Back at the lakehouse a foreboding silence hangs in the air as the group sit and wait once again for an answer.
"Alright. Now it may be time to get worried," said Reyna.
"I'm inclined to agree. This is abnormal. Now I've lost contact with Itami," said Leon.
Junpei calls from the living room. "You fools may want to see this." He says. He clicks the volume up on the television as the TV blares out news. The broadcaster frantically spoke.
"It appears a bomb has just gone off in the town square near the quadruplex building! We are unsure at this time who the attacker could be but the situation is dire. Massive damage occurred, the area has been evacuated but authorities have yet to figure out the source of the damage."
Within a moment Piers phone rings. On the other line shouting and screaming can be heard.
"We need to go. Now," said Piers.
"Doesn't it seem like a bad idea to split everyone up more than we already are?" Asked Leon.
"That very well could be their plan. This may be a deliberate bait," said Reyna. "What choice do we have?" said Piers. "Nobody else is going to do anything. Let's go. Saddle up."
The crew funnel outside into the vehicle and fly towards the Quadraplex. It isn't long before they arrive. Upon arrival mounting dread builds as the situation unfolds. As they draw closer fire and ember fill the sky as the once sprawling terrace lays as rubble and ash.
"Who could have done this much damage in such a short period of time?" said Reyna.
"I don't know but it appears to be nearby," said Piers.
As he speaks a flash of light appears and the bus is hit. It's sent spinning and lands crumbling as it flips multiple times before hitting a wall. The bus lay in a heap covered in rubble and debris. All appears still inside the bus as people begin to take in what happened. Junpei peels a door off and climbs out brushing himself off with rubble. He begins to help the others. Multiple people were protected by a large barrier Karina placed inside the bus before final impact. As they all exit they see him. In the sky a large shadowy figure appears. As the smoke clears he becomes clearer. He is wearing large ornate iron clad armor, an intricate sharp helmet dotted with only two glowing eyes. He glares down at them specifically at Reyna.
"You survived. Obstinate," The being said. His dark smoky voice billowed through the white noise.
He begins heading back towards the center square and the group chases him. As they turn around the building miles of fire and hellscape are in front of them. Reyna looks in horror as flames dance and smoke rises all around. The figure lands in the center of the terrace with a loud crash as he pummels the ground beneath him. He looks her dead in the eyes and she meets his gaze. She senses his aura and it's cold as ice, chilling even. As she begins to scan his mana signature she almost doesn't believe it.
"What is he?" She says under her breath only loud enough for her to hear.
"A god." The man says, aiming his arm out towards them.
As Reyna looks up the ground beneath her and the others explode, sending everyone flying. In the chaos and rubble Vargas lands near the shadow man and looks at them smiling.
"Hello again. I still owe you for last time bitch."
Reyna stumbles to her feet and looks at them. She thinks to herself. "Two of them. This doesn't bode well. Karina is the only one here remotely suited for this level of combat. Having Kazuke or Mizuki would be even better but I doubt that's going to happen.
Reyna turns to the team. "I don't know how to say this but you all need to leave. I am the only one here even remotely fit for this battle. The rest of you would just be killed in the crossfire. I can't fight knowing I need to be weary of hitting you as well. So leave. Wait until Mike and the others arrive."
"We can't leave you here, we are a team!" said Lena.
"Let's go Leon, Reyna knows what she's doing," said Karina.
The team turns to run, Lena hesitates then goes along with the others.
Vargas laughs. "Fighting alone? Foolish. Suppose I'll make these odds fair then. I'll step out. I have more important things to attend to."
Reyna stares blankly and closes her eyes. The shadow man walks towards her slowly eyeing her up. Reyna opens her eyes as they pierce with a blue glow. As they do she begins to slowly lift off the ground. The sky opens up and a light rain blooms into a viscous storm. Reyna lights up a fireball.
"Fire magic, fireball!"
The fire bursts off his chest as his walk turns into a run and he begins his attack. Reyna flies into the sky, daring him to follow. She takes off down the city street but the man is fast leaping from building to building slowly catching up. As Reyna turns to check he's gone and before she can react he spears her out of the air and they crash towards a roof top scuffling the whole way. Reyna gets up and prepares to defend herself and before she can the man is on her. He lands a hit to the stomach, then the side, then the face.
"I'm not suited for this type of combat, close quarters I stand no chance."
Reyna is unable to defend herself as she stumbles backwards. As she does the man blinks and sends a brutal kick booting her across the rooftop. Before she can stop sliding he comes from above and lands both feet, on impact crushing her through multiple floors. Accelerating downwards Reyna realizes she will be killed upon impact. Reyna waves her hands.
