Yuuki's appearance in this ninja-like form was far more than just a flashy aesthetic; every detail was engineered for extreme speed and lethal, precision strikes.
*WHOOSH!*
In less than a second, Yuuki vanished from his starting position and reappeared directly in front of Naoki. He launched a straight punch aimed at a vital point, knowing full well that a half-hearted effort wouldn't be enough to take down his opponent.
However, Naoki's reaction was anything but slow. Without moving an inch, he enveloped his right hand in a sharply rotating vortex of wind. With a casual flick, he parried Yuuki's strike using only his fingertips, leaving trails of wind that sliced through the air.
A high-level confrontation erupted. Both moved at speeds no longer perceivable by the naked eye.
*WHOOSH!* *WHOOSH!* *WHOOSH!*
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
The sound of colliding air pockets echoed repeatedly, triggering powerful gusts of wind that swept across the training grounds. Their silhouettes blurred, flickering from one point to another in an instant, leaving behind only the sounds of impact and roaring gales.
To non-combatants like Nei or an ordinary human like Ryunosuke, they were merely streaks of light clashing in mid-air. Even Shushu struggled to follow the intricate rhythm of the exchange. Only Kyouka, a seasoned warrior, was capable of seeing every trade clearly.
Kyouka watched intently, analyzing the fight in her mind.
(At a glance, Yuuki seems to have the upper hand because the physical prowess of his Slave form exceeds Naoki's human body. But...)
Narrowing her eyes, she realized the truth.
(Naoki hasn't used the full power of «Night Storm» at all. If he released the true potential of that Peach Blessing, Yuuki would be defeated in seconds.)
As a fellow Commander, Kyouka understood the sheer terror of Fifth Unit Commander Ezo Yakumo's ability. She recalled Yakumo's claim that «Night Storm» at full power could create a natural disaster capable of leveling a city. Right now, Naoki was just skimming the surface.
"Don't forget about me! Yuuki, I'm helping!" Himari shouted, refusing to let Yuuki fight alone.
She immediately activated «Learning». Her chosen target was Tokoyama Saki—copying «Armed Belle», an ability that allowed her to transform her limbs into military weaponry far more advanced than conventional technology.
*SHING!*
In an instant, Himari's right arm transformed into a metallic, gleaming machine gun muzzle. As if sharing an invisible mental link, Yuuki darted away from the line of fire at the exact same moment.
*DOR-DOR-DOR-DOR!*
Hundreds of rounds per second tore through the air toward Naoki. Facing this rain of lead, Naoki's relaxed expression tightened slightly. He was well aware that while Peach Blessings had elevated him far above the average human, his physical durability—without specific reinforcement—was only around the level of Captain America. A direct hit would still be fatal.
*GUSHHHH!*
Instead of dodging physically, Naoki utilized «Night Storm» to manipulate the atmospheric pressure around his body to an extreme degree. He created a transparent dome of turbulence rotating at the speed of sound.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
The moment the bullets entered the zone, massive friction and air pressure forced the projectiles to veer wildly, ricocheting off the surrounding rocks until they crumbled into dust. Not a single bullet managed to touch even the hem of Naoki's clothes.
*WHOOSH!*
Yuuki didn't waste the opening; he used his momentum to lunge forward. With a powerful step, he thrust his fist ahead, focusing all his energy into a single destructive point to shatter his opponent's defense. It was a lethal technique that had once subdued Yachiho, forcing her to use «Golden Hour» to rewind time to avoid defeat. But Naoki was not an opponent to be taken down by the same trick twice.
With minimal, efficient movement, he shifted his center of gravity, letting Yuuki's fist pass mere millimeters from his uniform. Before Yuuki could retract his arm, Naoki had already clamped a hand firmly onto the Slave's wrist.
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
Without giving him a chance to breathe, Naoki unleashed a flurry of precision punches—all aimed directly at Yuuki's face.
"Yuuki!" Himari screamed in panic.
She wanted to fire, but her position was locked. Naoki cleverly used Yuuki's large frame as a meat shield, pivoting and rotating so that Himari never had a clean line of sight. Having no other choice, Himari canceled the machine gun transformation. With a deafening mechanical roar, her arm turned into a viciously spinning chainsaw, and she charged.
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
Naoki stole a glance at the incoming Himari, but he remained focused on pummeling Yuuki. Even though Yuuki tried to shield his face with his free hand, Naoki always found the smallest opening to land his hits squarely on target.
"Dammit! Why do you keep aiming for my face?!" Yuuki complained, his voice muffled behind his arm.
"No special reason. I just feel like it. Besides, your face is just so punchable." Naoki shot back with a sickeningly casual tone.
The moment Himari entered close range, Naoki grabbed Yuuki by the throat, lifted his heavy frame, and threw him with full force toward her.
"Eh—?!"
Himari, poised to swing her chainsaw, was completely unprepared for the weight of Yuuki's body flying at her. She was forced to shut down the saw to avoid maiming her partner.
*CRASH!*
As a result, the two collided violently in mid-air and slammed into the hard ground, kicking up a thick cloud of dust as they landed in a tangled heap.
"Cough... Cough... Sorry, Himari." Yuuki wheezed, trying to catch his breath.
"It's not your fault, Yuuki. This guy... he's seriously strong!" Himari replied through gritted teeth, struggling under Yuuki's weight.
However, just as Yuuki was about to push himself up, a cold shadow loomed over them. A playful, relaxed voice echoed from above.
"Don't let your guard down. On the battlefield, the enemy won't give you time to breathe or prepare. For example... like right now."
*BAM!*
Without anyone noticing when he had moved, Naoki was already in the air, hovering directly above them. His right leg was enveloped in a high-speed, razor-sharp wind vortex, creating crushing atmospheric pressure. Without a shred of hesitation, he brought his leg down, stomping onto Yuuki's back with full force.
*BOOM!*
A horrific thud echoed, spider-webbing the ground beneath Himari.
"Urgh...!!!" Yuuki let out a choked cry, feeling as if his spine was being crushed by tons of weight.
"AAAGH!!!" Himari screamed in pain as well. Positioned directly beneath Yuuki, she felt the double impact: the crushing weight of Yuuki and the shockwave from Naoki's attack vibrating through the earth.
Naoki didn't immediately release the pressure. Instead, he leaned in slightly, staring down at them with cold eyes masked by inverted crosses. He stood there, pinning Yuuki's back with one foot while his other hand remained in his pocket, looking down at them with a bored gaze.
"Is this really all your combination can do?" he taunted. "Himari, you have nearly unlimited copying potential—unlike mine, which is capped at ten—yet you're too rigid in how you use it. And you, Yuuki... you rely too much on orders. If your 'trainer' goes down, you're just a confused dog."
"Get... off!" Himari screamed with the last of her strength. Instantly, she transformed her shoulder area into high-pressure gas thrusters.
*BOOM!*
The burst of gas created enough upward thrust to lift Naoki slightly into the air. Seizing the opening, Yuuki immediately rolled to the side, pulling Himari with him. The two scrambled to their feet, gasping for air and staring at Naoki as he landed gracefully a few meters away.
"Still want to go?" Naoki asked, brushing dust off his uniform. "Or should I call the FBI to pick you up now, Yuuki?"
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