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Most Savage Beast-ranked Geminis had been sent to fight Ariel earlier, leaving the Alpha-ranked Awakeners to mop up the weaker Geminis in the Zones. Those areas caught a brief break, but the Primordials, now gathered together, faced a grueling battle against the Elite Geminis, their every move a fight for survival.

Before targeting the Dark Seraph with two missiles, Yuna had already set three others in motion. She guided the initial pair with her left hand, drawing the Gemini's attention as it dodged their fiery trails. With her right hand, she subtly directed the three additional missiles, delaying their launch to keep them hidden while the Dark Seraph focused on evading the bait. The plan worked. As the Gemini dove toward her, claws gleaming, its blue hair whipping, the three missiles pivoted sharply from the swarm above, converging like predators.

The Dark Seraph's eyes widened, but it was too late. The first missile slammed into its wing, erupting in a burst of molten lava, scorching feathers and flesh with a sickening sizzle. The second hit its shoulder, the impact spinning its red-furred body, ichor spraying like dark rain. The third grazed its side, leaving a sizzling gash that oozed, its regeneration slowed by the searing burns. The Gemini crashed onto the pavement, skidding across the ground, its wings crumpled, blue hair tangled with ash. It growled, claws scraping as it struggled to rise, weakened but still dangerous.

Kai stepped forward, his twin swords raised. "Not so tough now, bird," he said, his grin sharp as he twirled a blade. He slashed downward, aiming for the Dark Seraph's head, but a massive fist smashed into the ground before him, forcing him to leap back, his boots skidding on gravel. The Rocksborne, its stone-like body looming, had jumped from the school's rooftop, its landing cracking the pavement like brittle glass.

"Hey, Whisperkin, you mind me evening the odds?" the Rocksborne growled, its voice a deep rumble, turning its head toward the lean, dark Gemini. "This fight wasn't fair from the start."

The Whisperkin swayed slightly, its faceless head tilting. "Of course not, suit yourself," it rasped, its voice calm but distant, as if lost in thought. 'It's about time he showed up, but why is he not coming? Did he fail the Master's training after all? I put too much faith in him. What's left is to finish this and return to the Tower. A shame, though—I wanted to see what the Master's training could do. My master, The Destroyer, will be disappointed if I return empty-handed. Well, it can't be helped.'

The Whisperkin's tone sharpened, its telepathic voice cutting through the chaos. "Playtime's over, fellow Elites. I know you all want to get back to the Tower. Finish this quickly, or I'll step in if needed."

Yuna stood at the rear, her black crop top shifting, kept her hands raised, guiding her remaining seventeen lava missiles with sharp focus. The Geminis had turned deadly serious, their movements sharper, and she wasn't about to let them seize the advantage. She waved her hands, splitting the missiles to chase the four Geminis fighting the Primordials, aiming to give her allies room to strike back.

Eight missiles streaked through the air, two targeting each Gemini: the Yoka, Ragumon, Mistibeast, and Rocksborne. The Yoka melted into the shadows, its lean, dark form vanishing, but it was too slow to fully dodge. One missile grazed its side, searing its blue markings, forcing a pained hiss as it reappeared, staggering. The Mistibeast's misty form swirled, letting both missiles pass harmlessly through, its claws reshaping into a jagged blade as it eyed Valmer. The Ragumon, with its SS-ranked speed, blurred out of reach, the missiles trailing uselessly behind its flickering form. The Rocksborne, its stone-like body unyielding, raised its arms to block, but the missiles hit hard—one burning into its torso, the other scorching its right arm, leaving sizzling gashes that oozed inky blood. It growled, stumbling back, its massive frame cracking the pavement.

The fight erupted into an all-out brawl, every fighter throwing everything they had into the chaos. Kenshi activated [One Step Ahead], his body surging with speed.

[System Notice]

Kenshi Aokawa has activated [One Step Ahead].

Effect: Doubles speed every 5 seconds for 5 minutes. Cooldown: 2 minutes.

His speed doubled, then doubled again, his black coat a blur as he dashed toward the Ragumon. He deactivated [Faded Existence], its stamina drain too heavy, relying on raw speed instead. One moment he stood still, the next he was behind the Ragumon, his katana slashing with deadly force, its blade glowing under [Blade Sovereign]. He thought no one in the world could match him now, his speed a blazing force.

But the Ragumon countered.

[System Notice]

Ragumon has activated [Dash].

