Thoughts of her apparently being the cause of the death that happened around here, they panged within Asami’s head. She eventually turned her head, now facing Arctaius’ chest. She simply couldn’t bear to look at what happened around her. Though Arctaius took note of this as he glanced down, he simply put her gaze back on the enemy that floated above them. Eventually, he began to move his arms, softly placing Asami down beside him, soon, stepping in front of her. He cracked his neck and muscles in preparation for the battle. His hands soon balled into fists as she spoke.

“Now then… I'm guessing you won't tell me what your reasons for this are.”

The man sat in silence for a moment, as he thought up a simple way to explain what he was doing, after all, he wasn’t one to try to drag things on.

“To put it simply… I’m killing two birds with one stone. I need to ensure that you do not run. My orders to eliminate you were directly from his excellency, after all… At the very same time, I can cleanse this area of the heretics. “

As those two words, ‘His Excellency’ Panged through his head, his hand moved to his chin, as he stroked the few thin hairs that lie all over… Those words. Just like that, he began analyzing his response, though otherwise, he would’ve ignored what his opponent stated. These words, they certainly reminded him of something.

“Wait, His excellency... When I was observing one of the groups which supplied the Reich...

Those men always mentioned orders from his excellency. Is it a coincidence?”

He thought back to the few he saw, during one of his battles in the NAF’s east coast, and then again, in the city of Marina.

“No, that’s not it. His uniform looks too similar. But how is he connected? There must be a reason that he wanted to direct me to southern shima specifically, despite the many other places we could've fought…”

Arctaius simply abandoned the line of thought afterward. After all, he had a new opponent in front of him. Given that he didn’t know the level of power he had, there would be no doubt that if he could have an issue if he didn’t stay focused.

“I’d ask you who ‘your excellency' is...but, likely, you wouldn't answer. Let’s get this over with… Don't get me wrong, I don't care all that much about those here.”

Her gaze shot over to the man’s back as he spoke... He didn’t care about her? The people around them? The cold words were a far cry from what she’d expect to hear from him. Even if he wasn’t the most approachable of people…. But then again, he saved her, didn’t he? Was she misreading this?

“However, I happen to like some people here, so I can't let you do that.”

As he spoke, her worries somewhat subsided. It seemed she was misleading this, to some extent. But it wasn’t as if she could ignore what was said beforehand. But, another glaring question came up, what was he going to do? She’d never seen him so serious but a few times. At this point, she just couldn’t tell. Wordlessly, she began to approach him, reaching out as she opened her mouth. However, almost as if it were on cue, he looked over his shoulder before her hand reached him. Just like that, she froze, as her mouth closed.

“Get out of here, Hoshi… I’ll handle him.”

Get out of here, why would she do that?! She opened her mouth again, but no words came out, as she began to debate with herself.

“I Should... No. I won’t…I, I've already caused this much. I may not completely understand what’s going on here… But even I understand that I'd just get in the way.”

Asami soon turned on her heel, and, though she glanced over her shoulder at her old friend for some moments, she would begin to make her escape, dashing away as she turned her attention forward. Her gaze gradually fell to the ground, as she attempted to avert her gaze from the deaths of the people around her. The feelings of guilt within her only increased despite her attempts, however. She still caught glimpses and heard their screams.

“This is my fault… I need to at least try helping the people here…”

Arctaius glanced over his shoulder, making sure that the girl got away from them. As she began to become less visible with her distance, his gaze shot forward once again. He soon focused on the unknown. Small sparks began to emanate from his body, which gradually grew, and grew, until loud, and bright arcs of electricity crackled around him. He soon got into his stance, putting both of his fists up in front of him, and keeping his jaw covered. For a moment, the two stood in silence, Before the youth made the first move, jumping at his opponent. Who raised his arm in preparation.

“As of right now, my priority is to gain information… Let’s see what I can get from him.”

The man soon flicked his wrist, as a wall of flame raised in his defense. As Arctaius took notice, he stopped for a moment, before changing his direction, and moving around him.

“These flames are going to be a problem, perhaps my water is the solution here.”

A cascade began to flow around Arctaius, which soon went barreling toward his opponent. However, before making contact, it looked to disappear, with steam appearing between the two. Arctaius squinted his eyes, as he simply sent more cascades forward. And yet, as much as he tried, he would not hit him, even if no flames were present... What was going on here? The gears began to turn in his head, as it came to him.

“My water… It’s evaporating. It's not just flames, it's heat as a whole…It’s like he’s made a field around himself.”

The man turned to face him, retreating out of his supposed melee range.

