The forest seemed to hold its breath as Bloodshadow stepped forward, his crimson aura blazing like a beacon of death. His piercing gaze locked onto Yuto's group, and a smirk curled his lips.
"Well, well," Bloodshadow said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I wondered how long it would take for the Rising Sun Sect to send their dogs. But I didn't expect you to cause such a mess so quickly."
Yuto stepped forward, his own ki flaring in response. The golden hue of his Saiyan energy clashed with Bloodshadow's crimson, creating a palpable tension in the air. "And I didn't expect a former inner disciple of the Crimson Wraith Sect to stoop to banditry. You're a disgrace to the cultivation world."
Bloodshadow's smirk deepened. "Spare me the righteous speeches, boy. You think you're strong enough to stand against me? Let's see if your actions can back up your words."
With a flick of his wrist, Bloodshadow conjured a crimson blade of pure energy. The weapon hummed with destructive power, its edge glowing ominously.
"Yuto, we need to fall back!" Kaito hissed from behind. "This guy's no ordinary rogue!"
Yuto shook his head, his expression resolute. "Go. I'll hold him off."
"Are you insane?" Mei whispered, her hands already glowing with ki. "You can't take him alone!"
"I won't be alone," Yuto replied, glancing at Kaito. "You three need to complete the mission and warn the sect. I'll buy you time."
Kaito hesitated, torn between loyalty and the need to follow orders. Finally, he nodded, gripping Yuto's shoulder. "Don't die, idiot."
As Kaito, Mei, and Lin retreated into the shadows, Bloodshadow's eyes narrowed. "Sending your lackeys away? Brave—or foolish."
"Let's find out," Yuto said, lowering into a fighting stance.
Bloodshadow moved first, closing the distance in an instant. His crimson blade slashed downward, the air itself splitting under its force. Yuto dodged, the attack missing him by a hair's breadth, and countered with a powerful ki blast.
The energy strike collided with Bloodshadow's blade, creating an explosion that shook the forest. Trees splintered, and the ground quaked under the force of their clash.
"Not bad," Bloodshadow said, his smirk returning. "But you'll need more than flashy tricks to defeat me."
He lunged again, his strikes relentless and precise. Yuto parried with his fists, his Saiyan instincts kicking in as he deflected each attack with practiced ease.
But Bloodshadow wasn't just powerful—he was cunning. Feinting left, he unleashed a burst of crimson energy that caught Yuto off guard, sending him flying into a nearby tree.
Pain shot through Yuto's body, but he gritted his teeth and stood. His golden aura flared brighter, and he tapped deeper into his Saiyan reserves. "That all you got?"
Bloodshadow chuckled darkly. "Hardly."
Their battle raged on, each clash more intense than the last. Yuto pushed himself to the limit, his strikes fueled by both his Saiyan blood and his cultivation training. But Bloodshadow's experience and raw power made him a formidable opponent.
Yuto knew he couldn't win in a prolonged fight. He needed to find a weakness—and fast.
As Bloodshadow charged again, Yuto feigned a stumble, baiting the rogue into overextending. At the last moment, Yuto unleashed a concentrated ki blast at point-blank range.
The explosion sent Bloodshadow hurtling backward, crashing through several trees. Yuto panted, his energy waning but his resolve unshaken.
"You're strong," Yuto said, "but you underestimate the will of a Saiyan."
Bloodshadow rose from the rubble, his expression darkening. "You've got spirit, boy. But it won't save you."
The crimson aura around him intensified, and Yuto braced himself. The real fight was just beginning.
While Yuto faced Bloodshadow head-on, Kaito, Mei, and Lin raced through the forest. The sounds of battle echoed behind them, each explosion and clash a painful reminder of the friend they had left behind.
"We can't just leave him!" Mei said, her voice trembling.
"We have to," Kaito replied, his tone firm. "If we go back, we'll only get in his way. Yuto knows what he's doing. Our job is to get this information to the sect."
Lin, leading the group, suddenly raised a hand, signaling them to stop. "Wait. We're not alone."
The group froze, their senses on high alert. The forest was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of wildlife replaced by an oppressive stillness.
Out of the shadows, a group of rogue cultivators emerged, their weapons drawn and their auras flaring. They were outnumbered and surrounded.
"Well, look what we have here," one of the rogues sneered. "The Rising Sun's little rats."
Kaito stepped forward, spinning his staff. "You're in our way. Move, or you'll regret it."
The rogues laughed, their confidence bolstered by their numbers.
"Guess we're doing this the hard way," Kaito muttered.
The battle erupted in an instant. Kaito's staff whirled like a blur, deflecting attacks and striking with precision. Mei used her Wind Cleaving Palm to create bursts of cutting air, forcing the rogues to keep their distance.
Lin moved like a shadow, her daggers flashing as she targeted weak points with deadly accuracy.
Despite their skill, the group was overwhelmed. For every rogue they defeated, two more seemed to appear.
"This isn't looking good," Mei said, her breathing ragged.
Kaito grinned, though sweat dripped from his brow. "Then we'll just have to get creative."
He slammed his staff into the ground, releasing a wave of ki that created a smokescreen. "Run!"
The group took off, weaving through the trees as the rogues scrambled to pursue them. Lin led the way, her tracking skills now focused on finding an escape route.
As they ran, Mei glanced over her shoulder. "What about Yuto? He—"
"He'll be fine," Kaito said, though his voice lacked its usual confidence. "He always is."
After what felt like an eternity, the group emerged from the forest onto a rocky outcrop overlooking the Rising Sun Sect. Relief washed over them as they saw the sect's lights in the distance.
"We made it," Lin said, her voice shaky.
Kaito nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. He turned to the forest, his eyes narrowing. "Yuto, you'd better come back alive."