Lose
Kuroshi's hand trembled with power as she unleashed a beam of light at Atanasius, her aim true but the vampire lord's reflexes quicker. Atanasius sidestepped the beam effortlessly, his lips curling into a smirk of satisfaction as he summoned four wolves made of blood to assail Kuroshi.
"Eat her up," Atanasius commanded, his voice dripping with malice as the crimson wolves bounded towards their target.
Undeterred, Kuroshi sprang into action, leaping into the air with agility and grace. With a deft motion, she unleashed a volley of eight balls of light that tore through the wolves, reducing them to nothingness in a burst of radiant energy.
"Hm? You seem more athletic," Atanasius observed, his tone laced with curiosity as he watched Kuroshi's display of skill.
Kuroshi landed gracefully on the ground, her gaze steady as she faced her opponent.
"My hand is no longer human, it's now 12.5% of my Magical Weapon's true power," Kuroshi revealed, her voice tinged with determination.
"Weak," Atanasius scoffed, his disdain evident as he crossed his arms in mockery.
Undeterred, Kuroshi teleported towards Atanasius, her attack swift and precise. But the vampire lord proved elusive, evading her strikes with ease.
"Ah, I see. You're only strong with that one hand. Weak," Atanasius taunted, his arrogance shining through his words.
But before Atanasius could react, Ryoshi appeared from behind him with a single, decisive slash, severing both of his legs in a swift motion.
"Kuroshi, get him!" Ryoshi urged, his voice filled with determination as he rallied his companion.
With a resolute nod, Kuroshi launched herself at Atanasius, her fist aimed squarely at his chest. But Atanasius, resilient as ever, swiftly regenerated his lost limbs and retaliated with a powerful kick to Kuroshi's face.
Kuroshi absorbed the blow, her resolve unyielding even as she slid backward under the force of the impact.
"Yume No Ju Ga Mezameta skill 1: Canon," Kuroshi declared, her voice ringing out with determination.
In an instant, her hand transformed into a cannon of pure energy, crackling with power as she took aim at her foe.
"Goodbye," Kuroshi whispered, her voice filled with resolve as she unleashed a colossal beam of light that tore through the remnants of the battlefield with devastating force.
As the smoke cleared, Kuroshi surveyed the destruction before her, a burning path of devastation stretching out as far as the eye could see, evidence of her unwavering determination and the fierce power she wielded.
"He's dead," Kuroshi declared, her voice steady despite the tumultuous events that had just transpired, her hand reverting back to its normal form.
"Whoa, Kuroshi! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAAAAT?!" Ryoshi exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment as he processed the magnitude of Kuroshi's display.
"Power," Kuroshi replied simply, her tone filled with a quiet confidence that belied the enormity of her feat.
"Dammiiiit, whatever happened must have been so cool! Me being blind, not so cool..." Toruri lamented, his frustration evident as he grappled with his newfound disability.
Kuroshi's gaze shifted, her eyes narrowing in concentration as she noticed something unexpected.
*Loud gasp*
Kuroshi's breath caught in her throat as she spotted a tiny strand of hair amidst the wreckage.
Atanasius reformed before their eyes, his naked form a testament to his resilience and the depths of his power.
"AH WHAT THE...WHY!?" Ryoshi exclaimed, his disbelief evident as he struggled to comprehend the vampire lord's resurgence.
"I AM IMMORTAAAAL!!! YAHAHAHA!" Atanasius proclaimed triumphantly, his laughter echoing through the chamber as he marveled at his own indestructibility.
"Why don't you have clothes on?" Ryoshi questioned, his confusion palpable.
"She did destroy my entire body. Thank goodness I buried some extra clothes outside," Atanasius explained casually, his nonchalance contrasting sharply with the gravity of the situation.
"It would have been destroyed, how?" Ryoshi pressed, his curiosity piqued by Atanasius's revelation.
"Oh, did I say buried?" Atanasius replied coyly, his smirk betraying a hint of amusement as he summoned eight red balls before them.
