Within The city, the situation remained the same. Lafeyah laid sprawled on the floor, unmoving. He was unconscious, if not dead. Arctaius glanced over at the fallen man, and then, put his gaze back onto the Apostle.

“Looks like Lafeyah’s gonna be out of this.”

“It’s unfortunate that he broke through our control, and you had to be aggressive. Otherwise, I could see that you would’ve been useful… At the least, I've proved the shortcomings of the third’s recruitment process…”

Though nobody had moved from their spot, the tension was clear. Arctaius’ fists clenched, Zhao’s hand near his blade, a faint glow surrounding Kazimir’s body, and Alarick’s knees bent. It’d become clear that all those there were ready to take a strike. Alarick glanced at his allies.

“This is bad… We need to get out of here, somehow. “

Arctaius glanced at Alarick as he spoke.

“Do you really think he’s going to let us do that? “

“If we can’t get out of here now, we’ll have to do what we can to hold him off until we can…” Zhao responded.

Arctaius puts his fists up near his chin, in his defense, as he bent his knees. Zhao grabs hold of the hilt of his dao, With the red light beginning to swirl around Kazimir. Something that the latter took note of.

“You sure you're up for this Rhuskov?”

“Don't worry about me-- I'm great at taking hits. I’m not gettin taken out that easy.”

“Alright then, make sure you stay alive. We’ll be at a disadvantage if we lose an ally.” responded Arctaius.

“I don’t agree with you on much, but I'll give you that... Idiotisch Straffällig.(Delinquent)"

“What was that?”

“No business of yours, that's for sure.”

Minoru moves his right hand toward his Nodachi, grasping it’s hilt as his gaze moves between the four. Unamused by their antics.

“Casually talking amongst yourselves at a time like this? How foolish.”

Minoru slowly began to draw his Nodachi, i.And, Zhao, in response, drew his Dao, and, and got into his stance, blade held in front of him. Pivoting his body, as he put his weight on his back leg, folding it, and straightening his front one. Watching Minoru’s movements all the while.

“A Nodachi-- he has a reach advantage over me… I need to be careful.It’d be best to have a barrier around before he starts attacking.”

A blue glow began to emanate from Zhao’s body. Until, it began to grow into what looked like a blue flame… However, it’s size was a far cry from before his battle with Liang, much smaller than before, he clicked his tongue.

“Looks like my Qi Funnelway is still blocked, this could be a problem.” He mumbled

Within a matter of seconds, as Minoru drew his blade, he was gone. This did not go unnoticed, as the expressions of those there became ones of surprise, as they looked around for his location.

“What?!” yelled Alarick.

“Where did he Go?”

With Kazimir's words, appearing behind Zhao, his blade raised, is Minoru.

“Zhao!”

Zhao quickly leaped away, but not nearly quick enough. As Minoru brings his blade down on Zhao’s torso, Leaving a large gash down his back, that stained both Minoru’s blade, and splashed on his clothing. Though, it only blended in with the initial red color. This was soon followed by him hilting the blade, as he began spinning mid-air, driving his foot into his stomach. An action that caused him to cough blood, before he was sent through the wall, destroying it upon impact.

But Zhao did not stop there, as he went through others as well, Bringing them all down upon contact. The force of the strike only caused more damage, as the shockwave sent rubble cascading down onto the streets once again. Zhao, elsewhere, lay unconscious in one of the buildings. Alarick’s gaze went between Minoru, and the hole where Zhao was thrown out.

“Tch- Multi Earth Cutter!!”

Alarick stomped his feet unto the ground, as a multitude of sharpened stone blades appeared. Something Arctaius took note of.

“:Hand them over, I have an idea.”

Alarick dashed across the ground, swiftly grasping them, and throwing them toward Arctaius, who proceeded to catch them, as electricity radiated around his body once more.

“Now then, Thundering Movement!!”

Arctaius dematerialized once again,and with him, the blades did as well . He shifted around Minoru, throwing one, and disappearing again afterward, continuing this routine over and over again. Until, a 360 degree storm of blades now approached Minoru. Even so, he stood there, Unfazed, and unimpressed. Minoru swiftly drew his blade, swinging it, and knocking many of the blades off course. As the others got closer, he turned to his right, knocking the others off. Before he spun around, knocking the rest off course, before he was back to where he was beforehand. With nothing but air around him. Alarick’s eyes widened as he saw this take place.

“That easily..?!”