"Water magic, calm currents!"
She summons a large sum of water to break her fall. As the man comes down into the body of water she rolls away barely dodging it and he goes straight through the floor. The building begins to shake as the foundation crumbles. Reyna crawls and grovels to her feet. She runs forward leaping out the window and falls multiple stories and hits the ground with a thud. She lay face up breathing heavily.
"Damn it. He's unreal. I can't do anything. Power, speed, battle sense. He hasn't even used magic yet, god forbid. All I can do is hold out until the others are safe or somebody comes to help me. I'm a damn damsel. I don't know what else i can do."
A large explosion is heard and the wall caves in as the man comes flying out and catches her by the neck lifting her off the ground. She moves two fingers.
"Lightning magic, bolt crash." A lightning bolt lands directly on their location hitting them both. The bolt shocks them violently crackling and screeching. The beast is stunned if only momentarily. He throws her across the pavement and steps back. Reyna climbs to her feet as quickly as possible.
The man brushes off the attack and looks her down. "You hit us both. Bold girl."
"I am the daughter of a legendary warrior. A warrior who made men like you look like stable boys. I won't be defeated as easily as you think." Reyna looks up and begins to channel. As she does, the same as before the sky goes dark red.'
"Hidden technique, molten magic. Cataclysm!" A hailstorm of meteors begins to fall. The man looks up.
"Interesting." He says calmly.
Reyna screams and continues to channel the meteors into the open field. A bigger barrage than ever before. The fireballs crash pummeling the pavement. The man doesn't move standing there casually, not breaking his stare. "If it worked on Vargas it will work now!" As she's about to give out she pushes through. Forcing herself to summon forth the max execution she is capable of. As the last one hits she collapses, unable to move. She lays there defeated as the dust pools in the sky. Reyna's eyes gloss back and forth searching for confirmation that the attack worked. "He's gone. Damn it. Where did he go?"
A black smoke begins to form and Reyna looks on. Slowly the smoke forms into a human figure and behold the man appears. "A valiant effort indeed."
She looks at him. Fighting back emotion. Anger, sadness, regret welling beneath the surface. "I failed, I guess this is it for me. I gave it my all. The rest is up to you guys. Please don't let my death be in vain."
The man walks towards her slowly, looking directly at her. He closes in. As he stands over her. He holds his hand up and summons a large wicked looking shadow blade. He holds it confidently ready to finish her.
"You fought well but this is it. A shame really. Against a different opponent you may have won. I will kill you quickly out of respect."
He swings the blade down until it meets resistance. It crashes voraciously. Reyna, prepared for the blow looks and she is unharmed. She peers upwards slowly and sees a site of hope. A silver jacket torn to tatters. A lightning-charged sword holding back the blade of the shadowy figure. Mizuki holding the man at bay. His face crackled with violent rage.
"Your fight is with me. You trash heap." He says
Reyna smiles as blood drips down her face. Her once white hair now soaked crimson. "You're late."
A large conjured sword comes crashing down and the shadow man flips backwards as Kazuke lands nearby. Nathan and Youta land in front of the 2 of them. The shadow man looks at them then notices a laser on his chest. He looks to the right and sees Brody bandaged and bruised but aiming his rifle. The shadow man looks unamused.
"Reyna. You have done your part. Now allow us to fight for you," Youta said.
"It's the least we can do. For showing up late. Leave it to us," said Nathan.
The reunion is cut short as Vargas returns.
"The preparations have been set. You are ready to do your ritual." Vargas spoke.
The shadow man turns and fades into a shadow and disappears. Vargas looks at Mike with smugness. "You know this is what I will enjoy the most, watching you fail once again to protect this shithole of a city. Then, I'm going to kill each and every one of your team in front of you before I'll kill you."
Mike turns around and stares at Joe with intent. "Rot."
Mike looks at his team. "Youta. Get Reyna to safety. There is no need for somebody of your stature to waste her time with somebody like this. Nathan get my back. The rest of you. Go gather the others and find the location of his other lackey. I'll deal with this one."
"You got it sir." Says Youta.
"I got you. Let's finish this." Says Nathan.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Asked Kazuke.
"No, I don't. At times like these there isn't a clear answer. All I know is we need to act now. If Vargas is doing what I think he's doing, I believe the entire city could be at risk.
"Very well," said Kazuke.
The team leaves as Mike stares at Vargas with intent to kill. The three prepare for high level combat as the city burns. One final battle.