"Watch and learn," Atanasius declared, placing the balls on various parts of his body. With a flick of his wrist, the balls melted into blood, swirling around him before coalescing into a set of perfectly tailored clothes.
"Ta-da," Atanasius announced, his voice dripping with satisfaction as he admired his newly acquired attire.
"He's showing us a good example of how to use spells in your mind," Kuroshi observed, her tone thoughtful as she analyzed Atanasius's demonstration.
"Wait, you can do that?" Ryoshi asked, his eyes widening with intrigue at the prospect of such mastery over magic.
"Yeah, with enough time and practice, you can practically do any spell in your mind," Kuroshi explained, her voice tinged with a sense of possibility and determination.
"Heh, I guess that's another goal for me!" Ryoshi exclaimed, his enthusiasm undiminished by the challenges that lay ahead.
"Why are you so-" Kuroshi began, her words cut short by Atanasius's unexpected praise.
"I have to say, you're an impressive little girl. Your knowledge of magic is remarkable. You're the first person your age that I've seen ever use a Magical Weapon awakening. You even knew about my spells or at least had enough knowledge to assume that I'm using spells," Atanasius acknowledged, his tone tinged with a begrudging respect for Kuroshi's prowess.
"Thanks? I can also see that you know blood matter magic," Kuroshi responded, acknowledging Atanasius's proficiency with a nod of respect.
"I do in fact know blood matter magic, but I can only use it to a certain extent because I don't use it that often. So I can only turn myself and objects into blood," Atanasius explained, his admission revealing a limitation to his formidable abilities.
"Kuroshi, if you're such an expert on magic, then how come your light attack didn't kill a vampire?" Toruri interjected, his curiosity piqued by the apparent discrepancy.
"I don't know," Kuroshi admitted, her brow furrowing in frustration at the unanswered question.
"Because light magic doesn't kill vampires. It is just very easy to wound a vampire with light magic, same with fire magic and fire in general. The only thing that will permanently hurt us is the sun and sunlight magic," Atanasius clarified, his words carrying the weight of experience and knowledge.
As Atanasius placed the last two balls on his shoulders and transformed them into a cape, a sense of weariness seemed to settle upon him.
"Where were we again?" Atanasius mused, his thoughts momentarily scattered amidst the chaos of battle.
"You dying," Kuroshi replied bluntly, her determination unwavering as she prepared to unleash her next attack.
"Eh? Me what?" Atanasius's confusion was short-lived as Kuroshi's hand transformed into a cannon once more, poised to deliver a devastating blow.
But before Kuroshi could charge her attack, Atanasius vanished from sight, reappearing behind her with a mischievous grin.
"Boo," Atanasius taunted, his finger poised lightly against Kuroshi's back.
Before Kuroshi could react, a thin string of blood snaked from her back, wrapping itself around Atanasius's finger. With a swift yank, Atanasius pulled Kuroshi towards him, seizing her head in his hand with a ruthless grip.
Despite Kuroshi's attempts to resist, Atanasius's fingers pressed into her skull with unnerving force, the sensation sending a jolt of pain coursing through her body as she struggled against his hold.
"This is what happens to humans," Atanasius declared, his voice dripping with malice as he tightened his grip on Kuroshi's head, his fingers digging into her skull with relentless pressure.
"Ryoshi, why aren't you helping Kuroshi?" Toruri demanded, his voice tinged with urgency as he watched his friend suffer.
"Why aren't you helping Kuroshi?" Ryoshi retorted, frustration evident in his tone as he struggled against an unseen force.
"Because he blinded me!" Toruri shot back, his frustration boiling over into anger as he grappled with the consequences of Atanasius's actions.
"Well damn, I don't know why but I can't move right now. It's like he stopped some sort of blood flow," Ryoshi explained, his voice tinged with frustration as he grappled with his own incapacitation.
