Chapter 9 - Kiyoshi

"Ahh, Greed, can't even handle a few kids?" Lust stepped forward, a smirk on her face.

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, help me get the gauntlet back," Greed replied with an irritated grunt.

Back on Izumi's side, he turned to Raidon.

"Sir Raidon, does this building have some kind of safety mechanism? Anything that can help right now?"

"Yes, but… the control room is at the top of the building. It's in my private office."

Izumi clenched his jaw, turning to Aoshi.

"Aoshi, go with Raidon. Get there fast. I'll try to hold them off—"

"I'll go," Kiyoshi cut in, stepping forward. His voice was steady despite the burn wrapped around his arm. "I'll protect Raidon."

"But you're injured!" Izumi protested.

"It's fine. It's just the skin—it didn't go deep."

Everyone paused, then nodded in agreement. As Kiyoshi and Raidon began to move, Izumi stepped toward the villains to buy them time.

"Hey. What are you after?" Izumi called out. "And why did Narita Mall have to become a massacre?"

The three villains turned slowly, confused.

"Why do you care, pretty boy?" Lust teased.

Izumi's voice rose, trembling with fury. "I'm only going to ask once more... Why did my friend have to DIE for that?!"

Aoshi froze. She knew that voice. The pain behind it. She clenched her fists as Izumi charged forward—not like himself, but consumed by rage.

---

Meanwhile...

Kiyoshi and Raidon rushed through the halls. Raidon suddenly stopped mid-step, looking down.

A puddle of blood.

"Be careful. There's something ahead."

They both stared into the shadowed hallway. A soft pitter-patter echoed.

From the dark, a white rabbit appeared... followed by a pack of monkeys.

"RUN!" Raidon shouted.

They bolted. A monkey nearly grabbed Raidon's collar, but Kiyoshi struck it off. The two locked themselves in a nearby bathroom, panting.

"What even was that?!" Kiyoshi gasped.

Looking around, he spotted a ceiling vent.

"Hey, think we can crawl through there? I've seen it in movies!"

Raidon gave a reluctant nod. Moments later, they emerged near the top floor. Raidon punched in a code, and the doors slid open to reveal—

A massive control room, full of screens, robotic arms, and tech.

"Are you secretly Tony Starks cousin or something?" Kiyoshi whispered, awestruck.

"The safety mechanism switch... should be over there—ah, got it." Raidon slammed the button.

A loud mechanical rumble echoed throughout the building.

"done,lets get back to them and help"said Kiyoshi hurriedly.

"are you really going there empty handed?"raidon ask while smirking.

---

Back to the Fight

Izumi's punch toward Greed was intercepted—by Sloth.

"What… was that speed?" Izumi gasped.

Sloth grabbed Izumi's arm and hurled him into the wall. Thud! Izumi crumpled, dazed.

Aoshi dashed in, kicking at Sloth, but his hands moved with martial precision, blocking every strike with minimal effort.

From the side, a lion leapt at her—then WHAM! The flying cube slammed into the beast, knocking it away.

From across the room, Izumi, bruised and dizzy, raised his hand. The cube pulsed faintly—his command still active.

Then—the floor shook. A section of the ceiling tiles exploded as a giant mech descended into the room.

On top of it stood Kiyoshi, bandaged arm and all, holding what looked like a long, gleaming rapier.

"KIYOSHI!" Izumi called out.

The mech began trading blows with the villains. Kiyoshi dropped down and knelt beside Izumi.

"You alright?"

"Behind you!" Izumi shouted.

Without looking, Kiyoshi stabbed behind him—piercing the lion mid-air.

His eyes turned cold. A dangerous smile crept across his face.

"Thought so."

Izumi stared at him—something about Kiyoshi had changed. He was calm. But deadly.

The flying cube floated back to Izumi, then dimmed and dropped into his hands like it had shut down.

"Out of power already...? Kiyoshi—is that mech the safety mechanism?"

"Yeah. Raidon's controlling it from the control room."

Lust stepped forward as Greed and Sloth clashed with the mech.

"You killed my lion," she hissed. "Don't you know lions live in packs? And now the queen… is hunting you."

Kiyoshi smirked, tightening his grip on the rapier.

"And sadly, the queen and her pack… will become my prey."

He turned to Aoshi.

"Ready?"

"Always."

Kiyoshi tossed his rapier.

"SWITCH!"

Aoshi tossed her gauntlet mid-air—Kiyoshi caught it with his left arm, Aoshi caught the rapier mid-spin.

They landed side by side, eyes locked on the enemy.