The wind howled across the desolate battlefield, a violent storm that mirrored the chaos unfolding. Ishigo, Daigo, and Yeaga stood at the center of the frozen wasteland, bloodied, bruised, and weary.
Their enemies were relentless, each attack more vicious than the last, but they fought on with the ferocity of cornered beasts. The ground beneath them cracked and shattered with every clash, the ice splintering like glass under the weight of their struggle.
Ishigo's body trembled. He had never felt so heavy before. His sword felt like it was made of lead, his muscles screaming in agony with every movement. Blood stained his side, the wound seeping deeper with each passing second.
His breath came in short, ragged gasps as his vision blurred, but he refused to fall. Not now. Not when they were so close.
The Shikiban, a figure cloaked in shadows, stood before him, a smirk playing across his cold features. His ice-blue eyes glinted with cruel amusement. "How long do you think you can keep up, human?" the ice Shikiban taunted, his voice a whisper of death.
Ishigo's grip on his sword tightened despite the pain. His heartbeat echoed in his ears, matching the rhythm of his determination. I won't give up. I can't give up.
Before he could make a move, the enemy leader was upon him in the blink of an eye. A flash of icy steel. Ishigo barely managed to raise his sword in time to block, but the impact sent a shockwave of pain through his entire body. He staggered, barely able to hold his ground as the leader pressed forward with terrifying speed.
"Is this really all you've got?" the leader sneered, his sword cutting through the air with ease. "You were never meant to survive this fight."
Ishigo's breath hitched, and the weight of the leader's words struck him harder than any blow. He had never been this close to death before, never faced an enemy so overwhelmingly powerful. But even as fear clawed at his chest, even as his strength drained away, a single thought burned brightly in his mind: I won't fall here. Not like this.
With a guttural cry, Ishigo surged forward, channeling what little strength he had left into a desperate counterattack. His sword clashed against the Shikiban's, sparks flying as steel met ice. But it wasn't enough. The enemy leader laughed coldly, easily knocking Ishigo's blade aside before delivering a brutal strike to his side.
Ishigo gasped, pain lancing through him as he was thrown back. Blood stained his shirt, pooling around him as his body slammed into the cold, unforgiving ground. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he might lose consciousness. But a voice—familiar and full of fire—cut through the fog.
"Get up, Ishigo!" Daigo's voice rang out from across the battlefield. "You can't quit now!"
Ishigo's chest heaved, and he clenched his fists, trying to push himself up. His vision swam, but his determination burned brighter than ever. Daigo and Yeaga were still fighting, holding their own against the other enemies, but this battle wasn't over yet. Not if he had anything to say about it.
The enemy leader took a step toward him, his smile widening. "You're a fool. You think you can stand up to me?"
Ishigo struggled to his feet, every movement sending a jolt of agony through his body. His sword was still by his side, its edge dull and chipped, but it was the only weapon he had left. He wasn't going to back down. Not now.
He looked at the leader, his bloodied face steely with resolve. "I'm not done yet."
The enemy leader's eyes narrowed. "Very well. Then let's end this."
In the blink of an eye, the leader lunged. The air around him seemed to freeze as shards of ice erupted from the ground, aiming for Ishigo's heart. But Ishigo was faster.
With every ounce of strength he had left, he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the deadly barrage of ice spikes. He could feel the cold kiss of death on his skin, but he refused to let it claim him.
He moved, every step a battle against his own body. His sword arced through the air, aiming for the leader's exposed side. But the leader was ready. With a flick of his wrist, he blocked the strike, sending Ishigo sprawling to the ground once more.
Ishigo gasped for breath, his body on the verge of collapse. Blood dripped from his side, staining the ice beneath him. The world around him blurred. His limbs were heavy, and every breath felt like a struggle. He could feel his energy draining, but he couldn't stop. Not while Daigo and Yeaga were still fighting.
The leader loomed over him, sword raised for the final strike. "You've lost."
Ishigo's gaze flickered toward Daigo and Yeaga, their own battles waging in the distance. And for a moment, time seemed to slow.
I can't die here. Not like this. Not with them still fighting.
He gritted his teeth, his fingers barely gripping the hilt of his sword. His bloodied hands shook as he forced himself to lift the blade. The leader's attack was coming. He could see it. And in that moment, Ishigo made a choice.
A last, desperate move.
He summoned all his remaining strength into one final, wild swing.
The clash of steel against ice rang through the air as Ishigo's blade met the leader's. A shockwave rippled outward, and the world seemed to freeze.
But the leader's smirk never wavered.
With a final, devastating move, the leader's blade cut through Ishigo's defense. Time slowed to a crawl as Ishigo's sword slipped from his hand, the edge of the enemy's blade grazing his side with a searing pain.
And then—
CRACK.
The sound of breaking ice echoed in Ishigo's ears.
His vision blackened.
And the world went silent.