Zhao once again stared Minoru down. Unlike before, he was less than composed. It simply seemed like whatever he would try, his opponent would once again come up with something to counter it. Truth be told... He was running out of trump cards, Techniques that he hadn’t already seen. But he could not very easily say the same for the Apostle. Being a proto-human, the man experienced, and though he’d been fighting for most of his life, so had he…

Zhao: What I'm seeing here is nothing good… If I let him launch that attack, it won’t end well for me…

Zhao soon flew forward as he gripped his blade in both hands once more, however, he soon found his swift advance at a screeching halt. Long before he reached Minoru.

Zhao(thought): That Qi barrier, it's… that dense?! I can't even move through it. I have to minimize the damage as best as I can, but even then….

Zhao soon reversed, flying away as Minoru opened his eyes, He brought his blade behind him once again, as he got into his stance, holding one hand near the end of the hilt, and another near the guard. He bent his knees once again, as he slowly opened his eyes. Zhao soon put his blade in front of him, as to prepare for Minoru’s attack.

Minoru: It's time that you know the true power of an apostle… Kyuyoku Guren Art: Ten Hantei Koiru (Ultimate Crimson Art: Heavenly Judgment Coil).

Soon, Minoru began his ascent into the sky, breaking the clouds as he flew above, with high speeds at that. By the time he had stopped, the “Sky around him, so to say, was entirely blackened, though it had only been dusk in Tsugashuan. The man had nearly reached outer space. Soon, he adjusted himself, putting his blade out in front of him, before he began his rapid descent, almost resembling a human missile, the man soon began to Spin, as his speed only increased more. Zhao looked upon the oncoming opponent, as he prepared to move out of his way.

Zhao(thought): Dammit-- He's picking up speed!!!

Minoru drew ever closer, as the speed of his revolutions increased, and increased, honing in on his opponent, his gaze became more intense.

Minoru: You'll see the true power of an apostle… You shall not defeat me!!!

Zhao soon flew to his left, but, Minoru had seemingly continued to hone in on him, as his direction simply changed to follow him, to Zhao’s surprise. Soon the blade was driven into his shoulder, as the revolutions continued. More and more, tearing apart the muscles within. As Minoru’s descent continued, he simply dragged Zhao along with him. As the two made impact onto the ground, an impact crater was created with the force, as, yet another shockwave was sent outward, as within seconds, the sector they stood in was reduced to exposed rock, the roads could not bear the force, as they were ripped from the ground, the buildings could not either, sending rubble cascading to what little remained of the streets. This area of the proud city was reduced to rubble. Elsewhere, another youth, wearing the same Clothing as Minoru, and wielding a blade of a similar length, floated above.

Hajime: It looks like My worry was misplaced. I may as well head back to the manor.

The boy turned as began flying away. Elsewhere Minoru’s advance did not stop, even as the two crashed into the ground. Instead, Minoru simply drove the man through the ground, as if he were mining through it. Zhao gritted his teeth as he looked at the blade driving through his shoulder. He suppressed what little plain panged through him, as he began to reach for the blade.

Zhao(thought): I need to stop this- otherwise, this arm of mine will be useless, possibly worse. And that would be a fatal disadvantage.

Zhao: Guo Art-Redirection.

Soon, the blade was moved out of the depths of Zhao’s shoulder, though the wounds remained, he had at the least given himself the chance to escape. Zhao began to move once again, clenching both of his fists as he of the depths of Zhao's shoulder.

Zhao: That's not much - but I'll take it!

Zhao soon pushed the spinning blade out of the depth of his shoulder. Minoru looked upon this in surprise. Zhao hopped behind the human drill, landing on the wall of the tunnel they’d formed, before rebounding back at him, straightening his fingers as he did so.

Zhao: Guo Art- 25 paralyzing strikes!

Zhao would soon begin striking the man all over his body, and, though his attacks were slow at first, they began to gradually get quicker, and quicker.

Zhao(Thought): This is it, Once I get rid of his Qi points…

Soon, the dense barrier around the man would begin to weaken more and more, Minoru clicked his tongue, as he soon stopped his revolutions.

