Kaito leaped forward. "Thunderclap Uppercut!" he shouted, unleashing a powerful uppercut that released a deafening sonic boom.
The Spec didn't flinch, its thick skin absorbed the attack, and it retaliated with a swift slash of its massive paw.
Kaito's eyes widened in shock as he got hit back.
He landed hard on the ground. As he struggles to get up, he sees Yukiko running towards him and he puts his hand together and gives her a boost, sending her soaring into the air.
Yukiko spun rapidly, "Frost Frenzy!" She whispered.
A swirling vortex of frigid air formed around her, creating sharp ice crystals around her, The vortex burst apart, scattering ice shards everywhere, hitting it on a large scale but it wasn't affected.
The rodent's tail whipped through the air, striking Yukiko with a loud thud and sending her crashing to the ground.
Mizuki rushed forward, her hands glowing with water. "Abyssal Grasp!" she shouted, extending tendrils of water that reached out to restrain the rodent.
But it struggled and broke out off the tendrils, its fur glistening with water droplets.
It let out another screech
Yukiko shouted, "Ryujin! Kuro!" as she created an ice stone and hurled it into the air, catching both Ryujin and Kuro in its trajectory and launching them into the air.
Ryujin bellowed, "Let's finish this!"
He swung his sabers in a wide arc "Kagutsuchi: Blazing Crescent" he yelled, sending a wave of fire that raced towards the rodent. The flames left a trail in their wake.
Kuro shouted in unison, "Yes!!"
"Dojin: Craggy Projectile"
He swung his kurisagama, and the end of it gathered a massive boulder that was hurtled toward the rodent.
The combined attacks struck the rodent, sending it crashing to the ground.
It scrambled to its feet and took off in a mad dash.
Kaito shouted, "Now let's finish this!"
Kuro and Ryujin landed and they ran after it.
Meanwhile,
Akari's eyes widened in surprise as she watched the battle unfold. "So they're this good after..."
"I guess I was bothered for no reason... oh crap!" she exclaimed, her tea forgotten in her alarm and she jumped off the roof.
Ryujin hurled a fireball at the rodent, but it dodged with ease.
Kuro shouted, "We have to catch it!"
Akari reached the gate of the playground, "Stop! It's a trap!".
Yukiko's eyes widened in confusion, "Huh??!"
The ground began to rumble and six rodents emerged from the earth and surrounded them.
Kaito's eyes went wide with fear, "What?!"
The rodents released a deafening sonic attack, disorienting and deafening all of them and then the main rodent slashed the air, its paw swiping through the air like a razor-sharp blade, sending them flying backward.
They all crashed to the ground, their bodies limp and unconscious, except for Ryujin and Kuro.
They both struggled to stand.
Kuro's voice was barely audible, "We cau...sed this..."
Ryujin's response was just as weak, "So... we... have to..."
Akari approached them, and reached out, petting their heads. "Nah, you did well"
"All of you did!"
"But this is beyond your control!"
She walked past them
"I'll handle it!!"
Her eyes fixed on the rodents.
Kuro and Ryujin's eyes fluttered closed, they collapsed to the ground.
Akari's eyes narrowed as she gazed at the rodents. 'For it to be this strong?!'
'Should it be this strong?'
'It was registered as a grade F spec, wasn't it?'
'Unless... Climax enhancement!'
A sly smile spread across her face, while the rodents screeched toward her.
She slowly raised her hand halfway, "Luminous Ward...." A shimmering barrier of light erupted from her palm, deflecting the rodents' sonic attack easily and reflecting it at the rodents, deafening them with their own reflected scream.
"I'll do this without my Artifact!"
"I can't waste it on you!"
"Or better yet, I will end you right now!"
"Celestial Nova!"
With a sweep of her arm, the night sky erupted into a blinding light, as if the stars had come alive.
Kaito woke up "What happened?", rubbing his eyes as he looked up. "Huh, wasn't it a night a second ago...?"
As he looked around, his eyes widened in shock at the sight of Akari standing tall, her hair and clothes flowing in the sudden breeze.
A massive beam of intense light shot into the sky, targeting the rodents, hitting them, and incinerating them, leaving a giant deep hole in the floor.
She dropped her hand and the light faded turning it back tonight, Akari turned around and saw Kaito, who was staring at her in shock. "What's wrong?!" she asked.
Kaito shook his head, still dazed. "No... no... nothing..."
Akari chuckled. "Hmm, smiles. Wake everyone up, let's go."
Kaito's eyes widened, "Now I understand what Fushiguro meant!" he exclaimed.
"What devastating power!"
"And I wanted to fight that?!"
He sighed,
Kaito tried to stand, but his legs wobbled beneath him.
He collapsed back onto the ground. "Ehhh... still disoriented...?"
"Oh in that case" Akari chuckled and flew off into the distance, returning with a tent and a campfire that seemed to materialize out of thin air.
"We stay outdoors today!" she declared.
Kaito said. "Seriously?!"
"And where did she get all of that?"
As the others began to wake up, Yukiko rubbed her eyes, confusion etched on her face. "What happened?"
Akari smiled playfully and handed a fish to Yukiko. "Shut up and have a fish!"
Kaito surprisingly asked. "Where did you get a...?"
But Akari winked and said. "Don't ask!"
Ryujin and Kuro remained silent, their faces still pale.
Akari tossed a steak in their direction. "We're camping here!"
They both looked at the stake
Ryujin grinned. "Ok then, I'll do the barbecue!"
Kuro forced a smile, but he nodded. "And I'll set the tables!"
They both tried to stand up but they fell to their knees and everyone began laughing.
Unbeknownst to them, Koji watched from a mile away.
"She's still as formidable and intimidating as ever!" he whispered to himself.
"To think she tried to aim for me as well in that blast!"
"But now, looks like our plans are all but complete!"
"Just one more thing needed"
"And it'll be the end of you, Akari Hoshikawa!!"
Akari looked at the hole and had a pondering look, "We can't stay here for long though"
"We move out at day break"