The tension continued to build between the new arrivals, and the slayer known as Genbu the swift. While they didn’t know much about his full capabilities. If Miyamoto’s arm was anything to go by, he wasn’t weak… Arctaius’ gaze began to move from his allies to his opponent. He continued this for a few moments, before he floated forward, moving in front of them all.

“I’m taking this one.”

Soon, a blur flew toward Genbu, as Arctaius disappeared from his spot. The man’s eyes widened in surprise at his speed. He prepared to draw the string of his bow back, but Arctaius would not allow this to happen. As he got within range, he began to pepper the man’s body with hits. Upper, Lower, the face, nothing was left untouched. Genbu’s arms began to move, though slowly, in his attempt to stop the Youth’s hits. Something that he didn’t take notice of, until his hand shot toward the man’s left wrist, grasping it. And, just like that, stopping his strike. Genbu smirked at this, but Arctaius' expression stayed the same, as he pointed the palm of his free hand at Genbu’s torso. It was after this that a yellow glow began surrounding it. The air around the hand seemed to wave as the heat spread. Something that did not go unnoticed by Genbu. He released his grip and began to move away. And, though he did, he only escaped narrowly. As the yellow beam flew past him and flew off into the sky above them. However, the youth was not finished just yet. He soon pivoted, beginning to fly toward him.

“If that was anything to go by...His Melee abilities aren’t up to par... That could work to my advantage.”

All the while, Genbu pulled the string of his bow back, as he focused his gaze on Arctaius. His breathing began to slow as he closed his left eye. Now that all four of them had arrived, he couldn’t afford to have any misses, the first one was powerful enough, but, though he couldn’t sense protomis, not being a proto-human, after all, the one known as Arctaius Corde had a great amount of strength, that was something he wouldn’t deny.

“So this is a tide… Not bad.”

Genbu soon began to extend the distance between them, as he moved back, pulling the string of his bow further back. Soon, he resumed his routine of disappearing and appearing around his opponent. Arctaius, in turn- closed his eyes as the arrows closed in on him… But, as his eyes shot open some moments afterward, Arctaius disappeared, much to Genbu’s surprise. More So when he appeared behind him. He soon launched a fist at Genbu's back, which, thankfully for him, he managed to register and respond to, Weaving out of the way. He soon began to make distance once again, as he released his grip on the string, firing volleys of arrows forward. Regardless, Arctaius moved to follow, moving through the stream of fire. Genbu squinted his eyes at this display.

“It looks like I'll need a different strategy. It seems that the Agium is faster than the Violet Devil... I won’t get anywhere firing off randomly. I need one precise strike to pin him down. And possibly regroup with the others. I’m at a disadvantage here.”

Though, he did not put his plan into action… Visibly, at the least, though he continued to fire strikes, far above them, a cluster of holy energy began to take the shape of the rod, while its creator simply acted unaware of this fact. And Arctaius did not take notice either, his focus being upon the volley he flew through.

“That won’t work on me!!!”

As Arctaius continued to flash closer, a smirk grew on Genbu’s face. As the golden rod of light above them began to change its shape until a fully formed arrow had appeared above them, as he began to whisper.

“I knew it wouldn’t… It was a good thing that wasn’t my plan in the first place.”

Though he spoke quietly, some of his words did reach the Youth’s ears. He raised an eyebrow in his confusion.

“Not his plan...What does he-- Wait…”

Arctaius' gaze began to shoot around. At the least, until he noticed a golden light above him, one that obstructed his view… Given that the sun was on the opposite side of the sky… It had to be something else. Arctaius’ gaze went up, and there he saw it. A building-sized light arrow looming above him.

“That’s it… When he was flashing around me-- Only a small amount of that force was going to the arrows he shot… It was a ruse. A good idea, I’ll give him that… But I won’t be taken out that easily.”

