Chapter Eleven: "Hard Loss"

Chapter Eleven: "Hard Loss"

Rengoku's High School days in Tenkai High Arc – Part III

🕷️ Spider's Nest — Unknown Location

Yukari's body hung suspended in a massive web spun from spiritual thread and corrupted soul essence that sucked away her powers and energy little by little. Her limbs twitched. Her spirit beads pulsed weakly, some shattered.

Across from her, Rein Asaka — no longer a student, but something else — crouched in human-spider hybrid form. His once-smiling face was cold, angular, monstrous.

"Your soul threads are exquisite, Yukari. Each one… a door I can rip open.".says Rein

She spat blood, glaring at him.

"You'll never learn my seals, he will come and destroy you". Yukari shouted angrily.

"I don't need to learn them. I just need to break them",Rein grinned.

"I know he will come, he's the so called class' brightest". He added.

He slammed a palm against her chest, forcing cursed energy through her soul and dropping her to the ground surrounded by thorns of spider spikes. She screamed from pain and anger, her spirit beads shattering one by one.

They were given to her by her mother, before she died in the war.

Rengoku, cloaked in flame, tore across the barrens with Seta beside him. His eyes were locked, focused, wild.

"Rein's trail is fading. He's cloaking himself." Seta pointed.

"Then I'll burn through every shadow in this damned forest until I find him."

Suddenly — a shriek".says an angry Rengoku.

"Yukari's voice".

Rengoku stopped breathing.

He turned.

"I heard her."

They sprinted further into the forest.

The pair found the hidden ruin entrance — a split temple twisted by dark webbing and overgrown symbols.

As they entered—

Boom!

They were ambushed from the sides by three Rein clones, each shapeshifted with twisted forms: one with scythe arms, one spider-legged, one completely mist.

Seta charged one down. Rengoku exploded in flames, spinning through two — but the third clone stabbed his shoulder mid-spin.

Rengoku roared, grabbing the blade still in his flesh and burning it and the entity away with his bare hands, he burned them all.

The chamber shattered as he burst through the barrier — and saw her.

Yukari.

Bloodied, on the floor. Her spirit nearly gone.

She looked up, eyes glassy.

"You're late… flame boy."yukari whispers

Rein stepped from the shadows, no longer grinning.

"She held on longer than expected. I was almost impressed and I knew you would come, you were always the bright star of the school, going on here and there with your fire power and your GIRLFRIEND!."

Yukari screams as a sword Pierces her hand leaving a sharp pain.

Rengoku spoke: "Rein, I swear I will kill you, let her go, this is between us"

"Stop this madness", seta spoke.

"Why are you doing this?", She added.

"W.....w.....why.....am I doing this?". He said laughing then he continued.

"He always stole the spotlight, pushed me aside, acted like the strongest, when are we going to shine huhhn?"

"Now, I'll is my ultimate weapon",he added.

As Rengoku was about to attack him, but,....

Rein, formed a sign and shouted:

Ryoiki Tenkai: Kanpeki no Taigensha

(Domain Expansion: Embodiment of Perfection)

They were engulfed into his domain. The surrounding was void and quiet and was filled with different twisted forms of Rein.

"It took me great difficulty to create this domain but it's ready at last".

Seta spoke: "stop this madness Rein, it doesn't have to go this way".

"Shut the crap Seta, or should I say... faithful servant". He said teasingly but also in a mean way.

As Remember was about to move Rein, rose his hands, looked at Rengoku, looked away and closed his palm.

The sword surrounding Yukari drove into her body, stabbing her from all possible directions.

Then Ren advanced to attack Rein but he vanished into flocks of crows, one of his techniques.

Then he spoke: "See you later flame boy".

He laughed sinisterly and vanished into the sky.

Ren ran all the way to where Yukari was, he burned the swords and set her free.

"Yukari! ,Yukari!"., Shouted Ren, tears in his eyes.

"Don't cry. It doesn't suit you…"

She smiled weakly, touching his burned cheek.

"Burn.....for both of us, and remember....i...love....you.". Tears dripped from her eyes and her hand dropped.

Her soul faded into her last remaining bead.

The string snapped.

Yukari Tsukihara died in silence.

His flame erupted—not red, not orange—pure white fire wrapped in black. He screamed at the top of his voice. "YUKARIIIIIII!".

The stone cracked beneath his feet.

He carried her and headed for Tenkai high, followed by Seta, with tears dropping from her cheeks for a friend she would never see smile again. The field was silent. Yukari's grave bore the Tsukihara emblem and her soul bead.

Rengoku didn't speak at the ceremony.

He just stood there, flame flickering gently at his side.

The final words he whispered before turning away:

"You once said I had nothing worth burning for…but....now I burn for you,I'll find him and destroy him, I'll MAKE HIM PAY!."

To Be Continued…