Red and the Apocalypse — Chapter 26 ( The Twin Flame)
The air grew still.
Not normal stillness…
—but the kind that made your instincts scream.
Tokita's eyes locked onto the newcomer.
And the newcomer… smiled.
A slow, amused smirk spread across his face as his crimson eyes gleamed with something dangerous… something inhuman.
Then—
He tilted his head slightly.
"…Wait a second."
Tokita didn't move.
Ragnar narrowed his eyes, studying him.
"…We both got red hair, right?"
There was a brief pause.
"…Yeah," Tokita replied calmly.
Ragnar's smirk widened.
"Whoa… so we're like twins or something, huh?"
Tokita didn't react.
"…Guess so."
Ragnar chuckled, lifting a hand to gesture lazily.
"But you though…" he pointed at Tokita's face, "…what's with the bangs covering your eyes? Can you even see with that?"
Tokita answered instantly.
"I see clearly."
Ragnar blinked.
"…Oh shit. Okay."
For a moment—
It almost felt casual.
Almost.
Then Ragnar's gaze shifted.
Downward.
To Hoshina's unconscious body.
Silence.
Then—
Tokita spoke.
"If you're worried your friend might die from what's about to happen…"
Ragnar didn't look at him.
"…my team can take him. They'll protect him,from the impact of our fight of course..."
Now Ragnar looked back.
Slowly.
Suspicious.
"…Why the hell would I trust you?"
Tokita's voice didn't change.
"What other choice do you have?"
"If we wanted him dead… he'd already be dead."
The wind brushed past them.
Cold.
"And if I decide to kill him right now…" Tokita added, "…there's nothing you can do to stop me."
For a split second—
Killing intent flickered.
Ragnar stared.
Then Tokita continued, his tone dropping slightly:
"And the moment you even think about harming my comrades…"
"…your head won't stay attached to your body."
Silence.
Then—
Ragnar smiled.
Wide.
Sharp.
Excited.
"I really… really like you."
Without hesitation—
He bent down, grabbing Hoshina's body.
FWOOM—!!
Flames ignited beneath his feet.
And in the next instant—
BOOM!!
He shot into the sky like a missile.
Landing Point — Aoi & Nezuko
CRASH—!!
The ground shattered as Ragnar landed.
Dust exploded outward.
Aoi and Nezuko froze instantly.
Nezuko reacted first—
She raised her gun.
"Don't move!"
Ragnar looked at it.
Then smiled.
"Relax," he said casually. "It's not your turn yet."
His voice dropped slightly.
"I'm here for him."
He glanced back toward Tokita's direction.
"If I kill Tokita…"
"…then I'll come back and kill the rest of you."
Aoi's grip tightened.
Nezuko's finger hovered on the trigger.
Ragnar pointed lazily at Nezuko.
"But you…"
"…you're special."
A pause.
"You're coming with me."
Nezuko's eyes hardened.
"…No."
Ragnar chuckled.
"We'll see~."
He dropped Hoshina's body.
Then looked at Aoi.
"Take care of him."
A slight grin.
"If you do a good job…"
"…I might not kill you."
Aoi clenched her fists.
Before either of them could respond—
FWOOM—!!
Ragnar vanished again.
Back to Tokita
BOOM—!!
He landed.
Right in front of Tokita.
The ground cracked beneath them.
Silence.
The two stood facing each other.
Red hair.
Red eyes.
Two monsters.
Ragnar rolled his neck slightly.
"…Alright."
Tokita didn't move.
Ragnar's grin slowly widened—
"…now we can begin."
The First Strike
No warning.
No countdown.
No hesitation.
—He vanished.
The ground beneath him exploded.
And in the next instant—
A flaming fist appeared right in front of Tokita's face.
The air ignited.
Heat distorted space itself.
"…Let's begin."