Minoru began to move once again, he bent his knees, before bursting forward. Following this, he appeared beside Alarick within a split second. Though this took the youth by surprise, he wasn’t going to let himself be hit that easily, as Minoru began to bring his blade down upon him, Alarick quickly attempted to jump out of the way… But, this was a challenge, he could barely even perceive the blade, let alone stop it. Though he was taken by surprise, as in front of Minoru, a field of red combs appeared, and, the blade made contact, its motion stopped, before the blade was deflected, forced away. The source, Kazimir standing nearby, with an open palm facing the two.

“I'll have to keep using what I have left for now.”

Minoru placed his gaze on the brown-haired man.

“It seems your defensive abilities are decent … However…”

Minoru tightened his grip on the blade, before striking once more, breaking the shield with the sound of broken glass echoing through the building. Leaving some red shards falling onto the ground, before disappearing seconds after.

“That won't save you.”

Alarick clicks his tongue, jumping away from Minoru. But, this was not enough, as Minoru flashed forward, appearing in front of Alarick, driving his fist into his stomach. Alarick clenched his jaw, as he drew his fist back, and attempted to throw a return strike, only to have his fist stopped by Minoru’s arm getting into his path. Before he could even attempt another attack, Minoru drove his elbow into his stomach, slamming Alarick into the ground, destroying the ground under them, and sending him cascading through the many floors. Until, he finally stopped at the very bottom, within a small hole. Arctaius looked at this display, glancing around at where Zhao was ejected from the battlefield, as well as Alarick. Then, he put his gaze back on the apostle.

“Damn… If we don’t think of something now, we won't win this.”

Arctaius moved back, decreasing the distance between him and Kazimir.

“That was quick… But, it looks like Zaisen and Zhao are out of this fight… the scales are not tipped in our favor…”

“And it could get worse just as quick.” Arctaius mumbled.

“With how this is going...I may have to use THAT attack, but i’ll keep that as a last resort. I don’t want to put all my cards on the table just yet. For now, It looks like we’ll have to stay on the defensive.”

Part B

Arctaius began to take his stance, he balled his fists, before raising his right to his chest, and his left a bit lower. Before he shifted his right hand back. Even so, Minoru was not worried, his expression remained blank.

“Now then…. I'll take care of you next.”

Minoru swiftly drew his blade once more, bending his knees, as he held his blade to his side horizontally, the edge facing away from the opponent. He rushed forward, prepared to end the Youth. However, he was not so willing to let this happen, he began to shift his feet as the swordsman advanced.

“Here he comes… If I can't beat him in power, I'll have to predict his moves…This isn’t a guy I can just slug it out with.”

As Minoru drew closer, Arctaius began to move across his body, watching the movements of even the smallest muscles. Minoru was quick to raise his blade, prepared to bring it down upon his opponent, but, he’d managed to sidestep, though, barley, given the strands of hair that fell where he previously was. Some of which,even if it went unnoticed, began to split afterward. Though, the swordsman’s attack wasn’t finished just yet. Thrusting his blade at Arctaius’ chest. He weaved out of the way, avoiding death once more.

Minoru drew back, tightening his grip on his blade, before bringing it down, aimed at his shoulder. However, Arctaius jumped back, causing him to miss once more. Thrusting his blade at arctaius’ chest, however, he moves out of the way once again. And, Minoru brings yet another slash down, aimed at his shoulder. However, as Arctaius backs out, he misses.

“Better than I expected… Even so.”

Minoru moved to follow Arctaius. And, unlike last time, it was not a single swipe, but a flurry of them. At first, the result had not changed, as he managed to dodge the first few. But, it had become more than clear that the situation was changing, and it was changing fast. As, even in his eyes, the countless attacks resembled blurs.

“Striking randomly, and quickly. He must’ve caught on.”

Lightning began to radiate around Arctaius, as he deformed, and reappeared on the other side of the floor. Keeping his gaze on the apostle.

“Dammit- his kenjutsu is unique- this isn't a style I've seen before…I was barely surviving as it was...I need to do something.”

As arctaius raised his hand, the amount of arcs increased, drastically.

“Shocking Cannon!!”

With his words, bolts began to rapidly bound through the air, before homing in on Minoru. Even so, he stood there, his expression unchanged as the arcs crashed into him.

“Was that supposed to do something to me…? How pathetic…”

“I even increased the voltage for that one… and he took it like it was nothing to him… Though that's to be expected- something like that won't unnerve me.”

Arctaius begins to bend his knees, as he puts his hands up once again... However, he did not move, Kazimir took notice, with a confused look painting his features… As behind Arctaius, Minoru appeared, placing his blade back into its sheath.

