The sky above the forest was filled with blazing fireballs. One after another, they descended toward Alfie and the others, threatening to engulf the entire battlefield.
Lyon's expression hardened.
He rose into the air as dark Renshi erupted from his body, spreading across the battlefield like countless twisting tendrils. The energy dispersed into a thick mist, weaving together to form a massive barrier between the group and the falling fireballs.
"TIK TAK..."
The moment the first fireballs struck, their movements came to an abrupt halt.
Flames hung motionless against the barrier, while burning debris remained suspended along its outer surface.
Lyon had frozen the attacks at the point of contact, preventing them from advancing any farther.
However, he knew he couldn't maintain the barrier indefinitely.
I need to finish this before my Renshi runs low.
Below him, the upgraded Alpha Darkside Spirit made its move.
It charged straight toward Alfie, blood-red Renshi gathering around its arm before hardening into a long, razor-sharp sword.
"Alfie, your sword!"
Jackson hurled the weapon toward him.
Alfie jumped and caught it in midair. At the same moment, Marcel tossed him the scabbard, which he grabbed before landing.
The Alpha Darkside Spirit was already within striking distance.
SHHHK!
Its blade swept toward Alfie's neck.
Alfie raised his sword just in time to block the attack, then brought the scabbard across his body to deflect the creature's follow-up strike.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The exchange quickly intensified.
The creature attacked relentlessly, alternating between wide slashes and short, stabbing thrusts. Alfie blocked as many strikes as he could, but the force behind each impact continued driving him backward.
From the flank, Bash moved into position.
His sword dissolved into blue Renshi before reforming into an azure bow. He drew the string, gathering his energy into a massive arrow.
However, the Alpha Darkside Spirit kept changing direction, forcing him to adjust his aim repeatedly. Whenever an opening appeared, Alfie and the creature would move directly into his line of fire.
"Tch. Hold still, you damn monster..."
Alfie gritted his teeth as another strike forced him back.
"Don't underestimate me..."
Without warning, he released his sword and scabbard, allowing both to fall to the ground.
The Alpha Darkside Spirit immediately lunged forward, attempting to exploit his exposed hands.
But Alfie wasn't caught off guard.
His eyes followed the creature's shoulders and hips, waiting for its attack to commit.
The creature swung from the right.
Alfie shifted his head just enough to avoid the blade, stepped inside its reach, and drove his fist straight into its face.
BOOM!
The impact unleashed a powerful shockwave, sending the creature flying backward.
Bash reacted instantly.
He released the arrow.
A streak of blue Renshi tore through the smoke and struck the Alpha Darkside Spirit just as it landed, punching a hole through its chest.
The creature staggered, its body folding around the impact.
Then its body began to regenerate.
Thick, blood-red vessels emerged from the edges of the wound, twisting together as they reconnected the damaged flesh. Within seconds, the hole had completely closed.
Bash's expression changed.
It can regenerate that quickly?
From above, Lyon raised his voice.
"Bash, join the kid and finish that thing. Jackson, Marcel, keep an eye on our surroundings. Don't let anything sneak up on us."
"Got it!"
Bash disappeared with Switch Mode and reappeared beside Alfie.
"Don't leave me out of this, old man!" Rebekah shouted toward Lyon.
He glanced down at her.
"Sorry, kiddo. Stay with Jackson and Marcel. If another enemy approaches while we're occupied, I need someone ready to warn us."
"That's ridiculous..." Jackson snapped. "We're just standing here while everyone else fights. There isn't even another enemy around."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Jack," Marcel replied, keeping his eyes on the burning forest. "This fight is already beyond what we can handle. Keeping watch is better than rushing in and becoming another problem."
"Shut it, you fool..." Rebekah shot back. "If you're satisfied with standing around, that's your business. I'm not going to sit here while the people I care about are in danger."
Jackson clenched his fists but said nothing.
Suddenly, the Alpha Darkside Spirit vanished.
Bash's eyes widened.
"Switch Mode!"
The creature reappeared behind him, its blood-forged blade sweeping toward his spine.
Bash reacted on instinct, switching away a split second before the strike connected.
He reappeared beside Alfie, his expression serious.
"Be careful, kid. This thing evolves whenever it survives a powerful attack. The more force we use, the stronger it becomes."
Alfie kept his eyes fixed on the creature as it slowly turned toward them.
"I'll manage. Save your strength for when we really need it."
He paused, tightening his grip.
"I've felt this sensation before. I can't ignore it, not after everything we've been through. It's the same feeling I got from the man who attacked us earlier... and from the monster fighting my master."
Bash frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Before Alfie could answer, the Alpha Darkside Spirit attacked again.
This time, a blade grew directly from its left elbow, allowing it to strike without changing its stance.
It swung toward Alfie's chest.
Instead of reaching for his sword, Alfie caught the creature's wrist with both hands.
Bash's eyes widened.
The force behind the attack drove Alfie's feet backward, tearing through the dirt beneath them. His arms trembled as he struggled to keep the blade away from his body.
The creature tried to wrench itself free.
Alfie tightened his grip.
He shifted his hips, pulled the creature off balance, and swung its body over his shoulder. Using its forward momentum against it, he completed the rotation and slammed it into the ground.
BOOM!
The impact shattered the earth beneath the creature, sending rocks and dust flying across the clearing.
Before the debris could settle, the Alpha Darkside Spirit activated Switch Mode and vanished from the crater, reappearing several meters away.
Alfie released his grip on empty air and immediately turned toward it.
Renshi surged through his legs.
He launched himself forward, his speed increasing dramatically as he closed the distance.
The creature raised its blade.
Alfie slipped past the first slash and struck its arm before it could recover. The Alpha Darkside Spirit twisted, forming another blade from its opposite elbow, but Alfie ducked beneath it and drove a kick into its abdomen.
The creature staggered.
Before it could retreat, Alfie followed with another strike.
The Alpha Darkside Spirit vanished with Switch Mode and reappeared behind him.
Alfie pivoted, catching its next attack on his forearm. He pushed the blade aside and immediately countered with a punch.
Their movements became increasingly difficult to follow.
The creature manoeuver between attacks, using Switch Mode to create openings from unexpected angles. Alfie responded with sharp footwork, quick reactions, and precise bursts of Renshi, intercepting its strikes before they could reach vital points.
Whenever Alfie landed a heavy blow, the creature adapted, becoming more aggressive and unpredictable. Whenever it tried to overwhelm him with speed, Alfie adjusted his timing and countered before it could complete its next attack.
The battle became a relentless exchange of strikes, feints, and counters.
From a distance, Rebekah, Jackson, and Marcel struggled to keep track of their movements.
"How is Alfie keeping up with it?" Rebekah whispered.
Jackson narrowed his eyes.
"He's not using Switch Mode... which should put him at a disadvantage, but..."
He watched as Alfie avoided another sudden attack, moving just before the creature's blade reached him.
"He's reading its movements before it even attacks."
Nearby, Lyon continued maintaining the TIK TAK barrier, keeping the frozen fireballs suspended above the battlefield. His attention shifted toward the fight below.
That kid's speed...
He's moving that fast without Switch Mode.
His expression grew more puzzled.
It can't be training. It's only been about a week since he left Guhan.