Storm warning

'Raiden... I don't want to fight.'

'That's why you're weak, Nishihara. You fail to understand that we are no longer friends, comrades or brothers. You've chosen to side with the Chimera, so I must kill you.'

Kanesaki took two steps forward before dashing again, aiming to beat Raiden's dodges and hit him with a suprise attack. As he swung, Raiden dodged, as predicted. The Chimera fiercely swung downwards, crushing the ground below to create a little dust cloud. Utilising this, he ran around the lieutenant and went straight for his neck. A sudden jolt of electricity went off before Kanesaki as he heard the clash of steel. Raiden had blocked him almost effortlessly, not even looking back at him. Shit... He's a lieutenant for a reason... If I can't even beat Nishihara in one-on-one then how can I touch this guy!

'This is a weak Chimera you got here, Nishihara. He can't even understand that I'm leagues above him in combat experience...'

As he spoke, Raiden lifted his spear, throwing Kanesaki off balance, turned around and swiped the spear across the Chimera's chest almost instantaneously. Eyes widened, Kanesaki just stared at his would, amazed by the sheer speed.

'Kanesaki!'

Quickly retaliating, Nishihara swung to Raiden's back. Instantly, the lieutenant looked over and ducked under the blade before jumping up, throwing a quick kick to Nishihara's chest, pushing him back and breaking his stance.

'Nishihara, a simple kick threw you off? You've truly gotten rusty already?' With a look of joint sadness and annoyance, Raiden thrust the spear straight through the unsuspecting officer's stomach. Coughing up blood, Nishihara squinted his eyes as he he looked past Raiden to see Kanesaki getting up, reading a quick attack from behind.

'Hey, Dumbass lieutenant..!'

Looking past his shoulder, Raiden questioned how the wound had healed so quickly, it should've been near fatal, even to a Chimera. Then he realised; the wound hadn't healed. Kanesaki was just fighting through the pain. 'I see, you're fighting despite the huge wound, an odd decision no less.' Smirking a little in agreement, Kanesaki wiped blood from his cheek, his eyes slightly violet around the edges of his pupils. 'Heh... Guess so...'

The lieutenant's mouth curled upwards a little, he looked back at Nishihara, the officer was pulling the spear out of his stomach. Raiden grabbed at the weapon's long hilt and yanked it from the officer, causing a spill of blood. Coughing blood, Nishihara gripped his weapon, getting ready for an incoming attack.

The first to swing again was Kanesaki. His attack thrust directly for Raiden's heart, with zero hesitation. Of course, Raiden avoided it with instant speed, following up such a fear by swiping his spear tip clean across Kanesaki's arms.

It took a moment for the realisation to settle in both Nishihara's and Kanesaki's eyes; the Chimera's arms had been cut off perfectly past the elbows. There was barely any bleeding from the wounds. Looking into the Chimera's eyes, Raiden plunged the spear through his chest wound before murmuring, 'Hold this for a moment.' afterwards, he kicked the Chimera away, the spear still embedded within his bloodied body. Watching on, Nishihara thought of any way to beat Raiden, or at least talk him down. However, by this point, there was no point in diplomacy, the only option was to beat the lieutenant. It seemed like an impossible achievement, yet Nishihara stood, ready to die trying, to die protecting his friends.

His free hand reached to grab his sheath from his back as he chucked it away, getting rid of dead weight. Taking acknowledgement, Raiden did a small nod. Observing the lack of a weapon, Nishihara squinted again. 'No weapon?'

'I'm confident. That's all.'

Smirking a little, Nishihara took a few steps forwards. 'Guess you always were...' Pacing carefully, Nishihara's eyes darted past Raiden for just a moment to see Kanesaki laying, impaled to the ground via the spear as his arms bled. He needs to get his arms back to fix them back on... the wounds should heal quickly, but he needs time to get them back... Focusing back, Nishihara flipped over and sped at the lieutenant who calmly dodged two swings before partying a third, retaliating with a quick jab then an elbow to Nishihara's stomach, causing a ruptured of blood to pour from the wound.

Sparks flew out as the blade hit the suits hardened surface. Flipping over backwards, Raiden checked Nishihara's form for weaknesses, found the right point and lunged for it, landing a powerful roundhouse to the officer's left leg, hooking around the back to get him on his knee. Nishihara couldn't say a word, just a sudden 'Gah' before his face was met by a winded up left hook. Flying back, Nishihara tried to look down and find Raiden. All he saw was the lieutenant immediately chasing after him as he flew back.

Peering up with predatory eyes, Raiden stepped down powerfully, crashing into the floor, keeping his foot stuck in it to position himself under Nishihara whilst he fell above him. A set of blood-crimson tears swelled up and rushed down the lieutenant's face, he sighed a little, curling his right fist back.

'Nishihara... There's a clear reason why you can't beat me. And if you have to ask, then you're as blind as I am...'

All Nishihara felt was the aftermath. His spine cracked violently against Raiden's fist as he had plunged right onto a well-placed uppercut. Blood rained out violently from Nishihara's mouth, his arms dangled for a moment, the suit attempting to recover his wounds quickly, yet not fast enough. A flare of lighting flashed out before Raiden's eyes as he lowered Nishihara down, kicking him with full force across the platform, into a burning wreck of a ship.

'You're still too weak, after all this time. It's a shame.'

Metal plating scattered out and fell from the wreck as Nishihara stumbled out, barely able to stand upright. A slight smile tugged on the corner of his lips.

'That's true... I am the weak one... Ain't that right... Kanesaki!'

Eyes suddenly widened, now aware, Raiden's whole body spin around as a flash of lighting covered his body. All he saw was blood, all he felt was a sudden pierce through his chest. Looking across, to the other end of the spear, Kanesaki stood, bloodied and broken, yet standing with a sadistic smirk, eyes both lifeless yet exited. A slight drop of blood slipped out from Raiden's mouth, his head tilting down at his own spear embedded into his body.

'Heh... Hold this, would ya..?'

Nishihara chuckled weakly from the ruined ship. Raiden moved his hand to grab the spear and yank it out from his body, looking Kanesaki dead in the eyes as he did so. 'Hm... All of that for a mere flesh wound. Pathetic of the two of you.' Kanesaki's eyes lit up and shuddered slightly as he watched the wound seal itself by the time Raiden was done talking. Sighing raggedly, Nishihara recovered the Odachi and limped out of the flaming wreck. Ah shit... He's getting proper now isn't he..?

Raiden's eyes widened as a wave of lighting shot out, pushing the two back. Yet another tear of blood emerged from the lieutenant's eye, his whole body seemingly coated in lighting now. Drawing his blade, Kanesaki threw his coat over his head and onto the floor, leaving him with his pitch black shirt on, sleeves rolled up and bloodied, black gloves. Wiping some blood from his mouth, the Chimera smirked, ready to die killing this lieutenant bastard.

Chapter 19- end