chapter 14

Chapter 10:

Nathaniel's Point of View

As I continued trailing Zhui, I never anticipated the sudden clash with Eskapa forces. They'd managed to strike her, weakening her for capture. The smoke around us began to dissipate, and her foes—Eskapa soldiers—waited, poised for her next move.

From above, Nyabu leapt down to Toto, cautioning him. "Stay alert, Toto. Facing a Soul Eater like her is no joke," she warned.

Toto rose, reminding his companion of the Soul Eaters' dreaded ability to devour souls, a power enabled by their capacity to grasp a being's essence with a mere touch. This talent instilled fear across Endoryo, branding them as a plague to be avoided.

Moments later, Zhui burst from the building through the hole she'd crashed through. With a fierce cry, she charged, sword in hand. "First Burning Technique: Flame Burst!!" she roared.

Toto stood firm, countering with a powerful punch. Undeterred, Zhui followed with, "Second Burning Sword Technique: Flame Dragon Slash!!" pressing her attack to ensure damage.

To her shock, Toto's presence remained unchanged. She realized her violet flames—the Rabaikasyu's fire, capable of burning an enemy's energy, including protective barriers—had no effect. His shield was extraordinary. "He's incredibly resilient—barely touched by Rabaikasyu's flames," she whispered.

As she processed this, she noticed only one foe before her, realizing she'd missed Nyabu's movement during her last strike. "Wait—where's her partner?" she muttered.

A chilling voice and presence emerged behind her. Nyabu had flanked her, feet poised to strike. "Seventh Katsuki Technique: Mighty Impact!" she shouted, unleashing a devastating stomp.

Zhui leapt to evade, but Nyabu's speed was relentless, closing in to prevent escape. "Think you can outrun an Akatsuki like me?" Nyabu taunted.

The Katsuki, a renowned wild cat lineage from the Great Forest, possessed innate speed rivaling Crimson-enhanced beings. As Zhui had feared, her eyes couldn't track Nyabu's movements.

Capitalizing on her swiftness, Nyabu struck before Zhui could prepare. "Eighth Katsuki Technique: Power Kick!" The force sent Zhui skyward, her sword slipping free.

Before she could recover mid-air, Nyabu pursued, delivering a downward kick. "Great Damage!!" Zhui plummeted, crashing to the ground. Even her serpentine scales cushioned the blow, but pain seared through her.

Writhing, she knew time was critical—laxity could lead to capture. Forcing herself up, she thought, "This is bad—her attacks are too strong for my first form's armor."

She recognized her scales' limits, needing more energy for defense, but her reserves were dwindling. As she strategized, Toto struck from behind, offering no reprieve. "I didn't sense him approaching," she gasped.

Turning, she faced Toto's massive hand clamping her face. Without hesitation, he slammed her into the street. "Power Slam!" he bellowed. Holding her head, he flung her, sending her skidding, her body weakening from the assault.

Zhui knew she couldn't match Nyabu's speed or breach Toto's defense—she was outmatched. "I need to escape this place," she whispered.

Trembling and frail, she struggled to rise, but the duo wouldn't allow it. As she knelt, Nyabu charged, kicking her back down. Seizing Zhui's arm, Nyabu pressed a foot to her face. "Did you really think we'd let a plague like you escape?" she sneered.

Zhui's strength waned, her energy fading, insufficient for a counterattack. Yet, escape remained her goal. Nyabu's grip on her arms hindered movement, pushing her to her limits. Just as hope dwindled, an unexpected savior arrived.

Nathaniel shoved Nyabu away, freeing Zhui. Bravely stepping between them, he blocked Nyabu. "Let her go!" he shouted.

Even Nyabu was startled by his boldness. "What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Leave her alone—I won't let you hurt my friend!" he replied, surprising even himself. Despite his fear, he acted to prevent Zhui's capture by Eskapa, a pivotal plot point in his comic that could unravel everything.

Zhui, incredulous, watched this ordinary human risk his life. "What are you doing? Are you insane?" she asked, sitting up from her fall.

Nathaniel stood firm, vowing not to leave until Eskapa released her. Nyabu scoffed, calling his defense absurd. "I've no time for your games—stop interfering!" she snapped.

Nathaniel knew Eskapa followed laws, sparing those without crimes. "Suwi's done nothing wrong—why are you capturing her?" he challenged.

Nyabu's tone shifted, warning him. "Don't you know about Soul Eaters? Or have her lies deceived you?" She explained their dark energy drove malevolent acts, their thirst for spirit energy enabling soul consumption, labeling them a scourge needing eradication for Endoryo's safety.

Nathaniel, aware of this, defended Zhui. "You're wrong! Suwi's different from her kind!" he insisted.

Nyabu grimaced, scratching her head in disbelief that a human—Soul Eaters' favored prey—would defend one. "You're out of your mind to claim she's unique. How do we handle this? It's our duty to eliminate threats, yet here you are, disrupting us," she added.

Zhui sensed Nyabu's aura flaring in her hands, prompting her to act. She grabbed Nathaniel's clothing, tossing him aside. "Move!" she ordered.

Seizing Nyabu's arms, she blocked the impending strike, struggling against her claws. Nyabu dropped, pulling Zhui down, then kneed her jaw, breaking the hold. With feline agility, Nyabu struck again from behind. "Katsuki Claw Strike!!" Zhui fell, her strength failing as she tried to rise.

Approaching, Nyabu declared, "Millions have vanished, devoured by Soul Eaters like you. Peace in Endoryo hinges on your kind's extinction—no personal grudge, just necessity."

Meanwhile, Nathaniel, sprawled and aching from his tumble, forced himself up. "Ouch," he winced, realizing Eskapa soldiers had arrived—a dire turn. "Why are Eskapa soldiers here? This is bad," he muttered.

He knew Zhui's capture couldn't happen; her death at their hands—fueled by hatred for Soul Eaters—deviated from his comic's original plot, where the Seventh Blade, Yuki, with XXV's aid, apprehended her. Rising, he glanced at the scene, hesitant to intervene despite knowing the stakes.

He saw Nyabu kicking the unconscious Zhui, blaming her for Endoryo's tragedies. "Because of you, so many have lost everything!" Nyabu raged.

Despite his fear, Nathaniel couldn't stay silent. "Stop that!" he yelled, his voice breaking with concern.