The air was heavy with tension as both sides faced off. Kaito's team felt a surge of hope with Jaggy and the others' arrival, but Xaphan was unfazed.
Xaphan laughed at Jaggy's comment, his voice dripping with mockery. "So your little crew defeated 20 of my soldiers? They were weak pawns, so I'll let you off the hook. This battle's going my way no matter what you do. I hope you've got energy left for what's coming next."
Kaito's eyes flashed with defiance. "We have the numbers. You can't underestimate us."
Kaguya smiled coolly. "And we've got surprise guests arriving any moment. Think fast or your scheme ends here."
Xaphan chuckled, amused. "Nonsense. Is that a threat? Since you asked, here's a surprise. Welcome my guests."
Xaphan held up a hand, and hybrid soldiers burst from the sea, twisted mixes of human and aquatic creatures. Kaito's team was shocked.
A new warrior emerged, Kreal Sukuna, a prime member of Xaphan's army. Kreal's skin had a blue tint, hair like seaweed, piercing green eyes with vertical pupils, webbed fingers, and gills on his neck.
Xaphan smiled confidently. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Kreal."
Kreal kept a straight face, glancing at Kaito's team. "Waking me up for nobodies? What stage is this war at? Where's their grandmasters?"
Xaphan replied, "I understand the disappointment, Kreal. But this body can't last, and we brought you here just in case."
Kreal sighed, "What a pain."
Kaito's team exchanged wary glances, racing to counter this new threat.
Kaito's mind raced with thoughts on Xaphan's actions . "Another one of his main arsenal... Kreal, must be the Sukuna. But what bothers me most, is what body Xaphan might be talking about."
Kagawa yelled in panic as the others felt the gravity of the situation. Kaguya and Hua kept brave faces , while Jaggy and the rest grew impatient.
Lyra, ready to attack, sneered at Kreal. "Shut your pie hole, Kreal. If you aren't up to it, you can sleep to death."
Lyra summoned a massive attack. The tide screamed forward, a wall of water rising higher than the cliffs themselves, crashing toward Kaito's team.
Kreal raised an eyebrow, amused by Lyra's aggression. "Oh, she's eager."
Xaphan smiled coldly. "Lyra, show them our power."
Kaito's team braced for impact, preparing to counter the onslaught...
Kaito shouted, "Take cover! Kaguya, Hua, anyone with water elemental abilities - with me!" as he prepared to counter Lyra's attack.
Kaguya and Hua hastily positioned themselves alongside Kaito. Jaggy hesitated, looking uncertain, but Koko touched his shoulder, a gesture meant to bolster his confidence.
"Go ahead, Jaggy," she urged.
Jaggy didn't immediately comply, "Hey, you just want to bail while I risk my life with them? Why don't you join too?"
Koko retorted, "Don't be a baby, Jaggy. You've got this," before calmly explaining, "I don't have as much control over my power as you do, Jaggy. I've been watching you for a while now, and I've seen how much you've grown in terms of learning your ability. Kagawa and I have faith in you."
Jaggy considered her words, a slight blush touching his face as he nodded and moved forward. "She has no doubt in my abilities," he thought, "and probably wants me to help build the same confidence in her own."
Kaede called out, "Koko, Kagawa, Asumi, Saburo with me! Take cover!" as she sought to shield the non-water elementals.
Lyra declared, "Bujutsu, Tide Ascension Art," unleashing a massive flood of water from the sea, this time with even greater force than before.
This technique commandeers an existing body of water, forcibly redirecting its mass upward in a violent, compressed surge.
If there's no water source within range, the technique fails outright. No exceptions.
"Bujutsu, Water Wall Barrier," Kaito chanted, making the hand sign as he called for Hua, Kaguya, and Jaggy to join him. "Fuse our barriers to strengthen it - Lyra's attack's coming!"
Hua and Kaguya immediately moved to sync with Kaito. But Jaggy hesitated, nervous once more. "Crap... I haven't perfected this yet... what if I screw it up?" he thought to himself.
Kaguya, close by, noticed Jaggy's hesitation and teased, "Hey Jaggy, getting cold feet again huh. You gonna leave us hangin'?"
Jaggy shot back, "Hey, I'm just making sure my barrier doesn't end up outshining Hua's and Sifu Kaito. Well, you can't relate."
Kaguya chuckled, "Oh, your amazing barrier gonna sink us?"
Kaito yelled sternly, "Jaggy, Kaguya, be serious here! Lyra's attack's coming!"
Both stopped joking. Kaguya quickly told Jaggy, "Just sync with us, Jaggy. Our barriers'll adjust to yours anyway. Think 'flow' - match the water."
Jaggy nodded, focusing as he joined Kaito, Hua, and Kaguya. The fused Water Barrier began to take shape... Lyra's Tide Ascension Art loomed closer.
The combined Water Barrier shone with a soft blue glow as Kaito, Hua, Kaguya, and Jaggy channeled their energy into it. The pressure of Lyra's Tide Ascension Art bore down on them, the wall of water rising higher and higher.
Lyra sneered, her voice cold. "You think a simple barrier can stop this?"
The wave crashed against the Water Barrier. The barrier strained but held, the four Tokugawa channeling their elemental power to counter the force. Water rippled and swirled around them as they fought to keep the barrier intact.
Kaito gunted with effort. "Hold... just a bit longer..."
Jaggy's face contorted in concentration. "Giving it all I've got..."
Kaguya smiled coolly. "Barrier's holding. Time to push back?"
Hua nodded. "If we don't, this wave'll crush us."
Kaito decided, "Bujutsu, Water Counter-Rush! On my mark..."