With a burst of determination, Kuroshi teleported into the sky, escaping Atanasius's grasp, and unleashed a barrage of balls of light. But Atanasius, ever agile, dodged the onslaught with ease.
"Bye," Atanasius taunted, his voice echoing through the air as he unleashed a devastating attack.
The five holes that Atanasius had punctured into Kuroshi's head exploded with blood, sending her tumbling from the sky to land on the hard ground below.
"I can see that you're not dead because your magical weapon is still out," Atanasius observed, his tone laced with satisfaction as he surveyed the aftermath of his attack.
Undeterred, Kuroshi rose to her feet, her resolve unbroken despite the pain and adversity she had endured.
"Atanasius: "Wow, you are sure the determined one, but I know it's time for a finale,"" Atanasius remarked, his tone laced with a sense of anticipation.
"Shut up," Kuroshi retorted, her voice dripping with defiance even as she faced overwhelming odds.
"No. Actually, I'll annoy you more. You see all that damage you caused to my house?" Atanasius gestured towards the walls, where blood poured forth and reformed itself seamlessly.
"Perfect, it looks like nothing changed," he gloated, a smirk playing across his lips as he admired his handiwork.
With a swift motion, Atanasius summoned a giant wave of blood, flooding the room and threatening to engulf them all. Amidst the chaos, Kuroshi, Ryoshi, and Toruri struggled to stay afloat, their survival hanging in the balance.
"I CAN MOVE AGAIN! AND TORURI, YOU CAN SEE AGAIN!!!" Ryoshi exclaimed, his relief palpable as he regained control over his body.
"No, no I can't," Toruri responded, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he grappled with the conflicting sensations assaulting his senses.
"Just uh..." Ryoshi began, freezing the blood to create a makeshift platform for himself. "Swim towards my voice," he instructed, his tone urgent as he sought to guide his friends to safety.
"No need to do that," Atanasius interjected, his voice dripping with malice as he conjured a giant squid made of blood to assail them.
"Canon," Kuroshi attempted to unleash her attack, but before she could, a tentacle of blood emerged from the creature's mass and impaled her leg, sending her crashing to the ground.
"KUROSHI!!!" Ryoshi cried out in alarm, his heart sinking at the sight of his friend's plight.
"Did something bad happen?" Toruri inquired, his confusion evident as he surveyed the scene before him.
"Kuroshi..." Ryoshi murmured, his voice heavy with concern as he knelt beside her fallen form.
"I got good news now. I can see," Toruri announced, his tone oddly cheerful despite the dire circumstances.
"I thought he like... destroyed your eyes or something," Ryoshi remarked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Me too, but he somehow just made blood come from it. No damage to my eyes or nothing, just blood," Toruri explained, his words tinged with disbelief as he processed the strange turn of events.
"Hm..." Toruri's gaze lingered on Kuroshi's bloodied form, his mind racing as he contemplated their next move.
"Kuroshi?...KUROSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!" Toruri's anguished cry echoed through the chaos, his voice filled with desperation as he watched his friend fall.
As Toruri's eyes glowed yellow and he began to transform into his monstrous state, Atanasius watched with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
"Heunae, I thought you died," Ryoshi exclaimed, surprise evident in his voice as he turned to face the unexpected newcomer.
"I've been sitting here this entire time! my Magical Weapon repaired itself before I died, so it sealed my wound," Heunae explained, her voice tinged with resignation as she faced the inevitable.
Atanasius observed the unfolding events with interest, his arms crossed in a display of confidence.
"What does he plan on doing?" Ryoshi wondered aloud, his gaze fixed on Toruri's transformation.
"I don't know, eat the blood squid?" Heunae suggested, her tone filled with uncertainty as she watched the scene unfold.
Toruri ceased sucking in air and held it in his mouth, his intentions unclear to those around him.
"Are you done yet?" Atanasius inquired, his voice tinged with impatience as he awaited Toruri's next move.
