Jin's smug laughter echoed through the forest as he vanished into the shadows, leaving Hakishi, Lee, Dom, and Aki licking their wounds. But their reprieve was short-lived. A chilling wind swept through the clearing, and a new figure emerged from the shadows, his movements eerily silent.
The man was tall, lean, and wore a blindfold over his eyes. His posture was relaxed, but his presence radiated an aura of menace. In one hand, he held a thin, curved blade, its edge glinting faintly in the dim light.
Hakishi struggled to his feet, clutching his ribs. "Who the hell are you now?"
The man tilted his head slightly, his voice calm but laced with menace. "Jin sends his regards. I'm Sora Nightmare, his older brother. And if you thought Jin was tough, you're in for a rude awakening."
Hakishi's fists clenched again, but Lee placed a hand on his shoulder. "Careful, Hakishi. Something's off about this guy."
"He's blind," Dom whispered, his voice a mix of disbelief and pity. "How dangerous could he really be?"
Sora smirked. "Blindness doesn't make me weak. It only sharpens my senses."
Without warning, Sora vanished. A split second later, Dom was sent flying backward, a deep cut grazing his arm. Blood spattered the ground as Sora reappeared behind him, blade resting casually on his shoulder.
"Too slow," Sora remarked, his tone almost bored.
Hakishi roared and charged forward, his energy-infused punch aimed directly at Sora's chest. But Sora sidestepped effortlessly, catching Hakishi's wrist mid-punch and twisting it with a sickening crack. Hakishi cried out in pain, dropping to one knee.
"Predictable," Sora said, shoving Hakishi aside.
Lee and Aki exchanged a glance. "We go together this time," Lee said, nodding. Aki conjured a massive fireball, and Lee sprinted forward, his kicks swift and precise.
The fireball roared toward Sora, who stood perfectly still until the last moment. In a single, fluid motion, he swung his blade, splitting the fireball in two. The flames dissipated harmlessly around him, and in the same motion, he deflected Lee's kick with the flat of his blade, sending the latter sprawling.
Aki's hands trembled as he tried to summon another attack. Sora was on him in an instant, the edge of his blade stopping mere millimeters from Aki's throat.
"You rely too much on flashy tricks," Sora murmured. "They're meaningless if you lack precision."
Aki froze, unable to move as Sora stepped back, letting him collapse to the ground.
Dom, still clutching his wounded arm, gritted his teeth. "We can't even touch him!"
"No," Sora said, his blindfolded gaze somehow piercing. "You can't."
Sora began walking away, his movements as fluid as a shadow. "Tell Jin I'm done babysitting. The next time we meet, don't waste my time with this… circus."
Hakishi groaned, dragging himself to his feet. "We're not done yet!"
Sora paused but didn't turn. "You are." With that, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving the team battered and humiliated once again.
Lee sat up slowly, rubbing his bruised jaw. "This is getting ridiculous. First Jin, now his brother? How many Nightmares are there?"
Hakishi spat out a leaf and glared at the horizon. "Doesn't matter. Next time, we'll be ready."
Dom shook his head. "We weren't ready this time. What makes you think—"
"Next time," Hakishi interrupted, his voice firm, "we win. No matter what."
Aki groaned from the ground. "Someone remind me why I agreed to join this team…"