The air was thick with tension as the Wielders gathered in the darkened courtyard of Nova Academia, each of them bracing for the moment they would step into the fray. Kael stood at the center of them, his focus sharp, his heart steady despite the weight of the task ahead. His hand gripped the void energy swirling within him, ready to summon his power once more.
"We're ready," Kaede said, his voice calm but filled with purpose. "The moment you open the gate, we move. There's no turning back."
Kael gave a slight nod. "I know."
With a deep breath, Kael stepped forward, his hand held out in front of him. Energy crackled in the air, dark and shimmering, as he focused the Voidstep within himself. The ground beneath them trembled, and a portal of swirling dark energy opened in front of them.
"Everyone, stay close," Kael called out. "Don't lose sight of the others. I'm not sure what the terrain's like, but once we're through, we'll need to act fast."
Without hesitation, the Wielders lined up behind Kael, each of them bracing themselves for the journey ahead. Tetsu, Ryuu, Hana, Kaede, and Raizen—each a pillar of strength in their own right—followed Kael as he stepped through the gate.
They emerged into the familiar, yet eerie, grounds of the enemy's training facility. The oppressive atmosphere was thick with malice, the distant echo of wicked laughter floating through the air. The villains were scattered throughout the grounds, their attention focused on their own training, their backs turned.
But it didn't last long.
The moment Kael's portal snapped shut, the villains turned, their eyes wide with shock.
"Impossible!" Veyron shouted, his voice laced with disbelief as he saw the Wielders emerge. He quickly raised his hands, shadow and void energy swirling around him as he prepared to strike. "How did you—?"
"No time for questions," Kaede snapped, already charging toward him. "We'll talk later."
"Get ready!" Ryuu called out, unsheathing his sword and taking a battle stance. "We're not leaving without a fight!"
Hana and Tetsu immediately moved forward, splitting from the group to engage Lilith, while Kaede and Ryuu advanced toward Veyron. Raizen and Kael stood firm, eyes locked onto the dark figure at the far end of the battlefield—the one who had caused it all. Kurojin Tsukiro.
The clash began in an instant. Tetsu charged at Lilith with a speed that blurred the line between human and beast. His punches were fast, his kicks lethal, but Lilith was a master of time manipulation. With a flick of her wrist, she bent the flow of time around her, evading Tetsu's attacks with unnerving precision.
"You've grown stronger, Tetsu," Lilith said coldly, her eyes glinting with a hint of amusement. "But it won't be enough to stop me."
Tetsu grinned through his teeth, his fists still flying. "We'll see about that, Lilith."
Meanwhile, Hana danced through the battlefield with her blade, slicing through the air in rhythmic motions. Lilith's time manipulation couldn't keep up with Hana's speed as she relentlessly pursued her, aiming for the smallest opening. But Lilith wasn't to be underestimated. She flicked her wrist once more, and a wall of time distortion appeared, pushing Hana back.
"I don't have time to play games with you," Lilith sneered.
On the opposite end of the battlefield, Kaede and Ryuu were locked in an intense duel with Veyron. Shadows and void energy clashed with their attacks, filling the air with dark energy. Veyron's shadow manipulation allowed him to create weapons, tendrils, and barriers with a mere flick of his fingers, while Ryuu's speed and Kaede's precision kept the pressure on him.
"This is the end for you, Veyron," Kaede said through clenched teeth, his blade flashing in the light.
Veyron smirked, his eyes narrowed. "You're not the only ones with tricks up your sleeve."
He summoned a massive, swirling void creature from the depths of his shadows. It roared as it surged forward, forcing Kaede and Ryuu to defend themselves. Kaede swiftly slashed through the creature, breaking it apart, while Ryuu dodged its attacks with agility and precision.
"You're good," Ryuu said with a grin. "But we're better."
At the center of it all, Kael and Raizen stood facing Kurojin Tsukiro. The battle around them was deafening, but the tension between the two warriors created an eerie calm in the air.
Kurojin's eyes glowed with a dark, unnatural light, his Will distorting the very fabric of reality around him. He smiled wickedly, his voice dripping with malice. "So, the last heir of the Kurai bloodline has come to face me. How fitting."
Kael's eyes hardened. "I'm not here for you to gloat, Kurojin. This ends today."
Raizen stepped forward, his voice gravelly yet firm. "You've caused enough damage, Kurojin. This time, we'll put an end to it."
Kurojin laughed darkly. "You think you can stop me, old man? The world is already mine."
Kael's fists clenched. "We'll see about that."
The two sides stood in a tense standoff, the air thick with anticipation. Every muscle in Kael's body was wound tight, ready to unleash the full power of the Last Will when the time came. Raizen stood beside him, unwavering, his presence a reminder of the legacy Kael carried.
"Get ready," Kael muttered. "We're ending this now."