The battered team limped back to the clearing the following evening, determination etched into their faces. Each carried a sense of urgency, but the weight of their previous defeat lingered. Hakishi tightened the wrappings around his injured wrist, his fiery resolve undeterred.
"This time, we don't charge blindly," Lee said, adjusting his stance. "We observe, adapt, and strike only when we know we can land a hit."
Dom nodded, his arm still bandaged. "We need a strategy. He's too fast to take head-on."
Hakishi's lips curled into a smirk. "Good. Let's test him properly this time."
As if summoned by their determination, Sora Nightmare stepped into the clearing once more. His blindfolded gaze seemed to survey the group, his casual posture betraying no concern.
"You're back," he said, his tone devoid of surprise. "I'm disappointed. I hoped you'd learn your lesson."
Hakishi stepped forward. "We're not leaving until we take you down."
Sora chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Foolish. But if you insist, I'll humor you… briefly."
Without warning, Sora moved, vanishing into the shadows. The group sprang into action, fanning out in a carefully coordinated formation.
"Aki, now!" Lee barked.
Aki conjured a massive orb of light, illuminating the entire clearing. Shadows danced wildly, but Sora remained hidden, his presence an enigma.
"Where—" Dom began, but he was cut off as Sora appeared behind him, striking the air near his shoulder. Though no blade touched him, Dom was flung backward, crashing into a tree.
"Still predictable," Sora said, his tone dismissive.
Hakishi roared, launching a flurry of punches. His fists crackled with energy, each strike aimed with precision. Yet every attack struck empty air as Sora weaved effortlessly through the onslaught.
Lee leaped in from the side, his kicks aimed at Sora's ribs, but Sora sidestepped gracefully, countering with a sweep of his blade. Lee twisted mid-air to avoid the strike, but the motion sent him tumbling to the ground.
"Distract him!" Aki shouted, hurling a barrage of firebolts. They exploded around Sora, creating a blinding wall of flame.
When the smoke cleared, Sora stood unscathed, his blindfolded gaze fixed on Aki. "Flashy, as always," he remarked. "But utterly useless."
Aki gritted his teeth, summoning more flames, but Sora was already behind him. A single, precise strike sent Aki's staff clattering to the ground.
"You'll never touch me," Sora said, his voice calm and cold. "Your movements are loud. Your intentions even louder."
Hakishi, breathing heavily, charged once more. This time, he feinted left before launching a spinning kick. Sora's blade met his leg mid-air, stopping it effortlessly.
"You rely on brute force," Sora said, twisting his blade just enough to throw Hakishi off balance. "It's predictable. Weak."
Hakishi hit the ground hard, his vision swimming.
Dom crawled to his feet, his voice shaky. "We… We can't even scratch him."
Sora turned to the team, his expression one of mild disappointment. "You lack finesse. Coordination. You're all noise with no substance."
Lee staggered upright, defiance in his eyes. "We'll—"
"No," Sora interrupted, his tone final. "You won't."
He raised his blade, a surge of energy rippling through the clearing. The sheer pressure brought the team to their knees, unable to move.
"You're not worthy of a real fight," Sora said, his voice filled with disdain. "The next time you face a Nightmare, pray it's not me."
He vanished into the shadows, leaving the team battered and broken once more.
Hakishi slammed his fist into the ground, frustration etched into his face. "This isn't over. I don't care how strong he is. We'll find a way."
Lee helped Aki to his feet, his expression grim. "We need more than strength. We need to outthink him."
Aki groaned, leaning heavily on his staff. "Outthinking someone who's ten steps ahead? Sounds easy."
Dom sighed, nursing his wounds. "We either figure it out or we're done. No more second chances."
Hakishi's eyes burned with determination as he gazed into the dark forest. "Then we don't stop until we do."