Minoru(Thought): This means nothing...

Minoru reared on him, as he gripped his nodachi once again, taking a swing. However, once again, Zhao dodged his strike. As he ducked under the swipe, a smirk tugged at his lips, as his foot landed on the ground, he jumped, sending his foot into the bottom of Minoru’s chin, which sent the man flying up, going out of the tunnel he had created, and into the sky above. This was no doubt, not the result he’d expected.

Minoru: That took a lot more out of me than I thought it would…Dammit.

Soon, coming out of the same hole he had, was Zhao. As he tightened his grip once again, he yelled.

Zhao: I'll end this here. You, and the Kaemerge, Minoru Ito!

Minoru tightened his grasp on his blade once again, as he prepared for the man’s attack, putting it in front of him.

Minoru: We'll see about that!!!

Zhao continued his charge, extending the point of his blade outward, as he attempted to send a thrust at Minoru’s chest. However, he swiftly moved out of the way, before returning a strike, thrusting his neck. Once again, his opponent moves out of the way, bending backward. As the blade retracted, he made his move. He came back to his upright position as he threw his dao into his right hand, as he thrust his blade once again... This time, however, there was no block, and the man hadn't managed to avoid it in time. The blood-stained blade came out of the other side of the man’s chest. And just like that, the relative silence of the district returned. Zhao floated there, as the man went limp, weighing down his blade. That was until he pointed his blade downward, and the corpse of the Apostle slid off. Elsewhere, within an ornately decorated room, most resembling that of a traditional Japanese home, a Certain brown-haired youth leaned on a wall, watching a screen that displayed this. At first, he was smiling at what he thought to be his father’s apparent victory, but that changed as the blade was plunged through his chest. Now, however, his expression was blank. Though, it was not due to a lack of caring, more, due to surprise, Confusion… Soon, the image disappeared, as a woman with short violet locks came to report it. She was quiet for a moment. The atmosphere within the studio was dreary, to say the least.

Newscaster: In a great national tragedy… The 1st apostle, Lord Minoru ito has died to one of the heretics, Codenamed the Four tides.

Hajime slammed his fist on the wall in frustration, shaking the building around them. His expression became one of pure rage, as he grimaced, tightly clenching both of his fists.

Hajime: Father… damn you Four Tides, and most of all, Damn you, Selenium Ignatius… How many will die for this cult, this foolish Dogma until you recognize that it’s false... All-seeing god? Don’t make me laugh... These soldiers that blindly died for you, the civilians that have been killed here. You haven’t spared them a single thought, have you… I’ll make them pay, I’ll make you pay as well...

He soon grasped the hilt of his blade, as he began to draw it... Though, he would stop soon after. For some moments, he stood there in silence, as if he were debating with himself. Before he placed the blade back within, and let go of the hilt, shaking his head.

Hajime: Keep your composure... That’s what father would’ve told me. The last thing I need is to charge in unprepared. I need to get out of this city.

Soon, as the paper walls parted, entering were 3 Youths of a similar age. One, the tallest to enter was a dark-skinned man, wearing red silk robes, with the leg portion being exceptionally baggy. The sides of his head faded, while the top remained uncut, though comed, Kondo Sibale. To his right, stood a light-skinned man, just an inch or two shorter than the man to his left. He had straight White hair that extended down past his shoulders. His yellow orbs soon focused on Hajime, Zhugal Lavarit. Then, there was the man to his right, who was dressed rather casually. A simple black T-shirt, and blue jeans. His skin appeared to be tan, his curly hair was black, Dhanis Kumar. As Hajime took notice of the men who entered, his gaze fell upon them.

Zhugal: In that case, count us in, Hajime…

Kondo walked, as he looked out the window, at the darkened sky, continually lit time and time again by bursts of beam fire.

Kondo: As I see it, this nation will likely fall…We need to leave soon. They won’t take proto-humans from their enemy lightly.

Dhanis: That’s a given…

Hajime: Well...It’s a good thing I have you guys then… They won't stop the four of us together, Let’s move.

