The arena shuddered under the combined weight of Akira's crimson aura and the intruder's violet shadows. Dust and rubble whipped through the air like a storm, and every heartbeat echoed like a war drum.
Akira's blade cut through the chaos, strikes faster and sharper than ever before, each one enhanced by her Rank 15+ aura. Sparks erupted as she met the intruder head-on, every clash sending shockwaves that rattled the ruins.
Temaki's aura flared beside her, energy coiling like a spring. "Akira… she's predicting our moves!" he shouted over the roar of the battlefield. "We need to—"
Before he could finish, the intruder vanished, reappearing behind Akira with terrifying speed. Violet energy lashed out, forcing her to spin and parry just in time.
"She's… inhumanly fast," Temaki muttered, jaw tight. Every strike she dodged, every counter she landed, pulled at his chest with fear and frustration.
The intruder laughed, violet eyes gleaming. "Impressive… but strength and loyalty won't save you now. Watch closely."
From the shadows, her backup emerged—a figure wreathed in dark energy, aura pulsating with power that made the arena tremble. With a single stomp, the ground cracked beneath them, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
Akira's eyes narrowed, crimson aura flaring like a living storm. "Temaki… we fight. Whatever it takes!"
They lunged forward, attacking simultaneously, blade and aura colliding with shadow and energy. Sparks and light exploded in every direction, each strike shaking the arena and sending debris flying.
But then… a pulse of violet energy erupted from the crystal at the arena's center. It shattered violently, sending a shockwave that knocked Akira and Temaki to their knees. Dust and rubble filled the air, obscuring vision.
Temaki's chest heaved. "That… that crystal—it's reacting! Something's happening!"
Akira wiped blood from her mouth, eyes blazing with fury. "No matter what… we survive this."
The intruder's laughter echoed through the dust. "Oh, you'll survive… but only if you can handle this."
A shadow detached from the crystal, forming into a figure taller, darker, and more terrifying than anyone had imagined. Its eyes glowed violet, aura radiating a storm of raw power that made even the intruder flinch slightly.
Akira's heart pounded. "This… this is just the beginning?"
The shadow's voice was a low rumble, almost playful. "You have no idea what's coming."
The arena shook violently, and the final panel froze on Akira and Temaki, looking up at the new threat—power radiating from it like a storm about to break.
Cliffhanger: Who—or what—is emerging from the crystal, and can Akira and Temaki survive the storm that's about to hit?