And with that, the air was once again filled with the weight of the battle, though this time, Makoto

  Ian"Heh, what do you think you're gonna do with those little toys?""You think you can take me down with guns?"

  Makoto stood firm, his eyes narrowing as he pulled out his twin pistols, the cold steel gleaming under the dim light. "I don’t need to use fists to fight. But if you want to see how effective these can be, I’ll show you."

  Bondo"You sure about this?"Ian

  was the best idea. But Makoto

  Ian"You really are a fool if you think a couple of bullets can stop me. I’ve seen it all. This is gonna be fun."

  With that, he lunged forward, moving at speeds faster than the human eye could track. In the blink of an eye, he was almost on top of Makoto

  But MakotoBang! Bang!

  The shots rang out, echoing through the air, but Ian

  "Come on, is that all you’ve got?"Makoto

  faster than he could react.

  Makoto’s grip tightened on his pistols. He wasn’t going to back down, not now. "You’re underestimating me, Ian,"Makoto

  Ian’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he continued to taunt, but his confidence was starting to waver just a little. Makoto

  "You’re fast,""But I’m not going to let that stop me."

  Just as Ian

  It wasn’t much—but it was enough to catch Ian off guard. Ian

  took a slight stumble, a smirk faltering on his lips as he realized Makoto had planned for him to dodge in a certain direction. The tiny mistake made Ian stop for just a split second.

  That was all Makoto

  He aimed his pistols once again, his stance more focused now. "Now it’s my turn."

  As GomotoMakoto"You don’t understand, do you?"Gomoto"You can’t keep hiding behind your guns forever, boy. Fists are where true strength lies. You’ve got to fight with your body, not just your mind."

  Makoto"Shut up! You don’t know anything about me!"

  The pressure mounted on MakotoMakoto’s physical powerRay

  "If I let this go too far, I could hurt them all... I could kill everyone,"Makoto

  "You’re weak, Makoto,"Gomoto"You’re holding back! You think a few fancy tricks with your guns will win this fight? Grow up!"

  Makoto’s vision blurred with emotion, his past traumas flashing before his eyes. Every time he had to hold back, every time he had to suppress his true strength, he wondered what kind of person he had become. The internal battle was consuming him. He knew if he let it go, if he just allowed himself to release the power he had suppressed for so long, he could obliterate his enemies in a split second.

  But it wasn’t just about them.

  "I can’t keep doing this...""I can’t keep hiding from myself. But I can’t control this power... Not like they do..."

  BondoMakoto’s inner struggle

  Makoto finally dropped to his knees, breathing heavily, shaking with frustration and fear. "I’m scared. I’m scared that if I do this, if I let this rage out, I’ll hurt everyone."

  GomotoMakoto’s vulnerability"You need to control it, Makoto,""Control your strength. That's what makes a true warrior."

  Makoto slowly rose to his feet, still trembling, but now with more clarity. "I don’t want to hurt anyone. But I also don’t want to be weak anymore."

  The battle around them continued to rage, but in that moment, Makoto

  made a choice. He wasn’t going to let the fear of his own power control him. He would fight, but not with rage. With control. With precision.

  "I’ll show you, Gomoto. I’ll fight with my mind, not just my power,"

  Gomoto"That’s the spirit."

  And with that, Makoto

  As MakotoIanIan

  moved with lightning speed, his blade gleaming in the dim light, and before Makoto

  could react fully, IanMakoto’s

  chest.

  The world seemed to slow as the blade sank deep, just inches from Makoto’s

  heart. Makoto

  "No..."

  IanMakoto"You were weak from the start. Always hiding, always holding back,""And now you see the consequences."

  But despite the excruciating pain, Makoto

  His hands tightened around the blade, and with a labored breath, he yanked it out, tossing it aside with a grunt. Blood poured from the wound, but Makoto

  wasn’t finished. "I’m not... done yet..."

  With his free hand, Makoto

  "I’ll show you..."Ian"I won’t hold back anymore."

  IanMakotoMakoto

  The bullet rang out.

  But whether it was the sheer will to survive, the adrenaline coursing through him, or the unrelenting determination to prove his worth, Makoto’s

  shot wasn’t just a shot—it was a declaration.

  "This isn’t the end."

