The sea roared like an ancient beast awakening from its slumber as Kalki and Leviathan clashed above the raging tides. Each strike between them sent towering tsunamis crashing outward, the heavens themselves trembling from their battle. Lightning forked through the sky, illuminating the world in violent flashes while far below, Ravihiro and his squad raced across the shattered cliffs toward the hidden Viroshis den.
The moment their feet touched the final ridge, the world changed.
A crimson fog crept out from the abyss, twisting and curling like blood made into smoke. The air thickened, turning cold enough that breath became frost. Ravihiro's Ryugan sharpened, glowing faintly like an awakened demon eye.
"Something's coming," he murmured, hand drifting to his sword.
A low, rumbling laughter slithered through the fog like a serpent made of sound.
Then two silhouettes stepped forward, their presence so vile that even the sea winds seemed to retreat.
The first was a mountain of muscle and plated black armor, each jagged piece pulsing with dark energy. His blood-red eyes cut through the mist like twin blades. Even the ground cracked under his steps.
Haruno's eyes narrowed.
"Huo Tang… that one's yours."
Beside him emerged a sinuous figure a woman draped in a cloak that resembled a living serpent. Obsidian scales shimmered across her skin as though forged from night itself. Her elongated silver claws caught the moonlight like fangs.
Haruno cracked her knuckles, a predatory grin forming.
"And I'll take the snake."
The armored general scoffed, cracking his neck with a thunderous snap.
"Two little weaklings think they can take us on?"
Huo Tang just smirked, flames igniting up his arms. "Not weak… just on fire."
The serpent woman vanished—in a blur. Wind screamed as she reappeared behind Haruno, claws aimed straight for her throat.
CLANG!
Sparks burst like tiny stars as Haruno intercepted with her blade, the force rippling through the cliffs. And then the two vanished again speed so fast even the fog split around them.
On the other side
BOOM!
Huo Tang shot a blazing punch forward, a wave of flames erupting like a miniature sun. The armored Viroshi general didn't even flinchcharging through the inferno with an earth-shattering roar, swinging a colossal war axe toward Huo Tang's skull.
"Tch!"
Huo Tang ducked away, the axe pulverizing half the cliff. Rocks flew like shrapnel. But before the general could recover
"Surprise."
Huo Tang appeared above him, delivering a flaming kick to the skull so forceful it sent the giant crashing into the canyon walls, pulverizing stone on impact.
Haruno, locked in her own whirlwind of slashes and serpent swipes, called out between strikes,
"We'll handle these two! GO!"
Ravihiro didn't waste a breath.
Neither did Krishima.
Nor Rumina.
They sprinted deeper into the abyss, leaving the battlefield of flame and steel behind. The further they went, the darker the world became. The very air trembled, humming with ancient malevolence. Shadows thickened. The earth groaned.
A presence massive, monstrous, suffocating waited for them ahead.
The true horror.
The heart of the Viroshis.
And whatever awaited them…
was awake.