“Don't even try it- it's over for you.”

Arctaius’ legs began to feel weak, as did his knees, something that would soon lead to his body beginning to fall. The gashes that now appeared all over his body, began to drip with hot red liquid, revealed by the cuts left in his clothing. However, he soon stopped himself before hitting the ground, holding his body up with his elbows.

“Dammit--No!! Death...Here??”

Arctaius, at this moment began to think back to many of those in the past. His friends, Yudei, Akashi, Shinto. The members of his deceased family, his vow to avenge his family… and then, came his promise to Asami. Minoru, less than impressed by the fight, began walking toward Kazimir.

“If I fall here… what was the point of coming? If I can't gain my Vengeance, then…. No… I won't fail. I can't die this easily- this pathetically. Father, and grandfather… They didn’t die for this. I'll do what needs to be done- I'll get this man out of the way… I will avenge my family!! These damned Kaemerge will give retribution with their lives!!”

Arctaius leaped at Minoru once more, arcs of lightning flowing from his hand. Something that was met by a swift pivot, and a blade coming toward his midsection, threatening to bisect him. In this split second, Arctaius’ heart began to race, soon followed, by his mind beginning to race as well. All of it, coming to a single word… Survive.

The electricity that once surrounded him was dispersed. Replaced with a golden, flame-like glow. That began to weave around Arctaius. Soon followed by an outburst of extreme heat, which began to make the air around him weave. This did not go unnoticed. By those in the room, or those who remained elsewhere. A certain blonde raised his head.

“That's..Corde.”

Kazimir glanced around in his confusion.

“Where is this heat coming from?”

Soon, Alarick leaped out of his hole, landing on the floor where the battle continued. Elsewhere, Zhao flew over the city, landing on the edge of the skyscraper. As for the fighters themselves, Minoru said nothing, though he did think.

“The heretic lives… And it looks like-”

“DIE!!”

As the vitriol filled word echoed through his eardrums, The yellow glow expands to encompass the area surrounding his opponent. Arctaius sent his fist at Minoru.

“It seems I've triggered an activation… That boost is in full swing as well, No matter.”

Arctaius threw a left hook that slammed into Minoru’s cheek, sending him bounding out of the building. With Arctaius quickly moving to follow him. He began launching a flurry of punches, all the while, Minoru continued to fly backward. The buildings around them were covered in ash, or downright scorched. Minoru’s apparel having gained some dark patches. The man himself, the same way. Even so, he looked undisturbed. Arctaius clasped his hands together, raising them, before slamming his fists onto the top of Minoru’s head, sending him crashing into the ground, kicking up dust and sending debris flying out. Arctaius landed nearby, awaiting his opponent’s next move, because, though he wasn't visible, he could still sense him, he wasn’t done just yet. Eventually, the man now lying within a crater got up, beginning to slowly walk up to ground level, as he dusted off his clothing.

“Well- it seems that you four have earned the codenames that we've given you. That gives me all the more reason to end this now.”

Appearing by Arctaius’ side, were the other tides. They got into their stances, prepared for the next attack that came at them. Though minoru took note, he kept going regardless. Though, this time, it may not go as it had beforehand.

Pain… As much as he’d learned to suppress it, getting stabbed near the stomach was never a good experience. Even so, he began to fight it. Though still laid on the ground, Lafeyah’s head moved, and, so did his gaze, in the direction of the battle. Though his vision was blurred, It may work just fine for what he was trying to do. Soon, he reached onto his side, pulling two burlap sacks out, one filled with soil, the other, with seeds. He lay the dirt in a pile, and then, the seeds with it. His plants would take root soon after, vines sprouting, soon followed by thorns. And now, he prepared for the strike.

“Distance is about 10 Kilometers… Slow wind speed. shouldn't be an issue. About 140 degrees... Conditions are good. Let’s do this…”

tens of thorns soon fired directly at Minoru, but, as they barrelled toward him, Minoru sensed their movement, turning as he took note, and, swiping at them, throwing them off course. Then, he turned his gaze back to his opponents. Ready to continue his assault, until he took note of a dark green liquid on his skin.

“This Liquid,It’s..UgHHh…”

Minoru clenched his chest as he groaned, but swiftly silenced himself as he gritted his teeth, putting his gaze onto the offender.

“You live… Bijan Lafeyah…”

Lafeyah finally stood up, using his vines to support him, though his hand covered the wound he gained. His breathing, though heavy, was mostly stable. He wasn’t done just yet.

To be Continued