  And with that, the battle for Makoto’s

  As MakotoIan

  BondoMondoBondoGomoto

  "You’re still alive?"GomotoBondo’sBondo

  grinned, wiping the blood from his lip, his eyes glinting with fiery determination. "I'm not going down so easily,"

  MondoIanMondo

  was nowhere to be found now; he was a force of nature, unleashing every ounce of strength he had. Each punch he threw was like a sledgehammer, and with his massive frame, he was a challenge for Ian

  "You’ve got some guts, but you’re too slow!"Ian

  taunted as he dodged one of Mondo’sMondo’s"Let’s see if you can dodge this!"

  MondoIan"You're not going anywhere!"MondoIan

  Meanwhile, GomotoBondoBondo"You’re not going to stop me,"GomotoGomoto

  anticipated the attack, stepping aside and landing a vicious knee into Bondo

  "You think you can stand up to me?"Gomoto

  sneered, but Bondo

  "Watch me."

  With a sudden burst of power, BondoGomotoMondoIan

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  "You're just a bunch of idiots!"IanMondoBondoMondo

  "Don’t get cocky!"IanBondoMondo

  "You’ve pushed me far enough!"IanMondoBondoMondo

  worked in perfect unison, landing hit after hit, until Ian

  With one final crushing blow, BondoMondoIan

  crashing to the ground. The two stood over him, their chests heaving as they tried to catch their breath, but neither of them could afford to relax.

  "That’s for making Makoto suffer,"Bondo

  growled, wiping the sweat from his brow. Mondo

  "And that’s for messing with our team,"

  MakotoBondoMondoIan

  "Thanks... I couldn't have..."Makoto

  gasped, unable to finish his sentence.

  "Don’t mention it,"BondoMakoto"We’re a team. We’ve got each other's backs."

  Mondo"Yeah, and that’s not changing anytime soon!"

  With Ian

  As MakotoIan

  "No!"BondoMakotoIan

  IanBondoMondoGomoto

  Makoto

  As his body hit the ground with a heavy thud, everything around him fell silent, save for the sounds of groaning from the others who were slowly starting to recover.

  BondoMakoto’s

  "Makoto!"BondoMakoto"Hey, come on, stay with us!"

  But MakotoMondo

  "Damn, that was some punch,""I think he might have just destroyed half the building..."

  GomotoMakoto

  "What the hell just happened?"Gomoto

  BondoMakotoGomoto

  with a glare. "That was Makoto’s power, alright. He doesn't know his own strength, and now he’s out cold. We need to get him somewhere safe."

  MondoBondoMakoto"Damn, that was scary. I’ve never seen him like that before. What the hell is going on with him?"

  GomotoMakoto"He’s too dangerous in this state. If he doesn’t get control of that power, he’ll keep hurting people around him... including himself."

  "We’ll figure it out,"BondoMakoto"But first, let’s get him out of here."

  As they carried MakotoMakoto

  **Gomoto** glanced around the wreckage, his serious expression hardening as he considered the situation. The sounds of debris settling and distant echoes of crumbling walls filled the air. He crossed his arms, his mind already calculating the best course of action.

  **"This place is a maze,"** **Gomoto** muttered, his voice low but firm. **"It's hard enough to find an exit as it is. If we try to move around now with all the damage, we'll just end up getting stuck in another fight or worse."**

  **Bondo**, still carrying **Makoto** along with **Mondo**, gave **Gomoto** a concerned look. He was worried about **Makoto**, but **Gomoto**'s words made sense. The maze-like structure of the building and the unstable environment could be just as dangerous as any enemy they might face.

  **"You mean stay put?"** **Bondo** asked, furrowing his brow. He hesitated for a moment, glancing down at **Makoto**, still unconscious in his arms. **"What about him? What if something happens to him while we’re stuck here?"**

  **Mondo** scratched the back of his head, looking around nervously. **"Yeah, it feels weird, just sitting around. But if **Makoto**’s power is causing this much destruction... staying here might be our best shot at keeping everyone safe."**

  **Gomoto** nodded, his eyes scanning the damage around them. **"Exactly. The more we move around, the more likely we are to trigger another collapse or get caught by whoever is hunting us down. We’ll have to wait it out until we can find an opening. If anything, it’s safer to stay put and defend this area. And with **Makoto** out cold, we can’t risk aggravating him further until he regains control."**

  **Bondo** sighed but nodded reluctantly. He carefully placed **Makoto** down in a relatively safe corner, making sure his body was secure. The silence in the air was deafening, and the only sounds were their heavy breathing and the occasional groans from the building.