“Correct… those simple tactics won’t work on me. But that’s not all I have up my sleeve!”

The flames around him began to roar as they grew around him.

“FLAME TWIST!”

As he spoke, the flames began to roar once again, now, rushing outward, twisting and turning, as the flames from the buildings, and people around him were drawn in. Leaving the burnt carcasses for those who remained to see. At the least, until the flames began to swallow the area around him, forming what looked like a tornado, a large one at that. Outright dwarfing many of the skyscrapers in the distance.

“Shit!! While this ain’t a problem for me, I can’t say the same about the others...Asami couldn’t have gotten that far away.”

Arctaius began to ascend, looking down at the effects of his opponent’s attack. It did not stop there, it simply grew around him. It swiftly consumed all that surrounded it. It would soon reduce the once proud buildings around them to rubble, and char the remains. Including the road, he formerly stood upon. The people themselves were not spared either, caught within the ripping hot winds, and burned to a crisp as well. Within a few moments, the attack receded to its creator. He soon looked up at his opponent with a smirk.

“I’m not done yet!”

The man began his ascent, moving toward Arctaius, as he began spewing torrents of flame from around his body. WHich soon coiled around the air as they flew toward Arctaius. However, he would not be taken out so easily. His gaze flew around, as he began weaving around the flames. The man took notice, as he began to flick his wrist, siphoning more flames that remained around them, which would soon come toward Arctaius as well.

“Tch, better than I thought, but nothing I can’t handle… I need to stop this onslaught.. I’ll get into close range…”

Arctaius fixed his gaze on his opponent once again, as he began his advance toward him. All the while, more flames flew around him, singing his clothes as he went through them. Even so, the man remained undisturbed. The man’s eyes widened as he took note of how close he’d gotten. He stayed still for a few moments, as he decided upon his plan of action. What better way to rectify the damage than to not be there at all? He began to ascend, in his attempt to get out of his path. But his opponent would not let that happen, he increased his speed and seemed to flash toward the man, his fist shooting into his stomach, and knocking the wind out of him. He was soon sent barreling backward, reducing a building behind him into rubble. He soon stopped himself, before rushing back to his previous spot. Flames are drawn from the area once again, as Arctaius came into his view.

He speeds up and attempts to launch a strike. However, Arctaius seemingly disappeared, with naught but some sparks left in his former place. Putting a surprised expression on the man’s face, as he attempts to look around, and see any movement. with electricity now flowing around the man. This catches his attention, as he begins turning his head around, left, right, and then behind him before his gaze returns to the front. It is then that Arctaius appears behind him, to his surprise, and launches a direct strike to his back, The man’s torso curves outwards, as his hood falls, Revealing a man with shoulder-length black hair. His expression begins to slowly change back to his smirk. He looked over his shoulder at his opponent, his yellow orbs becoming visible.

“Well then…. You’ve managed to reveal my face, but don’t think that means you’ve won. You are not nearly strong enough to defeat me.”

“Don’t get cocky… I could kill you at any second.”

“In that case, how about I introduce myself… I’d like for my opponent to at the least know that... My name. Is Yuutaro Torushima. A server of the one true lord, Ardam.”

Arctaius’ look changed to one of surprise, his eyes widening at the mention of that name...Ardam. However, his expression soon changed, as the surprise was gone, now, replaced with a simmering rage.

“That Confirms it… The ones who supplied the reich, the ones who slaughtered my family. They all spoke of the one true lord, Ardam… It’s too similar to be a coincidence. The slaughter of my family, the genocide in the Federation... The group he associates with was the cause of all that. With that said, I likely won’t get any more information out of him- I was holding back before, but now It’s time for extermination…”

Part B

Elsewhere, Asami continued her dash through the streets. Though, much slower than before. She huffs as she sweats, until she stops running, her hands on her knees, as she continues to breathe heavily.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have started off by sprinting.”

Asami began to look around, her gaze falling on three Youth. As she takes a closer look, there stands Grayhelm, looking up at Yuutaro and Arctaius, with a Blank expression. Standing beside him was a broad-shouldered, brown-haired man, wearing a black tracksuit, and track pants. Grayhelm himself only reached his shoulder. While the one on the end stood just a bit shorter. He had a bald head, somewhat uncommon for someone of his age. But, so was what he wore, robes resembling those of a monk. Unlike the other two, he did not watch, instead, standing with his eyes closed, Leaning on the barrier, as he looked in Asami’s General direction. The man known as Zhao Lei. Kazimir stroked what thin hairs were on his chin, as he glanced at Grayhelm.

“Think we should get involved?”

He turned away in response.

