"Oi, Haruto, let's take a break," Yahiko sighed, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
I nodded, feeling just as drained. "Yeah, I was thinking the same."
"Did Rin return yet?" he asked, looking around.
"No, she just left three minutes ago," I replied.
Lancer scoffed, his tone dripping with disappointment. "You two barely did anything, and you're already this tired?"
"What do you mean nothing? We trained for three whole minutes!" Yahiko and I shot back in unison.
"If I had a body, I'd beat the crap out of you both," Lancer growled.
"Haha! But too bad you don't!" Yahiko burst into laughter.
"You fools. Do you even know who I am?" Lancer sneered.
Yahiko and I exchanged blank looks. "Nope. And we don't care."
"Oi, Sheildo, why don't you talk?" Yahiko suddenly turned to his shield.
"Shut up. Why should I waste my time talking to fools? And my name is not Sheildo," the shield retorted.
Before we could continue our banter, a stern voice interrupted us. "Both of you, stand up."
We turned around to see Kuno approaching with Rin.
"Yuno, where were you?" I asked.
"I had some business to take care of," he replied curtly. Then, reaching into his pocket, he handed us each a small pill. "Here, take this."
I eyed the pill suspiciously. "And what exactly are we supposed to do with this?"
"Obviously, you eat it," Kuno said flatly.
"Nah. No way. I've got trust issues now," I said, crossing my arms.
"Oi, Yahiko, you too, don't "
"What?" I turned to see Yahiko already chewing.
With a deadpan face, I watched him gulp it down.
"Eat it, Haruto! It's like chocolate," Yahiko grinned.
"Really?" I asked, popping it into my mouth.
The moment it touched my tongue, a sour explosion hit me. "What the hell is this?! It's so sour!"
Yahiko coughed, trying to spit it out. "Why should I suffer alone? If I die, you die with me!"
"You son of a"
"Enough, both of you," Kuno interrupted.
Then, his eyes darkened. "It's time."
"For what?" I asked, but before I could get an answer, a sharp, unbearable pain shot through my head.
I barely had time to react before everything went black.
I woke up with a jolt, memories flooding back into my mind.
Haa... why? Why couldn't I kill him? My fists clenched in frustration.
Rin's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "It's okay, Haruto. This time, we'll make things right."
"I… I couldn't kill my own brother. I let him go. I didn't know… I didn't know this would happen…" My voice cracked with regret.
"Don't dwell on it too much," Rin said softly. "For now, rest."
Beside me, Yahiko groaned awake, his eyes burning with fury. "Where is that bastard?"
"Who?" Rin asked.
"The Koronji! I'll kill them all! How could they take Mira?!" he shouted, his fists trembling.
"She's not dead, Yahiko," Rin said firmly.
His head snapped toward her. "What do you mean? I saw her die in front of me!"
"She's still alive," Rin assured him. "But… she's been captured by the Koronji."
Yahiko stood abruptly. "Where?! Tell me where they're keeping her I'm going now!"
"Sit down," I said firmly. "Rest first. We'll rescue her together."
"Don't fuck with me, Haruto!" Yahiko's glare bore into me. "This is all because of you! If you had just killed that Koronji your brother none of this would've happened! Mira wouldn't have been captured, and I wouldn't be trapped in this damn world!"
My fists tightened. "I know. I'm sorry, Yahiko."
"That's enough," Rin interjected. "Haruto regrets it too. Don't take it out on him."
She turned to Yahiko, her expression serious. "How did you even get here?"
Yahiko took a deep breath, his voice shaking with anger and pain. "Mira and I were celebrating her 20th birthday… when a Koronji attacked. He took her, captured me, and then I saw her die." His voice wavered. "After that, everything went blank." He turned back to Rin, his eyes wild. "If you're lying about her being alive, I swear I'll kill you, Rin."
Rin remained calm. "She's alive, Yahiko."
He clenched his jaw before barking, "Oi, Guardian Shield!"
"Yes?" his shield responded.
"Gather all the sphere energy. We'll need it." His voice was ice-cold. "I won't forgive them for what they did to Mira."
"Take some rest," Rin urged.
"Whatever." Yahiko turned away, arms crossed.
Rin sighed and turned back to me. "Don't take his words to heart, Haruto. He's just angry. He'll calm down."
"I know," I murmured. "He loves Mira more than anything."
I lowered my head. "This is all my fault…"
Before I could say another word, Rin wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.
"It's okay, Haruto," she whispered. "Don't blame yourself. You couldn't kill your own brother… and that's not something you should carry alone."
I hugged her back. "I missed you, Rin…"
She tensed slightly, then relaxed. "I missed you too, Haruto."
I swallowed hard. "I thought I lost you that bastards showed me a different past .
A past losing you ,a life full or regrets."
She smiled gently. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
My eyelids grew heavy. "Rin…"
"Shh. Sleep," she murmured.