  **"So what now?"** **Mondo** asked, his goofy attitude temporarily gone, replaced with something more serious. **"Do we just wait?"**

  **Gomoto** nodded slowly. **"For now, yes. But keep your guard up. If anyone else comes through here, we’ll be ready. The moment we find an exit, we take it. Until then, we survive."**

  **Bondo** gave a small nod, still worried but understanding the reality of the situation. He sat down beside **Makoto**, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings while **Gomoto** and **Mondo** continued to assess their position.

  As the hours passed in tense silence, **Makoto** remained unconscious, his body still battered from the fight and the overwhelming release of power. Meanwhile, **Gomoto** and the others stayed alert, waiting for any signs of movement, whether from the environment or enemies. The only thing they could do for now was stay put and hope that an opportunity for escape or resolution would come soon.

  [Strikeka’s base – dim corridors lined with strange glowing lights. The air is thick with tension. Yosuke and Yu walk quietly, side by side.]

  Yu(soft voice, eyes darting around):

  “U-Um… Yosuke… are you sure this is the right path…?”

  Yosuke(calm, hand resting on the hilt of his poison-coated blade):

  “Yeah. I can smell them. Something’s rotting up ahead. Stay close.”

  Yu(blushing a bit, adjusting his sleeves nervously):

  “...I-I am. You’re just really fast…”

  Yosuke(pauses, glancing back with a rare smirk):

  “Then keep up, babe. I’m not losing you in here.”

  [Yu’s face turns red as he nods quickly. They round a corner—and stop. Before them is a massive underground chamber, stretching like a coliseum. Standing in the dark fog ahead—10,000 ghostly figures.]

  Yu(voice trembling slightly):

  “T-Ten thousand…? W-What…?”

  Yosuke(serious, eyes narrowing as his sword slides free with a faint hiss):

  “Hmph. Figures they’d send an army. Ghosts don’t scare me.”

  Yu(whispering, clutching his hands together):

  “I-I can help… If I just focus, I can—”

  Yosuke(cutting in):

  “No. You’re staying behind me. You burn out easy, remember?”

  Yu(shaking his head):

  “N-No… I don’t want to just watch. I want to protect you too…”

  Yosuke(freezes for a second, then sighs quietly and speaks softer):

  “...You really are stubborn. Fine. Just don’t push yourself.”

  [The ghosts begin to screech, charging forward like a black wave of death.]

  Yosuke(his blade glows green, dripping venom into the floor):

  “Let’s give ‘em a warm welcome.”

  Yu(eyes lighting up silver as faint sparks dance around him):

  “...For you, I’ll try my best.”

  [The two charge forward together—Yosuke slicing through the front line with a graceful poison arc, while Yu releases quiet but deadly bursts of Infinity Magic, each one erasing swaths of ghosts in flashes of light.]

  [Yosuke slashes a ghost clean in half. Its body turns to black mist—only to reform moments later. Yu blasts ten ghosts away, but their figures reappear seconds later, unharmed.]

  Yu(panting, eyes wide):

  “T-They’re not staying down…!”

  Yosuke(clicking his tongue, wiping his blade clean with a flick):

  “They’re regenerating…? Damn it. They’re not just ghosts. They’re tethered to something.”

  Yu(gritting his teeth):

  “M-Maybe a core… or a curse seal. If we don’t find it, this’ll go on forever…”

  Yosuke(raising his blade again, voice low and focused):

  “Then we cut through until we find it.”

  [A ghost phases behind Yosuke—Yu’s eyes flare.]

  Yu(shouting):

  “Watch out!”

  [Yu’s hand lifts instinctively. A blast of silver energy rips through the ghost, saving Yosuke. The light dims, and Yu stumbles.]

  Yosuke(turning fast, grabbing Yu’s shoulder):

  “Hey—don’t push it.”

  Yu(smiling weakly):

  “I-I’m fine… I just…”

  Yosuke(softening, pulling Yu closer):

  “You don’t have to prove anything to me, Yu. You being here is already enough.”

