The arena's ruins lay in eerie silence, smoke curling from shattered stone and scorched ground. Akira's crimson aura still pulsed, her muscles taut, senses razor-sharp. She had survived the first strike, but the intruder's shadowy presence hung like a storm cloud over them both.
Temaki hovered close, aura flickering, torn between instinct and loyalty. "Akira… she's not playing by the rules," he muttered. "This isn't just a duel—she's… something else."
Akira's eyes narrowed. "Then we adapt. She wants a fight? She'll get one." Her voice was a low growl, tinged with Rank 15 fire. Every strike before had tested her limits—but now, her focus burned sharper than ever.
From the darkness, a faint shimmer caught their eyes. In the blink of an eye, the intruder appeared—faster than thought, her violet eyes locking onto Akira with lethal precision.
"You're predictable," she said, voice smooth but sharp as a blade. "You fight with rage. But you forget… strategy wins battles."
Akira spun, blade flashing in a streak of crimson light. Sparks erupted as steel met steel—her Crimson Mirror strikes colliding with the intruder's weapon, each clash shaking the arena and sending shockwaves through the rubble.
Temaki's pulse raced. Every strike Akira threw, every block she barely held, made him want to step in. He knew he couldn't… rules bound him—but seeing her pushed to the edge clawed at something deep in him.
The intruder's smirk widened. "Ah… I see why he's so loyal. You fight with heart… but can heart survive what's coming?"
Before Akira could respond, the ground beneath them trembled violently. Dust and debris exploded in every direction. From the cracks in the arena floor, faint violet light pulsed—a signal, a heartbeat… something alive.
Temaki froze. "That crystal… it's not just a weapon. She's calling someone—or something."
Akira's eyes burned brighter, crimson aura surging to new heights. "Then we finish this before backup arrives!"
With blinding speed, the intruder darted forward, attacking from multiple angles simultaneously. Akira countered, her movements precise, her Rank 15 power pushing her further than ever before. They moved like lightning, steel and aura clashing in a deadly dance.
But then—Temaki's chest tightened. A flash of violet light hit near him, unnervingly accurate. His hand twitched, wanting to intervene, but rules held him back. He could only watch, heart torn, as Akira's face reflected both fury and fear.
The intruder stepped back, laughing, her voice echoing like thunder. "You're strong… but this is only the beginning. I wonder… will you protect him, or yourself?"
Akira's crimson aura flared violently. Her eyes narrowed. "I… protect both."
In the next heartbeat, the intruder vanished again—leaving behind the glowing crystal pulsing stronger than ever. Its rhythm was no longer just a signal; it was a countdown, a warning of the storm about to arrive.
Temaki's voice was tight. "If we survive her… nothing will ever be the same. This isn't just a battle—it's the beginning of a war."
Akira's gaze hardened. "Then let her come. We'll burn through any storm that dares stand in our way."
And somewhere in the shadows, faint laughter echoed, playful and cruel. "Prepare yourselves… the real game has begun."