Chapter 23: Team Kazami vs. Team Xi

Shoto lowered his sword, his breathing steady but his eyes locked cautiously on his cousin, Zan-Xi. The tension in the air was palpable. Behind Zan-Xi, Juxo swaggered over to his leader, patting the gun-wielder on the shoulder with a wide grin.

"Aw, come on, Zanny boy! You gotta let me hit him just once—"

A sudden, sharp glare from Zan-Xi silenced Juxo immediately. The delinquent froze, his grin vanishing as he quickly fell into line. Zan-Xi chuckled softly, holstering his strange white pistol before turning his attention back to Shoto.

"You've got something I want," Zan-Xi said, pointing directly at the dark, glowing sword in Shoto's hand. "Something I've been waiting for."

Shoto raised the sword slightly, its crimson core pulsing faintly as he held it closer to his face.

"What's he talking about?" Yumiko whispered to her brother Ryuji, leaning closer to his ear.

Ryuji shrugged, his tone dismissive. "Beats me. Probably just spouting a load of bullsh—"

"I'm not spouting bull!" Zan-Xi snapped, cutting off Ryuji with a glare that made Yumiko retreat behind her brother. He smirked, gesturing toward the blade in Shoto's hand. "That right there is a God Sword. And judging by the way you're holding it, you haven't even unlocked its true abilities yet."

Shoto's grip on the sword faltered as he stared at it, his confident facade crumbling into panic. "G-God Sword?" he stammered, his voice trembling.

Neko hopped onto Hikaru's shoulder, his sharp gaze fixed on Zan-Xi. "He's telling the truth," the cat confirmed. "That sword is called Zamroak. One of the Sacred Swords of Myalis Velios, King Remedus himself wielded it."

Zan-Xi's cocky grin widened as he stepped forward, placing a hand on his bent knee in a mockingly casual pose. "That's right. Veilios is one of the most powerful Sacred Swords in existence along with the god sword you have. And yet, here it is… in the hands of someone who doesn't even know how to use it. What a waste."

Shoto stared at him, his fear mounting as his friends gathered closer.

Zan-Xi's voice took on a mocking tone as he gestured at the group. "And you call yourselves warriors? Look at you—what a bunch of goofy little clowns. You're not worthy of wielding swords like that!"

"Goofy? Clowns?!" the group shouted in unison, their indignation echoed by Shoto's growing frustration.

Shoto tried to step back toward his friends, but Neko grinned mischievously, clearly inspired by an idea.

"I've got it!" the cat declared. "Let's settle this with a challenge. A team battle! Eight of us against eight of you!"

Everyone froze, turning to stare at Neko. Shoto's panic exploded as he darted forward and snatched the cat off Hikaru's shoulder.

"That's NOT happening!" Shoto shouted. "If he wants the sword so bad, he can just take it! I don't care about some God or sacred—"

Zan-Xi burst into laughter, the sound dark and ominous as he tilted his head back. The laugh echoed across the riverbank, silencing everyone.

"Sounds like a great idea," Zan-Xi said, his eyes glinting with sinister amusement.

Shoto's face turned pale as Zan-Xi continued, his voice booming with glee. "The eight of you," he said, drawing out the words for effect, "versus the eight of us. And we'll fight… for the Sacred Swords of Myalis!"

Hikaru's sharp gaze darted toward Juxo, who was grinning ear to ear. Ren, Yuumo, Ryuji, and Endo exchanged nervous glances, their unease growing as they sized up Zan-Xi's team.

Far away, Hina slept soundly at her desk in the student council office, buried under piles of paperwork. On the school rooftop, Tetsuya lay back with his arms behind his head, basking in the sunlight, blissfully unaware of the chaos brewing below.

Zan-Xi took a step back, his grin widening as he pointed a finger at Endo. "We start tomorrow, at midnight," he announced, his tone dripping with menace. "And we'll begin with you."

Endo froze, his usually carefree expression replaced by sheer panic.

Zan-Xi turned, his group beginning to retreat into the distance. Juxo threw one last smirk over his shoulder at Hikaru before following the others. The remaining six members of Zan-Xi's team remained in shadow, their identities concealed, but their ominous presence sent a chill through the air.

Shoto sank to his knees, trembling as the weight of the situation crushed him. His mind raced, spiraling into despair.

"We're going to die…" he thought, his heart pounding.