Raijin's blade collided with Yukio's, sending a ripple of energy through the air. Sparks flew as their swords clashed, and the sound of metal echoed across the floating platform. Raijin's muscles tensed as he blocked Yukio's powerful strikes, each one heavier than the last.
Yukio grinned maliciously. "You've improved, Raijin. But you're still just a small fish in this ocean."
Raijin didn't respond. His focus was solely on surviving this encounter and buying Hiro enough time to secure the control point. Each swing of his sword was calculated, each movement a step in a larger plan. Yukio was fast, but Raijin had faced worse in the abyss. He knew how to deal with relentless opponents like this.
Kuro, on the other hand, stayed back, watching the fight with a calculating gaze. Raijin knew Kuro was waiting for the right moment to strike, but that moment couldn't come until Hiro made his move. It was a delicate balance, Raijin had to keep both Yukio and Kuro occupied long enough for Hiro to execute the plan.
With a sudden burst of speed, Yukio launched a flurry of attacks. Raijin barely managed to parry, his sword vibrating in his hands with each impact. But he didn't let the intensity of the fight shake him. Instead, he used Yukio's aggression to his advantage, forcing him to overextend and create small openings.
As Yukio swung wide, Raijin sidestepped and brought his sword up in a sharp arc, aiming for his opponent's exposed side. The attack wasn't meant to land, it was meant to disrupt Yukio's rhythm, and it worked. Yukio staggered, just for a split second, but it was enough for Raijin to reposition himself closer to the edge of the platform.
"Damn it," Yukio growled, his face twisted with frustration. He charged again, his movements becoming more reckless.
Raijin braced himself, but just as Yukio's blade was about to strike, Hiro's voice came through their team's communication link. "Raijin, the control point is secured. It's locked down."
Relief washed over Raijin. They had done it, now all they had to do was disengage. Raijin allowed himself a small smile as he blocked Yukio's next attack. "Sorry, Yukio. Game's over."
Before Yukio could react, Raijin spun on his heel and sprinted toward the edge of the platform, activating a hidden path that led to the next area. Hiro was already waiting for him on the other side, and as soon as Raijin crossed, the bridge between the platforms deactivated, leaving Yukio and Kuro stranded on the other side.
Yukio shouted in frustration, but there was nothing he could do. The control point was theirs.
"Well done," Hiro said as Raijin caught his breath. "That was a close one."
Raijin nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Too close. But we're still in the game. Let's regroup with Mikasa and Kenji and figure out our next move."
As they moved deeper into the floating citadel, Raijin couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get even more intense. They had managed to outmaneuver Yukio and Kuro this time, but the tournament was far from over. The stakes were rising with each passing moment, and Raijin knew they couldn't afford any mistakes.
The path ahead led them through a series of narrow, winding bridges, with the citadel's towering structures looming overhead. The glass floors beneath their feet gave them a clear view of the world below a dizzying drop into a vast, cloud-filled abyss.
"There's something up ahead," Hiro said, his eyes narrowing as they approached a larger platform. "It looks like another team."
Raijin tensed. They couldn't afford another confrontation so soon after the last one, especially not before regrouping with Mikasa and Kenji. But there was no turning back now. The other team had already noticed them, and they were moving quickly toward the platform.
Raijin recognized the leader of the opposing team immediately, it was Rika, another top-tier player known for her cunning strategies. She was accompanied by two others, both equally skilled. This was going to be tough.
Rika smiled as she approached, her eyes gleaming with confidence. "Raijin, Hiro. I see you've made it this far. Impressive."
"Not as impressive as you," Raijin replied, keeping his voice calm despite the tension building in his chest. "But we're not here to fight."
Rika raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Really? You're not going to try and take the control point from us?"
"We don't need to," Raijin said. "We've already secured one."
For a moment, Rika's expression faltered. She hadn't expected that. But she quickly recovered, her smile returning. "Interesting. But you know as well as I do that having just one control point isn't enough to win this tournament. You'll need more than that if you want to make it to the final stage."
Raijin nodded. "We know. But we're not looking for a fight right now. We're just passing through."
Rika's eyes narrowed, but after a moment, she stepped aside, allowing Raijin and Hiro to pass. "Very well. But remember, Raijin, there's only room for one winner in this tournament. Next time we meet, things might not be so civil."
Raijin didn't respond. He and Hiro moved quickly across the platform, not daring to look back until they were safely out of sight.
"That was...unexpected," Hiro muttered once they were far enough away.
Raijin nodded. "Rika's playing the long game. She knows it's not worth the risk to fight us now. But we'll have to be ready for her when the time comes."
As they continued toward the rendezvous point, Raijin's thoughts drifted back to his family. Every step they took in the tournament brought them closer to the prize, and closer to the relief his mother and sister so desperately needed. But the closer they got, the more dangerous the competition became.
They reached the meeting point where Mikasa and Kenji were waiting. Both looked relieved to see them.
"We got the control point," Mikasa said. "No trouble on our end."
"Good," Raijin replied, his mind already working on their next move. "Because things are about to get a lot tougher. We're in the final stretch now."
As they regrouped and prepared for the next stage of the tournament, Raijin couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The tournament was shifting, and soon, every player left in the competition would be gunning for them.
The citadel may have been a temporary respite from the abyss, but Raijin knew the real challenge was still ahead.