Kazuki's body was on fire with adrenaline as the third figure's presence loomed closer, its glowing red eyes burning into him. The air around them felt heavier, suffocating, like the very night itself was pressing down upon him. His grip tightened on his dagger, but the sense of overwhelming power radiating from the figure made his heart pound with unease.
The masked assailant—its movements fluid and calculated—shifted forward in a blur of motion. Kazuki could feel the ground beneath him tremble as the figure lunged. It wasn't just speed that made the strike so dangerous, it was the force, the raw energy that accompanied it. Kazuki's instincts kicked in, but he knew this fight would be different.
He barely sidestepped in time, the dagger slicing the air where he had stood a second ago. The figure's laugh echoed around him, chilling and cold, as if it were already enjoying his struggle.
"You're quick, Yamael," the figure taunted, its voice smooth and mocking. "But you can't run forever."
Kazuki's muscles burned as he steadied himself, his focus narrowing. The figure's words only fueled the fire inside him. He was the heir of the Yamael Clan. His bloodline was one of power, of command. He had been groomed for this, for moments like these. He couldn't allow himself to lose now—not when the future of his Clan was on the line.
"You talk too much," Kazuki growled, his voice laced with determination. "Let's see if you can back up those words."
He surged forward, his dagger flashing through the air in a series of calculated strikes. The figure parried each one with a casual ease that made Kazuki's frustration grow. His opponent was powerful—far more than he had expected. But Kazuki refused to back down. Every slash he made, every feint, he could feel his control over the fight slipping, yet a part of him still believed he could win.
The figure's eyes flashed red with amusement as it blocked yet another strike. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But it's not enough."
Kazuki's eyes narrowed. "Then let's see what you think of this."
With a sudden, unexpected motion, Kazuki dropped low, dodging a sweeping strike aimed at his head. He twisted, his body moving fluidly as he aimed a precise strike at the figure's exposed side. The blade cut through the air, striking the figure's cloak. The material shredded, but instead of flesh, the dagger only met resistance—something stronger, darker, beneath the surface.
The figure staggered, its expression twisting in frustration. "You're more than I anticipated, Yamael," it said, its voice tinged with annoyance. It raised its hand, and Kazuki watched as dark energy began to swirl in the air around it.
Kazuki's blood ran cold as he realized what was happening. The energy around the figure wasn't just dark—it was the kind of power that tore at the very fabric of reality. It was raw, unrefined, and dangerous. And the figure was about to unleash it.
He couldn't let that happen.
With every ounce of strength, Kazuki lunged forward, dodging another blast of dark energy that shot toward him like a storm. The air crackled with each explosion as Kazuki closed the gap, his senses sharpened, his every movement a blur of speed.
"Enough!" the figure roared. "You cannot stop it. You cannot stop me."
Kazuki's eyes narrowed, his focus clearer than ever before. This battle wasn't just about power. It was about strategy. He knew that if he couldn't overpower his opponent, he would need to outsmart it. With a swift, almost imperceptible motion, Kazuki feigned a retreat, stepping back as though he was momentarily overwhelmed.
The figure sneered, sensing weakness. "You're running out of time, Yamael."
Kazuki's heart raced, but he kept his movements calm, controlled. He allowed the figure to think it had the upper hand. And then, with a sudden burst of energy, Kazuki pivoted on his heel and launched himself directly at the figure.
The moment of surprise was all he needed. As the figure recoiled, Kazuki took his chance. He dodged a final swipe of its arm and with a swift motion, plunged his dagger into the figure's side.
But once again, there was no flesh—only resistance, like a wall of dark energy. Kazuki's dagger was stopped mid-air, the force reverberating through his arm. The figure snarled, twisting violently to break Kazuki's hold. But Kazuki wasn't finished. With his free hand, he reached up and grabbed the figure's arm, using his own strength to force it backward.
A flash of blue light erupted around them.
Kazuki's eyes widened in surprise as Ayaka's voice rang out from the shadows, cutting through the chaos. "Kazuki, now!"
In an instant, the world seemed to slow. Ayaka's precise, deadly strike came from behind the figure, slicing through the shadows with the grace of a predator. The second the figure turned, distracted by Ayaka's attack, Kazuki yanked his dagger free and slashed once more, this time finding his mark.
The figure let out a guttural roar, but it was too late. With the combined force of Kazuki's strike and Ayaka's quick assault, the figure staggered back, its form beginning to dissipate like smoke, the dark energy evaporating into the night air.
The forest fell eerily quiet.
Kazuki stood, panting heavily, his dagger still raised. His body ached, but he was alive. More importantly, they had won. For now.
Ayaka approached him, her face expressionless but her eyes sharp with approval. "You did well, Kazuki," she said, her voice calm as always. "But this is only the beginning."
Kazuki wiped sweat from his brow, his breath steadying as the adrenaline began to fade. "What do you mean? Who were they?"
Ayaka's eyes narrowed, the seriousness in her tone deepening. "They were just the first wave. The ones who seek the Yamael bloodline, the ones who will stop at nothing to claim it for themselves. There will be more. Many more."
Kazuki's gaze hardened. "Then we'll face them all. I'm ready."
Ayaka nodded, her lips forming a tight line. "We need to prepare, Kazuki. The others will come soon, whether you're ready or not. And this time, it won't just be your blood they seek—it will be your very soul."
Kazuki's mind raced with the weight of Ayaka's words, but there was no turning back now. The battle for the Yamael Clan had only just begun. And Kazuki would not let his ancestors' legacy be claimed by anyone else.