Hiro's eyes in horror, generates his katana, and swings at him, while they are still sitting, but mid swing a burst of pain hits him, and he throws up a large some of blood, and he ends up throwing the sword, and falling to his side. Ner brushes himself off and begins to go back to the main path, leaving Hiro grasping in the air for him, his eyes fading in and out of focus, before closing, and falling limp.

--- Chapter 35 ---

Red: It's really quiet out. It's actually a little freaky.

Red walks down his designated street, the silence lingering in the back of his mind. As he moves along, he spots a stumbling drunk, singing to himself.

Red: Sir, what are you doing out here? This place isn't-

The drunk stumbles into Red.

Drunk: oh im serry mahn, i’s dont’s men it.

Red: It's fine, just get home.

The drunk starts to pull himself off, and as he does, Red feels a sharp pain on his back. He wrenches his arm around and feels the pain. There are two holes on his shirt, with two holes in his skin, blood drips off his finger. He looks up at the drunk.

Red: Are you?

Drunk: Am I what? A Tenyi?

He says, a sadistic grin forms across his face.

Red: So you are, I had a feeling.

Drunk: I got really lucky. I bumped into THEE Red. After you I'll go find Lauft.

Red: Why Lauft?

Drunk: Because, you both have insignias, after this appetizer, I will be able to have some real combat.

Red: Why you… Do you know who I am?!

Drunk: I just said your name didn't I?

Red: So, why are you after insignia users?

Drunk: Because, I will prove I'm the strongest Insignia user, and rule over everyone.

A serpent like symbol, Black with a pink outline slithers around his face. Reds eyes widen as he notices the severity of the situation. Red summons his blade and leaps back.

Red: What insignia are you!

Drunk: I'm just like you Red.

Red: What?

Drunk: GO! Poison dragon!

Red suprised, leaps back as the drunk’s shirt rips open, with snake-like heads coming out of his

back and zooming towards Red. Red twirls his sword around, slicing as many heads as possible, but some heads reach him and bite down on his arms and legs. He feels something getting injected.

Red: What the?!

Drunk: What? You didn't think a poison dragon insignia wouldn't have poison?

The insignia snakes return to his back.

Red: How am I supposed to win with just a sword?! This can use his insignia much better than me! And I can't use THAT technique.

The drunk’s insignia wraps around his right arm, fully enveloping it in its color. It begins to take color, changing his arm to purple scales, with sharp nails. He dashes into punch Red. Red puts his arm up to block. He hits Red, sending him flying with abnormal force.

Drunk: I knew you would be a disappointment but this is beyond expectation. You can't even form with your insignia? Making only a sword is lame.

Red pulls himself out of the rubble. He looks at the drunk.

Red: You have a name?

Drunk: Bruin.

Red: Ok Bruin, I haven't fought a insignia user before, other than Lauft and Sole of course. So show me a good fight.

He says with an odd smile, like even though this is his enemy, he still respects them as a fighter.

Bruin: Heh. You're an odd one Red, I'll give you that.

After this shared moment, Bruins right hand glows and shoots up in the air. It forms into two daggers, the hilt of which look like a snake head, and the blade curves with almost a wave. He runs into Red and a flurry of slashes happen as they block and attack. They lock in a position with red slashing down and Bruins daggers crossed, stopping the blade. Bruins dagger blades glow as they jut forward, turning into snake heads and bite his arms. The snakes connected to him, Bruin swung the hilts, throwing Red into a wall. Reds impact made the wall burst creating a small dust cloud.

Bruin: It's been fun Red.

Bruin places the daggers together as the form into one another, creating a mass of pulsating darkness.

Bruin: Poison dragon destruction!

The mass expands, making a dragon-like snake head as a full, snake-like, or chinese dragon body forms behind it as it glides towards the rubble. It enters the rubble, and Bruin starts to walk away. As he does, leaping out of the smog, Red’s right hand, a giant glowing mass in the shape of a fist, falls toward Bruin.

Bruin: How can you even move?! I put so much poison in you!

Red: I gotta thank you. You gave me the inspiration to advance!

Red punches with this giant fist, it hits Bruin with incredible force, sending him flying.

Red: Improvised! Dragon fist FEAST!

The giant fist splits up into multiple smaller fists that home in on Bruin. Bruin sees this and tries to use his insignia to block but he remembered he had not brought it back after his attack. The fists home in and barrage Bruin, sending him flying into a wall. Bruin falls unconscious