With a deafening roar, Toruri released the stored air in one powerful burst, sending everyone and everything flying backward with incredible force.
"Oh my, that's some power," Atanasius remarked, his expression betraying a hint of awe at Toruri's display of strength.
As Atanasius attempted to retaliate with the blood squid, Toruri caught one of its tentacles and unleashed a torrent of fire, obliterating the creature in a blaze of heat and light.
"So you really aren't human, you're some sort of beast. I wouldn't know, I have very limited knowledge of other races," Atanasius mused, his voice tinged with curiosity as he assessed Toruri's true nature.
"KUROOOOOOOOSHIIIIIIIIIIII!!!" Toruri's cry rang out once more, his anguish and determination fueling his resolve to save his friend.
"Stop yelling that girl's name," Atanasius admonished, his patience wearing thin as he faced Toruri's relentless onslaught.
"What's the deal? What bond do they have?" Heunae questioned, her curiosity piqued by the emotional connection between Toruri and Kuroshi.
"I have no idea," Ryoshi admitted, his gaze flickering between his friends as he pondered the mystery of their bond.
Kuroshi, struggling to speak through her injuries, managed to utter a few words before succumbing to exhaustion.
**FLASHBACK (6 years ago)**
In the heart of the forest, where ancient trees intertwined their branches to form a canopy above, a younger Toruri found himself perched upon a sturdy branch, gazing down at a winding dirt path below. The day unfolded lazily, like countless others before it, a canvas of monotony stretched out before him.
Toruri's voice broke the silence, carrying his boredom to the winds. "Another boring day. I wish bandits came more often. WAIT, who's that?"
His keen eyes caught sight of a young boy clad in a snug black sweater and a girl adorned in a vibrant pink and red dress, strolling along the path.
"Oh, it's just you guys," Toruri muttered to himself, recognizing the familiar figures. "Where did y'all come from?"
"We live in the forest, Toruri," the boy in the black sweater replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. "You don't remember that? You've been to our house before."
Toruri's memory stirred. "Oh, yeah, right."
With a swift leap, Toruri descended from his perch, landing gracefully on the path before the approaching children.
"Why are you guys entering the Negative Point without your dad?" Toruri inquired, a note of curiosity lacing his words.
"Because," the boy named Shimisu explained, "he takes too long to get dressed."
"All that man puts on is pants," Toruri remarked with a smirk, "and I, for one, should know how long it takes to only put on pants."
"He's very picky about what pants he wears," the girl in the pink and red dress added with a knowing nod.
Drawing closer to Shimisu, Toruri issued a challenge. "Shimisu, I want you to fight me."
"Why?" Shimisu's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Because," Toruri replied simply, "I'm bored."
"Good enough for me," Shimisu shrugged, accepting the invitation without hesitation.
"Remember, don't get too destructive," the girl cautioned, her voice tinged with concern.
Ignoring her warning, Shimisu turned to her with a mischievous grin.
"Yeah, that's right, Sani," Shimisu proclaimed, puffing out his chest with confidence. "I, Shimisu Hikari, will defeat Toruri!"
"Oh dear," Sani muttered under her breath, her worry palpable.
Toruri chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "A new move? Well, I guess booby trapping this area was a good idea."
"Booby traps won't stop me! Bring it," Shimisu retorted, his determination unwavering.
"As you wish," Toruri replied with a smirk.
"What is he even going to do? Toruri doesn't know any type of magic yet," Sani whispered to herself, her brow furrowed in concern.
With a swift movement, Toruri hopped into a nearby bush, disappearing from sight.
"Hey! Explosion Magic: Boom Pellet!" Shimisu exclaimed, unleashing an orange glowing pellet of magic at the bush, causing it to explode in a burst of debris. To his surprise, a wooden hatch was revealed within the wreckage.
"What?" Shimisu muttered, taken aback by the unexpected discovery.
As if in response, a wooden turret emerged from another nearby bush, launching a barrage of rocks in Shimisu's direction.
