The narrow street of Novara was dark, shadows stretching over the cobblestones, the air thick with tension.
Milo steadied himself, energy shimmering around his fists. Raiza raised her sword, crimson aura flashing, ready to strike.
Lucas, bloodied but determined, gripped his twin pistols, eyes fixed on Lazaro, who moved like a lethal, fluid storm.
Milo lunged at Raiza, fist glowing with energy. She blocked with her sword, the clash jolting him back. She struck three times in rapid succession; Milo dodged each, whispering, "Stay calm… focus."
He threw another punch; she blocked and stepped back, smirking. Milo surged again, energy crackling, punch meeting sword, forcing Raiza to wobble slightly under the force.
Milo smiled at her. "Time for the counter."
He lifted his leg, aiming a kick at her stomach, intending to follow up on his previous strike. But Raiza intercepted it with her knee, stopping him mid-attack.
Milo staggered to one knee, energy shield raised, muttering, "Damn… she's strong." Raiza's crimson sword crackled as she dashed at him with inhuman speed, forcing him to focus all his power to block her strike.
Across the street, Lucas and Lazaro faced off. Lazaro moved like water, his dreadlocks swaying, every motion a deadly rhythm. Lucas fired twin energy shots, but Lazaro deflected them effortlessly, sending them ricocheting unpredictably.
"How… how is he reflecting my attacks?!" Lucas thought, frustration mounting. He lunged forward, aiming to close the distance, but Lazaro's dance flowed with unstoppable grace. A sudden gust of wind from Lazaro sent Lucas crashing backward.
Lazaro surged again, precise and swift, striking with a kick that shattered Lucas's defense, leaving him stunned on the cobblestones. The tension in the narrow street burned hotter with each clash, a deadly ballet of energy, steel, and skill.
He began a rapid, continuous series of kicks. Lucas struggled to defend himself, but it was useless every attempt failed. Lazaro's superiority was overwhelming.
Lazaro delivered a powerful strike to Lucas's stomach, then pushed him away. Lucas fell to the ground, gasping for breath, trying to recover from the fierce attack.
Lucas lay on the cold cobblestone, his breath ragged, pride shattered.
"Why are my enemies always stronger?" he whispered, voice shaking.
Flashes of defeat burned through his mind Milo standing over him, then faceless figures striking him down again and again.
Lazaro suddenly stopped, energy fading, his gaze cold and disappointed.
"Damn… you're weak," he muttered, eyes flicking toward Milo.
Across the street, Milo rose slowly, catching his breath, eyes fixed on Raiza.
"She's… incredibly strong," he murmured, tension tightening his chest.
He glanced at Lucas, concern flashing briefly. "If I try to run, they might hurt him… and she'll never leave me alone anyway."
Milo's hands clenched, body coiled, every muscle alert. A faint, tense smile tugged at his lips an unspoken thrill at the dangerous challenge before him.
Raiza noticed the faint smile on Milo's lips and felt as if he was deliberately trying to provoke her.
"Are you mocking me?" she shouted, surging toward him. Her crimson aura flared violently, and a strand of her red hair shimmered in the glow.
At the same time, Milo spread his transparent energy halo, standing ready.
Calm… calm… no need to panic, he whispered to himself.
Raiza's sword sliced through the air, but Milo struck her hand with his foot, making her stagger. He feigned a knock, then kicked her jaw, forcing her to step back.
A surge of energy shot toward him Lazaro charging, fluid and precise. Milo fired, but Lazaro reflected it effortlessly. I'm in trouble, Milo thought.
From afar, Lucas grinned, firing both pistols. The energy beam hit Lazaro, causing a small explosion.
Milo's momentary distraction was enough. Raiza lunged again, furious:
"I warned you, boy!"
Milo barely dodged Raiza's strike, but a hit grazed his side, blood trickling. He staggered back, eyes sharp, sensing the danger still close.
Lucas watched, tension tightening his chest. He tried to move forward, but Lazaro stood calm at the explosion site, hands raised, completely unharmed.
Rage and fear exploded inside Lucas.
"Even… even my strongest attacks don't affect you! What… what kind of being are you, you bastard?!"
Lazaro resumed his capoeira dance, eyes fixed on Lucas.
"You're dead!" he spat, surging forward.
Lucas stood firm, pressing one pistol to Lazaro's chest, the other to his abdomen.
"You can block my attacks from afar… but not from this close!" he shouted. A beam erupted, a shockwave blasting Lazaro backward.
Blood trickled from Lazaro's mouth, but he recovered, spinning into a rapid aerial move, propelling Lucas several meters away.
Lucas crashed onto the ground, stunned.
Fury surged. His pistols vanished. Fists blazing with energy, he charged. Rapid punches struck Lazaro, each faster than the last.
"Is this the way I'll win?" Lucas shouted, determination burning in his eyes.
Lazaro hadn't resisted at first, taking Lucas's blows one after another, as if testing his strength.
Suddenly, with a swift movement, he pushed Lucas's hands away from his body
"Damn… you're not a real Marksman, you're just a loser!" Lazaro shouted, his eyes gleaming with surprise and mockery.
