"You know how to seal an Alpha Grade gate?"
"Not yet. But I'm a fast learner."
Ayaka laughed, a sharp sound without humour. "You're either brave or insane. Maybe both. Let's do this."
They split, each taking a side of the field. The Ashlings poured toward them like a wave of living fire.
Akira formed two swords of ice, the blades crystallising in his hands with razor-sharp edges. The first Ashling reached him, and he bisected it with a single swing. It exploded into steam and ash.
[ASHLING ELIMINATED]
[+10 PP]
But three more immediately took their place. They moved faster than the normal variants, their Cinder Step ability letting them teleport in rapid succession. One appeared behind him, claws raised to strike.
Akira spun, his left sword coming up in a defensive arc. The blade caught the Ashling mid-lunge, freezing it solid before it shattered.
[ASHLING ELIMINATED]
[+10 PP]
"They're stronger!" he called to Ayaka.