Effect: Moves double the speed of its opponent for 15 seconds. Cooldown: 60 seconds.

Kenshi's katana sliced thin air, the Ragumon vanishing in a flicker. For the next fifteen seconds, it moved twice as fast as Kenshi, its lean body a streak too quick to track. Seizing the moment, the Ragumon pivoted, its claws gleaming as it rushed toward Yuna, who was focused on her missiles, unaware of the danger. Her hands were raised, guiding the fiery projectiles, leaving her ribs exposed. The Ragumon's fist slammed into her left side with a sickening crunch, sending her crashing into a streetlight. The metal pole bent with a groan, and Yuna gasped, sliding to the ground, her hands dropping, the missiles wavering in the air as they crumbled down, one after the other like ashes.

Kenshi didn't hesitate. He surged forward, his katana arcing toward the Ragumon's back, a committed strike fueled by rage. The Gemini ducked, blurring behind him, its claws slashing at his side. Kenshi spun, reacting instantly, his blade blocking the attack with a clang, sparks flying. But the Ragumon's speed was overwhelming, its [Dash] making it a ghost, untouchable. Kenshi gritted his teeth, his coat flapping as he swung again, missing by inches.

Then the Ragumon pushed further.

[System Notice]

Ragumon has activated [Sonic Break].

Effect: Exceeds sound barrier for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 8 minutes.

Kenshi didn't see it coming. The Ragumon moved faster than thought, a blur beyond comprehension, striking him multiple times—claws raking his chest, shoulder, and side before his mind could process the attack. He collapsed, his katana clattering beside him, blood seeping through his torn coat. His amber eyes flickered, pain clouding his vision, but his grip tightened on the hilt, refusing to yield.

The battlefield was a grim expanse of fractured pavement and shattered school walls, their jagged edges clawing at the dim glow of the setting sun. Storm clouds loomed heavy overhead, casting a sickly pallor over the scene, the air thick with the acrid bite of ash and the metallic tang of blood. Kenshi lay crumpled near a bent streetlight, his katana glinting beside him, blood seeping through his torn coat, his amber eyes flickering with pain but unyielding resolve. Yuna slumped against the warped metal pole, her black crop top stained with dust, her hands trembling as she clutched her bruised ribs, struggling to catch her breath.

'If I hadn't cast the self-protective spell before we arrived, I would've most likely been killed by that attack.' She thought.

With Kenshi and Yuna wounded, only Ariel, Kai, and Valmer remained to face the relentless Elite Geminis.

[System Notice]

Yoka has activated [Shadow Armor].

Effect: Absorbs 50% damage for 10 minutes. Cooldown: 3 minutes.

The Yoka, its lean, dark form shimmering with a shadowy veil, didn't hesitate. Its blue markings flared as it surged toward Ariel, its claws gleaming like obsidian blades. Ariel's golden hair whipped in the wind, her blue eyes wide but sharp as she braced herself. With her [Protector] and [Submission] skills now faded, their cooldowns ticking, she was vulnerable, her usual tricks spent. The Yoka slashed with both claws, the air hissing as the attack sliced toward her chest. Ariel reacted swiftly, flipping backward, her boots scraping the gravel-strewn pavement. The claws missed by mere inches, grazing the hem of her tattered dress, leaving faint tears in the fabric.

Landing lightly, Ariel didn't pause. She lunged forward, her fists clenched, delivering two rapid punches aimed at the Yoka's chest. Her knuckles connected with a dull thud, but pain shot through her hands, her skin bruising as if she'd struck a stone wall. The Yoka's [Shadow Armor] absorbed half her damage, its shadowy veil rippling like dark water, barely dented by her strikes. The Gemini tilted its faceless head, a low rasp escaping it, almost mocking her effort. Ariel leaped back, her boots kicking up dust, creating a few meters of distance. She wiped sweat from her brow, her chest heaving as she scanned the Yoka, her mind racing for a plan. Her fists throbbed, and she flexed her fingers, wincing, knowing she couldn't outmuscle it now.

The Ragumon, its lean body a flicker of motion, saw an opening. Deciding Ariel was the weakest target, it blurred toward her, its SS-ranked speed making it nearly invisible. Its claws gleamed, aimed at her back, a strike meant to end her quickly. Ariel, her focus locked on the Yoka, didn't sense the danger until it was almost too late. Her instincts screamed, and she turned her head, catching a glimpse of the Ragumon's blurred form, its claws inches from her spine.