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."
Kaede's expression froze in shock, her anger momentarily stunned by the sudden turn. "A decoy..." she muttered, piecing it together.
Hua's eyes narrowed, processing the implications for Kaito's safety amidst the chaos. Jaggy and the others looked between Kai, who'd killed Xaphan, and Lyra, now enraged.
Kaguya's gaze locked onto Kai, intrigued by the unfamiliar aura. She thought, "Who's this guy?"
Kreal, observing the shift, positioned himself subtly, ready to counter Ryker's team. His webbed fingers flexed, anticipating action against the newcomers.
Lyra's fury boiled over. "You... bastards. Get ready to die."
Ryker's team stood poised. Meili ready with her blades, Kai sharp-eyed, Fuse watching the surroundings. Ryker said coolly, "Lyra Tokugawa. Kreal Sukuna... We need you to surrender and tell us where your boss is right now."
Kreal smiled coldly, moving closer to Lyra. "I'll handle these three. You handle... the aftermath."
Lyra was uncertain of what he meant, "Huh".
Kreal stepped forward, "Lyra, flood the land again. I'll handle these three... in water."
Lyra's eyes gleamed understanding. "With pleasure... Bujutsu , Tide Ascension Art." She raised her hands, summoning another massive wave to crash onto the battlefield.
The land flooded swiftly, water swirling waist-high. Kreal laughed, webbed hands flexing - he was in his element.
Meili dove into the torrent, blades flashing. Kai waded in casually, sword ready. Fuse flowed with the water, assessing Kreal.
Kreal lunged at Meili underwater, speed amplified by the flood. "Drowning's an art, you know."
Hua called out, "Kaede... Kaito's barely holding. I need to move him outta here."
Kaede nodded tight-lipped. "Get him safe. We'll handle this mess."
Jaggy and Koko helped Hua with Kaito as the battle brewed in the floodwaters.
Jaggy and Koko helped Hua lift Kaito, struggling to get out of the rising flood. Water swirled around them, Lyra's Bujutsu sending mini whirlpools to tug them back.
Hua gushed, "Go! Get him higher!" They pushed through the torrent, Kaito's limp form heavy in their arms.
Meanwhile, Kaede, Kagawa, Kaguya, Saburo, and Asumi charged Lyra. "Stop this flood, Bitch!" Kaede shouted.
Lyra laughed, conjuring water tendrils to bind them. The Bujutsu, eerie humanoids in water closed in.
Ryker ignored the chaos, heading straight for Xaphan's summoned humanoids. "Focus on Lyra , I'll 'drain' these puppets."
Kreal swam through the flood, hunting Ryker's team. "You won't leave this water alive."
Kaito's weight dragged on Jaggy and Koko as they pushed through chest-deep water with Hua. Lyra's whirlpools intensified, spinning sharp debris at them - wood planks, rocks.
Hua shielded Kaito's body, waving a hand. "Blue glow!" A faint barrier pulsed, deflecting bits of wreckage.
Jaggy gushed, "Can't... go faster!"
A humanoid lunged from a whirlpool, water-tank legs propelling it. Koko kicked it back with a grunt.
Hua shouted, "Higher ground! Find a wall!"
Water surged harder. Kaito's head lolled, blood seeping into the flood.
Debris slammed the barrier; it flickered weak. "Hua...!" Jaggy warned.
Hua's glow strained. "Hold... just need...!"
Hua's teeth ghed as she strained the blue glow, debris pounding against it. "Damn it, Kaito can't make it..." she thought, knuckles white.
A water puppet lunged at them; Koko blocked with a fierce kick. "Get down!" She shouted.
"Sifu, wall ahead!" Jaggy pointed.
Hua's eyes snapped up, a structure loomed through the churn. "You guys, Push! Now!" she barked.
They heaved Kaito toward it, water swirling waist-high. Lyra's voice cut, "Drain them."
A vortex opened behind them - sucking them back. "No... not now!" Hua's grip tightened on the glow.
Koko yelled, "Jaggy, grab him!" Jaggy looped an arm around Kaito. "Got him!"
Hua's glow flickered, she thought, "This stuff is draining... my energy..." The barrier dropped.
