As Yuichi's eyes remained fixated on Nao, he felt the anger inside him building up, causing his fist to clench tightly and his teeth to grit together. The gray Xynoin rapidly consumed his right hand, turning it into a deadly weapon.
However, before Yuichi could strike Nao with his transformed hand, Mira acted quickly, pulling him back and launching herself forward instead.
With her sword at the ready, Mira deftly blocked a sword that came at her from the right. But just as she did so, a second sword pierced through her right hand, causing her to wince in pain.
Mira expertly parried Nao's sword with her own, the sound of clashing steel filling the air. With lightning-fast reflexes, she kicked Nao in the gut, sending him staggering back several steps before falling to the ground.
The force of the blow left him gasping for air, his face contorted in pain. Mira didn't give him a chance to recover, pressing forward with her sword raised high. She was determined to finish this fight once and for all.
Mira got on top of him, her sword poised to pierce Nao's neck, but before she could deliver the fatal blow, a commanding voice echoed through the chaos.
"What the hell are you all doing?"
It was Terra, the first Lieutenant. She was standing beside Lieutenant colonel Shinra and 2nd lieutenant Yuno. Terra's stern voice cut through the tension, causing all the soldiers to stop firing their guns and pause in surprise.
Terra's eyes scanned the scene, taking in the chaos and bloodshed around them. "This isn't what you were ordered to do," She continued. "You were supposed to capture Gray Xynoin, not to massacre yourselves army."
Mira froze mid-attack, her sword mere inches away from Nao's neck. She hesitated, her hand shaking slightly as she looked at the rage in Nao's eyes.
Mira lowered her sword slowly, her eyes fixed on Nao's still form. She took a step back, her hand trembling as she sheathed her sword back into its scabbard.
"Did I almost... kill him?" She whispered, her voice laced with a mixture of dread and confusion. The other soldiers looked on in silence, unsure of what to say or do in the tense moment.
Lieutenant Shinra surveyed the chaotic scene in front of him. His eyes first fell on Ava, who was standing confidently in front of a group of soldiers with their guns trained on her.
His gaze then shifted to Yuichi, who was on his knees with a gray Xynoin arm. He let out a heavy sigh before addressing the group.
"Can someone please explain to me what in the name of the gods is going on here?" He asked, his tone laced with frustration.
Sergeant Livia hesitated for a moment, glancing over at Ava who was standing defiantly in front of the soldiers with her hands held up in a peaceful gesture. "Lieutenant colonel," she finally spoke up with a salute, "the thing is..."
But before she could finish, Naofumi suddenly jolted up from the ground with a trail of blood on his neck. He pointed a shaky finger at Ava, his eyes filled with anger and suspicion.
"I'll tell you what's going on!" He yelled. "It's her! We found a Xynoin with the ability to turn into a human and she wouldn't let us kill it... makes you wonder if she's even human to begin with!".
Jenifer's eyes widened in disbelief as she exclaimed, "What? A Xynoin turning into a human? That's impossible!" Her gaze shifted towards Yuichi as if to search for any indication of the validity of Naofumi's claim.
"Just because we haven't seen one, doesn't mean it's impossible… you should know that much Lieutenant." Shinra spoke out.
He began moving towards Yuichi, taking slow, measured steps, his gaze unwavering. However, just as he was about to reach him, Ava suddenly whooshed forward, making Shinra halt in his tracks.
But before Ava could even reach Yuichi, dark chains erupted from the ground, wrapping themselves around her and forcefully pulling her down to the ground.
The chains were an ominous black, and seemed to exude a powerful aura that made the soldiers instinctively back away.
"Ava!" Yuichi called out in panic, but before he could stand up and run to her aid, he felt a sudden tug on his legs. Looking down, he saw dark chains wrapping around his ankles and tightening, locking him to the ground.
Struggling to break free, Yuichi felt the Xynoin arm on his right side pulsing with energy, but he couldn't activate its powers while restrained. He gritted his teeth in frustration, trying to figure out a way to free himself and help Ava.
Shinra came to a stop in front of Yuichi, who glared up at him with a mix of anger and defiance. The lieutenant regarded him with a calculating expression, his gaze flickering between Yuichi's face and the gray Xynoin arm.
"So you are the Xynoin turned human... interesting," Shinra mused, his voice cool and detached. He folded his arms across his chest and regarded Yuichi with a hint of curiosity.
Shinra knelt down in front of Yuichi, inspecting the gray Xynoin arm with a keen eye. "Fascinating," he muttered under his breath. "I wonder…".
Suddenly, he drew his sword and brought it dangerously close to Yuichi's arm. "If I were to sever this limb," he mused, "would it regenerate?".
But before he could make a move, he caught sight of Ava's fierce glare from where she was bound on the ground. With a sigh, he sheathed his sword and rose to his feet.
"Take the human monster to my office," He ordered, gesturing towards Yuichi. "And keep their leader restrained until I have finished assessing the boy".
With unwavering obedience, the soldiers hastened to carry out Shinra's command, deftly undoing the intricate chains that bound Ava and hoisting Yuichi up from the ground.
Despite his struggles and angry protests, they held him firmly in their grip as they marched towards their unknown destination, their heavy footsteps echoing ominously in the silence.
Ava's eyes bore into Shinra's back, seething with anger and hatred, as he walked away with her comrade in tow.