Claws sank deep into Sadachbia's King Shinji's gut. Blood bubbled from his lips as his katana slipped from weakening fingers.Shikimori tightened her headlock on Akime, leaning close to whisper into her ear. "I've already told Polaris where you are."Akime's eyes snapped wide. "You stupid human!"Shikimori's grin stretched ear to ear. Inside Shinji's mind, a calm voice cut through the pain: Thank God I asked them for help. Relief washed over him even as his intestines spilled.Lightning shattered the sky. It bled red.Shikimori and Silas froze. Kaito stayed stone-calm.In that split-second shock, Akime stomped Shikimori's instep and twisted free. Shikimori crashed face-first into border dust.
What towered before them was a massive red-haired bull, forty feet of muscle and fury, nose piercing glinting like a beacon. Kaito stood calmly beside it, his claws—yanked free from Shinji's gut—dripping fresh blood. White eyes rolled wild above them as the beast charged, shaking border earth.Scene shift.Reo's glaive crashed against Mizu's dual swords. Sparks showered like falling stars. Sadachbia's King Shinji crumpled forward, dead before he hit his knees, blood pooling beneath his lifeless body.
The bull roared, a thunderous bellow that cracked the air. It charged, hooves gouging border earth. Kaito stepped forward, killing intent blazing in his eyes. In a blink, he accelerated to the beast's ear and whispered, "Is that the best you can do?""Scythe of Rigel—Akira!"The bull spun mid-charge, evading the strike. Mid-air, its massive form deformed, collapsing into a falcon that accelerated at impossible speed. Talons snagged Akime by her clothes. It rocketed skyward.Scene shift.Reo's glaive clashed against Mizu's dual swords, sparks exploding. Mizu laughed, voice dripping psycho ego. "You've only rested, not trained." He accelerated.Reo parried, glaive humming. Mizu sneered. "Only because Gaun Yu gave you that glaive."Thud. The hut roof exploded above them. Blind Reo startled, head snapping toward the sound. Mizu froze mid-snarl.The falcon snatched Reo, ripping him skyward. Mizu transformed into Sadalmelik's spirit—, slithering through air with impossible fury as it gave chase ?.
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The falcon tore through the air at impossible speed, Akime and Reo clutched tight in its talons, wind screaming past. Below, Mizu's wingless yellow dragon coiled furiously but fell behind fast—then suddenly banked away, abandoning the chase entirely ?.
Reo felt Akime tense beside him, her breath ragged against the sea spray. Empathy stirred—he shifted closer until their shoulders touched. She startled slightly, nerves flickering—anger flashed, but calm settled in its wake. Reo sensed the question forming in his mind: What hides behind that mask?
Mist swirled suddenly from the clouds. Akira materialized on the falcon's back, scythe gleaming across his shoulder. "Akira—chosen one for Rigel's spirit from continent Orion.”