As I drifted off, she gazed down at me with warmth.
"You fool…" she whispered. "It was hard acting like that towards you, but I'm glad you got your memories back."
She pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and gently rested my head on her lap, running her fingers through my hair.
"Oi, Rin," Yahiko's voice broke the silence. "Did I say too much to Haruto?"
Rin shook her head. "It's fine. He's okay now."
Yahiko exhaled. "Tch. He's like a brother to me, after all."
Rin smiled. "Yeah. He is."
"Rin, come here," Kuno suddenly called out.
"What is it?" she asked, standing up.
"They've noticed," Kuno said gravely. "Look outside."
She turned, her breath hitching.
Outside, the Koronji had arrived.
Yahiko shot up, his body trembling with rage. "Those bastards… I wouldn't forgive you "
I stepped in front of Yahiko, blocking his path.
"Oi, Yahiko, I know you're angry, but think about this calmly," I said, my voice firm.
" Tch! Move, Haruto, you bastard!" he snapped, his rage barely contained.
"Listen to me!" I shouted, gripping his shoulder. "We need each other to fight them! You are the shield, I am the sword, and Rin is the bow we are the Sacred Destiny, remember? We were chosen for this! Just give me a chance… This time, I swear, I'll make things right."
Yahiko's breathing was heavy, his fists clenched. Then, after a long pause, he exhaled and muttered, "Okay… I understand. Sorry."
A brief silence passed between us, but there was no time to dwell on emotions.
I turned my gaze forward, locking eyes with the approaching enemy. "Oi, Koronji scum! Long time no see. Changing my past, making me regret my choices, and fooling me into thinking I had a second chance at life? What a sick joke."
My voice was filled with venom as I took a step forward.
"You cowards can't kill us, so you resort to mind games instead? Pathetic."
The air was thick with tension. From the shadows, a voice chuckled darkly.
"Your species treats worlds like entertainment, like a game you can manipulate at will, isn't that right?" I spat, gripping my weapon tightly. "I must admit, you almost had me… I was so close to being trapped in your illusions forever."
A slow, mocking laughter echoed through the battlefield.
"Haruto… still so cocky," a familiar voice sneered.
My body stiffened. That voice.
"Come out and face me!" I roared.
A sinister chuckle followed. "Scared of me already? Haha… Find me first, little brother."
Rage burned through me, but I forced myself to stay in control. "I will. And this time, I won't show any mercy."
I turned to my comrades, my expression resolute. "Yahiko, Rin… let's do this like old times."
Yahiko smirked. "Damn right just don't show me down"
Rin nodded, drawing her weapon. "Let's end this."
I raised my blade. "Holy Sky Dragon Slash!"
"Got it!" Yahiko followed. "Holy Barrier Shield!"
"Roger! Dragon Bow!" Rin fired.
With a single strike, four of them fell.
"That was easy," Yahiko scoffed, lowering his stance.
"Don't get cocky," I warned, my eyes locked on the two remaining figures. Unlike the others, these ones exuded an overwhelming pressure.
"The High Koronji," Rin muttered, gripping her bow tighter.
"They're on a different level," I said. "Rin, Yahiko you take the red one. I'll handle the blue one."
Yahiko cracked his knuckles. "Alright. See you after we're done."
The battlefield roared to life once more.
The real fight had begun
"You mere humans dare to stand in our way?" A deep, menacing voice echoed through the battlefield. "You shall know true despair! I am Yuriha of the mighty Koronji clan!"
I let out a sigh, unimpressed. "So what?" I replied nonchalantly, my tone laced with boredom. "Like I care about your name or your so-called mighty clan."
A smirk crept onto my lips as I tightened my grip on my sword. "Enough talk bring it on, bastard."
It had been a while since I'd felt this rush, the thrill of battle coursing through my veins like wildfire.
"You... You mere humans!" Yuriha seethed, his voice filled with rage. "I will make you suffer!"
"Yeah, yeah," I taunted, rolling my shoulders. "Less talking, more fighting."
Yuriha raised his hand, a swirling void of darkness forming between his fingers. "Dark Void!" he bellowed, unleashing a massive wave of energy toward me.
I barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the attack crashed into the ground behind me, leaving a gaping crater. My breath hitched that was close. Maybe I really got rusty. It had been too long since I'd fought someone .
"Well, whatever," I muttered, raising my blade. "Let's see how you handle this Holy SWord Slash!"
A bright, golden arc shot toward Yuriha, tearing through the battlefield and sending up a cloud of dust. I squinted, trying to see through the debris.
"Did I get him?" I murmured.
A low, chilling chuckle emerged from within the dust cloud. As it cleared, Yuriha stood there, completely unfazed. "Hah! That was nothing more than a tickle!" he scoffed, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
I clicked my tongue. "What a drag," I sighed, rolling my wrists. If this had been the old me, I would've already finished him off. I really am out of practice.
