In the Laybirth Kingdom, war drums echoed in the distance.
Two groups faced each other in the middle of the Laybirth Kingdom—The Four Generals of the kingdom, cloaked in authority and power, and the Four Spies from the Jinkawa Village, each one dangerous in their own right.
Hiro cracked his knuckles and took a step forward. His eyes locked onto the tall, dark-haired enemy standing across from him.
"So your name's Judo, right?" Hiro asked.
Judo didn't flinch. "Yeah. Is there a problem?"
Hiro smirked. "Yeah. I'm taking you down."
"Bring it on, then."
To the side, Que twirled a piece of hair between his fingers and pointed it at a young man with dark blue hair.
"No need to resist. Just die easily, Karo."
Karo took a step forward, calm but focused. "Okay. I'll take you on."
two more pairs prepared to clash.
"Saye," Lara muttered.
"Sara," Saye's brother whispered.
Sara rolled her eyes. "What a weirdo…"
High above sitting in his tall throne, Jinko raised his hand and gave the command.
"Kill them all."
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Hiro shouted, lightning erupting from his body as he launched forward.
Crackling with energy, Hiro slammed his fist into Judo's stomach, the shockwave echoing like thunder. Judo flew through the air and crashed into a stone wall.
Lara blew a pink bubble and shouted, "Pink Bubble Gum!"
She rushed forward, but Saye appeared like a blur and landed a vicious kick that launched her through a row of buildings.
"Damn it…" Lara muttered, dragging herself from the rubble.
"Let's go, Karo," Que said.
"Make your move."
Que lunged forward, swinging hard—but Karo ducked low, backflipping out of reach.
"Hah. Very shifty. I like it."
Saye's brother stepped forward, smiling eerily.
"My sister wants to kill you all… So I want to kill with her."
Sara winced. "Ugh. We're dealing with a brother with a sister complex."
Before she could react, he appeared beside her.
"I love my sister very much."
He was just there—how is he beside me?! Sara thought, eyes wide.
With a single blow, he struck her side and sent her crashing through a stone building.
"Okay… he's strong," she groaned.
Jinko chuckled from above. "Let's watch for a bit… Oh—and there's more."
Shun, watching from the right crowd, frowned. Just how much does this guy have?
Back to the battle, Saye stepped forward.
"Let's see what you've got, gum girl."
She summoned two curved blades from her arms, and then another two from her palms.
She can summon blades?! Lara thought, tense.
Saye dashed forward, spinning rapidly in mid-air.
"Spinning Slash!"
Lara flipped over her and blew another bubble, which transformed into a glowing pink arrow.
"Bubble Arrow!"
The arrow exploded on impact as Saye barely dodged out of the way.
Lara hit the ground running and charged straight at her. Saye retaliated by launching blades, but Lara dodged between them with swift, nimble movements.
As she closed the distance, Lara blew a bubble, pressed it to her hand, and leapt.
"Bubble Pop!"
Saye didn't move.
"You think I'm going to let you hit me?"
Huh? Lara thought.
As the bubble neared her face, a blade from Saye's palm sliced clean through Lara's hand.
"What?!"
Before she could scream, Saye drove a punch into her stomach, halting her in place. Lara dropped to her knees.
My hand... It hurts—it hurts so bad! she thought, tears forming in her eyes.
Saye let her blade vanish and lifted Lara up by her collar.
"What rank ninja are you?"
Lara trembled but shouted back, "It doesn't matter!"
"Huh?"
"Bubble Pop!"
Saye hurled her into a house made of stone.
As she walked forward, Saye clicked her tongue.
"Tch… she's just spamming the same move over and over."
From a distance, Rei spotted the girl through the smoke and debris.
She has blades in her arms? What kind of ability is that?
Lara groaned as she sat up.
"Why is everything made of stone...? My back hurts…"
Saye stepped through the crumbling hole in the wall, grinning wildly.
"C'mon... play with me some more."
Lara stood and threw a punch—but Saye caught it with ease.
"That all you got?"
Saye grabbed the arm where she'd sliced off Lara's hand and squeezed tight. Blood poured from the wound.
"Stoooooop! It hurtsssssssssss!" Lara screamed.
In desperation, she reached up and yanked Saye's hair.
"Huh?!"
Lara drove her knee into Saye's stomach, spun her around, and hurled her through the house wall.
Saye hit the ground but pushed herself up instantly. As she lifted her head—
Whoosh!
A bubble arrow sliced across her cheek.
"So fast… I love it!"
Lara stepped through the crumbling doorway, her eyes sharp and focused.
"It's time for me to get serious."
She gave a half-smile.
"Sorry about the house."
To Be Continued…