The leader of the warriors stepped forward, his voice laced with suspicion. "Where are our men? What happened to the others?"
Narumi met the man's gaze without flinching, his voice cold and steady. "I killed them. Every single one of them. What are you going to do about it?"
The man's shock quickly twisted into rage. With a guttural shout, he unleashed his technique. "Fire Tornado Art!" A swirling vortex of flames surged toward them, roaring with destructive force.
Narumi reacted instantly, his hands forming a swift sequence of signs. "Water Art: Wall!" A towering shield of water erupted between them, hissing and steaming as it clashed with the fiery attack.
The remaining warriors, fueled by anger, charged forward, weapons drawn. Yukino froze momentarily, overwhelmed by the chaos, but then something clicked. He felt the surge of energy within him and instinctively unleashed his power.
"Raikou!" Yukino shouted, sending balls of lightning through the air. The balls of electricity struck the advancing warriors, forcing them back in shock and disarray.
Before they could recover, Narumi was already moving. "Water Art: Water Ball Flames!" A sphere of boiling water, crackling with residual energy, shot forward and collided with the stunned warriors. The shockwaves coursed through their bodies, leaving them unconscious.
As the dust and steam settled, Narumi and Yukino exchanged a nod, their silent understanding reaffirming their shared determination. Without wasting a moment, they turned and sprinted toward the village, the gates looming just ahead.
But before they could take another step, a figure appeared in their path. A girl, her presence as sharp and commanding as the heat around them, stood with arms crossed. Her crimson eyes glinted with icy disdain.
"So, you must be the fugitives I've heard about," she said, her tone cold and cutting. "You don't look like much."
Yukino felt an immediate sense of unease, his instincts screaming at him to stay on guard. The air around her seemed to hum with a potent, dangerous energy.
Narumi's eyes narrowed as he turned to Yukino. "That's Suki... Suki Hotaru," he muttered, his voice carrying a mix of annoyance and respect.
Yukino's heart raced, nerves gripping him as he thought to himself: What do I do now?
Before another word could be spoken, Suki vanished, her movements a blur. In the blink of an eye, a kunai shot toward Yukino like a bullet. Instinctively, Yukino weaved his hands and shouted, "Teleportation Art!" In disbelief, he actually pulled it off, narrowly evading the attack.
Narumi, watching from the side, thought to himself, So, you're a quick learner, huh?
Suki reappeared, her hands already weaving signs. "Fire Style: Fireball Art!" A blazing inferno ball surged toward Yukino. Narumi stepped in swiftly, countering with, "Water Style: Water Wall Art!" The water hissed and sizzled as it clashed with the fire, but Suki didn't hesitate. Her hands moved again, faster this time. "Summoning Art: Fierce Tiger!"
In an instant, a massive, fiery tiger materialized, its roaring flames illuminating the battlefield. Summoning beasts was a rare ability, one unique to her lineage in the Hotaru Clan. Both Yukino and Narumi froze momentarily, their shock evident.
The tiger charged at Narumi with terrifying speed. "Nooo! Move, Narumi!" Yukino yelled, desperation in his voice. Acting on pure instinct, Yukino wielded his hands a shield appeared, its radiant energy bursting forth from his Xyra. The force was so immense that the tiger was thrown back, its flames dissipating into the air.
Yukino stood there, his chest heaving, stunned by what he had just done. A pulse of raw energy coursed through his body—stronger than anything he had ever felt before. "What... was that?" he muttered, barely comprehending.
Narumi stared at Yukino, his eyes wide with fear. "Why... why is one of your eyes purple? I thought they were black!"
Suki stepped forward, her expression unreadable. She dismissed her tiger with a wave of her hand, the beast vanishing in a burst of embers. "Narumi," she said, her voice cold yet intrigued, "it seems your friend here is a lot stronger than you thought. He possesses the Jinsoku. Only one person from each major clan has ever been able to awaken that."
Her words hung heavily in the air, leaving both Yukino and Narumi speechless as the realization of Yukino's latent power began to sink in.