Chapter 12- The Power of Allies

"P-President?!"

The word escapes my mouth before I can even think. Standing between me and Hayato, effortlessly neutralizing the destructive lightning into a flurry of glowing, delicate petals, is none other than The BloodThorn Witch, and The Hyakuren President, Ruby Scarlett.

She glances over her shoulder at me, "Déjà vu… huh, Takumi?"

I can barely process what just happened, but one thing is clear—Ruby-san just... just saved my life. Yet again.

"Takumi-kun!"

I turn to see panicked Shizuka-san rushing toward me. Her hands are already glowing with that familiar healing energy as she kneels beside me. "Oh no, no, no! You're a mess! What did you do this time?"

"I—uh—I don't," I manage to say, still trying to catch my breath. Everything feels like a blur. My head's spinning.

"Hold still," she says quickly. Her small hands move over my bruises, casting her healing magic. "Honestly, do you even care about your body? You're not made of steel, Takumi-kun!"

As her healing energy soothes the pain, I look over to Ruby-san. She's standing calmly in front of Hayato, who's frozen in place. His dark aura is pulsing but unable to move. And then, with a flick of her wrist, Ruby-san sends out a red-tinged energy that wraps around Hayato like vines, keeping him restrained.

"Relax, little healer. I've got this," Ruby-san says casually, not even sparing a glance back at us.

Shizuka-san pouts. "You're always so chill, Ruby-chan! This isn't the time to act cool!"

Ruby-san finally looks back with her smirk on. "If I panic, who's gonna hold the fort? You? Him?"

"Ugh, you're impossible!" Shizuka-san mutters, focusing back on me.

Ruby-san's gaze falls on me next, and her expression softens just a bit. "You're not alone, Takumi. I told you that already, didn't I?"

I blink at her, still trying to process everything. "But… Hayato…"

"Hayato's not going anywhere," she interrupts. "Not while I'm here."

Her confidence is steady, like a lighthouse cutting through the storm. Shizuka-san's frantic energy and Ruby-san's unshakable calm clash in the air.

Hmph... I already know I was not alone in this. The HYAKUREN is here alright!

As Shizuka-san's healing glow fades, I sit up slowly, still feeling like I just got run over by a stampede. "Wait… how did you even get here? Weren't you back at the base?"

Ruby-san smirks, crossing her arms as if the answer is obvious. "We've got that nerd Kaito with us, remember? He's useful for more than just his arrows."

I nod slowly. "Right… it does seem like his doing."

"But!" Shizuka-san interrupts, puffing out her cheeks like a child trying to make a point. "It's all thanks to Yora-kun! He's the real genius!"

"Yora?" I ask, confused.

She brightens up, waving her hands excitedly. "Yes! He invented the… uh…" She pauses, clearly struggling to remember. "What was it called again?"

Ruby-san rolls her eyes. "The Omni-Seishin Locator 3000," she says with exaggerated flair, mocking the ridiculous name.

Shizuka-san claps her hands. "That's it! It's this amazing radar thingy that can track Seishinsu signatures, even in the middle of nowhere! Yora-kun said he calibrated it to your energy after your little chat with Kaito-san earlier. That's how we found you!"

"Omni-Seishin Locator 3000?" I echo, raising an eyebrow. "That sounds… unnecessarily complicated."

Ruby-san chuckles. "That's the fatty for you. His scraps sound like he's building a sci-fi empire. It's just a radar. A fancy one."

Shizuka-san frowns, puffing her cheeks again. "It's not just a radar! It's super advanced! It tracked you perfectly, didn't it? You should be grateful!"

I raise my hands defensively. "Okay, okay, I'm grateful. Really. You guys saved me."

"Of course we did. You're one of us. And besides…" Ruby-san gives me a knowing look. "You've got a knack for getting into trouble. Someone has to bail you out."

"Hey!"

"Ruby-chan's not wrong," Shizuka-san teases. "You're like a magnet for chaos, Takumi-kun!"

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the vote of confidence, you two."

Ruby-san smirks again. "Don't sweat it. Just don't make a habit of almost dying, okay? It's exhausting."

Shizuka-san nods eagerly. "Yes! I don't have endless energy to keep patching you up, you know!"

