The storm tore across the city, rain lashing the streets, lightning flashing across darkened buildings. Kozuki Toya moved through it, calm and lethal, a silent predator cutting through the chaos.
Somewhere else…
Noctyre Valen's black cloak clung to his body, soaked through by the relentless rain. His boots splashed in the puddles, each step deliberate, silent. He muttered under his breath, eyes sharp as daggers.
"Things have escalated… an average vital spirit is now as strong as an S-Grade Hunter…"
He exhaled slowly. "But Yura… is he alive or dead? Where is he?" The shadows offered no answer.
"No one knows…"
From the darkness, a figure emerged. An assassin, her movements fluid, deadly.
Noctyre's eyes narrowed. His voice was calm but firm.
"Who are you?"
"Dresca Ruie. An assassin. And my job… is to kill you."
Noctyre cracked his neck, a predatory grin forming. "Well then… what are you waiting for?"
In an instant, she struck. Her fist slammed into his gut with inhuman speed, but Noctyre's eyes widened slightly—too fast, he realized. Before he could react further, she vanished and reappeared behind him, her afterimage flickering in front.
Noctyre slammed a fist into the phantom afterimage, then yanked himself away as a knife plunged into his back. Blood dripped, the steel cold in the storm.
Dresca's grin widened. "What are you doing, Noctyre?"
He crossed his arms, aura flaring faintly.
"With this movement… I bring forward… The Radiating Presence… The Adaptive Tyrant."
Dresca's eyes widened, sweat running down her face. "Wait… is he…?"
"I bring forward… Commander Yarau."
In a horrifying instant, Yarau tore itself into existence. Its black skin seemed to swallow the light around it. Purple veins pulsed violently along its sinewy body. A whip-like tail lashed behind it, while two jagged horns crowned its head, glowing faintly with unnatural energy. Its presence alone distorted the rain and flickered the shadows.
Noctyre's voice was calm, yet cold as ice.
"There's no one who's ever been able to defeat Yarau. With the sole exception… of Neraxis."
Dresca stiffened, gripping her weapon tighter. "I will win."
Noctyre's eyes narrowed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Yarau… is under my control, thanks to Neraxis. Bring it on, kid."
Her jaw tightened, eyes blazing with stubborn defiance. "I'm not a kid."