Hikari's flames engulfed the team, forcing them to stumble backward. Hayato charged forward, sword flashing in the dim light.
"Take this, Hikari!" he shouted, but Hikari was unfazed. "Foolish KoKuryūkai," Hikari sneered, his eyes gleaming with contempt. "You think a little sword like that can hurt me?" With a swift gesture, Hikari sent a wave of flames crashing down on Hayato. He leapt aside, avoiding the inferno, but Hikari was relentless. He summoned blast after blast of fire, driving the team back. "Kasumi, get behind me!" Hayato yelled, but Kasumi stood her ground. "I won't let him win!" she shouted, her eyes blazing with determination. Hikari's smile grew wider. "Brave words, Kasumi. But bravery won't save you today." He summoned a vortex of flames, lifting Kasumi off the ground. She struggled and kicked, but Hikari's hold was unyielding. "Let her go, Hikari!" Hayato shouted, charging forward, but Hikari was too powerful. With a swift kick, he sent Hayato crashing to the ground. The others rushed to his aid, but Hikari was unstoppable. He battered them with flames and fists, his strength seemingly endless. "You fools," Hikari taunted. "You think you can stop me? I am the master of flames!" Finally, only Kasumi stood, her eyes blazing with defiance. Hikari's smile grew wider as he reached out and grasped her wrist. "Ah, Kasumi," he purred, his breath hot against her ear. "You will make a fine addition to my collection." And with that, he vanished, leaving the battered team behind. "No...Kasumi!" Hayato groaned, struggling to his feet. Kenshi's voice came through the comms device, his tone grim. "Report. What happened?" Hayato's face twisted in rage. "Hikari...he took Kasumi. We have to get her back." Kenshi's response was immediate. "We'll regroup and come up with a plan. We can't let Hikari win." But as they stumbled out of the facility, they knew they faced a daunting task. Hikari's powers were growing stronger by the day, and Kasumi was now his captive. "We need to move fast," Hayato said, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. "We can't let Hikari get away with this." "I'll track him," Hanzo said, his eyes narrowing. "I won't let him escape." The team nodded, their faces set with determination. They would rescue Kasumi, no matter what it took. The stage was set for a final showdown. Would the KoKuryūkai be able to rescue Kasumi and stop Hikari, or would they succumb to his flames? Only time would tell. *** Ryu's eyes fluttered, his mind slipping into the darkness of his subconscious. A figure emerged from the shadows, its features mirroring Ryu's own. What's going on?Ryu asked, its voice a gentle whisper in his mind. " you're unconscious while Hikari's plan is unfolding" The figure replied, its eyes gleaming with a knowing light. "He's going to make you choose between Kasumi and the civilians" What do you mean? Ryu pressed, its brow furrowed in concern. Hikari's going to put you in a situation where you'll have to sacrifice one to save the other,the figure explained. He's counting on your emotions to cloud your judgment. Ryu growled, its fists clenched in anger. I won't let him win. I'll find a way to save both. "That's exactly what Hikari is counting on" the figure warned. "He's going to push you to your limits, make you doubt yourself. But you can't give in." "What can I do?" Ryu asked, its voice laced with desperation. "You need to stay focused" the figure advised. "Don't let your emotions control you. Use your training, your instincts. Find a way to outsmart Hikari." Ryu nodded, its determination renewed. " won't let him win. I'll save Kasumi and the civilians, no matter what it takes." The figure smiled, its eyes gleaming with pride. "I know you will, Ryu. You're an army and therefore stronger than you think." *** The monitors reading his heart rate beeped up as his heart rate accelerated, so did his breathing and soon he jerked awake so fast the tufts of his hair shook a little.Kenshi stood by the door leading to KoKuryūkai gym center to get an unobtrusive view of the trainer, although his eyes were struggling to keep up with Ryu's movement, he noted his precise thrusts with a deep feeling of satisfaction.After Ryu's sudden awakening, he had gone straight to training. Hanzo was still working on getting Hikari, but if anything happens to Kasumi, He will never be able to forgive himself.Suddenly as soon as Ryu training had concluded, and he was reviewing his techniques when Hanzo burst into the room."Hanzo, what's wrong?" Kenshi asked, sensing urgency."I've pinpointed Hikari's location," Hanzo said, his voice tight. "He's at the abandoned skyscraper on 5th and Main."Kenshi's expression turned grave. "Ryu, be cautious. Hikari's powers are growing stronger."Ryu's resolve hardened. "I'll stop him."Kenshi placed a hand on Ryu's shoulder. "Remember, Ryu, your safety is paramount. Don't underestimate Hikari." Ryu nodded, his determination clear.At the skyscra
Ryu's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the faint glow of dawn seeping through the nearly closed windows. He lay still, his slender frame pressed against the cold ground, as the familiar ache in his chest stirred.He had just had a nightmare which acted as a constant reminder of his childhood past, ten years ago as a child he had been a victim of maltreatment and on that particular day he was hiding furtively in their closet. His father's wrath still lingered, a constant companion in the darkness.His father had arrived at their rambling cottage ten years ago, drunk as usual and called for Ryu who was so immersed in his own little realm and didn't hear. " Ayy donkey head! I, your father, called for you and you dared to ignore me! " His father fumed when he spotted him standing in the confines of their open cupboard. " No... I..." Ryu stuttered in sudden immense fear and his father promptly pounced on him, battering him with fists and kicks in a seemingly random manner until he bled fr
