CHAPTER 18: MISSION 5, VS 7

An hour has gone by, on a bench in the middle of somewhere, Rinka wakes up slumped against and sitting next to Doa, and she and Ashi are watching funny videos on a phone.

Rinka: … Uh, what's going on?

They notice him.

Doa: Oh, hey! We were just waiting for you to wake up. We're in Tuviol now by the way.

Rinka: … Really? We've gotta get going then! We have to find the Skiller!

He quickly stands up.

Doa: You're gonna have to find the Skiller by yourself, Rinka. I'm tired from running, and so is Ashi.

Rinka: … Okay. Will do.

…

Minaro jumps from roof to roof, searching impatiently for Rank 7.

"Where the fuck is this stupid Skiller!?"

Suddenly, he spots the Skiller, right in front of a store, big glass to display products.

"... That's the Skiller!"

He crouches, preparing to attack, but then notices Rinka there too, and halts.

"... Fuck! Rinka got to him first!"

…

Rank 7, a guy with wavy, Kelly Green hair, and eyes of the same, ranging color. He's very tired, noticeable bags on his face. His body is accompanied by a Safety Yellow hoodie and Black shorts. He and Rinka lock eyes.

Rinka: … Hi.

No response.

Rinka: My name is Rinka, and I just wanna talk to you. I don't wanna fight or hurt you.

Rank 7 sighs

"... What should I do? I've got some important things to do right now, but I've gotta fight this dork… Later or now? It would be nice to just get it over with. Nah."

Rank 7: … I've got things to do.

He runs off, and Rinka is super confused.

"What?"

He pursues.

Rinka: Hey! I just wanna talk, man!

Rank 7 is contemplating.

"... Actually, I can just fight him while I do my important things."

He looks back, a giant boulder forms from his palm and he shoots it at Rinka. Who quickly moves out of its way and becomes thunder.

Lightning strikes in front of Rank 7, Rinka appears and swings his katana, aiming for the chest. Rank 7, again from his palm, quickly summons a large stone pillar to block the blade.

Rinka: Listen to me! Stop running!

Rank 7: … I've got stuff to do, sorry.

He switches directions and uses a stone wave to lift himself onto a roof. Another thunder strike occurs, and Rinka emerges beside him.

Rinka: I'm not gonna let you run!

He tries to grab Rank 7, who in response, slaps his hand, and releases another pillar from his own. It slams into Rinka and throws him off onto the ground.

Rank 7 keeps moving, and Rinka rises.

"... I didn't wanna use Black Bolt that much, but here I have no choice. If I don't use it, he'll get away."

Rinka hustles while being lightning again and materializes back into physical form a few feet behind Rank 7, chasing after him on foot, leaping around.

Rank 7 touches the cover under him, and a wave of rocks advances to Rinka. He quickly moves out of its way.

Next, a hole pops up under Rank 7 which he falls into, leaving Rinka totally perplexed. Thereafter, the same hole pops up in front of him, and Rank 7 comes out of it and punches Rinka in the face. Thrown off the roof and onto the flooring, where Rank 7 dashes, grabs, and hurls him into a building. Then vamooses.

Rinka speedily stands up, blood dripping off his forehead, and sprints after him. Rank 7 raises his palm, and a sizable magical ball of flowing sand assembles. Which is chucked at Rinka. It detonates, and a bunch of sand obscures his view. It allows for Rank 7 to be lost from sight.

Regardless, Rinka doesn't hesitate to transform, zoom, and immediately find him back on the roofs. On which he mutates and tries to slash his body.

But right away, armor made of rock spawns on Rank 7's body and obstructs the katana.

"Edged Darkness."

In the blink of an eye, Rinka swings his weapon multiple times, and with the void on it now, he splits the armor open and is able to take a hold of Rank 7's arm.

Rank 7: … You're really trying to talk to me. Huh.

Rinka: Yes, stop running, and listen to me!

A gray, gyrating ball begins to take shape on his palm.

"Okay, this part of town is empty."

…

Within Tuviol, there are various sections where not a single soul resides. It's another odd thing.

…

Rank 7: … Sorry dude, I have things to do.

"Ultimate Skill, Earthquake Ball."

The gray ball is thrown. It bursts and promptly crumbles everything in a fifty-feet radius. Rinka is stunned as he's pushed back and falls with the rubble.

Seconds later, he rises from under it. Rank 7 keeps moving, Rinka grips his weapon.

"... Shit. Did anyone die? I'm not sure, and I can't check either."

…

A bolt strikes some feet in front of Rank 7. Rinka manifests and runs towards him, he touches the floor, and two stone pillars erupt from the ground.

They head to the foundation of the other building Rinka's on, and destroy, knocking it completely down. He falls alongside it.

"Chain of Dark."

From the descending wreckage, comes the chain, and it quickly wraps itself around Rank 7's leg, then yanks. As he falls, a thunder bolt passes by him. Rinka, as normal, turns up right above him and kicks him down.

