The tension in the room was thick as Haruki and Yuki faced off against Arai. The woman's dark aura pulsed, her eyes narrowing with malice. Her black blade shimmered with an eerie light as she smirked at them, unbothered by the blood seeping from her earlier wounds.
"You've gotten stronger," Arai sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "But strength without precision is nothing but wasted effort."
Haruki tightened his grip on his dagger, his green eyes glowing with determination. "Keep talking, Arai. Let's see if your blade is as sharp as your words."
Without warning, Arai lunged forward, her movements almost too fast to follow. Haruki managed to sidestep her initial strike, but her follow-up slash grazed his arm, drawing a thin line of blood. Yuki quickly countered by firing a bolt of lightning, but Arai twisted mid-air, avoiding the attack effortlessly.
"Is that all you've got?" Arai taunted, landing gracefully. She raised her hand, a faint glow surrounding her as her injuries began to heal. "You're both pathetic."
Haruki growled. "Yuki, make a barrier! Now!"
Yuki nodded, her hands glowing as she chanted under her breath. A dome of shimmering energy surrounded them, crackling with electricity.
"Try getting through this!" Yuki shouted, her confidence bolstered.
Arai tilted her head, unimpressed. "Cute trick." She hurled her blade at the barrier. The moment it made contact, sparks flew as the electricity surged through the weapon. Arai smirked and leapt to the side, pulling the blade back with a whip-like motion, narrowly missing Yuki.
Yuki stumbled but quickly regained her footing. "You think that scared me, you bitch?!" she snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.
Arai's smirk faltered, her eyes narrowing. "What do you know?!" she hissed, her voice laced with venom.
Haruki dashed to Yuki's side, his blade ready. "Focus, Yuki. Don't let her get to you," he said, his voice steady.
Together, they charged at Arai. Haruki struck first, his dagger slicing through the air in a flurry of precise strikes. Arai parried with her blade, sparks flying as metal met metal. Yuki, meanwhile, sent waves of elemental magic toward their foe, forcing Arai to split her attention.
"You're improving, Haruki," Arai admitted, her voice cold as she blocked another strike. "But you're still predictable."
Arai spun on her heel, her blade catching the edge of Haruki's dagger and knocking him back. She turned to Yuki, her expression dark. "And you… You're nothing more than a distraction."
Arai lunged at Yuki, her blade aimed for a killing blow. Yuki barely dodged, the edge grazing her cheek. "Not today!" Yuki screamed, summoning a spear of ice and hurling it at Arai.
Arai dodged, but the ice shattered on impact with the ground, sending shards flying. One cut across her arm, drawing blood.
"Impressive," Arai admitted, licking her lips. "But not enough."
Before she could strike again, Haruki appeared behind her, his movements swift and calculated. "Sword of Hope: Protective Crescent!" he shouted, his blade glowing with a soft, golden light.
Haruki's blade clashed with Arai's, forcing her back. He didn't let up, delivering a spinning kick to the side of her head. Arai staggered, clutching her temple.
"Stay down," Haruki growled, his voice low and menacing.
"Never," Arai spat, her grip tightening on her weapon.
Haruki leapt into the air, throwing his dagger with pinpoint accuracy. The blade grazed Arai's hand, causing her to drop her weapon. Haruki landed behind her and kicked her in the back, sending her sprawling to the ground.
Yuki seized the opportunity, summoning a bolt of lightning that pierced Arai's side. Arai cried out in pain, collapsing to her knees.
"You… You think this is over?" Arai rasped, her voice weak but defiant.
"Damn right it is," Yuki said, standing over her.
Before Yuki could deliver another blow, a cold, menacing voice echoed through the room.
"Enough."
Jay appeared out of the shadows, his presence overwhelming. He raised a hand, and a dark energy swirled around Haruki and Yuki.
"Sleep," he commanded, his voice laced with magic.
Haruki and Yuki's bodies grew heavy, their vision fading as they collapsed to the ground. The last thing Haruki saw was Jay's cold, emotionless eyes.
The chapter ends.