Lazaro's body coiled low, energy crackling around his leg. Sparks flickered in the dark street.
Lucas, focused on his punches, froze in shock.
"What?!" he shouted, too late to react.
Lazaro's foot shot forward like a missile, spinning with deadly speed. It struck Lucas's head with a crushing force. He slammed to the ground, unconscious, the street falling silent.
Lazaro settled calmly atop him, eyes gleaming, savoring the chaos.
A few steps away, Milo faced Raiza, blood trickling from his side. His aura shimmered as he readied himself for the next strike, every muscle tense, every eye locked on his opponent.
Raiza paused for a moment, then carefully slid her crimson sword into its sheath
Milo stared at her, hand pressed against his bleeding side, bewilderment cutting through the pain.
"What are you doing?" he managed, voice tight.
Raiza stood calm and unshaken, the faint glow of her aura framing her like a threat.
"No need to spill more of your blood," she said coolly. "All I need to do now is tire you out… then finish you with my bare hands."
Milo smiled, his eyes glinting with calm confidence despite the pain in his side.
"You know? That's exactly what's going to make me win," he murmured, as if sharing a small secret.
Raiza's expression stiffened for a moment, then she let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Ugh, boys these days… You really think a single cheap trick can turn the fight? Or that I can't fight with my bare hands?"
I've spent my short life fighting," Raiza said, her voice sharp, eyes cold. "I've become a guardian of Mr Tavian. And you, spoiled boy, think your little talent can surpass me physically?"
Milo felt a surge of worry and anger at her insult, though he kept his composure.
Raiza struck with blinding speed, crimson aura blazing. Her fist collided with Milo, force jolting through his arm despite his shield. He staggered, pain searing his side.
She darted past, hitting his open wound. Milo faltered, trying to regain balance. Raiza didn't relent knee slammed into his stomach, pushing him backward.
Summoning his last strength, Milo shoved her back slightly with a weak surge. She closed in instantly, striking again at his face he dodged but her next blow targeted his left side. Milo blocked with his knee, hands braced on the ground, but a final knee into his stomach sent him bending, pain radiating from his wound.
His eyes widened Lucas lay unconscious, Lazaro perched mercilessly atop him.
A wave of despair washed over him, the weight in his chest suddenly heavy. He muttered under his breath, bitterly:
"Damn…"
As Milo struggled to stand, Raiza wasted no time and lunged at him immediately, her sword aimed with speed and precision.
Suddenly, red energy burst from Milo, glowing fiercely for a brief moment. Raiza instinctively stepped back, surprised by the unexpected force.
The energy vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving Raiza staring at Milo with caution and curiosity.
Milo stood firm, shoulders tense, eyes gleaming with newfound resolve. His faintly glowing aura pulsed lightly, the red surge leaving him charged despite the pain in his side.
Raiza stared at him, her eyes widening in surprise.
"What was that?" she whispered, unable to hide her shock at the sudden power that had emerged within him.
Raiza drew her sword once again, her aura blazing with intense energy. She spoke with a sharp grin:
"As I expected… you've been hiding something."
Her blade turned a deep crimson, and she lunged at Milo with blinding speed, the echo of her steps resonating through the narrow street.
"This is the last one for you!" she shouted, her eyes filled with determination and aggression.
Milo focused his energy into his hand and surged forward, slightly slower but still fast, every movement packed with power.
A red glow spread from him, his left eye burning crimson. Red energy coiled around his hand, a new force awakened, ready to turn the battle in an instant.
A mysterious figure appeared, his voice calm but commanding:
"Tier 4 techniques: Blink!"
In an instant, he or rather, she materialized between Milo and Raiza. It was Celestine. Her presence seemed to bend the air around her, moving with impossible speed.
Celestine's right hand clamped onto Milo's left fist with unyielding precision. At the same time, her left hand caught Raiza's sword mid-swing, twisting it harmlessly aside.
Time seemed to freeze around them. Milo and Raiza felt no pain only the undeniable force of Celestine's control. Her black hair, streaked with violet, flowed behind her as her calm, focused eyes scanned both fighters, reading their every move before it could happen.
Milo stood frozen, his eyes locked on Celestine.
"Who is this woman?" he muttered to himself, suddenly hiding his red energy and returning to his usual form.
Raiza, meanwhile, stared at her with even greater astonishment, her eyes sharp and body tense. Thoughts raced through her mind:
"I can't believe it… could it really be her? What is she doing here? How did she find out about this? Did they call her? Will the security come?"
Celestine's gaze flicked to Milo, and for a brief moment, a trace of reassurance softened her expression. Milo's eyes widened in surprise he clearly didn't recognize her either.
The air around the three was thick with tension. Silence settled heavily, as if the city itself had paused, caught between Celestine's shadowed past and the chaos unfolding in the present.
Lazaro stood behind Lucas, a sly smile curling on his lips.
"Oh… wait a second, I think I know this lady! Damn, this is getting exciting!"
Celestine looked at Milo with a calm, steady gaze, then shifted her eyes to Raiza, her stare even more composed and measured.
She let out a slow sigh.
"Ah… I guess I'll have to deal with this, then…"