Shingin's entire being ignited with fury, transforming into an overwhelming force that surged and roared within him, as though it might tear the heavens apart in the next instant. Hovering high in the air, winds howled violently beneath his feet. Clouds were shredded into countless fragments, scattering like meteors across the sky.
The air around him twisted with intense power. Cold waves erupted within the swirling storm, quickly coalescing into a massive and ferocious vortex. The currents writhed like a colossal dragon in the sky, carrying unyielding rage and tearing apart the shattered clouds, as if determined to rend the heavens themselves.
"Vortex—Whirlpool!!!"
Shingin roared, his voice piercing the storm's thunderous din, shaking the very heavens. The swirling vortex rapidly spiraled into a massive water tornado, exuding an icy malice that sought to devour everything. At its core was a dark, abyss-like eye, lethal and impenetrable. Each droplet of water seemed to hold the power of destruction.
The storm's mighty pull caused the ground below to tremble uneasily. Dust and debris were drawn into the sky, becoming a chaotic tempest of fragments swept away by the raging water. Shingin's figure disappeared into the heart of the maelstrom, his fury and strength merging with the natural disaster.
The battlefield in the skies resembled an apocalyptic stage. The vortex devoured all light, leaving only an oppressive chill and the roaring sound of wrath reverberating through the heavens.
Watcher 17 stared at the violent spectacle before him, feeling the terrifying pull emanating from the vortex's center. He swung his guandao with all his might, struggling against the irresistible force, but still, he was slowly dragged toward the vortex's abyssal core.
The wind and water howled around him, each step becoming heavier and more arduous, as though he were fighting against the entire world. The swirling currents consumed everything around him, inching ever closer to his position.
Clenching his teeth, his eyes burned with unyielding resolve. "Ling… is waiting for me to come home safely!"
Watcher 17 gripped his guandao tightly, its green energy flaring once again. He plunged the blade into the spinning ground to resist the vortex's pull. The earth beneath his feet cracked with a resounding boom as the winds and waters tore at his body, as if to rend him into pieces.
"These little tempests… can't stop me!!" Watcher 17 growled, his guandao emitting a dazzling green glow. A powerful countercurrent began to emanate around him, creating a brief moment of calm amidst the chaos. His energy surged like a breached dam, forcing open a short-lived tranquil zone in the vortex's center.
Shingin watched coldly, giving no respite. The vortex accelerated, the swirling water intensifying its speed and pressure, bearing down on Watcher 17 with crushing force.
"You won't escape," Shingin whispered, his voice a blend of madness and cold detachment. His hands forged a blade of radiant blue and white water, its edge spinning with the vortex, seemingly merging with the very heavens.
Watcher 17 discerned Shingin's intent. He knew this strike would be fatal. Summoning all his strength, he yanked his guandao free, a determined glint flashing in his eyes as he charged into the vortex's center. He understood that only by going against the current could he break through such invincible power.
"Come! Show me your true strength!" he bellowed, slicing through the whirlwind and waves with his guandao, carving a path through the vortex.
The two figures hurtled toward each other at breakneck speed, water blade clashing with guandao in the next instant!
Boom!!!
A deafening explosion shattered the skies. The entire vortex disintegrated in an instant, waves crashing outward like a tsunami. The sky split open, torn apart by the forceful shockwave. The explosion's aftermath sent clouds scattering in fragmented chaos, surging wildly in all directions. Watcher 17 and Shingin's silhouettes crossed paths amidst the blast, their blades flashing as shadows in the sky.
Watcher 17 stumbled, blood gushing from his chest, yet his gaze remained as sharp as ever, fixed firmly on Shingin ahead.
Shingin soared into the storm-laden skies, a figure of icy determination. His voice was eerily calm: "Don't stand in my way anymore—"
Watcher 17 trembled, but his iron will kept him from collapsing. Gasping for breath, his eyes burned with defiant flames. Though wounded, his stance was unwavering, like a mountain unshaken by time.
"You… won't kill me?" he rasped, his voice hoarse yet tinged with complex emotions.
Shingin did not answer, merely turning away as the wind and rain widened the distance between them.
Watcher 17 let out a self-deprecating chuckle, murmuring under his breath: "You're too kind… You'll regret it…"
Before his words could fade, a piercing whistle cut through the storm!
Whoosh—
A sniper round tore through the tempest, striking Watcher 17 squarely in the chest! Blood sprayed into the rain, his body staggering back. Shingin spun around, his pupils contracting as he saw Watcher 17 shudder and collapse, crimson blossoming like a grim flower in the storm.
"Watcher 17, what happened?!" Shingin darted back, catching him before he fell.
Watcher 17 offered a bitter smile, his voice trembling with exhaustion. "I… fought with honor… lived upright… yet, in the end… my own people… took me down…"
Shingin's eyes flashed with fury, but he suppressed his emotions. Pressing firmly on the unending flow of blood from Watcher 17's chest, he growled, "Hold on! Your granddaughter, Ling, is still waiting at home for you! She's hoping for your return!"
Watcher 17 shook his head, a weak smile playing on his lips. His trembling hand reached for his pocket. Understanding, Shingin quickly retrieved a bloodstained phone and handed it to him.
With great effort, Watcher 17 pressed a number. The call connected, and a clear, youthful voice rang out:
"Hello? Grandpa?"
"Ling…" His voice was hoarse but filled with infinite tenderness.
"Grandpa, when are you coming home? Did I misbehave? I won't ask for a teddy bear anymore; I just want you back…"
Tears glistened in Watcher 17's eyes, his smile growing warmer. He glanced at Shingin and whispered, "Grandpa… can't come back for now. But… I've asked an older brother to bring your teddy bear. Would that be okay?"
Shingin froze, meeting Watcher 17's resolute gaze. The weight of unspoken responsibility bore down on him. He gritted his teeth and replied in a low voice, "I'll go… but it'd be better if you did it yourself! Just stay alive!"
"Perhaps… you'll differ from the War God, KuroAka…" Watcher 17 shook his head. His words faltered but carried the weight of finality. He pushed a phone, an envelope, and a photo into Shingin's hands. His voice was faint but unyielding: "Please…"
Gravity claimed his hand, dragging it down inexorably. It was the last struggle of a man bound by fate.
As the aftermath of the vortex's blast scattered, rain poured relentlessly, masking all sound and chaos. Water slid down Shingin's face like tears. Looking at the photo in his hand, he saw a cheerful little girl clutching a worn teddy bear, her smile as radiant as sunlight.
Clenching his fist, Shingin gazed at the darkened skies. His voice was cold: "Watcher 17… You're different too. I'll personally visit your granddaughter. The teddy bear… will reach her."
He turned abruptly, his eyes locking onto a shadow hidden in the distance. The storm gathered around him once more, rain parting in his wake as though the heavens themselves feared him.
"Watcher 13…" Shingin's tone was chilling, his intent unmistakable. "It's your turn—"
Amidst the curtain of rain, Shingin's figure surged forward, cloaked in storms and fury, charging toward the unknown foe.