The enforcer's energy blade crackled with raw power, illuminating the surrounding area with an ominous glow. His towering figure loomed over Ryo, the reinforced combat armor glinting under the faint moonlight.
Ryo straightened, his hands tightening into fists as the shard energy within him began to surge. "You're in my way. Move, or I'll move you."
The enforcer didn't respond. Instead, he raised his blade, charging forward with a speed that belied his massive size.
---
The Battle Begins
Ryo ducked under the enforcer's first swing, the blade slicing through the air with a deafening hum. Sparks flew as it struck the metal door of the convoy, leaving a deep gouge.
"Okay, that's sharp," Ryo muttered, backpedaling to avoid another strike.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Kenji engaged in his own chaotic battle.
"Kenji, cover me!" Ryo shouted.
Kenji, who was currently using a trash can lid as a makeshift shield, yelled back, "Kind of busy right now! These guys are surprisingly agile for people who can't dodge frying pans!"
Kenji flung the trash lid at a nearby agent, knocking their laser rifle out of their hands. "Boom! Headshot! Oh wait, wrong game."
Sora, crouched behind a nearby rock, groaned. "Kenji, stop narrating your own moves!"
---
Ryo vs. the Enforcer
The enforcer swung his blade again, forcing Ryo to leap backward. The ground beneath them cracked as the blade struck, sending debris flying.
Ryo used the momentum to launch a counterattack. His fists glowed with shard energy as he dashed forward, delivering a powerful punch to the enforcer's chest. The impact sent the armored figure skidding backward, but he quickly regained his footing.
"That all you've got?" the enforcer growled, his voice distorted through his helmet.
"Not even close," Ryo replied, cracking his knuckles.
The enforcer lunged again, but this time, Ryo met him head-on. Their blows collided, the force sending shockwaves through the air. Each strike was faster and more ferocious than the last, the clash of raw energy against cold technology lighting up the battlefield.
---
Teamwork in Chaos
Meanwhile, Akira and Rei worked together to thin out the reinforcements. Rei's arrows flew with precision, pinning agents to the ground or disarming them.
Akira darted between enemies, their twin blades slicing through weapons and armor with ease. "Rei, three o'clock!"
Rei turned, firing an arrow that struck an agent sneaking up behind Akira. "Got it. Watch your back, too."
Kenji, still in the thick of his personal war, managed to snag a laser rifle from a fallen agent. He inspected it with a grin. "Alright, now I'm armed and dangerous!"
As he fired wildly, Sora shouted, "Kenji, aim before you shoot!"
"I am aiming!" Kenji replied, missing his target entirely and accidentally hitting a tree branch, which then fell and knocked out two agents.
Sora slapped their forehead. "I don't know how, but that actually worked."
---
Turning the Tide
Back at the convoy, Ryo was holding his own against the enforcer but was clearly being pushed to his limits. Each swing of the energy blade forced him to dodge or block, and the enforcer's relentless attacks were starting to wear him down.
"Ryo, need a hand?" Akira called out, slicing through an agent's weapon before rushing to his side.
"Glad you asked," Ryo said, narrowly avoiding another strike. "Keep him busy for a second!"
Akira darted in, engaging the enforcer with quick, precise strikes. While the enforcer was distracted, Ryo focused on the shard energy coursing through him. His hands began to glow brighter, the energy forming a pulsating aura around him.
"Alright," Ryo said, stepping forward. "Let's see how you handle this."
---
The Final Blow
The enforcer turned just as Ryo unleashed a powerful burst of shard energy. The shockwave hit the enforcer head-on, shattering his energy blade and sending him crashing into the side of the mountain.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment as everyone stared at the crater where the enforcer had landed.
Kenji broke the silence with a cheer. "That's my brother! One-hit KO!"
Ryo stumbled slightly, catching his breath. "It wasn't one hit, Kenji."
"Details, details," Kenji said, waving him off.
---
Retrieving the Shard
With the enforcer down and the reinforcements neutralized, the group turned their attention to the last vehicle. Sora quickly hacked the lock, and the doors swung open to reveal the shard, glowing faintly in its containment case.
"Got it," Sora said, carefully removing the case.
"Alright, let's move before more of them show up," Rei said, scanning the area.
As they loaded the shard into the van, Takashi peeked out from his hiding spot. "I can't believe you actually did it."
Kenji clapped him on the back. "Welcome to the team, buddy. Stick with us, and you'll get used to doing the impossible."
"Or dying young," Rei muttered under her breath.
---