Thunder rumbled in the distant skies above the chaos unfolding in the city, the lights in the central skyscraper of the city flickering as lightning crackled above it. Akujin laughed with every explosion that detonated, not having a care for those who were fighting for her. She considered them as obstacles that'll weaken the Assassins out before they reach her, or even worse, die before reaching her. Akujin knew fully well that some of the Assassins already engaged in combat with her soldiers. She was getting bored as she watched the buildings in the city collapse or shake from the battles going on.
"This is torture, can't the Assassins just get here? I wanna have some fun too," she mumbled to herself.
She cracked her knuckles, sighing as she kept waiting.
Ruka's eyes widened as the blade grazed her cheek when she flipped backwards, barely evading the immense variety of attacks being hurdled at her. Zak clashed his maroon blade against the silver blade that had the trickle of blood from grazing Ruka earlier.
"You can keep trying," Rin grinned, frantically and maniacally slashing the air, "But no one has even gotten close to beating me. It's a shame you won't see even a slight hint of that."
Zak gritted his teeth, annoyed and furious as to how Rin mocked Ruka. With violent strides and clashes of steel, Zak pushed himself harder and harder. Ruka slipped in and aimed for Rin's arm. That moment Ruka saw that there was a slight chance of being able to weaken Rin even the slightest bit. Ruka inched forward each time as Zak held off Rin's attacks with his own, though he wouldn't last long from the powerful clashes from Rin. With the strength building in her arm, Ruka broke into a dashing stance, swirling herself as if she weighed nothing. Ruka's kunai grazed Rin's shoulder, but as they did, Ruka felt the gust of wind lift her off her feet.
"Not so fast," Rin grinned, using a technique.
"Death Of the Tornado: Crystalizing Hurricane!" Energy bursts through the surroundings, infrastructure such as roads and skyscrapers nearby cracked with tremendous force, some splitting in half. A humongous sphere of building energy formed above Rin as she gathered wind to fuel its strength. Ruka and Zak tried to reach the sphere, but with the intake of the energy, the sphere released gusts of wind that sent Zak flying backwards into one of the skyscrapers.
"Zak!" Ruka yelled over the violent winds, her voice straining from the volume she used.
Wind hurled around her chaotically, papers flapping in the wind and the asphalt of the street below them cracking slightly. Ruka continued her slow approach to the forming sphere and Rin. One of the nearby skyscrapers creaked, its structure weakening from the force of the gusts. Zak had crashed through a complex of office buildings; a glass shard pierced his thigh deeply.
"Must be struggling, huh?" Rin grinned enthusiastically, tapping her index finger against her chin, then trailing down her neck. Ruka gritted her teeth, flashing her sword and preparing a technique to counter the sphere's overwhelming energy.
"Stargazing!" Ruka throws her sword at Rin, thrusting forward and closing the proximity between the two. Rin's eyes widen as she strides backwards, flipping through the falling debris from the collapsing skyscrapers above them. Noticing her retreat, Ruka flings herself forward even further, her blade clashing against Rin's. In a desperate attempt to escape the attacks, Rin prepares a technique to throw Ruka off.
"Depressing Downpour!" Rin swirls her hands around, her sword floating as multiple objects rise into the air. Streetlights detach from the ground, shaking as they rise into the merciless environment. Ruka quickly prevents the attack, countering with her own.
"Starlight of the Winter Evening!" Ruka thrusts forward once again, the ground cracking from the force of her attack. Rin's eyes widened as she saw her own technique get obliterated from existence, which causes her to take a step forward in preparation for another. Before Rin could unleash another attack, Ruka slashes her sword away and steps forward, flinging Rin into a corner of the crosswalk intersection. Rin slams deep into the asphalt, the contact causing scrapes on her knees and arms.
Ruka looked frantically around for Zak, desperately trying to find him. She had to find him while she still had a chance and while Rin was temporarily immobilized.
Riku and Nitaru approached the street that led towards the building where Akujin was located at, "We're here," Nitaru smiled, helping Riku moved along the street.
Riku smiled, limping and leaning onto Nitaru's shoulder as the two walked towards the entrance. The building creaked from the constant nearby explosions that shook the structure of it. Riku sighed, stepping up the few sets of stairs in the front that led towards the front.
"Easy," Nitaru assured Riku, helping him slowly towards the door.
"Wait," Riku mumbled under his breath as he reached for the front door, "Nitaru..."
Nitaru raised an eyebrow, looking at Riku with confusion as he stared at the door Riku hesitated to open, "Is something wrong, Riku?"
"Yeah," Riku chuckled, "You trust people too easy, Nitaru."
Nitaru's eyes widened as he realized what Riku was saying, and Riku turned around, preparing a technique.
"I can't let you come any closer to Akujin!" Riku yelled, forming his technique steadily with specific hand motions.
Nitaru took a step back, still in shock of what was happening. Did he really just help Riku reach Akujin from just trusting him that he was on our side? Maybe Riku was right. Maybe Nitaru did trust people too easily.
"Seething Anger of Poseidon!" Riku unleashed his technique, hurling itself at Riku and spurting hot, boiling water. The temperature of the water was enough to burn through glass, and it splashed against Nitaru's shirt. In total shock of the sudden attack, Nitaru backed away, coughing from the saliva building up in his throat from not swallowing it. He knew Riku outsmarted him. He knew he was stupid enough to trust Riku after everything. The water sizzled against Nitaru's skin, steam rising from the blisters beginning to form on his skin. This was it, wasn't it? His skin would just get eaten up by the boiling water. Maybe there is a chance. Just something that can make him survive a little longer and prevent Riku from joining Akujin to defend her from anyone who manages to reach the tower. If anyone would be able to.
"No," Nitaru told himself, looking fiercely at Riku, "I'll reach Akujin. The others will too. No matter what. This is the closest we have gotten. I can't let this chance slip when it may be the only chance I, no, we get."