Despite the situation, their banter makes the cave feel a little less cold, a little less suffocating. Even with Hayato standing—restrained—there, his dark aura is still pulsing, I can't help but feel a spark of hope. We can bring him back. We can help him.

But then..,

Hayato's body starts struggling. It pulses more and more Seishin, trying to break free from Ruby-san's hold. The dark aura around him is crackling violently, the cave walls are trembling under the sheer pressure of his power, his corrupted lightning is surging and sparks are flying as he grits his teeth.

But Ruby-san? She just stands there, one hand lazily raised, her fingers twitching slightly as if controlling a puppet. It deepens her smirk, "Oh?" she muses, tilting her head. "Still got some fight in you, huh?"

Hayato lets out a low growl. His red eyes flicker and his muscles strain as he attempts to break free. The air is growing heavy, charged with his unstable energy. And the cave floor beneath him has begun to crack.

Ruby-san, however, doesn't seem the least bit concerned. If anything, she looks entertained. "You're really going all out," she chuckles. "How adorable."

She flicks her wrist slightly, and in an instant, the pressure around Hayato tightens. His body trembles, trying to push forward, but the President merely sighs, shaking her head like a teacher watching a stubborn student.

"Come onnn, Hayato-kunnn..," she says. "Don't you get it? You're not going anywhere."

Hayato clenches his teeth. His corrupted lightning is now sparking wildly as he forces more power into his limbs. His entire body is trembling and the eyes are glowing ominously. The very air around him has been distorted, the waves of dark energy are rippling outward, it's making the cave shudder. He's somehow giving off the same vibes as... Crimson.

Whereas, Ruby-, unfazed, lets out a small whistle. "Wow, you're really giving it your all, huh?" She crosses her arms, still smirking. "But, uh… all that power, and you still can't move? Kinda embarrassing, don't you think?"

No matter how much he fights, he is unable to break free. Her magic is indeed powerful. Well, that's why she is our President.

She then taps her chin thoughtfully. "Y'know, this kinda reminds me of a little fly caught in a spider's web. Struggling so hard, buzzing so loud… but in the end?" She flicks her fingers again, making his movements halt entirely. "It's just stuck."

I watch her, completely overwhelmed by the difference in the power. This is Hayato at his strongest… and Ruby-san's just... playing with him.

But now... Hayato's aura pulses more violently. His lightning turns even more chaotic. The entire cave rumbles and small chunks of rock start to fall from above. His corrupted power is growing way stronger now. Will she be able to keep up?

Still unfazed, she raises an eyebrow. "Ooooh, getting serious now? Alright, alright, I get it," she says, dramatically waving her hand. "You're not a fan of being tied up. Can't say I blame you. But, don't you worry kiddo... I'm gonna fulfill your wish then."

And just like that—she lets him go.

The moment the bind disappears, Hayato lunges forward at an unnatural speed. His lightning bursts from his feet as he shoots straight toward Ruby-san.

But still... she? She simply rolls her shoulders, cracking her neck and widening her everlasting smirk.

"Alrighty, then," she says, flexing her fingers. "Let's see what you've got, Lightning Boy."

Their fight starts..,

Hayato's body vanishes in a crackle of black lightning. A blink later, he's right in front of Ruby-san, his sword already slashing down.

But she's already gone.

She sidesteps at the last second flickering like an illusion. Hayato's blade slams into the stone floor, splitting it apart with a deafening crack. The ground trembles. Dust and debris shoot into the air.

"Hoo~" She whistles, casually hopping back. "Close one."

Hayato doesn't let up. With a feral snarl, he swings again, faster, wilder. His corrupted lightning leaves jagged streaks in the air, illuminating the dark cave with ominous flashes. Each slash is relentless, but Ruby-san—calm as ever—twists and weaves through them like she's dancing.

"You call that swordsmanship?" she teases, dodging another strike effortlessly. "I've seen toddlers with wooden sticks do better."

Hearing that, his eyes burn with a fury that's almost unrecognizable, and without wasting another second, he yet again charges at Ruby-san with his sword raised high.

She doesn't even flinch. She just watches him charge with a smirk on her lips. "Is this the only thing you can do, Oscuro?"

