The combined assault actually forced Raiden back several steps.
Raiden grinned like a demon.
"NOW YOU'RE TALKING!"
He raised both hands.
Thunder converged into his palms.
"Rumbling Heaven—TWIN CRASH!"
The twin shockwaves collided with Kaen and Rael
Kaen resisted, screaming as fire and shadow raged
Rael anchored him with wind barriers
Together they pushed against Raiden's attack
For a full second
Two seconds
Three
But Raiden overpowered them, slamming the boys into the far wall of the training field.
Dust rose.
Flames flickered.
Wind scattered petals of glowing Shinrei.
For a moment, there was silence.
Two figures crawled from the rubble.
Kaen, bruised, bleeding, but grinning fiercely.
Rael, exhausted, steadying his breath, but refusing to fall.
Raiden crossed his arms.
He didn't smile.
He didn't mock.
He simply said:
"Good fight."
Lightning faded from his skin.
