The night felt different. The air was heavy, electric—like the whole city was holding its breath. Akira stood atop the tallest spire, her crimson aura slowly twisting into something darker, sharper. Rank 13 was already bending to her will… but now, something inside her was pulling, urging her forward.
The Bean's residual energy wasn't done with her yet. Every pulse sent fire through her veins, her senses sharpening until she could feel the heartbeat of the city itself. Somewhere below, chaos was brewing.
A high-pitched whistle split the air. She pivoted just in time to catch a jagged blade between two fingers—its edge humming with energy she didn't recognize. From the shadows, a figure emerged: tall, armored in obsidian, with eyes glowing faint amber.
"Akira," the stranger said, voice low but taunting. "The Architect wasn't your final test. I am."
Her smirk was instant, flirtatious and lethal all at once. "Oh? And here I thought I was running out of toys to break." She let the blade go, stepping closer until the space between them buzzed with tension. "Tell me you're not just another man who thinks he can tame me."
The stranger chuckled, a sound that dripped with both danger and amusement. "Tame? No. Push you past your limits? Yes."
In a blur, he was on her, faster than anything she'd fought before. Crimson tendrils snapped to block him, but his weapon sliced through them like paper. Akira's eyes widened—finally, finally someone who could make her bleed.
Every strike between them cracked the sky, sending shockwaves rippling through the city. She could feel the Rank 14 surge teasing the edges of her power, each clash dragging it closer to the surface.
But then—his blade grazed her cheek, leaving a glowing mark. Not a wound… a seal. Energy instantly constricted around her, locking down part of her power.
Her grin returned, sharper than before. "Oh, you're playing dirty. I like that."
And deep inside, the Bean's energy flared again—furious, eager, and ready to break every limit in her way.