Eichirou finally arrived at the scene of the attack as he panted. Well, he did run as fast as he could to reach the place. But he was surprised to see several people lying on the ground.
"What happened here?" he could only mutter.
He approached one of them and checked on it. He was relieved to know that they were only unconscious. But who in the world could have done this?
His question was answered upon hearing a thud as if someone had collapsed. He looked around and saw a fish-headed and fully-scaled Triske Monster. Eichirou couldn't help scrunching his nose as he covered it. Sheesh! Even the smell around was like a full metal drum of dead stinking fishes!
"What kind of dead ocean did this fish monster come from?" It took him just a few moments to realize that he said that out loud. He clamped his mouth with his other hand. "I'm dead!"
Unfortunately for him, his words caught the Triske Monster's attention. The same goes for the Gargonema.
"Take his energy, scales!" The monster fired a fish scale as large as a dinner plate toward Subaru.
He managed to evade it and it hit a Gargonema that was about to attack him from the back. But he was surprised what the scale could do. Its size has a reason—the scale was large enough to cover one's face. So when that scale covered a human's face, it would send an electric shock as it sucked human energy. The scale would disappear once its job was done, leaving an unconscious and helpless human behind.
The Gargonema that took the hit from the scale, however, was a different case. It was melting from the electric shock sent by that single fish scale.
"Oh, boy! Now I'm dead," Eichirou said, only to himself. With that, he prepared himself for the next attack.
He saw the Triske Monster become enraged with what happened. "Gargonema, take him!"
Groups of Gargonema charged toward him but he braced himself for that. They all had swords and spears but Eichirou still managed to take them on one after another. At one point, he used one of Gargonema's spears to defeat them all.
"How did you—?"
Eichirou exhaled and threw away the spear he used as soon as he eliminated the Gargonema attacking him. He soon faced the surprised Triske Monster. "You want to know how?"
He held out his arm with the Celestial Shifter placed on it which earned him a gasp from the monster.
"It can't be! You're—!"
"Introductions later. Let me do my thing first." He pushed the button on his Shifter needed for him to transform. "Spirit Shift, Start!"
As soon as he finished reciting his transformation phrase, the sequence began. Seconds later, he donned his blue warrior suit together with his Hyakureider on the holster of his belt.
"Let's get on with it!" SeitenWater fought the approaching Gargonema with just his strength. He didn't even need to use his Hyakureider or even his Water Shark Spear to deal with them.
But he couldn't help thinking that something still felt wrong with what was happening.
Unknown to him, one person was hiding in one of the nearby alleys watching the battle. The surprised look on her face was evident as she continued watching.
"Eichirou..." was the only word Kanako could muster. But her voice held the faith she had for her friend to defeat the monster.
"Eichirou!"
"Eichirou-san!" SeitenWater turned to see the others—already in their Seitenger form—approaching him.
"Don't mind me. Go after the Triske Monster! Be careful with his scales, though." And he continued dealing with the Gargonema.
The others hurried to the Triske Monster Cyone's location. But before any of them could strike Cyone, the monster fired five fish scales at them that exploded soon after and struck them down.
"Everyone!" SeitenWater kicked the last Gargonema he was fighting as hard as he could before approaching his friends. "Are you alright?"
"What the hell was that?" SeitenEarth mumbled as he struggled to stand up.
"Truly not a regular fish scale," SeitenWind stated.
"Be careful not to get hit with that fish scale on the face or your energies will be sucked with it."
SeitenFire chuckled. "That's why you said 'be careful with his scales'."
SeitenWater helped his friends stand up before they faced another group of Gargonema.
"Oh, come on! Do we have to deal with these bone-faced soldiers again?" SeitenLight asked exasperatingly.
"No choice," SeitenEarth replied placidly as he took out his blade-extracted Hyakureider to fight the Gargonema.
"More humans, more energy... Have I gathered everyone's energy in this city?" Cyone muttered as he frantically scanned the area. Until— "There!"
SeitenEarth heard it that made him stop fighting the Gargonema and observe the Triske Monster. He was surprised to see where Cyone was heading to. "Kanako-san, get away from here!"
Of course, what the green warrior yelled had caught SeitenWater's attention.
"Kana-chan!"
But it was too late for Kanako. Before she could start running away...
"You're mine!" Cyone fired a fish scale that turned into something elastic and covered Kanako's face.
All she could do was scream in pain as electricity stunned Kanako's body and absorbed her energy at the same time. In anger, SeitenWater charged toward Cyone and attacked it with his Hyakureider; the blade was emanating a blue glow. But the monster blocked it as if it was nothing. Yet it didn't bother SeitenWater as he continued striking Cyone with all his rage and might.
Moments had passed. Kanako collapsed as soon as the fish scale that covered her face had disappeared. The other four Seitengers were just done eliminating the Gargonema and they rushed to the unconscious Kanako's side as they disintegrated their transformations.
"Kanako-san, hang in there!"
"Kanako!"
SeitenWater continued striking Cyone that pushed the Triske Monster into the corner. But before the blue warrior could deliver his final blow, a dark rune circle appeared beneath Cyone and absorbed the monster. He halted to a stop upon seeing that. The grip he had on his sword tightened.
"Kanako / Kanako-san!"
He was startled upon hearing that. When SeitenWater turned, he disabled his transformation and rushed to Kanako's side. He cradled the girl that Shuichi held and tried waking her up.
"Kana-chan, wake up! It's me, Eichirou," he called as he lightly tapped her cheek.
They noticed Kanako's eyes slowly fluttered open as she let out a moan. But it didn't take them long before they figured out that Kanako was struggling because of the immense loss of energy.
"Are you okay?" Eichirou queried with worries.
Kanako smiled weakly. "I can't believe it... Eichirou is... one of the chosen Vessels..."
The Vessels all had surprised looks on their faces when they heard that.
"Y-you know about it, Kana-chan?"
In the same weak manner, Kanako nodded. "I'm glad..." After that, she fully lost consciousness.
Eichirou tried waking her up but to no avail. Soon after, Itsuki noticed Eichirou clenching his fist as he carried the girl's body.
Moments later, Shuichi and Misae assisted Eichirou as the latter started walking away. Erika stopped when she noticed her brother intently looking at the photographer's walking figure.
"Is there something wrong, Onii-chan?" To be honest, she wasn't comfortable seeing her older brother like this.
Itsuki sighed and shook his head. "It's nothing. Let's go."