“No need, it looks as if he can handle this.”

Unbeknownst to them, somebody heard their conversation and began to approach them. Or at the least, until she spoke.

“Hey!”

As she exclaimed, two of the three put their gaze on her. With Zhao opening his eyes and glancing over soon afterward. As she continued her advance, Alairck began walking toward her. Eventually, the two would stop, within ten feet of each other.

“Strange to see anyone else around here. What do you want?”

“You’re that “Grayhelm” Guy, Right? You were talking about whether you should jump in or not. You said he could handle it, but how do you know that’s true?”

“How would you know if that isn’t true? and to answer your question, I’m a proto-human as well. I sense much more protomis from your boyfriend or whatever than I sense from Mr. Burns up there.”

Asami sputtered as she pointed at Grayhelm, yelling.

“Boyfriend?! How can you assume that? I'd never date an idiot like that!”

Grayhelm’s expression was unamused, to say the least. It wasn’t as if he cared all that much in the first place. Though, it may do well to be honest if these two would cease.

“I’ve both heard of and seen how you two act.. you aren’t very believable.”

Asami’s lips parted as she prepared to respond. But, another one of those there recognized how long this could drag on for if what he’d told them about those two beforehand was anything to go by.

“Their suspected romance aside, we should begin checking these buildings for any people, Zaisen.”

Grayhelm or “Zaisen” Glanced over his shoulder.

“It’s VON Zaisen!”

Von Zaisen, huh… She could've sworn she’d heard that name before...

“Von Zaisen..? Come to think of it, I always thought you looked like Alarick Von Zaisen the 7th... What would you be doing watching Corde?”

“You’re correct. I’m Alarick Von Zaisen the VIII(8). The last remnant of House Von Zaisen! Willam Greyhelm was a false name, which I created to keep attention away from me. As anybody could see what would happen if a boy declared dead many years ago managed to live would cause an Uproar.. especially the future clan head…”

Alarick turned away from her, turning his gaze back toward the battle, and pointing at Yuutaro.

“The one that he’s fighting up there- is part of an organization I believe may be responsible for what happened at Von Zaisen manor… And given his expression.”

Asami turns, as she looks up at Arctaius, taking notice of the expression of rage. His brows furrowed, and his face in a scowl. His muscular build tensed as well. This much surprised her.

“I can only assume that he has a personal issue involving them as well.”

Asami would glance at Alarick, for a moment, but her gaze would soon move back to Arctaius.

“I’ve never seen him that angry before...What’s going on here?”

Elsewhere, the two remained unmoving, until Arctaius clenched his fist, and rushed at his opponent, as he got into closer range, Yuutaro put both of his arms up, in an attempt to put up a defense. However, Arctaius breaks through this with a left hook and then- hitting him with a right hook. This one-two, becomes more than such, as he is hit with lefts, and then rights over, and over, and over, blood is drawn as the punches continue. Before Arctaius reals back, Hitting Yuutaro’s chin with an uppercut, Forcing him to ascend.

He quickly flew to follow him. Grabbing the back of his head and throwing him to the ground. He crashed through the rest of the road below him, bringing debris down with him as his body smashed into the ground, pulverizing the ground under him, and forming a crater around him., As for the man himself. His face was bloodied, and his body was bruised all over... He wiped the blood off of his lips. And slowly but surely got up.

“I won’t have him getting in melee range again. I’ll need to go on the defensive. Blaze Sanctum!”

Torrents of flame surrounded Yuutaro, forming a kind of barrier, however, within seconds, Arctaius took notice of the flames. Though he didn’t know what he was planning, he wouldn’t let him carry it out, he began to descend upon him, with his fist outstretched. Yuutaro looked up in surprise.

“What?!”

Arctaius’ fist smashed into Yuutaro’s stomach, as the sound of cracking filled their ears, as he coughed, a red liquid poured from Yuutaro’s mouth as the crater around them grew deeper, the earth cracking, and being sent into the air as debris, along with a large amount of dust. For a few moments, Arctaius stayed there looking down at his opponent. Who returned his gaze with his rather blurry one. As Arctaius began to levitate, Yuutaro’s vision came into focus.

“My blaze sanctum didn’t work… It looks like I’ll need to use that.”

Yuutaro began his ascent from the crater, as he floated above the destroyed road above them. Something all of those there took notice of, as their gazes dashed over to him. Around the city, the flames finally subsided. Though too late for many, some were saved by this, finally allowed to move, no longer restricted by the walls of embers. However, those who could see the man were still wary. Given that the flames that were formerly around the city, now began to swirl around him as they came back to their creator.

