The red scale fish shook the earth with a violent headbutt, making the ground tremble beneath the feet of ryo and shimoro. The two endured the vibration with difficulty, and ryo exchanged a decisive look with shimoro.
ryo said in a quick tone:
"shimoro! We attack together!"
shimoro hesitated while looking at his foot... but he wanted to prove himself, so a decisive voice came strongly from his lips:
"Alright… let's try!"
ryo lunged forward like the wind, jumping high, then suddenly changing his path using an air push as he had done before. The fish moved maliciously to strike the spot where he had been a moment ago, but ryo had already disappeared from his position.
He appeared behind it, shouting:
"Let's go!"
He struck with his sharp sword against its back scales, leaving a third scratch—not large, but visible. At the same moment, shimoro had gathered his ice ability, forming a massive ice spear.
shimoro shouted loudly:
"Take this!"
He launched the spear with all the energy he possessed; it collided with the fish's scales, creating a faint white mark before shattering into scattered fragments.
ryo roared in the air as he quickly changed his path again, while the fish attacked with its head once more, but it missed him by only a second.
"Nice try, you stubborn fish!"
He descended with his sword this time, using the wind to enhance the attack:
"Kyoki Sorasho!"
A powerful vertical strike was unleashed, creating a much deeper scratch that extended across one of the thick scales… in fact, it shattered a piece of the scales!
At the same time, shimoro was trying to keep up with ryo, so he created ice ground beneath his feet and slid on it rapidly, holding his dagger that was half-metal and half-ice. He jumped toward the right side of the fish, stabbing its scales with his dagger, trying with all his might.
"Come on… please!"
The dagger indeed left a small scratch… but it didn't last long.
BOOOOM!
The fish struck its head directly against shimoro's forehead, and the ice youth flew through the air like a straw doll.
ryo shouted:
"You idiot!"
In an instant, ryo summoned the wind, directing a sharp gust toward shimoro to restore his balance in the air and catch him before he fell. The two landed on the ground, with shimoro bleeding from his nose.
shimoro wiped the blood and said while panting:
"ryo… you are truly amazing!… but this red scale fish… is still strong."
ryo gave a half-laugh, despite the fatigue:
"Heh… I know! But it can't stand before the beauty of my speed!"
Suddenly, the fish emitted a terrifying roar resembling the groan of a giant shark, then dived once again beneath the surface of the Sea of Fireflies.
ryo shouted quickly:
"Get ready, shimoro, now!!"
shimoro raised his hands:
"Ice Dome!"
This time he didn't create a simple wall… but a complete dome covering them. He placed his palms on it to continue supporting it with ice energy without stopping.
The fish emerged from the water again and fired a violent water jet directly at the dome.
Tshhhhhhhhhhh—!!
The ice shook violently. It began to crack.
shimoro shouted from the depths of his soul:
"I won't… fall… now!"
His ice energy flowed, making him bleed from his nose again, but he continued pushing, continued shouting… continued resisting.
Ggggrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrgh—..
And finally—
The jet broke.
And the dome collapsed a second later.
shimoro fell to his knees, panting, while ryo stood smiling, patting his shoulder firmly:
"Very good, Ice Boy… now it's my turn once aga—"
But suddenly…
The sound of heavy footsteps.
Thump…
Thud…
Then a young man appeared, emerging slowly from between the trees.
Iron armor.
Iron sword.
Hand shield.
Short black hair.
Sharp black eyes.
Dark skin… and a slightly angry face.
He said in a tone full of confidence and grumbling:
"If this isn't the sound of Tara… then where is that wanderer?"
He glanced at the fish, keeping his eyes on it for a few seconds, then at ryo who was full of scratches, then at the exhausted shimoro with blood on his face.
He raised his eyebrow and said with clear mockery:
"And you two… what are you doing here?! This monster is our prey! We were looking for it before you!"
To be continued…