Hua's eyes narrowed slightly as she whispered, "Water Counter-Rush? Kaito, is that wise? Lyra's attack is too intense, what if it backfires?"
Kaito's expression was resolute. "Trust me, Hua. My Counter-Rush is the best measure against Lyra's Tidal Ascension Art. One of the key requirements for it to work is that the opponent must initiate the first attack, and it must carry real momentum. Lyra's attack fits perfectly."
Hua nodded reluctantly, though her worry didn't entirely fade. "Alright... but if this goes south..."
Kaito smiled reassuringly. "It won't. Timing's everything. When I give the signal, release the barrier immediately so we can initiate the Counter-Rush. Everyone got that?"
Kaguya and Jaggy nodded, focused. Hua took a breath and said, "Ready."
Moments later, Kaito judged the timing was right. "Now! Bujutsu, Water Counter-Rush!"
As they released the barrier, Kaito began to channel the energy... but before the Counter-Rush could form, a stretched-out hand with sharp claws tore right through Kaito's chest.
Kaito's eyes widened in shock. "WHAT TH-"
SLASH!!
The group gasped in surprise. Kreal Sukuna stood behind Kaito, a cold grin on his face. "Ha ha, Got ya."
Kaito's body went limp as Kreal's claws ripped through him, his eyes wide with shock and pain. The group froze in horror, their Water Counter-Rush dissipating as their focus was broken.
Hua cried out, "Kaito!" and moved to try and help him, but Kreal's arm blocked her way.
Kaguya's face twisted in anger, her voice cold. "You-"
Kreal chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Yes, I'm here. And it looks like I've taken out the leader of this little group."
Jaggy growled, taking a step forward, but Kreal's gaze fell on him, and he stopped. "Not so fast, kid. You want to join your friend in the afterlife?"
Lyra's water attack, having lost its target, crashed harmlessly into the ground, sending up a massive spray of water. The group was surrounded by chaos, Kaito injured, and Kreal blocking their way.
Kaito dropped to the ground, Hua knelt by Kaito's side, her hands glowing with a faint blue light as she tried to stem the bleeding. "Kaito... hold on..."
Kaguya's eyes narrowed, calculating their next move. "Kreal, this isn't going to end well for you."
Kreal smiled, his webbed fingers flexing. "Oh, I think it will. You see, I have a message for Xaphan. Your crew is now... contained."
Hua's voice was strained as she worked on Kaito. "We... we need to get him away from here."
Kaede charged at Kreal, sword leading, without hesitation. "Die!"
Kreal turned, catching her approach, and smiled coldly. He grabbed Kaede's sword mid-swing and broke it with his bare hands.
SHRRK!!
Kaede's eyes widened in shock. "Damn... He's strong?!"
Kreal tossed the broken blade aside. "Toy broken."
Kaede shifted instantly to taijutsu, launching a flurry of attacks. Kreal parried each blow, his webbed hands moving with eerie speed.
WHOOSH!!
As Kreal lunged at her, Kaede leapt back, taking distance. She thought: "Gut feeling... he's not trying to kill me, at least yet."
Kreal chuckled, advancing. "Xaphan wants you... contained."
The others watched tensely - Hua still trying to stabilize Kaito, Kaguya readying a counter, Jaggy coiled tight.
Kaguya's voice cut through the tension, icy and controlled. "Sifu Kaede... enough. Rushing in like that without a plan won't help."
Kaede's response was a low growl. "What?"
Kaguya continued, "He took out Sifu Kaito with one hit. We need to think retreat, now that our leader's down."
Kaede's words trailed off as anger flared. "Are you fucking kidding me?? Retreat?" Her body shook with indignation. "You newbies got guts talking like that. Like hell we'll let that happen. Leaving now's just surrendering. Now's when we stretch our will power to the fullest, no matter what we have left."
Kreal watched, a twisted smile on his face. "Hm... internal drama. I love this."
Kaede turned to Hua, urgency in her voice. "Hua, Kaito's status?"
Hua's face was tight. "Chest's crushed, lungs punctured... he's barely holding on."
Kaede's eyes flashed adrenaline. "Jaggy, Koko, Kagawa, with me. Now."
Jaggy and the others exchanged awkward glances, joining her. Kaede faced Kaguya. "You might not understand a warrior's true will. Can't blame you - you're not an Iron Fist like us. We fight for comrades, keep them safe no matter what. My partners' lives are as important as mine. I'm not letting any of them down."
Her gaze hardened. "So if you think you know it all and want to coward away... you're free to retreat if the enemy allows. We'll keep your asses safe, no problem."
Kaguya's expression didn't change, but tension between them crackled. Kreal chuckled louder. "I'm loving this mess."
A loud voice cut through the tension. "You got it spot on, Kaede."
All eyes turned, and they saw Ryker's team: Meili, Kai, and Fuse. Ryker continued, "We all got roles to play in each other's lives and that's keeping it safe. Surrendering's not an option."
Jaggy and the others widened their eyes in surprise and relief. Kaede said, "Well, ain't time you showed up."
Meili answered smoothly, "Pardon our tardiness, Sifu Kaede. Bit of trouble along the way."
Ryker added, "No worries, we're fit and ready to join the battle."
Xaphan gleamed with excitement - he'd expected them. But Ryker turned to Xaphan. "Cut that stupid smile, phony. I know about your plan. You're not the real Xaphan."
Xaphan smirked. "Seems I've been betrayed. But no worries, I'm as real as Xaphan could ever be. Prepare to-"
Kai flung a sword through Xaphan's head, cutting him short. The clone's head burst into bits. Kai said nonchalantly, "So it's true, he was a fake."
Everyone was caught by surprise. Lyra, closer, was stained by clone blood. Fury twisted her face. "Get ready to die, you bastard."