The battlefield was still trembling from the aftershock of the blinding light. Dust drifted through the air, partially obscuring the five intruders scattered across the ground. Each of them struggled to catch their breath, their bodies exhausted from the overwhelming pressure they had just endured.
Miyamoto stood calmly, watching them.
Suddenly, the mysterious voice from above broke into laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHA. Don't do anything foolish, Anos. As for these kids, I'll let them go. I'll spare their lives for now. Besides, I'll leave their punishment to my girls when the time comes."
The laughter gradually faded, along with the last traces of the overwhelming light.
Anos struggled to his feet, sweat running down his face. His entire body trembled as he tried to steady himself.
That pressure... I couldn't even move a finger. What kind of power was that?
He stared at the sky, still unable to shake the fear that had settled over him.
Such bright, pure Renshi... Was that the power of a celestial being?
One of his companions swallowed nervously.
"What the hell was that?"
"Incompetent fool..." Anos snapped, his voice hoarse. "That person wasn't your ordinary Shinra. It was the Renshical pressure of that mysterious man. His pressure alone drained our Renshi in an instant."
He clenched his fists, his expression darkening.
"That man remains a mystery to this world."
Miyamoto turned toward them, his gaze cold.
"I could have killed all five of you in an instant if I wanted to. But Master has already given his orders, and I have no intention of disobeying him."
He took a step forward.
"So consider yourselves lucky. Stay alive for now, and wait for the day you're finally punished for your actions."
Anos gritted his teeth, anger flashing across his face.
"You fool. Don't get too confident just because someone came to save you. If I were at full strength, you wouldn't stand a chance against me. Our master won't let this humiliation go unpunished."
Miyamoto shook his head in disappointment.
"You still don't understand, do you?"
Anos narrowed his eyes.
"What are you talking about?"
"You actually think that was Master himself? You moron. If his real body had been here, his pressure alone would have crushed you to death."
A faint smirk appeared on Miyamoto's face.
"That was nothing more than a clone. Just imagine what his real body is capable of."
Anos froze.
That was only a clone?
For a moment, he couldn't find the words to respond.
Miyamoto turned his back on them and stretched his arms as though the battle had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"And don't mistake my condition for weakness. Master had my Renshi sealed all this time. But now, I've been given permission to use my full power."
He glanced over his shoulder, a confident smile spreading across his face.
"Even the five of you fighting together at your best wouldn't stand a chance against me."
He let out a quiet yawn.
"Now leave before I change my mind."
Anos's face twisted with fury.
"You bastard. Just you wait. I'll come back, and you'll regret humiliating me like this."
He quickly drew a teleportation circle on the ground. His four companions hurried toward him, eager to leave.
Before disappearing, Anos shot Miyamoto one final glare.
"Until we meet again. I'd like to see just how strong you've really become."
The circle illuminated the ground, and all five figures vanished in a flash of light.
Miyamoto watched them disappear before releasing a tired sigh.
One problem dealt with... but another is waiting for me.
Without wasting another moment, he activated Switch Mode. His figure flickered from one point to another as he raced toward Eminence.
---
Moments later, Miyamoto appeared in front of the house where he had left Amanda and Lucy.
Before he could enter, the door swung open.
Lucy rushed out to meet him. Her face was pale, and worry filled her eyes.
"Master... we have a problem."
Miyamoto's expression immediately changed.
A problem? What happened?
"When you left, I went upstairs to check on Amanda. But when I got there..."
Lucy's voice faltered.
"She was gone."
Miyamoto's eyes widened.
"Gone?"
He immediately activated Switch Mode and vanished from the doorway, reappearing inside Amanda's room.
It was empty.
The bed was untidy, but Amanda was nowhere to be seen.
Miyamoto stared at the empty room, his hands slowly tightening into fists.
"Damn it... Damn those Avengers!"
His furious shout echoed through the house.
Lucy hurried into the room behind him, panic spreading across her face.
"I know where she might be, Master. We can go there right now."
Miyamoto leaned against the wall, his expression clouded with anger and frustration.
"No, Lucy. Amanda didn't run away."
He lowered his head slightly.
"They took her."
Lucy's eyes widened as his words sank in.
For a moment, she stood completely still. Then her expression twisted with rage.
"TOOK HER? WHO THE HELL TOOK MY SISTER?"
"Calm down, Lucy!"
Miyamoto's voice rang through the room, but Lucy could barely contain herself.
"How am I supposed to calm down? My sister is losing control of her dark Renshical side, and some how someone took her all of sudden, it doesn't make any sense."
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stepped toward him.
"I don't care who they are, Master. Remove my seal. I'm going to find her,they might have not gone too far."
Her fists clenched, and her Renshi began to tremble beneath her skin.
Miyamoto stepped forward, grabbed her shoulders, and looked directly into her eyes.
"And where exactly do you plan to look huh? Are you going to search the entire country until you somehow stumble upon the Avengers' hideout?"
Lucy fell silent.
The Avengers hideout?
"Who the hell are the Avengers."
"What I can tell you is that they're difficult to track down," Miyamoto continued. "Once they take someone, that person is usually left with only two choices, join them or die."
Lucy's expression crumbled.
"So... you're saying Amanda is gone just like that?"
It can't be possible.
She shook her head desperately, refusing to accept his words.
"No. That's impossible. She can't be gone."
Her voice broke as more tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Why her?"
She covered her face with trembling hands.
"Why couldn't they have taken me instead?"
Miyamoto's chest tightened as he watched her break down. Still, he forced himself to remain calm and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Listen to me, Lucy. Amanda still has a chance. Do you hear me? We still have a chance."
Lucy slowly lifted her tear-streaked face.
"What chance...?"
"The Avengers targeted Amanda because her dark Renshical side is beginning to overpower her other side. That makes her vulnerable and easier to manipulate. They believe they can use that weakness to control her."
Lucy's eyes widened as the pieces began to fall into place.
"I knew that was why they chose Amanda..."
"Exactly," Miyamoto replied.
He paused briefly before continuing.
"If they'd taken you instead, you'd already be dead. Your two Renshical sides are balanced, and neither can easily overpower the other. That balance makes you far more difficult to control."
He held her gaze.
"But Amanda's condition gives us a one percent chance of saving her. It's a small chance, but it's still a chance. As long as there's even a possibility of bringing her back, we can't give up."
Lucy lowered her head and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
So that's why they chose her...
Her hands slowly curled into fists.
Miyamoto's expression suddenly grew serious.
"But that's enough for now. We can't stay here any longer. The battle at the border will have attracted attention, and the Special Darkside Knight will soon begin searching for intruders."
He paused, his gaze settling on Lucy.
"But understand this, Lucy. Amanda can't be harmed. I'm promising you that. She can't be. There's a reason behind everything I'm telling you."
He turned toward the door.
"If we delay any further, we might end up trapped in this kingdom. We need to leave before that happens."
Lucy took a deep breath and wiped her eyes.
Without another word, she followed him toward the door, her fists still clenched tightly at her sides.