Debris slammed them; Hua stumbled. "Kaito... stay with me..." she whispered.
Jaggy hauled Kaito up wall steps, Koko covering. "Sifu, go!"
Hua climbed, breath tight. Koko thought, "We got this."
Hua scrambled up the steps, Kaito's weight dead in Jaggy's back. Water churned below, Lyra's water puppets converging.
Koko kicked another puppet back; Jaggy yelled, "Top!"
They collapsed onto flat stone, Hua checking Kaito's chest, blood seeped slow. "Pressure... needs release... Stabilize him now." she muttered.
Hua worked on Kaito's wounds as Koko and Jaggy watched the flood. "Sifu... they're coming up."
Hua stood. "Keep him safe. I'll hold them off."
The water puppets breached the top step. Hua raised her hands, "Enough," she said.
Hua stood tall, hands weaving intricate patterns. "Bujutsu, Dance of bursting waters."
The water puppets paused, water bodies quivering as Hua compressed them into dense cores. Koko and Jaggy shielded Kaito, eyes widening.
Hua's chant ended. "Release."
The puppets erupted in hydraulic detonations - water exploding outward, pressure shocks tearing them apart. Lyra surged back, impressed. "Well, she's playing dirty."
Lyra's attention snapped to Kaede approaching furiously. "I'll crush you," Kaede thought.
Jaggy breathed, "Sifu... clear."
Hua exhaled, hands steady. "Keep him stable."
Kaito's chest rose faintly; Koko nodded. "Got him, Sifu."
Hua focused on Kaito's wounds. "Need time... Bujutsu, Water's Washing Wound."
Hua's hands dipped, gathering floodwater. "Purge... then heal."
Chi-infused water pooled over Kaito's cuts, rippling with purifying energy. Hua murmured, "Cleanse toxins... stabilize..."
Koko watched, curious. "Sifu, how long?"
Hua's eyes closed. "A few minutes, depending on the damage. Can't rush purification."
In the swirling floodwaters, Saburo burned hot, fire-element blasts vaporizing water around him, creating steam buffers. "Gah, boiling point!" he grunted, pushing forward. Asami dropped low, Kaguya channeled water to sink them fast. Asami's earth power heaved the ground up - an island emerged, water diverting. Kagawa joined, stabilizing the mound.
Kaede hacked through the torrent, breath locked. "Lyra... now."
Lyra stood at the edge, controlling the flood with Tide Ascension Art. She smiled coldly.
Kaede charged, fury in her eyes. "Stop this flood, bitch."
Kaguya, Saburo, Asami, and Kagawa closed in, circling Lyra. "Cut off her control," Kaguya said.
Lyra laughed. "The tide won't stop. Now, drown them."
The water surged; Asami's mound held firm. Saburo blasted steam shields. Kaede sliced closer to Lyra.
Kagawa worked angles with Kaguya. "Get her focus off the tide."
Kaede lunged at Lyra; a Bujutsu puppet blocked. "You can't break this wave."
The group fought to pin Lyra - stopping the jutsu was key.
Meanwhile, Hua's Bujutsu healing seeped into Kaito...
Kaguya's ice needles shredded Lyra's puppets; Asami's earth-blocks crashed toward Lyra. The water walls loomed, but Kagawa wasn't having it. "Time to act," he growled. Bujutsu activated - Tidal Surge: Heavenly Reckoning. Kagawa's frame expanded, chi-pressure building.
Lyra's eyes widened as Kagawa's mass surged. "What... the..."
Kagawa's bulk pinned Lyra, the force crushing her control. The floodwaters dropped like boulders.
Kaede loomed closer. "And the tide ends."
Saburo hauled Asami clear; Kaguya watched Lyra's face twist.
Lyra spat water. "You... can't hold..."
Kagawa's reckoning-phase loomed. "Won't need to... You're just gonna tire yourself out trying to break free."
Lyra sneered. "You bastards..."
The group's stance solidified - Lyra trapped, tide broken.
Asami breathed hard. "Man down," she said, stumbling silly.
Kaguya nodded. "She's contained! Right Kagawa."
Kagawa smirked. "Yep, like a fly in giant's pocket ."