"Ah! Explosion Magic: Boom Pellets!" Shimisu reacted swiftly, unleashing two pellets of explosive energy. The first pellet demolished the incoming rocks, while the second obliterated the turret.
Opening the hatch cautiously, Shimisu found it led to nothing but darkness.
"Eh? Where did he go?" Shimisu wondered aloud, scanning the surroundings for any sign of his elusive opponent. Spotting a string leading to the destroyed turret, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. He followed the string's path, spotting two more strings connected to potential traps.
"Explosion Magic: Boom Pellets," Shimisu declared once more, aiming at the strings and obliterating the traps before they could activate.
"Dang it!" Toruri's frustrated voice echoed from behind a nearby tree, where he stood holding three strings.
"Everything you make has some sort of string to it... I LIKE IT! Explosion Magic: Boom Pellet," Shimisu exclaimed, launching a pellet of explosive magic at the tree, determined to uncover Toruri's hiding place.
"Uh... AHA! SURPRISE ATTACK!" Toruri's voice boomed through the air as he leaped into the air, aiming a swift kick at Shimisu.
"Oh no, I should've known that you would do something like that!" Shimisu exclaimed, his eyes widening in realization.
Reacting swiftly, Shimisu balled up his hand, channeling energy into it until it erupted in a fierce explosion that sent Toruri tumbling backward.
"Ow..." Toruri groaned, rubbing his side where the force of the explosion had struck him.
"I guess I win this one!" Shimisu declared triumphantly, a victorious grin spreading across his face.
"For now..." Toruri muttered, his competitive spirit still burning strong.
"We should get going, Shimisu. We need to get groceries," Sani interjected, her voice a gentle reminder of their original purpose.
"Right. Talk to you later, Toruri," Shimisu replied, turning to leave with Sani by his side.
"HMPH! Sure," Toruri retorted, his pride stung by his defeat.
Just as Shimisu and Sani began to walk away, two men emerged from the depths of the forest, their presence casting a shadow over the serene scene.
"Ah, this must be the place..." a gravelly voice declared, interrupting the tense standoff.
Toruri's gaze snapped toward the newcomers. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.
"Ah, it's a kid," the gravelly voice remarked with a hint of amusement. "We're here to rob the place that is Negative Point."
"I'll have to stop you here, bandits," Toruri declared, his resolve firm as he prepared to confront the intruders.
"Oh, and you're stopping us?" Bandit 1 sneered, a smirk playing on his lips as he and his companion brandished their knives menacingly.
"Yeah," Toruri affirmed, though a flicker of doubt crossed his mind as he realized his traps lay in ruins.
"It's trap time!... Oh, wait, my traps are destroyed..." Toruri muttered to himself, his initial bravado faltering momentarily.
"Goodbye, kid. No harsh feelings," Bandit 2 sneered, raising his knife menacingly.
"Explosion Magic: Boom Pellets!" a voice cried out, cutting through the tension. Shimisu appeared with a burst of energy, unleashing two pellets that struck both bandits squarely.
"ARG!!!" the bandits cried out in pain, momentarily stunned by the unexpected attack.
"Sunlight Magic: Sun Net!" Sani's voice rang out, commanding attention as an orange glowing net descended from the sky, enveloping the bandits and binding them tightly.
"Sorry, but we can't let you go," Sani stated firmly, her eyes blazing with determination.
"Th-These kids know magic!?" Bandit 2 exclaimed, disbelief coloring his voice.
"Er... DAMMIT!!!" Bandit 1 cursed, frustration evident in his tone.
"Having a problem?" a new voice boomed, drawing all eyes to a towering figure emerging from the forest. A muscular man with red eyes and a vibrant orange afro stood before them, his presence commanding attention.
"Ah yes, boss, these kids know magic! So this must be the Negative Point," Bandit 1 exclaimed, eager to share their discovery.