“The flames everywhere else… They’re flowing back into him.”

Kazimir stepped forward.

“Not only that but…”

Zhao placed his hand on a hilted blade on his left thigh

“There’s a gigantic amount of protomis coming from him...Enough that it doesn't seem like the same fighter.”

The flames around him soon grew, as those around them began to shrink, and the amount pouring into him increased as well. Soon, the Shima ward was mostly lacking in flames.

“For you to force me to use this...You are very skilled indeed- but make no mistake, this is the end for you!”

As Yuutaro’s yelled words echoed through the area, Alarick cracked his knuckles.

“Tch… Change of plans, get ready!”

“Begone from my sight, heretic!!!”

As Yuutaro waves his hands, appearing behind him, are downright gigantic balls of flame. Most of them rivaling the size of the area’s skyscrapers, what started as tens, turns into Hundreds, and then Thousands...

“SIEGE FLARE!”

As yelled, the fireballs began barreling toward the city. All the while, Arctaius floated, his gaze going across the sky, filled to the brim with flames. Even so, he remained unfazed. Arctaius glanced at the source of the flames, as he clenched his fist.

“Fireballs… Thousands of them. He must be burning through his protomis to keep those maintained right now, meaning…”

Arctaius lifted his right arm, as a cascade began to flow around it once again.

Arctaius: He can’t focus on keeping that defense of his up… It’s over.

As Arctaius prepared his assault, it looked as if he wasn’t the only one to have that idea. Alarick raised his foot as he looked up toward the sky as well.

“This’ll be over soon.”

“Grand Cascade!”

“Earth Palisade!”

As the two invoked their words, a wave rolled through the city, making its way upwards, and sweeping some of the buildings in its path as well. As the two attacks clash, the night sky is saturated in steam, leaving it, for the most part not visible. Though, as the steam cleared, much of the flames made their way through, something all of those there took note of this.

“Looks like that wasn’t enough-”

However, he was soon cut off, as Alarick stamped his foot onto the ground, a wall of earth raised from the ground, and effectively, stopped the rest of the attack in its tracks… Yuutaro’s eyes widened like saucers at this development.

“What?! Impossible!! I put everything I had into that.”

Elsewhere, Zhao reached for the hilt on his left side and unsheathed a blade that shone in the lights around them, a Dao. He soon leaped, flying toward Yuutaro, with his blade pointed forward. Something that the man took notice of…As well, something that Arctaius took notice of.

“I’ll handle this from here-- Guo art-Shearing thrust!!!”

Zhao burst forward, flashing toward Yuutaro, who looked down in surprise, as the blade went through his chest. Coming out of the other end of his torso, stained in blood. His body began to tremble.

“He was so quick as well ?”

The man’s eyes seemed to go blank, or at the least, begin too, as his head began to fall forward… AS many a thought ran through his head. But, the one at the center of them all was simple. I can’t lose, I won’t lose! He returned his gaze upward as he yelled defiantly.

“I’m not done yet… Cinder blade!!!”

Flames roared in his left hand once again. But they soon began to morph, forming what resembles a katana. Soon after he gripped the blade of Zhao’s dao with his hand, forcefully pulling it out of his chest, and backing away. Something which surprised the fighter. Without hesitation, he flew at Arctaius, raising his blade above his head.

“GLORIAM ARDAM!!”

As Yuutaro continued his advance, he began to let out a war cry, his yelling resounding through the streets around him. As he grew closer, he made his strike, attempting to cut Arctaius in half. However, the latter having long since noticed him, weaves to the right, Avoiding his attack. Before-kicking the man in the neck, as a loud cracking sounded once again, the man soon went barreling away, crashing through building after building, knocking their upper layers off, before he lost momentum, and lay in one many blocks away. He was soon swarmed by people wearing suits, very likely, those who worked at the building. Though they attempted to speak to him, taking notice of the hole in his chest, that stained the floor around him. He did not respond to them. Instead, he stood up, giving one last defiant look at the one who continued to stare at him from across the city… Until, he succumbed to his injuries, falling, and now, laying dead. Arctaius turned away and glanced at Zhao. Though, he soon turned again, as he noticed Asami and Alarick on the ground. He flies toward, landing between them. Zhao soon landed after him.

“Well, there goes my apartment. And, of course, the shirt… man, the government's gonna be all over this. But, I did get some answers to my questions… Though, I believe you may help me in finding the rest “Grayhelm” ”

“Let’s skip all that… it seems you’ve already realized who I truly am…”

“Of course… A proto-human who just happens to look like the last head of von zaisen? Much too similar to be a coincidence…”

To Be Continued.