The hall erupted in chaos.
Dozens of Harasen warriors rushed forward, blades drawn, their armour glinting with the harsh light of torches lining the stone walls. But Juichi was already in motion.
He dropped low. Wind surged beneath him like a springboard, and he shot forward, blurring past the first wave. His twin daggers flashed—a crescent arc of burning air carved through three spears in one strike.
CLANG—!!
Steel met steel. Juichi caught a greatsword mid-swing with his right dagger, parried with a twist of his wrist, and slid beneath the warrior's guard. He drove his left blade into the man's gauntlet, the weapon erupting in red flame. The warrior screamed as the fire clung to his armour-like living oil.
"Don't let him breathe!" a captain barked. "Suppress the wind!"
A magic seal activated above the chamber—Wind Lock Array. Juichi felt the suppression clamp down, but he grinned.
"Too slow."
His foot slammed the ground—Flame Pulse.
A wave of fire burst outward in a dome, knocking enemies back. In that instant, Juichi vanished, moving purely on martial instinct. He reappeared behind the captain and drove a flame-drenched elbow into his spine. The man hit the ground with a crunch.
Five spears converged on him from all angles. Juichi exhaled and twisted, his footwork a blur. Martial Arts Mastery Lv. 10: Weaponless Parry activated—he deflected all five with his forearms and blades, the weapons sliding uselessly off him.
Then he roared—Blazing Fire: Ignition Drive.
Flame burst from beneath his feet, launching him like a rocket into the air. His body spun mid-flip. He landed on a support beam above, crouched low.
Below, the Harasen warriors regrouped. Sakata leaned lazily against a column.
"You boys brought twenty elite guards to fight a single kid," he called out. "And you still look nervous."
Juichi dropped down like a meteor—Wind Step enhanced. He crashed into the middle of the formation.
BOOM—!
A shockwave of pressure scattered the enemies. Juichi dashed again, fire and wind coiling around him like twin serpents.
Dagger combo—Reverse Fang Slash!
Two curved sweeps tore across a shield wall. Metal melted. The wind screamed behind the blades, increasing their speed. Juichi pivoted and kicked upward, sending a soldier flying.
Another warrior chanted a spell—Stone Bind!
Vines of rock surged from the floor. Juichi whirled and sliced clean through them before they could tighten. He leapt at the caster—dagger to the throat.
FWOOM—! A giant war hammer intercepted him.
CLANG!
Juichi blocked with crossed blades. The hammer sent him skidding back, boots tearing into the ground. Across from him stood Renji Harasen.
"You've made your point," Renji said coldly, gripping his massive, black-iron hammer. "But now it's my turn."
Juichi straightened, panting slightly. "About time."
Renji blurred—unnatural speed for a man his size. The hammer came down like a divine judgment.
Juichi dodged by a hair—Wind Slide!—and slashed up, but the hammer twisted and clanged off his side, sending him flying through a pillar.
Dust exploded. Juichi staggered out, coughing, one eye shut, and armour cracked.
"You're not just strong," he muttered.
Renji charged again, roaring.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—!
Each hammer strike was an earthquake. Juichi dodged, parried, and struck back—only to be forced on the defensive. His Fire Affinity surged, and he gritted his teeth.
"Don't fall behind!"
Juichi concentrated—Blazing Fire: Burn Drive—Second Stage!
His blades turned white-hot. Steam hissed from his body as flames wrapped his limbs like armour. He deflected the next hammer strike and kicked Renji in the stomach, sending the man skidding back.
"Not bad," Renji grunted. "But this is my clan. You don't walk out unless I let you."
"I don't need your permission," Juichi said.
They clashed again. Wind howled. Fire screamed. Stone cracked.
The final blow came as both warriors lunged—hammer vs. twin daggers.
A pillar of flame erupted in the centre of the hall, and everyone was thrown back.
To Be Continued....