While Ren faced a monster of his own, Ayato had already arrived at the deepest part of the facility.
Step. Step. Step.
Footsteps echoed as Ayato approached Shimei, the masked man.
"You're fast… my other self's killer," Shimei said.
"Well, I didn't think your minions would be that weak. Maybe I shouldn't have brought that guy," Ayato replied calmly.
"Boss's orders," rumbled the large man standing beside Shimei.
Shimei raised a hand, signaling for the big guy to stand by. "Is it alright for you to be here? Aren't you worried about your friends?" he asked, glancing at the monitors.
"Well, the normal student can handle himself. The bully mmm yeah, I think he can too. Who knows, maybe he'll figure out something new about his essence. And that normal kid's friend... he won't die just yet."
"I see," Shimei replied.
"If you're looking for the girl, you'll have to follow the rules first," Shimei added.
"I'm not here for the girl," Ayato said, smirking. "I just want some entertainment."
"You're more like a villain than a hero," Shimei remarked.
"Well, I never said I was a hero. A villain isn't bad either... but I'm not that, though I can play the part sometimes," Ayato said nonchalantly.
"Why don't you join our organization then?" Shimei offered.
"Hahaha, join? I don't think I'd fit in with your group. Besides, didn't you target My Lady just because she lost her affinity and turned into a Trigger? I thought you didn't like Triggers?"
"We don't discriminate against strong individuals," Shimei said. "Yes, we hunt down Triggers, and sometimes kill those without value. But we weren't trying to kill her, it's just that she kept running. We thought she might expose us."
"Heh. I appreciate the offer, but I'll still refuse. I don't see any merit in accepting. Though, I'll keep it in mind. If you're not accepting later, that's fine too."
"Well, we don't mind you taking your time," Shimei said. "But if you don't make it out of here alive, that's on you."
Ayato cracked his neck and smiled. "Guess we start then."
"Sure," Shimei replied, lowering his hand. "You can have my left hand, his name's Troll."
"Oh, so the big guy's name is Troll, huh?" Ayato grinned. "Nice to meet you. Name's Ayato Kitsune."
Troll stomped forward, the ground cracking beneath him. "You don't look that tough," he said, cracking his knuckles. "You'll break easy."
Ayato tilted his head, brushing his bangs aside. "You talk like every other big guy who ends up face-first on the floor."
"Big words for a tiny man."
"I get that a lot," Ayato smirked.
Then, he lifted his thumb and gently pressed it against his temple. A faint ripple spread across his body like a shimmer in the air.
An invisible hand, huge and faintly outlined, wrapped protectively around him.
"Trigger: Soft Touch."
The invisible hand clenched once, releasing a faint shockwave that ruffled his hair.
Troll grinned, slamming his palms together. "You think that'll save you?"
"Guess we'll find out," Ayato said, lowering his stance.
Troll's fist hit first a thunderous blow that split the floor like a cracked shell. Dust burst upward, but Ayato didn't budge much. The impact was softened, his barrierhand flaring for a moment before fading.
"Not bad," Ayato muttered. "Guess touching myself does have its benefits."
Troll blinked, confused. "What?"
"Never mind," Ayato smirked, then crouched. His hand brushed against a fallen rock.
Instantly, the invisible hand appeared again — massive — and flicked the boulder beside him.
The chunk of stone shot forward like a cannonball, slamming into Troll's chest. The big man stumbled back, roaring as debris scattered.
Ayato straightened his collar. "I call that the gentle flick of friendship. Effective, right?"
Troll growled, planting both hands on the ground. The entire floor rumbled as stone spikes erupted upward. "Let's see your soft hands stop this!"
Ayato dashed sideways, tapping the wall with his fingers. The invisible hand appeared again, swiping horizontally, smashing through a line of spikes that aimed for him.
He pointed next, his fingertip brushing another wall, that tiny touch sent the invisible hand forward again, slamming Troll's arm away mid-swing.
"Man, I love these walls," Ayato said with a grin. "They make such great buttons."
Troll grunted, annoyed. He slammed his foot down, merging with the ground. His skin began to harden like rock, his muscles bulging. "You can't beat me with tricks, boy! The earth obeys me!"
Ayato clicked his tongue. "Yeah, but see, the earth doesn't really move unless I touch it first."
He reached out, dragging his fingertips along the cracked floor. The invisible hand followed that motion, grabbing a chunk of ground and ripping it upward. He flicked it, launching it straight at Troll like a hammer strike.
The rock shattered against Troll's guard. Dust filled the air.
Troll emerged through it, grinning with blood on his lip. "You're quick, but you'll run out of things to touch soon."
Ayato gave a faint shrug. "Then I'll just touch you."
Before Troll could react, Ayato dashed forward, sliding low under a stone pillar. He reached out, his palm grazing Troll's leg.
The moment his hand connected—
BAM!
The invisible hand mirrored the motion, grabbing Troll's entire leg and flinging him across the chamber like a ragdoll. The impact left a crater in the far wall.
Ayato dusted off his sleeves. "Guess that counts as a handshake."
From the rubble, Troll growled, pulling himself up. "You… little…!" His hands pressed against the ground, and jagged stone arms burst upward, grabbing at Ayato's legs.
Ayato quickly bent down, touching one of the stony grips—then snap!
The invisible hand crushed the stone apart instantly, freeing him.
He exhaled. "Man, that was close… If I didn't touch that, I'd be a rock sculpture by now."
The big man roared, slamming the ground again. "Enough games!"
The floor cracked open beneath Ayato's feet, a trap made of collapsing earth.
Ayato's eyes darted left, then down. "Tch—no surface to touch—"
He twisted mid-fall, slamming his hand against a falling debris slab.
The invisible hand appeared below him, pushing him upward before he hit the pit.
Ayato flipped midair, landing with a smirk. "Sorry, big guy, but I'm a hands-on type."
Troll's fury shook the entire chamber as he drew power from the ground again.
Ayato looked around, no stable walls left, floor uneven, air thick with dust. His barrier was flickering now.
"Guess it's about time I stop playing," he muttered, lowering his hand toward the floor again.
Shimei watched silently from the back, murmuring, "He's analyzing his limits… even while joking."
Ayato's hand brushed the cracked metal floor. "Alright… let's give this a little push."
The invisible hand surged out, this time gripping the floor itself, pulling it upward like a wave, breaking the ground apart and sending a shockwave toward Troll.
The two forces collided—earth versus invisible force—and the entire chamber trembled violently.
Dust. Stone. Pressure. Silence.
When it cleared, both stood breathing heavily, watching each other.
Ayato wiped his mouth, his grin faint but unbroken. "You're tougher than you look."
Troll spat blood and smiled. "You too. I'll give you that."
The tension thickened. The next hit would decide who stood last.
---End of Chapter 18---