Arctaius soon stopped his advance, instead opting to attempt to escape from the volley, something which succeeded. Though, this was mostly due to Genbu himself, who instead, focused on directing the arrow toward its correct target. The target, however, now aware of the attack’s presence, threw his arm up. Opening his hand, with his palm now facing the sky. then puts one of

“Solis Pulsar!!!”

As he yelled, a burst of plasma barreled out of his palm. Its area simply expanded as it flew further from his hand. Soon, the two attacks came toward one another. But, ultimately, as they came into contact, the beam swallowed the arrow, and it simply dissipated as it was taken in. Genbu looked on in surprise as he drew the string of his arrow back again.

“What?! He got rid of it that q-”

But his thoughts came to a halt, as he found that Arctaius was in front of him, his palm pressed on the man’s stomach, surrounded in the very same golden light. Though his speed startled him, he wouldn’t let this much shake him. He soon began to move back, but Arctaius was faster. As a burst of plasma came forward, he soon singed the man’s clothes, as well as charring his skin. It hurt, no doubt, but he kept his pain suppressed as he moved out of his range once more… Floating in the sky elsewhere, Alarick watched this with his hand placed on his chin.

“Looks like that training worked… We haven’t gotten rusty.”

Zhao nodded.

“That’s good…”

Kazimir was silent for a few moments, as his gaze began to move to the right.

“Especially now that his reinforcements are on the way… Their presence feels different than the others here.”

Reinforcements were indeed making their way toward them. Three of the Order’s “Rasherat” Class slayers. The third highest in the organization. The one in the very front was the tallest of them all, His lanky body draped with white robes, that flowed in the air, along with his long straightened purple hair. The halberd on his back secured on the very same robe. The man that had come to be known as Suzaku. His stark serious expression remained the same as he approached the place his targets had been sighted at.

“That Genbu...He always finds a way to get into something, and has us fixing his mistakes.”

Another man, wearing white robes as well, flew to his side. Though, his robes were limited to a cape. With his bare, scarred chest revealed to the world. His angular jaw, and thick neck covered with black hair, the same as his head. Though most noticeable, was the Mace on his back, its unique organic shape, would identify many who’d heard of him, as Byakko.

“As I see it, we were gonna have to fight them eventually. Not like he expected them to pop up.”

Suzaku glanced at Byakko.

“That’s the issue… We need to expect anything. I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten himself killed yet. He’s been like that since we first got on the field”

Soon, the last of them, a man wearing white robes, most similar to Suzaku’s. The scythe secured on his shoulder, as well as his bald head, made him stand out among the many slayers. That, and the scar going across his left eye. This was the man who was known as Seiryu.

“Give him some credit. We may not do missions together that much anymore… But we all know he isn’t a fool, Suzaku.”

Suzaku glanced at Seiryu for a moment, but turned his gaze forward, refraining from responding. Rather, he focused on something else, possible strategies for the enemies they’d soon find themselves against...The enemies who began to come into view, as well as their ally. The three began to weave through the buildings, ignoring the confused looks from people within the spires of steel and glass. They only stopped as they made their way into the battlefield that had formed. Something the rest of those there took notice of, including Genbu, who glanced over his shoulder.

“Genbu… Seems you’re having some trouble here, should have come here earlier with how you’re gettin whooped right about now.”

As Byakko jabbed at Genbu, Seiryu decided to throw his own. with a smirk.

“Yeah, I didn’t think you were this weak, Genbu…”

Genbu smirked at this, deciding to return with one of his own.

“You’re one to talk… Considering you’ve never won a sparring match with me before.”

Seiryu’s gaze began to move away from Genbu, as he began to look over the tides.

“I was going easy on you, didn’t want to hurt your feel-”

They were soon cut off by Suzaku clearing his throat, Catching their attention.

“Enough idle chatter… We know what we came here to do… Now then--- Let’s end them..”

His hand soon went to his back, as he grabbed the hit of his halberd with his right hand, pointing the blade at his opponent’s.