  [Yu’s eyes widen slightly, then look down, his face red again.]

  Yu(murmuring):

  “...But I want to fight beside you.”

  [More ghosts begin to form, rising from the ground like a shadow flood.]

  Yosuke(gritting his teeth):

  “Alright… new plan. You scan the area—find what’s making them come back. I’ll hold them off.”

  Yu(nodding quickly, floating slightly as his magic activates):

  “O-Okay! Just… don’t get hurt…”

  Yosuke(with a confident smirk as he charges in):

  “No promises. You know I look good with scars.”

  [Yu’s eyes glow brighter as he scans the area mid-air, floating above the chaos. His magic pulses softly—then his gaze locks on something.]

  Yu(pointing toward the far wall):

  “T-There! Behind that pillar! Someone’s controlling them!”

  [He flies toward the direction, weaving through ghosts, but as he nears the figure—an ominous man cloaked in a ghostly aura steps out, smirking. His body pulses with dark energy and faces twisted into skulls swirl around him like a cape.]

  Ghost Controller(mocking):

  “You? The quiet one? You think you can stop ?”

  Yu(nervously, but determined):

  “I-I have to try…”

  [Yu raises his hands, magic circles forming—but the ghost controller moves faster. In a blink, he appears in front of Yu, his fist slamming into Yu’s stomach.]

  Yu(gasping, coughing up spit):

  “Khh—!”

  [Before Yu can recover, the ghost controller grabs him by the throat and hurls him across the chamber. Yu crashes into a stone wall with a loud , falling limp to the ground.]

  Yosuke(still in the middle of slashing through ghosts, catches it from the corner of his eye—his whole body stiffens.)

  “…Yu?”

  [He turns—sees Yu’s motionless body at the base of the wall.]

  Yosuke(quietly):

  “…No.”

  [The sound around him fades. The ghosts stop mattering. The fog feels colder.]

  Ghost Controller(laughing):

  “Oh? That your little partner? Too soft. Too weak. Should’ve stayed behind.”

  Yosuke(his fingers tighten around his blade—poison begins to drip faster, hissing as it touches the ground. His voice is low and trembling with fury.)

  “You… touched him.”

  Ghost Controller(mock grin):

  “What, gonna cry about it?”

  Yosuke(eyes flashing with deadly focus):

  “No. I’m going to kill you.”

  [In a split second, Yosuke vanishes in a blur. He appears above the controller, poison sword swinging down with pure rage.]

  [Yosuke swings down from the air, poison blade glowing—just inches from slicing the ghost controller’s head clean off.]

  Ghost Controller(grinning wide):

  “Tch—try harder.”

  [Suddenly, the controller opens his mouth unnaturally wide—and a massive, snake-like tongue lashes out with lightning speed. The tongue coils around Yosuke’s blade mid-swing, hissing with eerie slime. It grips tight, stopping the slash in midair.]

  Yosuke(eyes widening):

  “Tch—what the hell…?!”

  Ghost Controller(laughing as he yanks back):

  “Didn’t expect that, huh? My tongue can mimic ghost snakes. Tough, fast, and hungry.”

  [He jerks the sword away from Yosuke, spinning it in the air and slamming it into the ground nearby, buried into the stone floor. Yosuke flips back, landing with a skid.]

  Yosuke(gritting his teeth):

  “Gross…”

  Ghost Controller(licking his lips with that same massive tongue):

  “Aw, don’t be rude. You’re next. I wanna see how you scream.”

  [Yosuke slowly stands up straight, brushing dust from his coat. His face turns cold—his hand opens, calling his sword back telekinetically. It rips out of the stone and flies into his hand, dripping with venom.]

  Yosuke(low and dangerous):

  “You really think a freaky tongue is gonna stop me?”

  Ghost Controller(grinning):

  “I think you’re gonna regret playing the hero.”

  [Behind them, Yu stirs slightly, coughing weakly as he watches through half-lidded eyes. Blood trickles down his forehead.]

  Yu(soft whisper):

  “Y…Yosuke…”

  Yosuke(without looking back, voice full of rage and ice):

  “I told you... don’t touch what’s mine.”

  [Poison mist begins to swirl around him, the air growing thick and sickly green as Yosuke prepares to unleash something stronger.]