With a swift twist of her body, she sidesteps the strike, and again the sword only cuts through air instead of flesh. "Hmph... you're going to have to try harder than that."

Hayato growls in frustration, his gaze wild. The air around him is now crackling with violent energy. His sword swings again, faster now. The sheer force of his blows sends shockwaves through the space, but of course Ruby-san remains unfazed. She weaves between his strikes with ease, her movements graceful and precise, a dance of evasion.

Each time his sword comes close, she dodges with a fluid motion like a blur of speed. "Come on, I thought you were better than this."

His breathing quickens. The red glow in his eyes deepens, and with a savage roar, he lunges at her once more, this time with a series of rapid, vicious strikes. His body moves like a blur, each swing faster than the last, the speed overwhelming.

Her smirk now slips into something a little more serious. She's still fast enough to avoid him, but she feels the intensity in his attacks. It's clear he's pushing himself to his limits, and she knows this can't go on much longer.

But she stays calm. She twirls to the side again, barely avoiding another swing. "You know what?"... "You're movements are... way slower than that jerk Crimson."

Obviously he's not thinking clearly. She can see it in his eyes, in every brutal, frantic movement. He's no longer the Hayato we know—he's lost himself to this power, this rage. And that's dangerous.

Ruby-san's expression is now hardening. She can't let him get worse. "Enough," she says.

Hayato doesn't hear her, though. His each wild swing is meant to overpower her. The air is charged with raw energy as his Seishin pulses with dark power.

"You've really fallen off the deep end, haven't you?"

With a sigh, she raises her hand, summoning her staff, The Kagekaōri. It materializes in her grip, a sleek, dark staff with intricate patterns glowing along its length. "I never thought you'd force me to use this," she says with disappointment.

She plants the staff firmly into the ground, shifting her stance. The playful edge to her demeanor has now vanished, replaced by a cold, controlled intensity.

For the first time, Ruby-san seems truly serious.

She locks her eyes onto Hayato's wild form. "This ends now."

With a single wave of her hand, the staff pulses with energy, and the ground beneath them trembles. Her petals—now even more powerful—surges forward in an unstoppable wave. A tidal force that crashes into Hayato, forcing him back with a shockwave that sends him stumbling.

His Seishin flares up violently, but Ruby-san's aura is overwhelming. The clash of their powers sends sparks flying, and the ground cracks beneath their feet as they face off.

The tip of her staff glows brighter. "I warned you."

The staff's presence shifts the atmosphere entirely. It hums with power, its enchantments responds to Ruby-san's will, and its ready to defend or attack as needed.

Hayato's eyes narrow as he watches the power of her staff. For a brief moment, there's a flicker of doubt in his expression, but it's quickly replaced with more rage. His sword crackles with more dark lightning as he calls out his next attack in a distorted voice.

"Raiden Seishin… Kōzan!"

Spirit of Lightning... Light Slash.

With a burst of raw energy, he unleashes slash of lightning crackling through the air. The dark slash flies toward Ruby-san quickly. The attack is fast, brutal, and destructive.

But her stance doesn't waver. She raises her staff, and in a single, fluid motion, she swings the staff downward. With that, an intricate barrier of shimmering petals materializes in front of her. The petals are soft to the eye, yet they hold immense strength. They form a massive wall, and as the slash strikes, the petals glow brightly, absorbing the energy with ease.

The attack is absorbed and dissipated harmlessly into the petals, which shimmer like a calming breeze.

"Show me something different, I'm getting bored," she says in a cool yet mocking voice.

Her petals swirl around her, forming an impenetrable shield that not only blocks Hayato's attack but also reinforces her defenses. The once-stormy air around them has now settled into a serene calm.

Hayato grits his teeth. His chest heavies in frustration, losing control as his attacks nullify at every turn.

Ruby-san's tightens her staff and steps forward. "I'm not here to fight you, Hayato. You need to stop before it's too late. I know for sure that you can hear me from within. After all, well... this isn't exactly my first time seeing a Vorixa-turned-Oscuro, you know."

But he only roars in fury, preparing for another strike, ignoring her words entirely.