Hajime soon walked to Kondo’s side, opening the window, Dhanis and Zhugal soon came to join them, Kondo was the first to exit, flying out, followed by the two. Then, only Hajime remained… As he lingered, he looked around his childhood home. His memories of time with his now-deceased parents, and, even with the group that remained behind him. From when they barely reached their parent's Knee’s, to now, at 15... As the others perked in, Hajime snapped out of his stupor, as he took flight as well, coming out of the window. The four all nodded, Before shooting off to the east. Leaving the rather tall building behind.

Elsewhere, in the epi-center of the destroyed city, Zhao floated overhead, Holding his shoulder. As one would expect, his damages had begun to take some effect, as the adrenaline wore off. His third eye closed, and his breathing soon became labored. He looked down at the tattered, once proud uniform he had entered with. Though he would not dwell on that, he was not one to do so, after all.

Zhao: That’s one down, but… That just proves something- those apostles are still a powerful enemy, despite our training. That raises another question, A major one. How strong is that emperor of theirs?

Part B

Elsewhere, within the city, inside of Rizian, Najeem charged at Arctaius with the blade-like bones extended from his wrists. Arctaius clenched his fists, accepting his challenge as he charged forward as well. Najeem soon began to duck, as he took a swipe at his opponent’s legs. However, Arctaius soon leaped over the strike, as he landed behind him, throwing a kick at the side of his head. However, what looked to be an explosion of bone came out of his shoulder. Stopping the blow before it reached him. He swiveled, as he attempted to sweep his opponent off his feet, Arctaius hopped over once again.

But Najeem would not end his assault there, now standing up as yet another blade extended from his ankle, as he sent yet another kick at the man. This one, however, was aimed at his face. Arctaius, though he drew back, soon found that the attack had left a cut on his cheek, though trivial at best. Najeem resumed his attack as he became upright once more, launching strike after strike with the blades on his hands. Though Arctaius managed to catch both of them, the action left his palms bloodied. Regardless, he lifted the man, Flinging him away. However, his opponent skidded on the ground, stopping himself. Regardless, moments after, Arctaius reeled back, before giving the man a right hook. The man recoiled, Staggering a bit.

Arctaius: I can’t have you getting in the way...Not with that one up there.

Najeem: His Excellency? Even if you did get past me, you wouldn’t stand a chance against him, Boy… You may be somewhat strong, but that man has been fighting longer than you’ve been alive, as have I…

The two entered a staring match, that was soon interrupted by the roof caving in. The two looked up at this in surprise, as soon, descending from the hole, were two men. Taiki Watanabe, and the other wearing clothes that one would expect on royalty, But, given his size, and appearance, one could expect that. He was royalty, even if former, and one could take notice of that when they saw him, and the blade on his side. The Tsar of the former 2nd Russian Empire, Sokol Naumov. Arctaius’ eyes darted between the two

Arctaius: Watanabe, Naumov? What are you two doing here?

Watanabe: Isn't it obvious? I couldn’t just sit back with everything happening here… Since this Apostle is right in front of us- I say we take care of him.

Sokol: I agree…

Najeem frowned at the appearance of the two, this became more pronounced, as he focused his gaze on Naumov.

Najeem: Sokol Naumov...We give you a hideout near our base, and you come with THEM?!

Sokol: I’ve recognized the foolishness in working with you all… Though it took me too long, Besides- this would’ve come to be, one way or another…

Watanabe turned his gaze over to Arctaius.

Watanabe: Corde-- Take care of that “Ignatius” Character- We’ll take care of this one.

Arctaius stood there in silence, as he turned on his heel.

Arctaius: You truly annoy me, Watanabe, Always intervening in my battles… However, I’ll entertain your request. You’d better not lose.

Watanabe turned back to the Third apostle.

Watanabe: Of course I won’t… Not easily, at the least.

With this, Arctaius rammed through the wall, destroying it as he began his ascent upwards.

Najeem: You've sent that one to his death. He stands no chance. Although, it's not as if I care. I’ll finish you two off and stop him myself.

To Be Continued