Rank 7 crashes into the floor. A moment later, Rinka, pretty tired, grabs his shoulder, lifting him slightly.

"... Man, I'm very happy that I did all that stamina training when I was younger, I'd be so dead without it. Why does Black Bolt take so much energy!?"

Rinka: … Gonna keep running?

Rank 7: … Nah. I'll take a break. Run after.

Rinka stops holding his shoulder.

Rinka: … That big attack you did, people might have died because of it!

Rank 7: Nah. No one died. This part of Tuviol is completely empty.

Without warning, Rank 7 shifts, spins, and punches Rinka in the gut. He's pushed, Rank 7 lunges, prepared to punch again. But Rinka evades it and delivers his own hit. Then raises the katana, aiming to slash him. However, Rank 7 evades also, and ends up uppercutting Rinka.

"... Earthquake Ball."

Another blast, Rinka's thrown, debris is destroyed, and the ground shakes. Rank 7 gets going. Nevertheless, one last lightning bolt comes, the intense, approaching buzz is heard, Rinka emerges and tackles Rank 7 to the ground, holding him firm. They're both tired and glaring.

Rinka: Stop running, dude!

Rank 7: … Wanna know why I'm running?

Rinka: I'd love to know.

Rank 7: … I'm on an important mission. This town has an evil secret.

Rank 7 pushes Rinka off of him and gets up.

Rank 7: It contains several, secret, and super illegal underground fighting rings. People of all ages are forced to fight and die.

Rinka: … What the hell? Really?

Rank 7: 100% true. I was a victim of them! Forced to fight! The higher-ups kidnap people! So I've made it my mission to kill them all! And destroy every ring I can find!

…

When Rank 7 was younger, he went missing. Taken underground, and thrown into a pen with other people, either dirty or brutally beaten. And everyday, people in the pen were taken out, and only some came back, in very bad condition too. Additionally, everyday, new, fresh people would be thrown in.

One day, Rank 7 was taken out, and forced to fight. Blood and sweat vastly shed as he was killing the opponent. He had to win, or he'd lose his life.

After the win, it was back to the pen for him, stationed to fight another day. That day quickly came, but right before his next battle, a younger Yutsu arrived and saved him, fleeing the place, heading off to a new, moonlit horizon.

Yutsu: … Kid. Do you wanna leave all this behind? Or get revenge?

Rank 7: … Revenge. Revenge! I want everyone dead!

Yutsu gives an adventurous smile.

Yutsu: Alright! Good choice!

…

Rank 7: I need to find everything!.. And you're not letting me.

Rinka: Oh, uh, sorry.

Rinka ponders about his next words for a couple of seconds.

Rinka: … I - I can help you, with your mission, if you'd like?

Rank 7: … Really? You're willing to do that?

He nods.

…

A few hours have gone by, and everyone's relaxing on the couches in Rank 4's home.

Rank 4: My name is Kuwi.

She points at Rank 6 and Rank 7.

Kuwi: He's Rasshu, and he's Iwo.

Rinka: Nice.

Iwo: … So Rinka? Why'd you bring us here?

Rinka: No reason. Just to talk, you know? My job's done, so I just wanna have a friendly conversation.

Kuwi: What the heck do we talk about?

Rinka: Don't know.

…

They conversed about good memories and laughed for about an hour.

…

Rinka and his friends are standing at the front door of the house, ready to leave.

Rinka: Alright, It was fun talking to y'all. We've gotta head out.

Iwo: It was very nice.

Rinka: … If you ever need us, we'll be at the Skill Center.

Kuwi: That's the big building near Maligan Mountain, right?

Rinka: Yeah. We're in room 27.

…

Night falls, the Skillers are eating dinner, talking about whatever. Suddenly, part of the wall and front door are destroyed. They're alarmed.

A person is standing where the damage happened, but can't be seen properly due to the outside's darkness.

Kuwi: What the hell!?

Iwo: Who the fuck are you!? Trying to mess with us is a horrible idea.

The person raises their palm, and a wave of ice rises and advances. The Skillers dodge and move along.

…

Kuwi is hit, becoming incinerated by a fireball. Rasshu is near death, and Iwo is somewhat injured.

…

Kuwi's house is gone, reduced to bits. Iwo's terrified as the unknown inches closer. He's drenched in blood, not his, but Kuwi's and Rasshu's, who's lifeless, destroyed bodies lie next to wreckage.

"... They're dead. He killed them. Why? How strong is this guy?"

He dodges a punch and begins to run away.

"... The Skill Center! They can help me!"

…

Back at the center, everybody's asleep. Yet, Instantaneously, the main door to the room is loudly broken down, waking all.

Intense cries for help can be heard. Everyone quickly gets out of bed to check what's happening. Walking into the living room, Iwo and Rinka lock eyes.

Next, their eyes shift over to Minaro, standing at the entrance, blood over both of his fists.

TO BE CONTINUED...