[In The Village]
The rhythmic TEP! TEP! TEP! of footsteps echoed through the village as an old man, adorned in a white and black kimono with a short mustache and a scar that traced the left side of his neck, approached the Phoenix Slayers. Geta sandals clacked against the ground, and a white haori draped over his shoulders, completing his imposing figure. A sword hung at his side, a silent testament to the years of experience etched on his face. His name, Ichika Natsu, spilled from his lips with an air of finality.
"So I see Coryeil Silva and Elliott AoiHi isn't here. Too bad I was hoping I would get to finish you all off together. Hello, Phoenix Slayers. I'm Ichika Natsu, one of The Elders, and I'm the last person you all will be seeing before you die."
Naima's eyes widened, shock etched across her face. "What the hell."
"Why is he here?" Kiyomizu questioned.
"He shouldn't have reached here as yet," Yamato murmured.
Ava, observing from a distance, pondered the strength of this new foe. "Who's this guy, and why is his Haku so strong and powerful? Is he the Elder that everyone was talking about? Is he the one who did that earlier?"
"What are we going to do now?" Kiyomizu asked, uncertainty tainting her tone.
"I don't know, but we shouldn't fight him. But the others aren't here yet. We need to buy some time," Naima strategized.
A concerned villager approached Ichika, pleading for mercy. "Listen, Mr. Ichika, they helped us beat the ayakashis. In fact, they stopped to help us, so please..."
"Is that so? Even so, they are enemies to the slayer system. My job is to kill anything that opposes us and the people of this world. Even though they might save you, they must have a reason to do so," Ichika replied coldly.
"We didn't have any bad reasons behind our actions. We wanted to help the people of this island," Kiyomizu explained.
"In fact, our captain was the one who made us come here out of his kind heart," added Yamato.
"Very well then. I promise I will kill your captain after I kill you four."
"We need to get the villagers to a safe place, Kiyomizu," Naima urged.
Kiyomizu nodded and swiftly ran off, determined to protect the villagers.
Ichika inhaled deeply, a surge of determination propelling him forward as he charged towards Kiyomizu. The air resonated with the swift motion as he unsheathed his sword, the metallic SHING cutting through the ambient sounds. Naima, sensing the imminent danger, leaped in front of Kiyomizu, swiftly drawing her own sword and intercepting Ichika's attack with a resounding KA-CHANG.
"I won't let you hurt my family!"
The clash of their swords sent shockwaves through the ground beneath their feet, causing the terrain to crumble under the sheer force of their confrontation. As their blades met, Naima couldn't help but acknowledge the pure strength displayed by Ichika. No Haku or Magic Drive; this was a battle of raw power.
Ichika, undeterred, raised his hand, aiming his sword at Naima's head. His blade moved in a blur, and Naima, barely swift enough, managed to block his attack once again.
Taking a step back, Ichika spoke with a mix of admiration and regret. "I must say, you are not bad to block my attacks. Too bad you're a criminal," he uttered, tears glistening in his eyes. "It's a shame that I must kill you."
Meanwhile, sensing the escalating threat, Ava transformed into her hybrid tiger form. A blue and white tail swished behind her, cat ears adorned her head, she starts to grow on her skin and the fur took on shades of white and blue, with two pupils in her eyes. Simultaneously, Yamato activated his Magic Drive.
"Kingston Connon X Tiger Blast!" Yamato's voice echoed.
The combined attack, a fusion of Ava and Yamato's powers, unleashed a torrential force towards Ichika. VOOOOOM!!! DOM-BOODOOM!!!!! However, the Elder showcased his prowess by kicking Naima a side and slicing through the attack with precision, effectively nullifying its impact.
In a sudden twist, Elliott descended from the air, his right foot ablaze as he executed a blazing spinning kick. "4 Arts Taekwondo 3 Stage: Flaming Kick!" Ichika swiftly blocked the powerful kick with his sword, but the impact sent him reeling backward, struggling to maintain his footing.
Stunned by the strength of Elliott's technique, Ichika swiftly regained his composure and retaliated with a potent sword slash. The force of the attack sent Elliott airborne, but the skilled AoiHi warrior managed to land gracefully without sustaining any damage.
"Hmm, you're more of a threat than these three combined, Elliott AoiHi." Ichika acknowledged, a hint of respect coloring his words.