-," the man said and fell.