Ch.6-Drakness clashes

The air in the forest battlefield was thick with tension, the lingering shockwaves from the ambush still crackling through the trees.

Blade Taizuka wiped the blood from his lips, his grip on Kamikaze and Kazeshin tightening. He could still feel the force of Croitoshi's strike reverberating through his body. That bastard had gotten stronger.

To his right, Kibito Akammi knelt on one knee, his breath ragged. Hanami's devastating axe had nearly shattered his ribs, but his eyes still burned with determination.

Ahead of them, Croitoshi and Hanami stood side by side, their expressions amused, as if they weren't even trying yet.

"Come on," Croitoshi mocked, flipping his sword lazily in his hand. "This is boring. You guys were supposed to be Phoenix Order's strongest recruits, right?"

Blade's jaw clenched. We can't win like this. Not alone.

Suntaro, barely pulling himself out of the rubble from Hanami's last attack, coughed. "Tch… Damn, these guys don't play around."

Kagami took a stance beside him, her ice katana, Kakori, still shimmering with frost. Her usually calm expression was hardened with focus.

"They're stronger than before," she said. "Something's different about them."

Blade didn't doubt it. The last time they fought Croitoshi, he had been dangerous—but not this overwhelming.

Which meant one thing.

They were holding back before.

---

The Enemy's Power Unleashed

Croitoshi's smirk widened as he stretched his arms. "Alright, no more games."

Then—his aura flared.

The energy around him turned pitch black, crackling with unstable power. The ground beneath him splintered as his presence alone warped the air around them.

Blade's stomach twisted. This aura… it's unnatural.

Hanami followed suit, gripping Yeziro, the Battle Axe, his energy spiking with monstrous force. The ground beneath him cracked as his muscles tensed, his body radiating pure destruction.

Blade exhaled sharply, steadying himself. If we take them lightly, we're dead.

---

A United Front

Kagami spoke first. "We have to work together. If we keep fighting one-on-one, we won't last."

Kibito wiped blood from his mouth, rising to his feet. "Yeah, no kidding."

Suntaro cracked his neck, electricity flickering around him. "Alright, then. Let's hit them all at once."

Blade nodded. This was their only chance.

They moved as one.

Suntaro's lightning struck first—he shot forward like a bolt, his Thunder Blade, Raitaro, crackling with electricity.

At the same time, Kagami unleashed a wave of frost, her ice expanding across the battlefield, locking Croitoshi and Hanami's footing in place.

Kibito's sword, Makashi, erupted in flames, and he followed Suntaro's lead, aiming straight for Hanami.

Blade dashed toward Croitoshi, his dual swords glowing with balance energy, ready to end this fight.

---

Clash of Powers

Croitoshi grinned as he parried Blade's first strike, their swords clashing with an explosion of force.

"You really think teamwork's gonna help you?" Croitoshi taunted, his speed suddenly doubling, forcing Blade on the defensive.

Blade grit his teeth, countering as fast as he could. "I think it's better than fighting alone."

Meanwhile—

Hanami swung his massive axe, but Kagami's ice locked his legs in place for just a moment—long enough for Suntaro and Kibito to attack at once.

"Blazing Thunder!" Suntaro and Kibito shouted together.

A fusion attack of fire and lightning slammed into Hanami's chest, the impact sending him skidding back, smoke rising from his body.

But Hanami only laughed, wiping the blood from his lips. "Nice hit. My turn."

With inhuman speed, he counterattacked.

His axe swung like a hurricane, and before Kibito or Suntaro could dodge—

BOOM!

The impact sent both of them flying, their bodies smashing through the trees.

"Shit!" Blade hissed, trying to move toward them—

But Croitoshi blocked him with a single step.

"You're not going anywhere," he sneered.

---

Blade's Awakening

Blade's pulse pounded in his ears. His instincts were screaming at him.

They couldn't win like this.

Not unless he unlocked something more.

His grip tightened on Kamikaze and Kazeshin, his mind racing.

Think. Think. Think.

Then—he felt it.

A familiar warmth surged through him.

Balance.

It wasn't about raw power. It wasn't about speed. It was about control.

Blade inhaled, focusing everything he had.

The energy inside him began to shift—his aura splitting between Yin and Yang.

His left sword, Kazeshin, pulsed with a deep, calming energy, steady and controlled.

His right sword, Kamikaze, roared with unstable, unpredictable power.

Croitoshi's eyes narrowed. "Oh? What's this?"

Blade exhaled, feeling his mind clear, his senses sharpen.

This… this was what his swords had been trying to show him.

The power of Kazeshin's balance and Kamikaze's chaos, working in perfect harmony.

He moved.

This time, Croitoshi couldn't keep up.

Blade disappeared in a blink, reappearing at Croitoshi's side before he could react.

With one fluid motion, Blade slashed.

A direct hit.

Croitoshi stumbled back, clutching his chest. His cloak torn, blood dripping from the wound.

For the first time—he looked shocked.

Blade pointed his swords at him, his eyes cold.

"This fight is over."

---

The Enemy Retreats

Croitoshi growled, stepping back. "Tch… Looks like I underestimated you."

Hanami, who had been about to attack again, paused. He glanced at Croitoshi, then at Blade.

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Guess that's enough fun for today."

Then—just like that—they turned and disappeared into the shadows.

The battle was over.

For now.

---

Aftermath

Blade fell to one knee, his strength nearly drained.

Kagami rushed to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Blade exhaled, looking at his dual swords, still glowing faintly.

"...I figured something out."

Suntaro groaned as he pulled himself up, wiping the blood from his face. "Damn, those guys were no joke."

Kibito winced, but grinned. "At least we didn't die."

Kagami let out a sigh. "We need to be stronger before we face them again."

Blade stared in the direction their enemies had fled.

Croitoshi had recognized him.

And that meant one thing.

This wasn't the last time they would fight.

As the first light of dawn broke through the trees, Blade stood up, his resolve stronger than ever.

"Let's go," he said. "Mount Akatsuki awaits."

To Be Continued....

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