Saito and Lily hurried up the staircase, their footsteps echoing softly through the empty hallway.
The sounds of explosions from outside were becoming more distant.
Just as they reached the next floor—
Several scientists rounded the corner.
Both sides froze.
Saito's eyes widened.
"...Crap."
Lily calmly stepped in front of him.
"Let me handle it."
The scientists stared at the two of them for a split second before one finally shouted,
"Intruders!"
"Stop them!"
Before anyone could raise a weapon, Lily slowly rested her hand on the hilt of her sword.
She closed her eyes.
"Sword Style..."
A gentle breeze swept through the corridor.
"...Flower Blossom."
Shing!
Her blade left its sheath in a flash.
For a brief moment...
Nothing happened.
Lily calmly returned her sword to its scabbard.
Click.
The scientists looked at one another in confusion.
"What was—"
Thin red lines suddenly appeared across their bodies.
Their eyes widened.
Blood poured from the cuts.
One by one, they collapsed onto the floor without ever realizing they had already been struck.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Silence returned to the hallway.
Saito stared at the scene, then looked at Lily.
"...Samurais are crazy."
Lily gave him a small smile.
"We should keep moving."
Saito quickly nodded.
"Right."
The two continued deeper into the upper floor, leaving the silent corridor behind.
Outside the base, the battle had become even more intense.
Scientists poured out from every direction, surrounding Herion, Bomb, and Fanny.
Bomb ducked beneath a scientist's swing before driving his fist into the man's face.
Thud!
The scientist collapsed instantly.
Bomb wasted no time.
He pulled a grenade from his belt and threw it straight at Fawn.
"Catch!"
Boom!!
The explosion swallowed Fawn in a cloud of smoke.
Bomb grinned.
"Got him!"
But then...
A figure slowly walked out of the smoke.
Not a single scratch covered Fawn's body.
Bomb's smile disappeared.
"...Damn it."
Before Fawn could move again, Fanny rushed forward.
"Take this!"
She spun and delivered a powerful kick.
Fawn calmly reached out.
Thud!
He caught her leg with one hand.
"What?!"
With a single motion, he slammed Fanny into the ground.
Boom!
The impact cracked the earth beneath her.
At the same time—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Herion opened fire from higher ground.
Bullets rained toward Fawn.
Fawn raised his black sword and spun it rapidly.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Every bullet was knocked away before it could reach him.
A moment later, Herion's rifle fell silent.
Click.
Click.
Herion frowned.
"...I'm out of ammo."
Bomb looked around.
Scientists were closing in from every direction.
"...We're trapped."
Just as they prepared for another attack—
Slash!
A nearby scientist was cut down in a single strike.
Bomb turned toward the newcomer.
A grin spread across his face.
"Oh yeah!"
Shiro landed lightly beside Herion after leaping down from above.
Behind him, a scientist tried to stab him from behind.
Shing!
Without even looking back, Shiro's blade flashed, dropping the attacker before he could land a hit.
Shiro sheathed his sword and looked at Herion.
"How's the situation?"
Herion nodded.
"Our plan worked, boss."
"Saito already got inside."
"But we can't break through the entrance."
Shiro looked toward the base.
"Then we'll let Saito deal with the enemies inside."
At that moment, another figure stopped beside him.
Hashima.
He immediately looked around the battlefield.
"...Where's my daughter?"
Herion answered,
"Lily is with Saito."
Hashima let out a quiet breath.
"Good."
Just then, Makuto hurried over.
"My Lord..."
He pointed toward the base.
"Looks like more scientists are coming out."
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
More enemy forces were pouring into the battlefield.
Hashima smiled.
"Then..."
"We'll welcome them with our weapons."
A familiar presence suddenly appeared beside Shiro.
Alpha.
He looked across the battlefield with unwavering confidence.
"Get ready..."
"...to launch an attack."
Shiro nodded.
"So be it."
Hashima tightened his grip on his weapon.
"I'm ready."
The battlefield fell silent for a brief moment...
Before the next clash was about to begin.
Fawn looked across the battlefield as more figures appeared.
"...The Balance Table."
Alpha slowly unsheathed his sword.
The sound of the blade sliding from its scabbard echoed across the battlefield.
Shing.
Hashima stepped forward and raised his weapon.
"Attack!"
The moment the order was given, another force arrived.
The Red Sun gang.
The samurais drew their swords as one.
Their blades reflected the light before they charged toward the scientists.
"For the Red Sun!"
They lunged into battle, cutting through the enemy lines.
Hashima and Makuto jumped down from the high ground to join their army.
Boom!
The two landed among the scientists and immediately joined the fight.
On the other side of the battlefield, Shiro leaped high into the air.
He aimed straight for the scientists on the eastern flank.
"Out of my way."
He descended like a falling blade, forcing the scientists to scatter.
Fawn watched the battlefield unfold.
"...It seems the situation is starting to favor your side."
Bomb laughed.
"Hey!"
"Eyes over here, pal!"
He rushed forward and threw a heavy punch.
Thud!
Bomb's fist connected with Fawn's face.
Fawn stumbled back and held his cheek.
Without hesitation, he swung his black sword toward Bomb.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Another blade intercepted the strike.
Alpha stood between them.
"Let's fight..."
"...you creepy deer guy."
Fawn smiled faintly.
"With pleasure."
He immediately slashed toward Alpha.
But before the blade connected—
Alpha vanished.
Fawn's eyes narrowed.
Behind him.
Alpha suddenly reappeared and swung his sword.
Shing!
Fawn spun around just in time to block it.
Clang!
The two blades collided.
Alpha smiled.
"Not bad."
In the next instant, he accelerated.
His movements became so fast that several identical figures appeared around Fawn.
Clones.
They rushed in from every direction.
Fawn swung his sword.
Slash!
One Alpha disappeared into thin air.
He turned and struck another.
Slash!
That one also dissolved into the air.
"...Illusions."
Fawn's ears twitched.
He sensed movement behind him.
Without looking, he quickly stepped aside.
Whoosh!
The real Alpha's sword sliced through the space where Fawn had been standing only a moment earlier.
Alpha smiled.
"So..."
"You found the real me."
Fawn lowered his sword into a fighting stance.
"Good move..."
"...old man."
Alpha pointed his sword toward Fawn.
"It's time to leave the Feerus City Sector X."
Fawn let out a laugh.
"We're not going anywhere..."
"...you old prick."
He lunged forward and reached for Alpha's collar.
His hand closed around it.
"Got—"
Before he could finish—
Whoosh!
Alpha vanished.
Fawn's eyes widened.
"...What?"
A split second later, Alpha appeared beside him.
Too fast to react.
Thud!
Alpha's kick slammed into Fawn's side.
The force sent Fawn skidding across the ground, carving a long trail through the dirt before he finally stopped.
Dust rose into the air.
Fawn slowly stood up and brushed the dirt from his clothes.
He clicked his tongue.
"...Your speed is as annoying as ever."
Alpha rested his sword on his shoulder with a calm smile.
"Well..."
"They don't call me The Lightning for no reason."
Fawn tightened his grip on his black sword.
His ears twitched as he lowered himself into a fighting stance.
"Then let's see..."
"...if your lightning can keep up forever."
The two stared at each other in silence as the battle around them raged on.
Neither one made the first move.
Both were waiting...
...for the perfect opening.