“Kulvis.”

As he invoked the name of his holy arm, a blue light began to flow around his body. Seiryu glanced at him as he grasped his scythe.

“Fine… Fulguar.”

A yellow glow soon swirled around his body. All the while, Byyako grabbed his mace, as an orange light surrounded his body.

“Vusleon. “

With the name of their holy Arms invoked. They stayed there, prepared for their opponent’s attacks. A red glow surrounded Kazimir’s body. Soon, A black glow began surrounding Alarick’s arm, as he straightened his arm, and the light took the shape of a blade. He soon began a dash toward Seiryu.

“Void Blade!!”

Even so, Seiryu stood undisturbed by his charge, as his smirk began to grow, and his scythe spun in front of him. Soon, Alarick’s charge screeched to a halt as the space in front of him seemed to warp, as his hand moved into the warped space, seeming to disappear after that point. Only half of his hand was visible. He looked down upon this with a raised eyebrow.

“The hell?!”

Soon, the black light around his hand began to grow. And soon, a crack echoed through the air, as he moved back, separating himself from the warped space. He focused his gaze on Seiryu, as thoughts began to fly through his head. This man, did he have some degree of control over dimensions? Given what just took place, he could only assume so. But if that was the case, then what was the limit? Though, pondering the questions at that time may have very well been a mistake. As, the loud, all too familiar sound of rushing wind echoed in his ears. And, as he glanced over his shoulder, Byakko flew toward him, ready to smash his mace onto the youth. His charge did not continue for too long after that, however, as Arctaius flew to intercept him. And, though Byakko took notice, he was soon sent barreling away, as Arctaius smashed into him with his shoulder! The man frowned at this, as he turned his focus to Arctaius, returning with a charge of his own, his mace prepped to hit him instead. The two drew closer for a few moments, as Arctaius opened his hand, revealing his palm. As the two finally got into each other's melee range, Byakko took a swing. But, he only found that Arctaius ducked out of the way, before putting his palm to the man’s chest. Byakko’s eyes widened as his gaze slowly moved downward, toward the Youth’s blank, uninterested expression.

“Solis Pulsar”

The point-blank blast proved to be devastating. At first, Byakko was only thrown back by the force of the attack. But, before he could gather himself, the rapidly expanding beam that flew afterward began to swallow him.

“Byakko!!!”

The resulting rage was not limited to just Genbu, but Suzaku and Seiryu as well. The light around Suzaku seemed to intensify as he tightened his grip on his halberd.

“Tch… You’ll pay for that!!!”

Suzaku pointed his blade at arctaius, as he began a charge.

“HAAAAAA!!”

As his war cry echoed through the air above, Kazimir’s gaze shot toward him. The latter soon closed his hand. And, to Seiryu's surprise, his body would no longer move, he went silent as his gaze moved down to his arm. And he took note of a thin red glow surrounding it. It was after this that he glanced at Kazimir.

“Dammit...I should’ve taken care of him.”

Soon, his body began a rapid ascent, catching the gazes of both his allies and their opponents. But he was not alone in this, as Kazimir soon flew to follow him. As his gaze moved around, he took note of the rapidly darkening sky, and the thinning air. It soon became harder for him to breathe, the temperature around the two, it had begun to drop. Soon, the two finally stopped, though, it was far above the surface.

“Is this…”

“Correct-- This is space… I wouldn’t want to do what I planned to do here on earth…Better safe than sorry!”

What did he mean? Suzaku’s gaze moved around, until he took notice of something… The husks of destroyed warships clustered around him, the few arcs of electricity that flew between them.

“The Shoal Zone?!”

The glow around Kazimir began to grow.

“If the lack of air won’t take you out, this will!!!”

Soon, the debris began to clump around his opponent, all the while, Suzaku frowned.

“Dammit, just what are they?!”

