The air in the ruins grew heavier as the battle between Kaizen and the Eclipse Order raged on. The stone structures around them trembled under the sheer force of their clashes. Sparks flew as steel met steel, and the echo of each strike reverberated through the ancient corridors.
Kaizen's muscles burned with exertion, but his mind remained sharp. His opponent, the golden-eyed leader of the Eclipse Order, moved with precision and experience, every strike aimed to kill. Despite the overwhelming odds, Kaizen couldn't help but smirk. This was exactly the kind of fight that made his blood rush.
Rei, meanwhile, danced through the battlefield with deadly grace. Her twin daggers cut through the air, striking down enemies before they could react. The members of the Eclipse Order were formidable, but Rei was faster—more ruthless. She and Kaizen had fought together long enough to predict each other's moves, covering weaknesses and capitalizing on openings.
"Kaizen, we can't keep this up forever!" Rei called out as she flipped backward, dodging a blade that nearly took her head off. "There's too many of them."
Kaizen parried an overhead strike and delivered a powerful elbow to his attacker's gut, sending the man sprawling. He took a brief second to scan the battlefield. She was right. The enemy numbers weren't decreasing fast enough. If anything, reinforcements were likely on the way.
"We need an exit," he muttered. His mind raced, searching for a way out.
The golden-eyed leader chuckled as he wiped a trickle of blood from his lips. "You're impressive, Kaizen. But you're still human. And humans break."
Kaizen narrowed his eyes. "Is that so?"
Before the leader could respond, Kaizen shifted his stance. He drew in a deep breath, focusing on the dormant power within him. His entire body pulsed with energy, the air around him distorting slightly. Then, in a blur, he moved. Faster than the eye could follow, he closed the distance between them, striking with enough force to crack the stone beneath their feet.
The leader barely managed to block, his expression shifting from confidence to surprise. "What—?"
Kaizen didn't let up. He pressed forward, each strike heavier than the last. The leader staggered under the relentless assault, struggling to counter. It was clear now—Kaizen wasn't fighting at full power before.
Rei took advantage of the opening. With a swift movement, she hurled a smoke bomb to the ground. Thick gray mist erupted, covering the entire battlefield in an impenetrable fog.
"Now!" she shouted.
Kaizen didn't hesitate. He grabbed Rei's arm and propelled them both through the ruins, weaving through the crumbling pathways as their enemies struggled to regain their bearings.
"Don't let them escape!" the leader roared.
Arrows and throwing knives whizzed past them, but Kaizen pushed forward. His body felt like it was on fire, but the rush of battle kept him moving. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they emerged from the ruins and into the open night.
They didn't stop running until they reached the safety of the dense forest bordering the ancient ruins. Only then did they allow themselves to breathe.
Rei collapsed against a tree, panting. "That was too close."
Kaizen wiped sweat from his brow and leaned against a rock. "Yeah. But now we know who's after us."
Rei glanced at him. "The Eclipse Order. What do they want with you?"
Kaizen pulled out the scroll he had taken earlier. "This. Whatever's written here, they don't want me to have it."
Rei frowned. "Then we better find out what it says before they come after us again."
Kaizen nodded. He had a feeling this was only the beginning. The Eclipse Order wouldn't stop until they had what they wanted. But Kaizen wasn't about to let them dictate his fate. If they wanted a war, they'd get one.
And he intended to win.