Watcher 23 was a seasoned assassin, a master of ambush tactics. Though Shingin had foiled his plans repeatedly, 23 remained confident in his ability to dispatch ordinary individuals. His blade now hovered just inches from Riyugi and Myouka's necks, their hearts pounding as they froze in terror at his twisted grin.
Watcher 23 chuckled darkly, assured of his impending victory. Yet at the critical moment—BOOM!—an explosive force hurled him violently to the ground. Soaking wet and disoriented, he lay sprawled in the dirt, stunned and confused. Before he could recover, another surge of power surged toward him. He barely managed to evade, rolling out of harm's way.
As he regained his composure, 23's eyes widened in shock. Surrounding Shingin were streams of water swirling in mid-air, their fluid movements orchestrated by his sword like a conductor's baton. The lake's waters had risen to become a powerful arsenal, now lashing out with calculated precision.
"What the...?" Watcher 23 muttered, taken aback. He had never anticipated this level of elemental control.
The water surged forward again, like serpents with a mind of their own, trapping both Watchers 23 and 25 in its relentless assault. Shingin's strategy was clear: not only repel the attackers but shield Riyugi and Myouka at all costs.
Behind him, Riyugi and Myouka stared in awe at the aqueous barrier encircling them. The power and composure Shingin displayed at that moment shattered their previous perception of him.
"This ends here, 23," Shingin declared, his voice icy with determination. He had no intention of letting this persistent threat escape again. To ensure their safety, he would have to eliminate Watcher 23.
But Watcher 23 gritted his teeth, quickly realizing Shingin's strength had been vastly underestimated. Watcher 25, equally astounded, began to sense the tides turning against them.
Tension thickened as the battle reached its climax. Victory and survival teetered on a knife's edge.
Shingin's water blade slashed through the air, ripping apart their black cloaks. For the first time, he glimpsed the Watchers' true faces.
Under the torn cloak of Watcher 25, Shingin saw scales—serpentine and glistening under the light. Riyugi and Myouka gasped, fear rippling through them as they took in his monstrous appearance.
Watcher 23, however, bore a deep scar running from his left eye to the corner of his mouth, etching a cruel, permanent sneer into his face. His narrow eyes gleamed with malice, his smirk sharp enough to slice through the air.
But instead of fear, the Watchers burst into laughter. Their faces radiated wicked confidence, a sinister air thick with the feeling that this was not just combat—it was a trap.
"Let's dance, shall we?" Watcher 25 hissed with a manic grin, summoning a torrent of snakes from the shadows. The writhing mass poured forth like an unholy flood, blotting out the sun and transforming the meadow into a suffocating sea of scales.
Hissing echoed across the landscape, their venomous stares chilling to the bone. The air reeked of decay, the ground seething with the serpents' relentless advance. Even the lake's clarity seemed to falter, overshadowed by the encroaching darkness.
Shingin's breath hitched, his palms clammy with cold sweat. He had believed his strength was enough, that he could stand against the Watchers. But now, with their true might revealed, doubt clawed at his resolve.
"This isn't happening…" he muttered, gripping his sword tighter as panic surged. The certainty he once felt seemed laughable in the face of such overwhelming opposition.
Watcher 23 and 25 laughed louder, their taunts cutting deep. They had laid a trap not just to kill Shingin but to crush his spirit, exploiting his confidence to ensnare him in despair.
Riyugi's sharp voice suddenly cut through the chaos, jolting everyone:
"Shingin! They're doing this on purpose—it's all a trap!"
Her words rang like a bell, their clarity slicing through the suffocating tension. Both Watchers froze, their smug grins faltering as they turned toward her in shock.
This girl—this supposedly fragile and powerless girl—had seen through their ploy.