Kazushi dangled lifelessly in the air, his body limp. It was hard to tell if he was still alive. Nero tightened his grip around Kazushi's throat, prepared to snap it in two. His robotic voice echoed, devoid of emotion.
"Are you a captain?"
Kazushi remained unresponsive, but Nero knew he wasn't dead yet.
Nearby, Reiko pushed aside a massive concrete block, emerging from the rubble like a burrowing creature clawing its way back to the surface. Blood dripped from numerous cuts across her battered body, staining the ground beneath her. She pressed a hand against her stomach, wincing as a sharp pain struck her. Then, her gaze landed on Kazushi, still struggling in Nero's grasp.
"Take your hands off him, you freak!"
She jammed her gauntlet and propelled herself forward at incredible speed, appearing beside Nero in seconds. With all her strength, she swung a punch at his face. The impact forced him back, sending Kazushi tumbling from his grip.
Nero twisted mid-air, flipping before landing gracefully. Completely unharmed.
Reiko nudged Kazushi's body with her foot. He was unconscious.
Cursing under her breath, she pressed the communicator in her ear.
"Masaiko, come in!"
"What's the problem, Reiko?!" Masaiko's voice crackled through the device.
"Kazushi's been taken out. I need back-up—I need your help!"
A pause. Then, a shocked response.
"What?! That gorilla got knocked out?! Sorry, but you've got to deal with your own problems. Right now, I've got bigger ones, this Ryuma guy—Shit…"
The line went dead.
"Masaiko? Hey! Don't die on me, boy!" Reiko cursed again. "Guess I'm all on my own now."
Her gaze flicked back to Nero, who stood motionless, observing her like a machine assessing data. Reiko steadied her breathing, knowing that her chances of survival were slim. If she made it out of this, it would be nothing short of a miracle.
"I thought you were dead." Nero's robotic voice cut through the silence.
Reiko smirked despite the pain.
"Mmph… don't underestimate a human's survival spirit, you dipshit."
With that, she blitzed forward and threw a punch, her gauntlet crackling with energy.
Nero tilted his body slightly, dodging with eerie precision. He raised a hand, pointing his index finger at her. From the small opening at his fingertip, a compressed air bullet fired. It struck Reiko's gauntlet, shattering it upon impact.
The sheer force sent Reiko spiraling mid-air, unable to find her bearings.
Before she could react, Nero caught her by the leg, lifted her high, and slammed her into the ground.
Crack.
Reiko coughed, a mouthful of blood spilling from her lips.
Nero didn't stop. He lifted her again and smashed her into the ground. Again. And again. The brutal repetition left her barely breathing.
Finally, he dropped her limp body and raised his foot, preparing to stomp her into oblivion.
"That's enough!!"
A ragged voice called out.
Nero's gaze shifted.
Kazushi, barely able to sit upright, had his bazooka stationed on his shoulder, fully charged.
"I'm going all out. Let's see if you survive this."
He pulled the trigger.
The explosion of force sent Kazushi rolling backward as the bullet blasted forward, obliterating everything in its path.
Nero calmly raised a hand.
The bullet stopped mid-air, meters away from his palm.
"What the hell…?" Kazushi's eyes widened in disbelief.
Using the tubes at his back, Nero compressed and released a powerful air blast, counteracting the bullet's force. He redirected it, enclosing it within a high-pressure air pocket.
Kazushi watched in horror. That blast could have wiped out half the base, and yet… Nero stopped it like it was nothing.
"Impossible!!"
Nero, unfazed, received another directive. He glanced at Reiko.
"I would have liked to finish this, but I just received another order. That doesn't mean I'll let you go free."
With a flick of his wrist, he sent the redirected bazooka bullet hurtling back—straight at Kazushi.
The resulting explosion decimated the North Wing and parts of the East and Central wings.
---
Medical Facility – Shibuya Base
As if time had frozen, everyone stood still.
All eyes were on Ryuma.
He emerged from the medical, Saiya cradled gently in his arms.
Disbelief spread among the rangers. Those who once considered him a friend now questioned everything they thought they knew.
"Hey, fool!" Issei barked, aiming his rifle. "Start explaining before I blow a hole through your skull."
"Come on, dude, what's this about?" Haruchi stepped forward. "I thought we were bros. Why switch sides now?"
Ryuma ignored them. He scanned the area, noting the number of rangers surrounding him. No way out without casualties.
And in mere moments, reinforcements would arrive. Captains. Lieutenants. And more rangers.
This needs to end fast.
"Ryuma!"
A new voice, filled with anger.
Kitetsu.
His fists were clenched, his eyes burning with fury.
"You're going to pay for messing with us. For hurting my sister!"
"He's holding a civilian hostage," a ranger whispered.
"Not just any civilian—it's Saiya."
"We can't just open fire, but we need to act." Kitetsu said and aimed his gun.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" Issei demanded.
"Something."
He pulled the trigger.
The bullet whizzed through the air—only to be sliced into pieces before impact.
Thin, barely visible tendrils danced around Ryuma from his back, swaying with unnatural precision.
"Just as I thought…" Kitetsu whispered.
"What the hell just happened?" Haruchi asked, bewildered.
No one had seen it. Not even Kitetsu. But his instincts told him the truth.
"He's defending himself automatically. And that defense… is also an attack."
Kitetsu exhaled sharply. "But something's off."
Ryuma smiled. "Hmph. You figured it out. As expected from you, Kitetsu. You always stay calm, always analyzing. I respect that."
His smile faded.
"But what's your next move?"
Kitetsu narrowed his eyes. "We shoot."
He pointed his gun again. "Everyone, keep your distance. Fire e
verything you've got at him."
Ryuma's face darkened.
"So that's your best bet?" His voice was cold now.
His tendrils writhed.
"Out of my way, humans!!"