Uchiha Hikari squinted slightly, peering ahead in the dim light.
Before her stood a girl with fair, delicate features—a face that seemed almost too perfect. Her eyes were clear and sparkling, framed by thick, brush-like lashes. Her skin was flawless, radiant, like a sculptor's masterpiece brought to life. She stood just over five feet tall, her slender yet striking figure subtly outlined by a hoodie and jeans. She exuded the vibrant energy of youth, the kind that lingers in your memory long after she's gone.
In short, she was a strikingly beautiful girl.
But right now…
This girl was staring at Uchiha Hikari with narrowed eyes, her gaze sharp as a blade, sizing her up with suspicion.
"Sis, you're here!"
Fenrir, the dragon with a face full of bony protrusions, lit up with excitement. "This is my new friend, her name's…"
His deep, regal voice cut off abruptly.
It seemed to dawn on Fenrir that he didn't actually know Uchiha Hikari's name.
The girl, Xia Mi, didn't seem surprised by this. Her eyes never left Hikari, brimming with undisguised wariness. "Who are you?" she demanded.
"…Uchiha Hikari," Hikari replied, giving her real name.
"Hm?" Xia Mi's brow furrowed.
She didn't immediately connect the name to Naruto, but a Japanese name like that showing up here felt… off.
"How did you find this place? Who told you about us? What are you after?" Xia Mi pressed, her voice sharp with suspicion.
"…What if I told you I can see the future? Would you believe me?" Hikari asked, half-joking.
Xia Mi let out a cold scoff.
From her perspective, Hikari's presence was a red flag—a dangerous one. She and Fenrir hadn't been awake for long, only a little over a decade. Since waking, Fenrir had never left this place, and Xia Mi was always careful, leaving no trace for anyone to follow. As newly awakened Dragon Kings, still regaining their strength, they carried secrets too heavy to bear. Countless beings—human hybrids, other Dragon Kings—would kill to find them or claim their power. If this Nibelungen's location got out, it'd spell disaster.
And then there was Odin. Xia Mi had met him years ago and had a hunch about his plans…
It wasn't hard to start connecting the dots.
"…I don't know who sent you," Xia Mi said, her voice low and dangerous, "but since you're here, don't expect to leave."
Her eyes narrowed further. "You haven't attacked my brother yet, so I'll give you a chance. Tell me the truth, agree to stay in this Nibelungen, and I might let you live. Otherwise…"
A chilling aura of killing intent radiated from Xia Mi, spreading through the air like a slow poison.
Hikari met her gaze silently for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. "Sounds like you don't think I have the right to talk to you as an equal."
"Exactly," Xia Mi said, her tone matter-of-fact. "In our world, only those with power and authority get to negotiate. The weak? They're just ants, crushed underfoot. Didn't the ones who sent you tell you that?"
"…You're not wrong," Hikari admitted with a slight nod.
Honestly, Xia Mi's reaction was exactly what you'd expect from a Dragon King confronted by an outsider like her. Fenrir, on the other hand, was the odd one out. This was perfect, though—Hikari wanted to see just how strong these dragon monarchs really were.
A brief silence fell.
Then, Xia Mi raised her arm, exuding a commanding presence. Her authority materialized as a visible, transparent domain that spread in all directions. The ground beneath them cracked and shattered, and countless metal fragments rose into the air, orbiting and clashing around her like a grim reaper's scythe circling a divine throne.
A Word Spirit domain.
At the same time, Hikari unfurled a sealing scroll. A dozen long blades materialized in front of her, floating as if held up by an invisible force.
—This was the work of her chakra.
"Hm?" Xia Mi raised an eyebrow.
Even as a Dragon King, she couldn't quite figure out what kind of technique Hikari was using.
Out of caution, she turned to Fenrir. "Fenrir, get away from her!"
Fenrir, still a bit confused, didn't fully grasp what was happening. His limited intelligence struggled to keep up. It wasn't until Hikari gave him a nod and echoed Xia Mi's words that he carefully gathered his pile of bottle caps and candy wrappers with his black wings, moving them to a corner of the cavern and shielding them with his body.
The whole process took about three or four minutes.
During that time, Hikari and Xia Mi waited in silence, their fighting spirit restrained but simmering beneath the surface.
Once Fenrir was safely out of the way, both let out a sharp "Hmph!" Their auras surged in an instant, like invisible curtains of energy rising and clashing across the dozens of meters between them.
Their weapons collided in the same moment!
Clang—!!
A powerful electromagnetic surge crackled through the air, melting the iron tracks on the ground.
The metal fragments swirling around Xia Mi coalesced into a massive, jagged scythe, woven into her domain of death. The moment she swung it, it appeared before Hikari, only to be blocked by a blade moving at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
The scythe's edge stopped less than a foot from Hikari's face.
Whoosh—
A faint breeze from the blade lifted the strands of hair across Hikari's forehead.
Her dark contact lenses hid the flicker of crimson fire in her eyes—her Sharingan awakening.
"Not bad," Xia Mi said with a slight nod, giving her a grudging compliment. "But it's not enough!"
With a sudden burst of force, Xia Mi pushed the scythe forward, overpowering Hikari's blade.
Hikari, activating the Seventh Gate: Moment, began retreating with deliberate steps. At 128 times her normal speed, she unleashed nearly a thousand slashes in mere seconds, her blades a blur of motion.
Finally—
With a crash, her long blade shattered into countless fragments. The scythe, now battered and scarred, withdrew but immediately began absorbing the surrounding metal fragments from the air. They melted, refined, and twisted, reforming into an even larger, more menacing scythe.
—Word Spirit: Heaven and Earth as a Furnace!
Meanwhile, Hikari glided back to the far end of the cavern, her movements light as a butterfly. Her eyes stayed locked on Xia Mi as she discarded the broken hilt in her hand. Spreading her arms, two new blades flew into her palms, and she slowly extended them outward.
Two Heavens as One: Sun of the Heavens!
As she moved, a pitch-black arc appeared behind her, its glowing red edges casting a faint light on her face. At that moment, she looked like a deity standing amidst flowing flames, radiating an unshakable presence and majesty.
Word Spirit: Black Sun!
With that, Hikari tilted her head slightly, cracking her neck.
"Come on, Jörmungandr. Show me your limits!"