"Well, ya don't say..." The Bandit Boss's voice rumbled with a sinister edge. "These kids will die, and so will everyone in the Negative Point! I'll show you kids a little bit of my magic."
"Give us your best shot!" Shimisu challenged defiantly, his gaze unwavering.
"Sound Magic: Destruction Voice!" The Bandit Boss unleashed his power with a deafening scream, creating a column-shaped wave of sound that crashed into Sani, Toruri, and Shimisu, knocking them back with a forceful impact.
"Er..." Shimisu groaned as he struggled to regain his footing.
"Dang..." Toruri muttered, shaking his head to clear the ringing in his ears.
"Ouch," Sani winced, rubbing her ears tenderly as she recovered from the onslaught.
"Earth Magic: Rock Stand!" The Bandit Boss's command echoed through the air as he stomped his right foot, causing a massive rock to rise from beneath Toruri's feet. With a powerful surge of force, the rock launched Toruri into the air. Swift as lightning, the Bandit Boss dashed forward, seizing Toruri's airborne form and slamming him ruthlessly into the unforgiving ground.
"Toruri!!!" Shimisu cried out, his voice filled with anguish as he watched his friend's brutal descent.
"You're next, kid," the Bandit Boss declared, his gaze now fixed on Shimisu with chilling intent.
"Time to use my new attack," Shimisu muttered under his breath, determination igniting in his eyes.
"Explosion Magic: Explosion Punch!" With a fierce battle cry, Shimisu charged forward, his fist wreathed in explosive energy. He struck the Bandit Boss squarely in the chest, unleashing a powerful explosion upon impact. Yet, to Shimisu's dismay, the attack seemed to have little effect, leaving the Bandit Boss unscathed and unfazed.
"What?" Shimisu exclaimed in disbelief as the Bandit Boss's unexpected slap sent him crashing into Toruri.
"SUNLIGHT MAGIC: SUN BEAM!" Sani's voice rang out with determination as a brilliant beam of sunlight descended from the sky, striking the Bandit Boss's hand with searing intensity.
"Ow, that actually hurt," the Bandit Boss grunted, taken aback by the unexpected assault.
With lightning speed, the Bandit Boss lunged toward Sani, delivering a powerful kick that sent her hurtling into Shimisu and Toruri, creating a tangled heap of bodies.
"Yeah, boss, that should do it!" Bandit 1 exclaimed triumphantly.
"The net didn't go away, she's still conscious," Bandit 2 observed, noting Sani's resilience.
"Oh, I'll change that," the Bandit Boss growled, his eyes narrowing with malice as he prepared to deliver a final blow.
But before he could act, a beam of sunlight intercepted the flying chunk of ground, disintegrating it into dust.
"Could you please not hurt my children?" a commanding voice demanded, cutting through the tension like a knife.
"Who are you?" the Bandit Boss demanded, his gaze shifting to the shirtless man standing atop a nearby bush.
"I'm Taiyo Hikari. Who are you?" Taiyo replied calmly, his presence exuding strength and authority.
"I'm... going to enjoy killing you," the Bandit Boss snarled, his confidence wavering in the face of Taiyo's imposing demeanor.
"You wish," Taiyo retorted with a smirk, his eyes glinting with a hint of amusement.
"What do you mean by that?" the Bandit Boss demanded, his voice laced with uncertainty.
"You are talking to the guy that lived through many centuries, and trained through most of them. Do you really think that you could beat me?" Taiyo's words rang out with undeniable authority, sending a shiver down the Bandit Boss's spine.
"W-," the Bandit Boss stuttered, unable to find a retort.
"This little girl could even beat you," Taiyo declared, stepping aside to reveal a young Kuroshi standing beside him, her gaze steely and unwavering.
"Is that a bet?" the Bandit Boss challenged, his eyes gleaming with a mix of defiance and desperation.
"Yeah, I guess so," Taiyo replied casually, his confidence unwavering.
