In the blink of an eye, Hakuto and Chantal vanish before Rika and Yuzu. Then—WHOOSH! A thunderous blast erupts where they had just been standing.
Their blades clash with brutal force. The shockwave alone knocks the two Narkhalis sisters off their feet and sends them flying backward.
«Looks like you've improved a bit over these past six years,» Chantal says, her sharp eyes locked on him. A playful smile tugs at her lips. «Maybe this time, I won't kick your ass as easily as I used to when we were kids.»
«You bet I have!» Hakuto snaps, his voice trembling. «Those days when you beat me from morning to night are long gone! I'll pay you back—with interest—for every bruise and broken bone, you damn bitch!»
Hakuto breaks the stalemate with a sudden dash, driving his foot straight into her stomach and blasting her backward. But Chantal flips in mid-air with ease and lands gracefully. Hakuto is already closing the distance—already on her.
He swings his diamond sword in a horizontal arc, flames trailing behind it. Chantal leaps high to dodge, and the blade slices cleanly through the thick trunk of a nearby tree—like it was nothing.
Then she dives straight at Hakuto, bringing her flaming sword down in a vicious arc. Hakuto raises his left forearm just in time; it hardens instantly into that diamond-like armor, blocking the blow. The surface chips slightly from the impact.
Both leap back at the same time, creating distance and resetting the fight to square one.
Rika and Yuzu stare with wide, disbelieving eyes. They only catch fragments of the lightning-fast exchange, but it's enough to make one thing clear—Hakuto is fighting for real. Way more seriously than when he faced Itzu.
«Big bro... you're amazing! You're actually strong!» Yuzu exclaims. Her eyes sparkle, her whole face lighting up with excitement from the intense battle.
«Y-Yeah...» Rika mutters, her voice trembling. Her cheeks are flushed, her breathing ragged, her eyes teary and half-lidded. Something swells inside her—a sensation she knows all too well. Still standing, she crosses her legs and squeezes her thighs together like she's holding in a full bladder. But it's not that. Her pussy throbs with heat, her panties soaked as if someone poured water over them.
Luckily for Rika, Yuzu doesn't notice anything. If she did, she'd already be tossing her usual shameless, pervy remarks. But right now, she's too caught up in the fight to notice her sister's rising arousal.
The white flames swirling around both fighters grow more intense—blinding and fierce. The diamond armor that covered only Hakuto's right arm now spreads to his left and climbs up to his upper chest. He's exhausted, pushed to his limit from using so much power. He's never gone this far—not even during training with Shin. But still, the thought of losing to Chantal again burns hotter than the fear of his body giving out.
Chantal, on the other hand, shows barely any fatigue.
Hakuto gathers every bit of energy left in his body. He charges at Chantal in a lightning-fast burst—faster than before. She reacts instantly, matching his speed.
Hakuto grips his sword with both hands as it grows larger. More diamonds sprout from the blade, making it twice as thick as before. While charging, he lifts it high into the air, ready to strike Chantal with everything he's got. She mirrors him, preparing to clash head-on.
The impact is imminent—powerful enough to level the whole forest—when... BAM! BAM!
In a split second, two brutal hits land. An elbow crashes into Hakuto's chest and a knee slams into Chantal's gut. Both are sent flying in opposite directions, crashing hard to the ground after soaring dozens of meters, dazed and in pain, blood spilling from their mouths.
They glance at each other. Hakuto's sure it was a sneak attack from Chantal. She's just as sure it came from him.
But right between them, at the center of the path, stands Shin. A lit cigarette dangles from his lips, an amused smirk playing on his face.
He took down both Hakuto and Chantal with his bare hands. One strike each. A display of raw strength that only Rika and Yuzu can hardly believe.
«I know it's been a while since you two last saw each other,» Shin says. «But as a show of affection and longing, this feels a bit... excessive.» He glances around at the flattened vegetation—the entire area shredded by the shockwaves from their attacks.
«Show of affection?! Don't give me that crap!» Hakuto shouts. He struggles to his feet, leaning on his sword. «I know you're behind that witch showing up! I want answers! Why the hell did she transfer to our school?!»
«Don't say that, son—you'll hurt her feelings.» Shin smirks. «If I remember right, the moment you said goodbye six years ago, you started bawling like a fountain.»
«I was crying from happiness, damn it!!»
«Still holding a grudge just because she's always been stronger than you since you were kids? Come on, it's partly thanks to her that you've become who you are today.»
«I don't hate her out of jealousy! I hate her because she sent me to the hospital three damn times!»
«And you came out stronger every single time,» Shin teases with a smug grin. «Anyway, you'd better start getting along with Chantal—because as of today, she's moving in with us.»
«WHAT?!» Rika and Yuzu shout in unison, echoing Hakuto's outburst. They clearly aren't happy about it either.