And then, dark seishin starts to swirl violently around the tip of his sword, gathering in a tight, ominous vortex. With a swift, forceful slash, he unleashes it—a dark beam, twisted and destructive, surging forward like an unstoppable force. The Oxyno. It tears through the air, an explosion of malevolence aimed straight at Ruby-san.

And it hits the mark. For a split second, the entire room holds its breath, convinced that Ruby-san has been struck. But then, the attack vanishes, dissipating into a shower of delicate petals that flutter in the air like confetti. It was just a decoy. The real Ruby-san is already several steps away.

Without wasting another moment, she grips her staff tightly, "Alright, Hayato... time to turn the tables."

With a simple flick of her wrist, the ground around Hayato erupts in a burst of ethereal beauty—flowers bloom, their petals glowing with an eerie light, swirling around Hayato's body.

"Hana Majutsu... Seimei Kyūshū."

Floral Sorcery... Life Absorption.

The roots of the petals, shimmering with dark magic, sink deep into the ground. As they gather around Hayato, a subtle shift occurs—his strength wanes, his energy being siphoned by the flowers' relentless grip. It's like the life force is draining from him flows into Ruby-san, revitalizing, strengthening her with each passing second. The attack is beautiful, but there's an undeniable eerie quality to it, the power of life and death wrapped in delicate petals.

Hayato's body trembles under the draining effect of Ruby-san's magic. The glowing flowers continue to sap his energy. Their petals wrap around him like chains, restricting his movements. His breaths grow heavier abd heavier and his vision blurs for a moment. But even in this state, his sheer will refuses to let him fall so easily.

With a fierce growl, his aura surges even more—crackling sparks of lightning erupt from his body that scorch the petals around him. His muscles tense as he strains against the magic's grip. His Seishin flares violently. The flowers tremble, struggling to hold him down.

Then, with a deafening crack, he shatters free. A surge of electricity bursts outward, obliterating the floral spell.

Ruby-san raises an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Oh? Not bad," she muses, twirling her staff playfully. "Guess you've still got some fight left."

Hayato doesn't waste a second. The moment he's free, his sword glows with a dark hue, the air around him buzzes with static energy. He grips the hilt tightly and gathers an immense charge on the blade.

Then, in a flash—

"Raiden Seishin... Raigeki!"

Spirit of Lightning... Thunder Vortex.

In an instant, he is everywhere.

Flashes of lightning streak through the air as he slashes relentlessly. His blade cuts through the space around Ruby-san with rapid, precise strikes. Each movement is so quick that it forms a vortex of continuous slashes.

Ruby-san barely has time to react. She twirls her staff, summoning a swirl of petals to shield herself, but Hayato's speed is overwhelming. His attacks land in quick succession, forcing her to dodge with nimble footwork. Her figure weaves between the flashing arcs of his blade.

One particularly close swing slices through her sleeve. She clicks her tongue, spinning her staff to block another strike. "Alright, alright—no need to get so worked up," she mutters, sidestepping another cut just in time. "Tch, you really don't hold back, huh?"

Despite her usual playfulness, there's a sharp glint in her eyes now. Her petals are swirling defensively around her, absorbing most of the impact. But even she knows this can't go on forever.

"Hey, I'll say it again," she calls out, "I know you can hear me in there, Hayato"... "I've seen stronger guys fall to this darkness, but you?"... "You're not the type to give in so easily."

But Hayato doesn't answer. His crimson eyes flicker, his body moves purely on instinct—wild, uncontrollable.

She exhales, tightening her grip on her staff. "Tch. Fine. If you won't listen..." She dodges again, but this time, her petals start glowing faintly. A shift in the air—something is changing.

She plants her staff firmly into the ground. "This is your last warning, Hayato. Either break free from this, or—"

Lightning crackles violently around them. Hayato charges again, his blade drawn back, dark Seishin swirling at the tip.

Ruby-san's smirk fades.

"—or I'll make you."

The petals surrounding her shift, glowing brighter, swirling faster. The air trembles as a powerful force begins to gather around her, an unseen energy building up, waiting to be unleashed.

Something big is about to happen.

"No choice then."

With a twirl of her staff, she sends the petals surge forward—

"Hana Majutsu... Senkōzakura!"

Floral Sorcery... Flashing Cherry Blossoms.

