Taki stood up, towering over them, his piercing eyes locked onto Olorun. His voice was cold and commanding. "Olorun, why have you come?"
Olorun stepped forward, his fists clenched. "I'm going to tell my brother face to face—I'm leaving this castle."
Taki chuckled darkly, his deep voice reverberating in the mist. "Ha. That's funny. Very funny, boy. Go back to your room or something, and take that blue-haired swordsman with you. You don't belong here."
Kenji leaned slightly toward Olorun and muttered, "I think we're about to—"
"Fight him? Yeah, I know," Olorun cut in, his eyes narrowing as sparks of lightning crackled around his fists.
Taki's smirk vanished, and his tone turned deadly. "Then bring it."
Kenji pulled out his two swords, the blades gleaming in the dim light. He gave them a quick spin before settling into a battle stance. "Looks like we're doing this."
Olorun's hands erupted with lightning, the bolts sparking wildly around him as his energy surged. "I've been waiting for this."
Taki stepped forward, his heavy boots echoing as the mist parted around him. His muscles tensed, and his presence alone felt like a force of nature. "You'll regret coming here," he growled, his voice filled with unshakable confidence.
Kenji crossed both his swords in front of him, the blades glowing faintly with a mix of his fury and determination. Beside him, Olorun's left hand crackled with raw electricity, lightning arcs dancing wildly up his arm.
Olorun smirked. "Lightning..."
Kenji tightened his grip, his eyes locked onto Taki. "Ken..."
The ground beneath them cracked, unable to contain the pressure of their combined energy.
"STRIKE!" Olorun roared as he lunged forward, his lightning-coated fist aimed directly at Taki.
"Surasshu!" Kenji shouted, slashing with both swords in perfect synchronization with Olorun's attack.
The two attacks collided with Taki in a brilliant explosion of light and energy, the sheer force tearing through the mist and sending shockwaves rippling outward. Dust and debris flew everywhere as the ground shook under the intensity.
When the dust settled, Taki stood unfazed, his massive form towering over them, his calm, icy gaze never wavering. He wiped a speck of dust from his shoulder and chuckled.
"That's it?" Taki said, his voice deep and mocking. "You'll have to do better than that, boys."
Kenji's eyes widened slightly. "He didn't even flinch..."
Olorun growled, his frustration palpable. "Damn it. How's he so tough?!"
Taki took a slow step forward, the ground trembling beneath his weight. "Let me show you the difference between a child playing with lightning and a true warrior." Before Kenji and Olorun could react, Taki vanished from their sight, his incredible speed leaving a faint blur.
BAM!
Taki's fists slammed into their stomachs with devastating force, his punches precise and unrelenting. The impact sent both of them flying backward like ragdolls, crashing through the bridge's wooden planks and splinters.
Kenji coughed violently, trying to catch his breath midair. "What the hell—"
Olorun gritted his teeth, electricity sparking uncontrollably around him. "He's too fast—!"
But Taki wasn't done. In an instant, he appeared behind them, his massive hands gripping the backs of their heads like they were nothing more than toys.
"You think you're ready to leave this castle?" Taki growled, his voice cold. "You're not even close."
With a forceful swing, Taki hurled them forward like projectiles, their bodies crashing into the bridge, skidding across the planks before coming to a halt near the edge.
Kenji groaned, struggling to get up. "Okay... that hurt..."
Olorun wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes blazing with defiance. "He's not going to let us through... we'll have to force our way past him."
Kenji smirked despite the pain. "You think? I was hoping we'd just get lucky."
Taki cracked his knuckles, his imposing figure stepping closer. "Show me your resolve, or turn back now." Kenji and Olorun exchanged a brief glance, their determination burning bright. Without a word, they surged forward in unison, their movements synchronized despite their differing fighting styles.
Kenji's dual swords shimmered with a faint blue glow as he darted left, aiming for Taki's flank. Meanwhile, Olorun's fists crackled with fierce lightning as he charged head-on, his right fist cocked back and sparking wildly.
Taki stood firm, his posture unshaken.
"You'll need more than flashy tricks to get past me," Taki taunted, his eyes sharp and calculating.
Kenji struck first, his blades arcing in a swift horizontal slash. Taki tilted his head back, narrowly dodging the attack as the wind from the strike ruffled his long coat. Before Kenji could follow up, Taki spun and raised his forearm, effortlessly deflecting Olorun's electrified punch. The impact sent sparks scattering into the mist.