shadow passed behind Kenshi's eyes when he heard the news but his voice remained calm. " Contact the police and bring me his body at all costs" " yes master " Hanzo said with a bow, although he and the rest of the team didn't exactly have a close knit relationship with Ryu but they emphasized with their master who was his uncle.All of the staff felt the pain of his loss, he would have preferred solitude to their carousing but he had been their colleague...Ryu's soul drifted through the void, torn from his body by the facility's self-destruct sequence. He found himself in a realm beyond mortal comprehension, a rift between heaven and hell and he a lone ember in an endless expanse. The supreme being's presence manifested as a shimmering aura, like the surface of a still pond reflecting the stars. "Wasted youth" it thought before an idea popped in his head.A supreme being, shrouded in ethereal light, gazed upon Ryu's soul. "You have been chosen," the being declared, its voice like
Kenshi's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through Ryu's defenses. "What more are you hiding from me?" he repeated, his voice low and menacing.Ryu hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Kenshi's expression told him that he had no choice. "I...I don't know what happened," he stammered. "I just woke up, and...and things were different."Kenshi's eyes flashed with anger. "Different?" he spat. "You're telling me you survived an explosion that should have killed you, and now you're...changed? What did they do to you, Ryu?"Ryu shook his head, feeling a wave of fear wash over him. "I don't know, Kenshi. I swear, I don't remember anything."Kenshi's expression twisted in disgust. "You're lying to me, Ryu. I can see it in your eyes. You're hiding something." Ryu had forgotten that there was still one person who could read him like a book.Suddenly, Hanzo appeared at Kenshi's side, his eyes calm and soothing. "Master, perhaps we should give Ryu some time to recover. He's bee
Thirty minutes later five guards stood over Ryu's exhausted form and aimed their guns at him ready to pull the trigger when his shadow materialized and fed on their shadow, thereby nature tried to make up for a breach in the law and promptly disintegrated them out of existence...The Apparition faced Ryu as he stood " who are you?" Ryu asked and took a step forward followed simultaneously by the shadow, he took another and extended a hand, again the shadow did the same and when their hands touched Ryu felt a strange pull towards it. " Hanzo are you seeing this?". " What are you doing Ryu? The others have been captured" Hanzo replied. Ryu frowned." I have an idea". " Don't let your feet run ahead of your legs Ryu!" Kenshi's familiar voice boomed over the line but too late. Ryu merged with the shadow and let the darkness flow into him, moving like liquid fire in his veins until he screamed in pain, the shadow coated his physical features as he slowly morphed into a different being
" No! Ryu Don't kill him" Kasumi pleaded and the entity paused long enough to give a glance in her direction before slamming a surprisingly solid fist to the side of Black Fox neck and watched him collapse like a felled tree." Ryu! Are you still there?" Hayato said holding up his sword in a defensive stance. The entity took a few shaky steps towards them and soon collapsed, the darkness receded and left behind it's unconscious vessel.Ryu's eyes slowly opened, his vision blurry. He was met with the sight of Hanzo's concerned face, his eyes scanning Ryu's body."Ryu, can you hear me?" Hanzo asked, his voice firm but laced with worry. Ryu tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse. He nodded instead.Hanzo nodded back. "Good. We need to assess your condition. You've undergone a significant transformation."Ryu's gaze drifted down to his hands, He flexed his fingers, and they seemed to shift like smoke.Hanzo began to list off Ryu's new abilities to the others in the room. "Enhanced stre
Ryu's eyes burned with determination. "I'll need to know more about Kaito's past, his motivations, and his weaknesses. Everything you can gather, Hanzo."Hanzo nodded, producing a small folder from his sleeve. "I've already compiled a dossier on Kaito. His real name is Kaito Yamato, once a skilled hematologist who became obsessed with the power of blood. His research led him down a dark path, and he died in a experiment to grant him control over blood."Ryu's grip on the folder tightened. "What's his ultimate goal?""Kaito seeks to create a world where he controls the life force of every living being," Hanzo replied, his expression grim. "He believes that by manipulating blood, he can dictate the very fabric of existence."Ryu's mind raced with the implications. "I need to stop him before it's too late."Hanzo placed a hand on Ryu's shoulder. "You'll need to be cautious, Ryu. Kaito has already demonstrated his power by infiltrating a local hospital and manipulating the patients' bloo
Ryu charged forward, his shadow-coated blade flashing in the moonlight. Kaito, still reeling from the sudden turn of events, stumbled backward as Ryu unleashed a flurry of strikes.But Kaito refused to fall, his blood-red energy surging as he countered with a wave of attacks. Ryu parried each blow, but Kaito's sheer power forced him to stumble backward.Kaito's eyes gleamed with triumph as he landed a solid kick, sending Ryu crashing to the ground. As Ryu struggled to rise, Kaito unleashed a devastating blast of energy, striking Ryu with a wave of crimson force.Ryu's vision blurred, his body screaming in agony. But he refused to yield. Focusing his remaining strength, Ryu summoned the shadow energy within him.With a mighty cry, Ryu unleashed an unknown technique: "Kage no Shūen" (Shadow's End). The air around him seemed to distort, as if reality itself was bending to his will. A colossal wave of shadow energy erupted from his blade, striking Kaito with the force of a thunderbolt.Ka