"Hah, time to die, little girl," the Bandit Boss sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
"Air Magic: Air Bullet!" Kuroshi's voice rang out with authority as she unleashed a fast-moving ball of air from her hand, striking the Bandit Boss squarely in the chest and sending him hurtling into a nearby tree.
"Hey, you'll pay for that! Sound Magic: Destruction Voice!" the Bandit Boss roared, preparing to unleash his retaliation.
But before he could unleash his attack, Kuroshi struck again, sending another air bullet directly at his head, causing him to topple over, defeated.
"That's good, Kuroshi. Now let me take care of the rest," Taiyo declared, his tone calm and authoritative.
"What are you going to do to us?" Bandit 2 pleaded, his voice trembling with fear.
"Negative Point rules. I need to kill you guys," Taiyo explained matter-of-factly, his gaze unwavering.
"WAIT, PLEASE, NO!!!" Bandit 1 begged, desperation evident in his voice.
"Don't worry, it's going to be quick and painless. Sunlight Magic: Sun God Punish!" With a swift motion, Taiyo unleashed three tiny piercing beams of sunlight from his fingers, striking each of the bandits on the head and ending their lives swiftly.
"Are you guys okay?" Taiyo inquired, turning his attention to Toruri, Shimisu, and Sani.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Toruri responded, rising to his feet with a grimace.
"Same," Shimisu confirmed, brushing himself off as he stood up.
"What about Sani?" Taiyo asked, concern evident in his voice.
"I-I'm fine," Sani replied shakily, her voice barely above a whisper.
Toruri approached Kuroshi, his curiosity piqued. "And who are you?"
Kuroshi remained silent, her expression inscrutable as she stared back at him.
"Her name is Kuroshi... You do go to school with her," Taiyo interjected, breaking the silence and prompting Toruri's recognition.
"Oh yeah, right. My name is Toruri," Toruri acknowledged, a hint of embarrassment coloring his tone.
"I've heard," Kuroshi replied simply, her gaze steady as she met Toruri's eyes.
"Oh..." Toruri murmured, unsure of how to respond.
"She's the one who told me about the bandits," Taiyo explained, gesturing toward Kuroshi.
"Oh, well... thanks?" Toruri offered, feeling a mix of gratitude and awkwardness.
FLASHBACK OVER
"Ever since then, we've been friends," Kuroshi continued, her voice carrying a sense of nostalgia as she reminisced about their past encounters.
Ryoshi, who had been listening intently, couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity with the name Taiyo Hikari. "Did she say Taiyo Hikari? Why does that name sound so familiar?" he wondered silently to himself.
"If you're questioning how I knew all of that without being there, I was watching them the whole time," Kuroshi explained, addressing Ryoshi's unspoken thoughts with a calm demeanor.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the flashback, Toruri unleashed a barrage of fireballs at Atanasius, only for the agile opponent to effortlessly evade each one. Undeterred, Toruri then unleashed a massive beam of fire, only to watch in disbelief as Atanasius dodged with seemingly supernatural agility.
"He's reading Toruri like a book," Ryoshi observed, impressed by Atanasius's uncanny reflexes.
Atanasius, unfazed by Toruri's onslaught, continued to dodge with remarkable speed and precision, even as Toruri launched a final, desperate attack.
"What was... THAT?" Atanasius exclaimed, his confusion evident as he found himself once again facing the relentless onslaught of Toruri's warp fire.
"What's going on?" Ryoshi questioned, his eyes wide with disbelief as he struggled to comprehend the unfolding spectacle.
"Incredible, he's using warp! Which is a type of fire that not even the summer season could use! It's so hard to learn because it's one of the many chaos magics," Kuroshi explained, her voice tinged with awe at the rare and powerful technique being employed.
"What's that?" Ryoshi inquired, his curiosity piqued by Kuroshi's revelation.
"Chaos magic is what happens when you mix a control magic with an element magic," Kuroshi elaborated, her words carrying a weight of significance. "Control magic is non-element magic that can only affect time and space itself. Such as time magic, space magic, infinite magic, and more."
