Kaito winced, "Owwww!" as he lay on his bed, his body aching from the ordeal. Akari's hands moved gently yet firmly, and a soothing cream was applied to his battered back.
"Stay still, you idiot!" she scolded, her voice laced with concern.
Kaito shifted uncomfortably, "But it hurts..." he protested, his voice weak from exhaustion.
Akari's hands paused, her eyes softening as she gazed at him.
"I know, I know."
"But this will help with the pain and healing." She continued applying the cream.
Kaito's face contorted in discomfort and frustration, but he remained still.
Akari's hands continued to tend to Kaito's wounds, her expression of relief and scolding. "It's supposed to hurt!"
"You were holed!"
"I'm surprised you're still alive!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with a hint of awe.
Kaito's eyes fluttered closed. He remembered the skull, its eerie grin, and the feeling of his life force ebbing away.
His gaze refocused on Akari, his voice barely above a whisper. "Hey Akari..."
Akari's hands paused, her eyes locking onto Kaito's. "Yes, Kaito??!" she asked, her tone softening.
Kaito's voice trailed off. "Could you...".
Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the room(Boom)
Kaito and Akari exchanged a startled glance, their eyes wide with surprise.
"Huh?!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing off the walls.
The room shook, dust and debris falling from the ceiling.
The air was thick with tension, the silence that followed the explosion deafening.
Kaito's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "What was that?" he whispered, his gaze darting towards the door.
"Kaito!" Kuro burst from the side of the door, landing on the ground with a loud thud. He crouched low, his eyes blazing.
"Fight me!" he yelled, his voice echoing off the walls.
Kaito's eyes widened in surprise. Akari continued rubbing his back, seemingly oblivious to the sudden interruption.
"What did you say?" Kaito asked, his voice laced with confusion.
Kuro shouted again. "Fight me!" He stood up, stretching his hand out.
His eyes gleamed with a fierce determination, his jaw set in a stubborn line.
Just then, Ryujin walked in, his face etched with seriousness. "Fight me as well, Kaito..." he added, his deep voice firm.
Kaito threw up his hands, exasperation written across his face. "You have got to be kidding me," he said.
"What brought this on?" He looked from Kuro to Ryujin, searching for answers.
Ryujin declared, "We've not been serious for a long time!" He faced the wall.
Akari wondered aloud, "I wonder why?!"
Kuro moved closer to Kaito's face, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "And you've leveled up again!" He taunted
"So fight us!".
Ryujin added, "I want to use you and train faster,"
"So I would become stronger." His gaze remained fixed on Kaito.
Akari raised an eyebrow, amused. "Hmm?"
Kuro continued, "While I want to fight you at your best and beat you down." He cracked his knuckles, eager for a fight.
Kaito sighed, exasperated. "You know..."
But Akari interrupted, her voice firm. "No!"
"Huh?" The boys exclaimed in unison
"He's still recuperating!"
"Maybe another time..."
Ryujin protested, "He's a man!"
"He should be able to handle it!"
Kuro chimed in, "You know I'll wipe the floor with him"
"That's why you're protecting him, I understand..."
Kuro jumped to the ceiling, his fingers digging into the concrete as he held himself up. The group stared at him in awe.
Kaito raised an eyebrow, annoyed. "Hmm?"
She stood up, her eyes flashing with authority, her aura glowing gold. "Oh, that's how it's gonna be!"
"You want to defy me?!"
"Your superior...?" Her voice dripped with power.
Ryujin's eyes widened in surprise. "Huh?!"
Kuro, undaunted, shouted, "Bring it on! We can take her!" He let go of the ceiling and landed on the ground with a thud, standing up and facing Akari with a confident grin.
Akari walked in front of Kaito, her eyes flashing with amusement. "Oh? I'd like to see you try!"
'I'll leave now I guess... ' Kaito thought, scared.
He tried to get up from the bed, "I don't wanna die..." But Akari's firm voice stopped him. "Don't you dare move..."
Kaito froze, his eyes fixed on Akari's aura, which glowed with an intense golden light.
"Yes ma'am," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kuro, meanwhile, stood in a battle pose, his fists clenched and his feet shoulder-width apart.
"C'mon Ryujin!" he shouted.
Ryujin hesitated, his eyes darting between Kuro and Akari. "Eh... I don't think that's a good idea..."
He slowly walked backwards, trying to distance himself from Kuro.
Akari's gaze never wavered, her eyes fixed on Kuro with amusement and warning.
Kaito warned, "He's right, it ain't!"
"She's on another level" Ryujin quickly stepped to the side, distancing himself from Kuro.
"Thanks for the heads up! Kuro... You're on your own..."
Kuro, undaunted, shouted, "Well, go ahead, you wimp!"
"I'll take her all on my own!" , He was about to jump but he stopped, Akari's aura washed over him, making him shiver.
Kaito cautioned, "Eh, Kuro..."
Kuro looked at him
"I recommend protecting yourself"
"... You'll thank me later."
Kuro, still trying to appear brave, gulped and looked at Akari.
Akari, her eyes gleaming with intensity, held a compressed light ball. "Do me a favor..." she said, her voice dripping with challenge.
"Survive this..."
Kuro's eyes widened. "Oh crap!"
"Earthen Bulwark" He shouted, hastily creating a temporary barrier of solid earth covering himself
Akari flicked the light ball towardahh Kuro, and it hit the shield a little and the shield began to shake, the light ball still pushing against it, causing cracks to form.
Kuro strained, his hands shaking, as he tried to hold the shield in place.
"No...!" Kuro cried out, his body trembling.
He blocked his body with his hands, bracing for impact, as the crack in the shield grew wider...
Kuro screamed, "Ugh!" as the beam hit him, engulfing him at an alarming rate.
"Ah!" he wailed, his voice drowned out by the deafening blast.
The earth barrier, once a sturdy shield, now crumbled under the attack's sheer force.
Kuro desperately tried to defend himself, using his hands to shield his body from the incoming blast. His fingers splayed, palms trembling, as he attempted to absorb the impact.
However,the earth barrier disintegrated, the beam of light engulfed him completely, causing an explosive and intense explosion.
(BOOMMMM)
The blast wave rippled through the air, shaking the room's foundations. Dust and debris swirled, obscuring the scene.
The sound of shattering concrete and crumbling earth filled the air.
Outside the base, Yukiko and Misuki stood vigilant
Yukiko's hands and legs were bandaged. Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled.
The shockwave from the explosion hit them with incredible force, sending them stumbling backward.
Yukiko's eyes widened as she shielded her face from the intense light. "Akari?" she cried out.
Misuki's gaze was fixed on the base, her eyes squinting against the glare. "Yep!" she replied, her voice firm.
"Blasted Kuro?" Yukiko asked, her voice trembling.
Misuki's expression turned grim. "Looks like it!" she confirmed, her eyes never leaving the base.
The two friends exchanged a stressed out glance.
As the light began to fade, they began to walk slowly to the base