A blinding cascade of cherry blossom petals erupts from around her. They move faster than the eye can follow, directly aimed at Hayato. The glowing projectiles tear through the air like enchanted daggers and the moment they make contact—

BOOM!

Explosions of dazzling light burst across the battlefield that illuminate the cave walls in flashes of pink and gold. Each petal detonates upon impact, sending shockwaves rippling through Hayato's body. The sheer force alone is enough to send cracks splintering across the stone floor, making the entire cavern tremble under the weight of the attack.

For the first time, an attack completely overpowers Hayato. His lightning disperses, and his figure momentarily looses in the radiant storm.

This isn't just any attack. This... is S-class—far beyond anything introduced before. The trump card of Ruby Scarlett. A move fitting for the President of Hyakuren.

The petals then settle and the echoes of the explosions fade into silence. Hayato collapses to the ground, his sword slips from his grasp, his body twitches slightly before going still, but the dark aura around him remains, flickering ominously like dying embers refusing to be snuffed out.

Ruby-san dismisses her staff with a simple wave. The weight of battle lifts, but an unease lingers.

I and Shizuka-san rush to Hayato's side, kneeling beside him. I swallow hard, eyes scanning his unconscious form. "He's out cold…" I mutter, but my voice lacks relief.

Shizuka-san reaches forward cautiously, her usual energy is dimmed by worry. "Then why… why does he still look like that?" she asks, "Shouldn't the Oscurofication fade once he—"

Ruby-san folds her arms, staring at Hayato's unmoving body with narrowed eyes. "That's what should've happened," she says, "Oscurofication withers away once the body gives up. But his…" She tilts her head, intrigued rather than alarmed. "Is there still some fight left in him?"

"Wait, wait, wait—" I shake my hands in front of me, trying to process everything. "I'm totally lost. What the heck is this Oscurofication?"

Ruby-san glances at me, raising an eyebrow like I just asked why fire is hot. "Seriously? You fought those things earlier and never noticed?"

I scratch my head. "I mean… yeah. Never really thought—."

She lets out a sigh, placing a hand on her hip. "Alright, lesson time." She motions to Hayato. "Oscurofication is what happens when an earth being is corrupted by Oscuros. You've seen it before—those creatures you fought were people or animals before they turned, right?"

"Um... yeah." The memory of the bear-turned-Oscuro and the human-turned-Oscuro flash in my mind. "Yeah, but they were already dead…"

"Exactly." She crouches beside Hayato, poking his cheek with her finger like she's testing if he's really out. "The difference here? Hayato's alive." She smirks slightly. "Which means, unlike the others, he might still have a chance to break free."

That catches me off guard. "You're saying… he can be saved?"

She shrugs. "Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing's for sure…" She taps her chin, her eyes glint with something unreadable. "This is getting interesting."

I stare at Hayato's unconscious form. His body is still wrapped in that unsettling darkness. But I know, Hayato… he's still in there. He fought, he resisted, and even now, his body refuses to give up.

He can be saved. The thought feels like a weight lifting off my chest. For a moment, I feared I'd have to fight him until there was nothing left, just like those other poor souls. But if what Ruby-san says is true… if he still has a chance… then I won't let him be taken. Not him.

Hayato has always been strong. Reliable. The guy who walks ahead without hesitation, shouldering everything on his own. I've looked up to him for that. Even though he's blunt and distant, he was always there when it mattered. Whether it was protecting our school or standing against impossible odds, he fought without hesitation. I can't let that strength be swallowed by this darkness.

I glance at Ruby-san, watching as she studies Hayato like this is just another puzzle to solve. The way she handled the fight was something else. I barely stood a chance against Hayato in that state, but she—she toyed with him, blocked his attacks like they were nothing, and when she got serious, she took him down with an S-class spell. It's honestly terrifying.

It's a good thing she's on my side.

If she were against me… I shake my head. Nope. Not even going there.

Still, for all her confidence, she's concerned too—I can see it in the way her eyes linger on Hayato, analyzing him. Maybe she won't say it outright, but she's just as unsure about what happens next.

But one thing is clear. Hayato isn't gone yet. And as long as there's still a chance, I won't back down. Not now. Not ever.