Shingin had finally defeated Akari. Amid the mingled scent of blood and sweat, his grip on his water blade loosened, and he exhaled deeply. Just as he thought the crisis was over, an unfamiliar voice echoed from the shadows.
"Not sure who you all are... but thanks."
Shingin's pupils constricted as he turned to locate the voice. Emerging from the ruins was a burly man wielding a massive battle blade. His calm demeanor exuded a menacing air as he glanced coldly at the fallen Akari. Without hesitation, he raised his blade, clearly intent on ending Akari's life.
"How could there still be someone else?" Riyugi gasped, disbelief evident in her voice.
But just as the man's blade was about to strike, a cold, sharp voice rang out:
"The loudest in school? Definitely you—"
In the next instant, blood spurted like a crimson fountain. To everyone's shock, the one beheaded was not Akari but the man himself.
"Ahhh!" Riyugi and Myouka shrieked in unison, instinctively shutting their eyes to avoid the grisly sight.
Shingin, Yahageshii, and Ryuosho stood frozen, stunned by the abrupt reversal. A thin but intimidating figure crouched beside the fresh corpse. The stranger's wiry frame gave him a beast-like posture, ready to pounce at any moment. Metal piercings adorned his nose and ears, and ragged clothes hung from his body. Broken chains clung to his wrists and ankles, clinking faintly with every move. His bloodshot eyes radiated madness, and drool dripped from his grinning mouth, making him appear more monster than man.
"Who... is that?" Ryuosho muttered, his voice trembling.
"Hayato," Akari replied as he rose effortlessly from the ground, his tone devoid of any pain. His body bore no marks of injury, as though the fatal blow Shingin had dealt earlier had never happened.
"Brother!" A high-pitched, cheerful voice chimed in from the distance. It belonged to a young girl, who giggled with delight. "I told you there were still people around! Didn't I?"
"You're sharp as ever, Akane." Akari's smile was calm, yet it carried a bone-chilling edge.
Hayato growled low, his body tense as if ready to pounce.
"Run!" A new figure emerged from the sidelines, pulling Shingin and the others away from the danger with lightning speed.
Akari stood still, his cold gaze following their retreat. He then spoke firmly, "Hayato, sit."
The beast-like man immediately obeyed, crouching on the ground, though his body trembled with a predatory energy that seemed ready to erupt at any moment.
"Finally, we've drawn them out." Akari tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening. "Looks like we win at hide-and-seek."
Meanwhile, the girl who had rescued Shingin and the others led them to a relatively safe area. She cursed under her breath, "Damn it! It was all an act!"
"An act?" Riyugi asked, startled. Then the realization dawned on her, and her face turned pale. "You're saying... Akari faked his defeat?"
The girl remained silent, while Riyugi's growing horror was evident. "No... He must have figured out my ability from Shingin's wounds. Then he pieced everything together and orchestrated this entire plan from the moment we showed ourselves!"
Her voice trembled as she trailed off, leaving an eerie silence in the air. The oppressive tension made their skin crawl, as though an invisible presence loomed over them. Shingin clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he fought to suppress his emotions.
Even so, the suffocating sense of dread only grew. It was as though their surroundings were conspiring against them, each breath heavier than the last.
"Leave," the girl ordered coldly, her crimson eyes glaring at them. "This place isn't for you."
Shingin finally noticed her appearance. Her pink twin-tails swayed lightly with the wind, and she wore a playful yet determined expression beneath a pink bunny-ear hat. A soft white coat adorned her shoulders, its collar lined with rabbit fur. The ensemble was completed by a simple black tank top and white fluffy shorts. Despite her seemingly carefree demeanor, her crimson eyes exuded a chilling aura that unsettled anyone who dared meet her gaze.
"And what about you?" Shingin asked instinctively, his voice betraying his concern.
The girl opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, Akari and Hayato appeared, strolling casually toward them. Their relaxed demeanor was unnerving, as if their approach carried a macabre melody only they could hear.
"Roar!" Hayato let out a deafening bellow that shook the ground beneath them.
"Lunatic!" the girl cursed under her breath. She shoved Shingin and the others away. "Go! Now!"
"Don't hesitate!" Yahageshii growled, grabbing Shingin's arm and pulling him along.
As they fled, Shingin glanced back, his gaze lingering on the girl standing her ground.
"I'm worried about her," he muttered.
"You'll die if you go back!" Ryuosho snapped.
"Do you think she needs your help?" Yahageshii grunted, tugging him harder.
Back at the ruins, Akari smirked as he watched their retreat. He made no move to pursue. "Usagi, you really do hate us, don't you?"
Usagi glared at him, her crimson eyes filled with fury. "You've killed too many of my comrades."
"And?" Akari raised an eyebrow.
"Take a guess!!!" Usagi roared, lunging forward with glowing hands.
The air crackled as her power manifested—a swirling storm of black and crimson fragments materialized around her, assembling into a monstrous mechanical form. The eerie whirring and clanking of the machinery echoed as the construct took shape, its hulking frame radiating an ominous energy.
Akari chuckled, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's see what you've got this time."