Raiden's voice cut through the lingering tension like a knife, his words echoing across the rugged landscape. "WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" he demanded, his tone commanding yet tinged with a hint of curiosity.
In response, the man known as Satoshi, his gaze unwavering despite the bruises and blood that marred his features, offered a simple yet defiant reply. "I'M SATOSHI (聡)," he stated, his voice steady despite the chaos that surrounded them.
Raiden wasted no time in pressing further, his gaze fixed intently upon Satoshi. "SATOSHI, ARE YOU GOING TO TRUST US, OR NOT?" he inquired, his words punctuated by a sense of urgency.
Satoshi's response was measured, his silence stretching out for a long moment before he finally spoke. "HOW CAN I TRUST YOU?" he questioned, his voice laced with skepticism.
Raiden's brow furrowed slightly at Satoshi's query, his mind racing as he searched for a convincing answer. "CAN'T YOU JUST TRUST US?" he countered, his tone tinged with frustration at the man's apparent reluctance.
Meanwhile, Kaito, ever observant, couldn't help but voice his own doubts to Raiden in a hushed whisper. "How could he trust us after you attacked him with 'Thunderous Judgement'?" he mumbled, his words laden with concern.
Raiden's expression softened slightly as he considered Kaito's words, a faint frown marring his features. "Good point," he conceded quietly, his gaze flickering briefly to Satoshi before returning to Kaito.
Caught in the midst of this tense exchange, Satoshi remained silent, his eyes flitting between Raiden and Kaito as he weighed his options. The air crackled with uncertainty, each passing moment fraught with the possibility of further conflict or a fleeting chance at reconciliation.
As the seconds ticked by, the weight of their collective gaze bore down upon Satoshi, the outcome of their encounter hanging precariously in the balance. Whether trust could be forged amidst the chaos of battle remained uncertain, yet the faint glimmer of hope lingered, a beacon amidst the darkness that threatened to consume them all.
The tense atmosphere seemed to dissipate slightly as Satoshi's healing abilities worked their magic, his wounds fading away as if they had never existed. Yet, despite the physical restoration, an air of distrust still lingered between the two parties, their words laden with suspicion and uncertainty.
"F-FINE... JUST... DON'T ATTACK ME AGAIN," Satoshi finally relented, his voice tinged with resignation as he reluctantly agreed to put aside his grievances for the time being. Raiden's response was swift and sharp, his words dripping with sarcasm as he retorted, "IT'S NOT LIKE I'D NEED TO SNEAK ATTACK YOU ANYWAYS."
Satoshi's thoughts churned with frustration as he begrudgingly approached Kaito and Raiden, his steps hesitant yet resolute. He knew that cooperation was their best chance at survival, yet the animosity between them still simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over at any moment.
Raiden wasted no time in cutting to the heart of the matter, his tone brusque as he demanded answers from Satoshi. "WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANTED TO DO WITH KAITO?" he questioned, his gaze piercing as he awaited a response.
Satoshi's brows furrowed in annoyance at Raiden's interrogation, yet he knew that he had little choice but to cooperate. "I just want Altharion to take control over the vessel," he explained, his words measured yet tinged with desperation. "I'm pretty sure Kaito is just suppressing him, he somehow must have control over Altharion."
Kaito's voice cut through the tense silence, his tone firm as he addressed Satoshi's accusations. "You're talking as if this isn't my body, but Altharion's," he stated, his words carrying a hint of defiance. "Also, no. Altharion doesn't want to take control over."
The implications of Kaito's words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow of doubt over Satoshi's intentions. Could it be possible that Altharion harbored no desire to seize control, as Satoshi claimed? Or was there more to the situation than met the eye, hidden beneath layers of deception and mistrust?
The tension that had gripped the air moments before seemed to dissipate as Satoshi grudgingly accepted the precarious truce, his resignation palpable as he muttered, "Fine, whatever." Raiden's demeanor softened slightly as he acknowledged Satoshi's resilience, a hint of grudging respect coloring his words. "Well, unrelated to this topic... You're not half bad," Raiden conceded, his tone begrudgingly admiring. "You were able to endure 100 Quadrillion volts per lighting, even if you had to heal yourself, that's great."
Satoshi's expression softened marginally at Raiden's praise, a flicker of pride dancing in his eyes as he acknowledged the magnitude of his feat. "I guess... Was that your most powerful attack?" he ventured tentatively, his curiosity piqued by the prospect of facing Raiden's full might.
Raiden's smile widened at Satoshi's inquiry, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes as he prepared to deliver his response. "No," he replied simply, his voice laced with amusement.
Satoshi's jaw dropped in disbelief at Raiden's casual admission, his mind struggling to comprehend the true extent of Raiden's power. "What do you mean? Was it one of your most powerful ones, at least?" he pressed, his incredulity evident in his voice.
Raiden's chuckle rang out through the clearing, the sound rich with self-assured confidence as he dismissed Satoshi's question with a wave of his hand. "It's like... A tick above my average attack," he explained nonchalantly, his words carrying an air of casual arrogance.
Kaito's eyes widened in astonishment at Raiden's revelation, his mind racing to process the implications of his mentor's words. "Woah... You only trained me to endure lightings that were in the billions back then... To think this was far below your average attacks is just... Impressive!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with awe.
Raiden's chest puffed out with pride at Kaito's words, a smug grin spreading across his face as he basked in the admiration of his protege. "I'm the Emperor of Lighting for a reason!" he declared, his voice ringing with self-assured confidence.
Kaito couldn't help but interject with a playful jab, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he teased, "Isn't that a self-proclaimed title...?" His words were met with a hearty laugh from Raiden, the tension of their earlier confrontation fading away as they shared a moment of camaraderie amidst the chaos of their encounter.