But… this was getting interesting.
Yuriha's grin widened as he raised both hands to the sky. "Now… witness my ultimate spell!" He began chanting in an ancient tongue, the very air around us growing heavy with dark energy.
A sinking feeling gripped my chest.
"Gravitational Dark Pull!" he roared.
A powerful force slammed into me, pulling me downward as if the weight of the world had suddenly doubled. I dropped to one knee, gasping for breath. My muscles strained against the overwhelming gravity.
"Hah! All that bravado, and now look at you!" Yuriha laughed, his voice filled with mockery. "A mere human groveling at my feet!"
A voice suddenly echoed across the battlefield.
"Oi, Yuriha! End it already don't underestimate him!"
"Hah! Don't tell me what to do!" Yuriha snapped. "This pathetic human is nothing to me!"
Big mistake.
"You should've listened to them," I muttered, forcing a grin through the pain.
With a burst of power, I pushed forward, swinging my blade with all my strength. "Soaring Dragon Slash!"
A brilliant arc of energy tore through Yuriha's side. He let out a strangled cry, stumbling backward, clutching his wound. His eyes, once filled with arrogance, now flickered with disbelief.
"H-How…? How did you break free?" he gasped.
I tilted my head, a smirk playing on my lips. "Why should I tell you?" I said nonchalantly.
His face twisted in fear as he realized what was coming next.
"Wait! Please, don't kill me!" he begged, his voice desperate.
I sighed. "No. I'm sorry."
With a swift motion, my blade cut through his neck. His head fell to the ground, his body collapsing lifelessly beside it.
I exhaled deeply, letting my sword rest at my side. "That took longer than I thought."
"Oi, Haruto! You done over there?" Yahiko called out.
"Almost," I replied lazily.
I lay back on the ground, too exhausted to move. I knew Yahiko and Rin could handle themselves there was no way they'd lose.
A few minutes later, both of them stood victorious.
"Oi, Haruto, these guys were actually tough. Did they evolve or get stronger somehow?" Yahiko asked, wiping sweat from his forehead.
I sat up with a groan. "No idea… Maybe they did."
"They sure did," Rin added, his voice wary.
Just as we started to relax, a sudden surge of dark energy swirled around Yuriha's corpse.
"What the ?!" I muttered, eyes widening in disbelief.
Before our eyes, his body began to shift, his wounds closing as the black energy consumed him. A chilling laugh echoed through the battlefield.
"He's transforming!" Rin yelled.
Yuriha's body twisted and contorted as he rose to his feet, his eyes glowing a deep, blood-red.
He had become… a True Koronji.
"What the hell…?" I exhaled. "I killed him! How is he still standing?!"
"Now's not the time to think about that!" Yahiko barked. "Let's finish this and get out of this damn grave world!"
I sighed, pushing myself up. "Alright. Ready to go?"
"Always ready!" Yahiko and Rin grinned.
"Here's the plan," I said quickly. "I'll go in first. Yahiko, cover me. Rin, wait for the opening and strike when he's distracted."
"Got it!" they both nodded.
We stood firm, facing our enemy.
Yuriha's new form loomed before us, dark energy swirling around him.
"You really are like a cockroach," I muttered, eyes narrowing. "You just don't die, do you?"
He didn't respond. His lips curled into a smirk before he raised his hand. A massive sphere of pure darkness began forming above him.
"Shit he's gonna fire something big!" I shouted.
"Dark Annihilation Beam!"
The attack shot toward us like a meteor.
"Yahiko!"
"Hai! Holy Barrier!"
A golden shield materialized in front of us, barely holding back the destructive force.
"Now, Haruto!" Yahiko yelled.
"On it! Dragon Soaring Roar!"
A burst of energy erupted from my blade, colliding with the dark beam.
"Rin, now!"
"Got it! Dragon Bow!"
An ethereal bow materialized in Rin's hands as she fired a volley of glowing arrows.
The battlefield erupted in dust and debris.
"Did we get him?" I asked, breathing heavily.
A sudden, chilling laugh answered me.
"Move!" Yahiko yelled. "He's still alive!"
A massive dark tendril shot toward us.
"Holy Shield!"
The attack barely missed.
"Damn it! We have to finish him in one attack!"
"Then let's do it," I said, gripping my sword tighter.
We stood in formation, our final attack ready.
"Holy Slash cut through darkness and show us the light!"
"Sky Dragon Soaring Wave begone!"
"Bow of Hundred Arrows pierce the void!"
"Shield of the Dragon fortify our will!"
We unleashed our combined attack in a blinding explosion of light.
As the dust settled, we watched Yuriha's body crumble to nothing.
I let out a breath. "I guess that's it…"
But before we could celebrate, a deep voice rumbled through the air.
"Don't get cocky, fools… This is only the beginning."
I tightened my grip on my sword, a smirk creeping onto my lips.
"Bring it on."