"Predictable," Taki said coolly, sidestepping a second punch from Olorun and delivering a swift palm strike to his chest. The blow sent Olorun stumbling backward, but Kenji was already closing in.
"Try dodging this!" Kenji snarled, slashing in rapid succession—one blade aimed at Taki's shoulder, the other at his midsection.
Taki twisted his body, dodging both strikes with fluid precision. His foot shot out in a low sweep, forcing Kenji to leap back.
"Too slow," Taki said with a smirk, raising his arm to block Olorun's lightning-infused uppercut.
The collision created a shockwave, the bridge trembling beneath their feet.
Olorun gritted his teeth, pouring more energy into his fists. "You talk big for someone who's just blocking!"
Taki's smirk widened. "Blocking is all I need against amateurs like you." He suddenly shifted, grabbing Olorun's wrist mid-strike and using the momentum to swing him toward Kenji.
"Duck!" Olorun shouted, his body hurtling toward Kenji.
Kenji rolled under Olorun just in time, springing up to slash at Taki's exposed side. But Taki anticipated it, catching the blade between his palms.
"Nice try," Taki said, twisting the sword and forcing Kenji to lose grip.
Olorun recovered, slamming his fist into the ground and sending a surge of lightning toward Taki. "Try dodging this!"
The lightning raced forward, crackling with intense energy. Taki leaped high into the air, avoiding the attack entirely, his silhouette illuminated by the electric glow.
As he descended, Taki's voice echoed, taunting them again. "You'll have to do better than that to touch me."
Kenji gripped his remaining sword tightly, glaring up at their towering foe. "Olorun, let's change the pace. Keep him grounded!"
Olorun nodded, lightning surging through his veins. "Got it." Olorun summoned his lightning whips, their crackling arcs illuminating the misty surroundings. He lashed them in all directions, each strike sending sparks flying and scorching the bridge beneath them.
Kenji, gripping both his swords, shouted, "Maruchi-Surasshu!" His blades danced through the air in a whirlwind of slashes, each strike aimed at Taki from multiple angles.
Taki moved with incredible precision, blocking and deflecting each whip and slash with his forearms, but even he couldn't avoid taking some hits. Blood trickled from cuts on his arms and torso, staining his once-pristine coat.
As Kenji and Olorun finished their onslaught, they stepped back to assess the damage. Taki stood there, breathing heavily, his body marked with slashes and burns. He spit blood onto the ground, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders, Taki muttered, "No more Mr. Nice Guy."
In an instant, he vanished.
Before Kenji could react, Taki appeared in front of him, his fist driving into Kenji's chest with such force that the sound of ribs cracking echoed through the air. Kenji gasped, his swords falling from his hands as he collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest in agony.
"Olorun!" Kenji managed to choke out, but it was too late.
Taki turned on Olorun, who tried to defend himself with his lightning whips. Taki weaved through the strikes effortlessly, closing the distance in a heartbeat. With a brutal kick, Taki shattered Olorun's leg, the sickening crack echoing as Olorun cried out in pain and collapsed.
"You thought you could challenge me?" Taki said coldly, standing over both of them. "You're not even worthy of this bridge." Taki towered over the fallen duo, his presence menacing. He wiped some blood off his lip and smirked. "I won't kill you, Olorun," he sneered. "Your brother wouldn't forgive me. But your blue-haired friend here? I'd be more than happy to tear him apart."
Olorun, battered and barely conscious, weakly reached out. "N-No… don't…"
Taki ignored him, striding toward Kenji, who was on his back, clutching his broken ribs, his breathing ragged. Taki crouched in front of him, smirking. "How does it feel, swordsman? To be powerless?"
Kenji glared up at him, pain flashing in his eyes, but his grip on his resolve remained firm.
With all his strength, Taki delivered a devastating punch to Kenji's stomach, the impact so powerful it echoed like thunder. Kenji coughed up blood, his vision blurring. Taki seized him by the neck, effortlessly lifting him off the ground.
"Don't worry, blue hair," Taki said, his tone dripping with malice. "I'll rip your heart out quickly. Consider it mercy."
Olorun, trembling and barely able to move, crawled forward, his fingers gripping Taki's leg in a desperate attempt to stop him. "K-Kenji…!"
Taki glanced down with a mixture of disdain and amusement. "Pathetic." With a brutal stomp, he slammed his foot into Olorun's head, driving him to the ground.
Raising his free hand, Taki pointed his fingers toward Kenji's chest, his energy gathering for a final blow. "Byebye, swordsman."