"Okay. WHAT IS A CONTROL MAGIC?" Ryoshi pressed further, eager to understand the intricacies of the mystical arts.
"Control magic is non-element magic that can only affect time and space itself. Such as time magic, space magic, infinite magic, and more," Kuroshi reiterated, her patience unwavering as she clarified Ryoshi's query.
"So what's this he's using?" Ryoshi inquired, his gaze shifting back to the ongoing battle with renewed interest.
"Warp fire. Warp fire creates an infinite time loop that restarts if it doesn't hit its target. This can be avoided though, you just need to take out the attacker," Kuroshi explained, her voice tinged with urgency as she outlined the dangerous capabilities of the arcane technique.
"WHAT'S GOING ON!?" Atanasius bellowed in frustration, his movements becoming more frantic as he continued to dodge the relentless barrage of warp fire.
"To hell with this!" Atanasius declared, his patience exhausted as he unleashed a vicious counterattack. With a swift motion, he conjured a ball of blood and launched it at Toruri, aiming to disrupt his concentration.
"Now witness death," Atanasius growled, his voice dripping with malice as he manipulated the blood into a deadly spike that impaled Toruri's mouth, leaving him gasping in agony.
"Toruri!" Ryoshi cried out in alarm, his heart pounding with fear as he watched his friend endure the brutal assault.
"He wants more, I think," Atanasius remarked coldly, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure as he launched five more balls of blood at Toruri, each one finding its mark and securing itself onto Toruri's arms and legs.
"Die," Atanasius snarled, his voice dripping with malice as he swiftly transformed the blood balls into deadly spikes that impaled Toruri through his limbs, causing him to revert to his normal form and collapse unconscious to the ground.
"This might be it..." Kuroshi's voice wavered with uncertainty as she collapsed beside Toruri, her strength drained from witnessing the brutal confrontation.
"Shit," Ryoshi muttered under his breath, his fists clenched with frustration as he watched the scene unfold before him.
"Any last words, human? You guys stood no chance," Atanasius taunted, his arrogance palpable as he loomed over his fallen opponents.
"You piece of shit... I know you use matter magic, and I do too," Ryoshi declared defiantly, his voice trembling with determination.
"So?..." Atanasius responded dismissively, his attention momentarily piqued by Ryoshi's bold claim.
"MANA BURST!!!" Ryoshi shouted with all his might, his desperation driving him to summon forth his latent power.
"Huh? Are you trying to mana burst?" Atanasius questioned, his confusion evident as he observed Ryoshi's futile attempts.
They stood in silence for what felt like an eternity, Ryoshi's mind racing as he struggled to tap into the elusive power of mana burst.
"This is getting boring," Atanasius remarked impatiently, his patience wearing thin as he prepared to deliver the final blow.
Why can't I use my mana burst? Am I not trying hard enough? Ryoshi's thoughts raced as he grappled with his own limitations.
"Prepare to die," Atanasius threatened, his intentions clear as he conjured a deadly bubble of blood and sent it hurtling towards Ryoshi with lethal precision.
COME ON!!! He's too fast for me to hit him, it's impossible for me to kill him and he's stronger than me! Ryoshi's frustration reached a boiling point as he felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins.
His eye sparked with determination as a powerful gust of air erupted from his body, shrouding him in a cloud of dust. As the dust settled, Ryoshi stood with a grey transparent aura surrounding him, his resolve hardened as he prepared to unleash the power of mana burst.
"I-I feel lighter! This must be... A MANA BURST!!!" Ryoshi exclaimed with newfound confidence, his voice filled with determination.
"Wow, that's quite impressive. Show me what you've got," Atanasius challenged, his curiosity piqued by Ryoshi's sudden transformation.
"I don't know how to use this, but I'll try to make the best out of it!" Ryoshi declared, his eyes blazing with determination as he prepared to face his formidable opponent with newfound strength.