Soon, the metal, and the force applied began to crush Suzaku. The blood in his body leaked onto the plates as the force only increased, and increased until the man’s entire body was surrounded… And the life in his eyes disappeared. Kazimir turned his back on his deceased opponent, and the metal-laden grave he placed him in.

“Now then-- Back to earth!!!”

Kazimir soon began to make his way toward earth, flying from layer to layer of the atmosphere, tearing through the clouds in his path. Only stopping, as he arrived back onto the site of the battle, beside Arctaius.

“Dammit… Byakko, Seiryu, It’s time!”

Soon, Seiryu comes to Genbu’s side. As well as Byakkoo, his skin lined with patches of burned skin. Soon, holy energy began to radiate from all three, the light that formerly glowed around them, began to expand. Byakko brought his mace above his head, prepared to swing it. Seiryu moved the blade of his scythe back, behind his shoulder. As genbu drew the string of his bow back. Seiryu was the first to take action.

“You’re a bit too spread, allow me to fix that…”

Seiryu’s scythe began to grow, and as he took a swing, the space in front of the tides became warped. And the youth’s were soon pulled into one location, in front of the three remaining corners. Byakko’s made seemed to grow in size as well, as he flung it at his opponents, in an attempt to hit them all at once. However, Kazimir took notice of this. As he opened his hand, a field of red combs appeared, stopping the attack, and returning the mace to its sender… But, did that not stop another one of them from making his attack.

“Now then… Holy Revolution!!!”

Soon, a wave of colossal arrows, the same which flew at Arctaius, came flying toward the grouped up tides. But, they soon began to move out of the way. Seemingly uncaring about the impact on the area around them. As buildings came crashing down upon impact, the rubble sent cascading downward. The roads beneath them were destroyed, with craters ripped into them as well. Though, thankfully, the area’s populace had since moved to safer areas… However, unbeknownst to the remaining three corners, another opponent was approaching from behind them.

“Devil Slicer!!!”

Soon, a Crescent-shaped red light flew at, and past the remaining corners. Who, in their last moments, glanced back at the source of the attack. The violet-haired girl, standing with a frown on her face.

“You seem to have forgotten about me. Strange, considering I was the one you’re here for!!!”

Soon, the separated top, and bottom layers of the slayer’s bodies began to separate, falling to a roof that lay below them. Something that Miyamoto decidedly disregarded. She soon began to fly toward the tides, who began to regroup. Arctaius was the first to arrive, Soon followed by Kazimir and Zhao. Though, the last to arrive was the first to speak.

“They may not have been all that strong...But they were skilled. Had our power been on a more equal playing field, that may have been an issue.”

Alarick nodded in agreement, as Kazimir parted his lips to speak.

“It’s pretty much assured that they’re not done yet, might as well leave…”

“Yeah...Especially with this collateral. “

As Arctaius deadpanned, their gazes began to move around the city, and the amount of demolished buildings… They looked at one another, then at the city. In moments, they began flying away. Though they stayed together.

“I’ll call everyone up, we can meet up at Asami's house, or something…”

As he spoke, they soon began to break off from one another, flying in different directions

To Be Continued

Elsewhere, far south of Tokyo, in the city of Kumamoto, there sat a small brick house. It was mostly unremarkable, looking like many of those around it, a single car in the small driveway. The only difference between them, what car they may actually have. A rather drab neighborhood, and not one that someone would expect a well-paid, elite soldier of a high caliber to live in… And yet, there he was, Watanabe Taiki. His appearance hadn’t changed much, but, then again, with his age, was that really that much of a surprise? Though one thing had changed, rather than his usual blank expression, his was one of irritation, as he looked on the holo-phone on his desk, and the reports that he saw on it.

“That idiot... Now the government will end up hounding ME for this.”

He leaned back into his chair.

“Still… I do wonder who he was fighting. Kaemerge remnants? Another guy with a grudge? Or...Could it be something else entirely?”

The man went silent as he began to think of the possibilities.