The battlefield was collapsing.
Not figuratively literally.
Houses were missing walls, the ground was full of empty gaps where nothing existed, and the air itself felt unstable, like it could tear apart at any moment. Every step had to be calculated. One wrong move, one wrong angle, and you wouldn't just fall
You would be gone.
Kairo slid back across a broken surface, breathing heavier now, his eyes locked onto Yoshiro. His hands trembled slightly not from fear alone, but from the pressure of constantly reacting, constantly thinking.
"…This guy…"
Before he could finish
A sudden burst of heat surged from the right.
"MOVE!"
Kairo instinctively jumped back as a massive wave of blazing energy shot past him, lighting up the battlefield in a violent orange glow. It didn't just explode it roared, like something alive.
Yoshiro raised his hand.
The flames collided
And for the first time…
They didn't disappear instantly.
There was resistance.
The fire pushed.
Even if just for a moment.
Yoshiro's arm shifted slightly more than before.
"…Interesting."
Tyouro stood there, one arm extended, flames still burning around him not like normal energy, but something more aggressive, more unstable. The heat around him distorted the air, his expression no longer playful.
"Don't stare too much," Tyouro said with a grin. "You'll fall in love."
Kairo blinked.
"…Wait..."
He glanced at the flames again.
"…Since when can you do that?"
Tyouro didn't even look at him.
"I'll tell you later," he said casually, his eyes still locked on Yoshiro.
"…After we defeat this man."
Kairo frowned slightly, but didn't push further.
"…Fine."
Yura, standing behind them, narrowed her eyes.
"…That energy…"
Even she could tell it wasn't just normal Blast Energy anymore.
Something had changed.
Yoshiro lowered his hand slowly.
"…Fire…"
His gaze lingered on Tyouro for a moment.
"…It reminds me of something."
For a brief second
His expression darkened.
Then it disappeared.
"…I'll erase it."
He moved.
Faster than before.
Tyouro reacted instantly, firing another burst of flames, this time more concentrated. The fire twisted forward like a spear, aiming straight at Yoshiro's path.
Yoshiro didn't dodge.
He stepped through it.
Parts of the flame vanished on contact but not all of it.
A flicker of heat brushed past him.
His sleeve burned slightly.
Tyouro smirked.
"…So you can't erase everything at once."
Yoshiro appeared in front of him.
"…And you talk too much."
His hand reached forward
But before it could touch
A force slammed into him from the side.
Yura.
She moved in without hesitation, her body flowing with precise motion. Her strike wasn't flashy it was clean, controlled, and perfectly timed.
Yoshiro's body shifted back slightly.
Not erased.
Not blocked.
Hit.
The air went silent for a moment.
Kairo's eyes widened.
"…She hit him…"
Kimimaru stepped closer, his gaze focused.
"…Hand-to-hand."
Yoshiro steadied himself, his feet sliding slightly across the ground that still existed. His eyes locked onto Yura now, something different behind them.
"…You're the leader."
Yura didn't respond.
She stepped forward again.
Her movements were calm, but her intent was sharp.
"If your erasure costs energy…" she said quietly, "then I'll force you to waste it."
Yoshiro smiled faintly.
"…Try."
They clashed.
Yura moved first, closing the gap instantly. Her strike came fast too fast for most to follow but Yoshiro reacted just as quickly, shifting his body slightly to avoid a direct hit.
Their movements blurred.
No energy.
No explosions.
Just pure speed and technique.
Yura's attacks were precise, targeting weak points, forcing reactions. Every movement had purpose she wasn't trying to overpower him, she was controlling the flow.
Yoshiro responded with raw instinct.
His strikes weren't refined but they were fast.
Too fast.
Each movement carried insane force, enough to shatter what little remained of the ground beneath them.
Their fists collided
A shockwave burst outward.
Kairo shielded his face.
"…They're insane…"
Tyouro grinned slightly.
"…Now this is a fight."
Yura ducked under a strike, twisting her body as she countered with a sharp blow to Yoshiro's side. He took the hit again, his body shifting slightly but this time, he didn't retreat.
He grabbed her arm.
Yura's eyes widened for a split second.
"…!"
But before he could erase
She forced her body back using raw motion, breaking contact just in time.
A piece of her sleeve vanished.
She landed a few steps away, her breathing steady but her eyes sharper than ever.
"…Close."
Yoshiro looked at his hand again.
"…So you avoid direct contact."
He stepped forward again.
"…Good."
Kairo clenched his fist.
"…We're not just watching."
He dashed in again, this time syncing with Tyouro.
"Let's go!"
Tyouro followed immediately, flames erupting again as he charged forward. The heat surged across the battlefield, forcing Yoshiro's attention to split again.
Yura moved back slightly.
"…Now."
Kimimaru stepped in.
Silent.
Precise.
His blade moved again not aiming for a direct hit, but controlling space, limiting Yoshiro's movement, forcing him into tighter reactions.
For a brief moment
Everything aligned.
Kairo from the front.
Tyouro from the right.
Kimimaru from the left.
Yura controlling from behind.
Yoshiro stood in the center.
Surrounded.
"…This again."
His voice was calm.
But his eyes
Changed.
The air around him twisted violently.
"…You're starting to understand…"
His hand rose again.
"…So I'll stop holding back."
The space around him began to collapse faster than before.
Wider.
More unstable.
The battlefield shrank instantly, forcing all of them to move again or be erased along with it.
Kairo jumped back, barely avoiding another disappearing section.
"…He's going crazy!"
Yura's expression hardened.
"…No."
She raised her hand again, pulling Kairo slightly out of range.
"…He's adapting."
Tyouro fired another blast of fire, but this time it flickered slightly.
"…Tch…"
His breathing was heavier now.
Kairo noticed.
"…Your energy..."
"I'm fine," Tyouro cut him off quickly.
But his flames weren't as stable as before.
Kimimaru stepped back beside them.
"…We're running out of time."
Yoshiro stood alone again, untouched, the world around him breaking apart.
"…You're slowing down."
He took a step forward.
"…And I'm not."
For a moment
Everything went quiet again.
Kairo looked at his team.
Yura.
Tyouro.
Kimimaru.
All of them pushing.
All of them close to their limits.
His fist tightened.
"…We're not done yet."
Yura glanced at him.
"…Then prove it."
Yoshiro raised his hand once more.
"…Disappear."
And the space between them vanished.