Kaoru shot forward like lightning, lunging at Yuyami before the woman could react. With one brutal movement, he clamped his left hand over her face, gripping tightly as his strong fingers dug into her skin. Effortlessly, Kaoru lifted Yuyami's body, leaving her dangling in the air, her legs swinging helplessly. His cold gaze locked onto Yuyami's crimson eyes, now filled with a mix of shock and fear.
"Let me make this simple for you," Kaoru said with a threatening tone, his voice low and sharp as a drawn blade. "Hand over the Relic I'm after, and I'll spare you. If not..." He left the threat hanging, but his grip tightened, giving her a clear warning that he wasn't playing games.
Yuyami whimpered, trying to control the pain crushing her head. But despite her dire situation, a sly smile crept back onto her face. "Urgh-... Not a chance," she hissed, her breath strained. "Aren't you worried about your client right now?"
Kaoru paused, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?" he asked, though he didn't release his hold on Yuyami. Something in her tone set off alarm bells, though he showed no sign of fear.
Yuyami let out a short laugh, though her breath came in ragged gasps. "You really think Towako is safe?" Yuyami questioned, her voice growing weaker. "Did you think I wouldn't know? Since you're working for Towako, we've obviously prepared a trap for you...."
Kaoru's lips curled into a slight smirk, as if mocking her words. "Don't underestimate me," he replied, his gaze growing sharper. "You think I haven't noticed? If you know I'm acting as Towako's agent to find that Relic, there's only one explanation that makes sense. Someone close to Towako has betrayed him, feeding you information."
Yuyami's face shifted, and Kaoru knew he had hit the mark.
"You reacted rather quickly," Kaoru continued, his tone triumphant. "That means you overheard my conversation with Towako right after I agreed to it. Someone must have eavesdropped on us at the mansion... other than the servants, there was one more person present at that time."
Yuyami's eyes widened, stunned at Kaoru's precise deduction. He had hit the nail on the head.
"Even if you know that," Yuyami spat in desperation, "it's too late! Towako is already in our hands! You won't be able to save him!"
The atmosphere inside the train changed in an instant. The passengers, who had previously seemed ordinary, began to move, rising with cold, menacing expressions. Every gaze in the train turned sharply toward Kaoru, revealing the hidden malice behind faces that once looked innocent.
Kaoru realized his situation had taken a darker turn. Every passenger in the train was one of Yuyami's agents, posing as regular travelers all to trap him. They spread out along the carriage, forming a circle around Kaoru, ready to strike at any moment.
"So that's how it is," Kaoru said in a cold tone, though the threat was closing in from all directions. He still didn't release Yuyami, instead pulling her closer as if to make sure his final message sank in.
"You think you can trap me here?" he asked mockingly, ignoring the piercing glares of the passengers who were now clearly his enemies. "You're gravely mistaken if you think I'll be easy to destroy. Towako may be in your hands, but I'll make you regret underestimating me."
Yuyami's eyes were filled with rage and frustration, though her smile hadn't faded, even as Kaoru's grip tightened. "You... won't make it out of here alive, Kaoru," she whispered, her voice barely audible, her breaths labored under Kaoru's grip.
Kaoru sighed, as though he had just heard a terribly unfunny joke. "Too bad for you, I don't care how many lackeys you've brought," he replied, his tone growing even colder. "If you don't hand over the Relic now, you'll come to realize just how wrong you were today."
Yuyami knew she didn't have many options left. But before she could give him an answer, the agents in the train began to move. With coordinated precision, they attacked Kaoru from every direction, wielding hidden weapons and various supernatural abilities.
Kaoru remained calm. In one swift motion, he swung Yuyami, who was still in his grip, using her as a living shield to deflect the incoming attacks. Some agents hesitated, unwilling to harm their own leader.
"Thanks, you've been quite useful," Kaoru sneered at Yuyami, who now looked terrified and desperate. "Now, let's finish this."
He hurled Yuyami's body toward the attackers with full force, scattering them as they scrambled to catch their leader. In the ensuing chaos, Kaoru moved like a shadow, taking advantage of the moment to launch his counterattack.
A full-blown battle erupted in an instant, filling the fast-moving train carriage with the sounds of fierce clashes, grunts, and the sizzling hum of magic slicing through the air. Surrounded on all sides, Kaoru stood tall, his blue eyes radiating an aura of unshakeable strength. Despite the sheer number of foes, Kaoru knew they were no match for him. If they wanted to capture him, they'd need a knight from Charmagne, someone with strength and honor equal to legend—not just a swarm of agents relying on low-level supernatural powers.
With swift, decisive movements, Kaoru flung Yuyami's body into one of the passenger seats. She landed hard, but before she could react, Kaoru bound her with a sealing spell, wrapping her in a flash of blue light. Invisible chains bound her body, rendering her unable to move.
"Don't expect to escape so easily," Kaoru warned Yuyami in an icy tone, before turning his focus to the enemies in front of him. Without giving them a chance to attack first, Kaoru darted forward at blinding speed, swinging his sword in fluid yet deadly motions.
The enemy agents, who had charged at him like a swarm, were instantly split apart as Kaoru struck. Each slash of his sword left a gleaming blue arc, cutting through the air with lethal precision.
One agent tried to flank him from the side, leaping with a knife wreathed in dark energy. But before he could get close, Kaoru was already one step ahead—sidestepping smoothly and countering with a slash of his sword. The knife flew from the agent's hand, and with one quick motion, Kaoru struck him down, leaving him crumpled on the floor.
From another direction, several agents unleashed their magic, sending fireballs and energy arrows hurtling toward Kaoru. Without hesitation, he deflected each attack with his sword, forming a glowing barrier around himself. Explosions filled the air, but Kaoru stood at the center of it all, unscathed and unwavering in his focus.