The alley pulsed with unnatural silence.
Justin Rymer stood tall among the swirling embers. His robes—flowing like black silk stitched with moonlight—glistened with ancient sigils. Long silver hair cascaded down his back, untouched by wind. He looked like something out of a wuxia epic, except his crimson gaze wasn't the gaze of a hero. It was the gaze of a man who had killed too many to remember.
Akira gulped. "That's your brother?"
Sera's face was pale. Her lips trembled as she stepped forward. "Justin... what are you doing here?"
Justin didn't move. "I came to retrieve you. And the Cresettla Stone."
Kirara leaned against a wall, licking a cut on her lip. "They put up a fight. Especially the thunder girl."
Kurumi scoffed. "Thunder queen, get it right."
"Silence," Justin said, his voice like glass cracking. "I don't require your commentary."
Kirara flinched slightly. Even she knew better than to provoke the First Blade.
Sera stepped between him and Akira. "I'm not going back with you. Not if you're working for them."
"You don't have a choice. Father's orders. You and the stone. Now."
Akira reached out. "Sera, we can run—"
Justin's eyes flicked toward him.
In an instant, Akira was on his knees, coughing blood. A slash of wind had cut through his robe and scraped his shoulder deeply.
"AKIRA!" Kurumi screamed.
"That was a warning," Justin said, lowering a finger. "The next strike removes his head."
Sera snapped. Her silver aura flared to life.
"You won't touch him again."
She launched forward, fists glowing with Cresettla energy, her chest bouncing slightly with each movement. (Akira would have admired it if he wasn't in pain.)
She struck with open palm technique—"Silver Lotus Bloom!"—but Justin caught her wrist with two fingers.
"Too slow."
With a twist, he flung her over his shoulder like a ragdoll. She crashed through a trash bin, groaning.
Kirara clapped. "Yay. Big brother dominance."
Kurumi ignited her thunder mode again, sparks wrapping around her thighs and chest like glowing ropes. She leapt into action.
"PINK THUNDER LASH!"
A whip of lightning extended from her hand, cracking through the air.
Justin side-stepped it.
Kirara took the distraction and appeared behind Kurumi with a teleport pop. Her fingers grazed Kurumi's chest.
"Nice aura. Shame about your reflexes."
Kurumi yelped, spun, and slapped her. Kirara moaned dramatically.
"Oooh, she's spicy! I like pain."
They clashed again, magical sparks and shadow blades lighting up the alley like a rave.
Akira struggled to his feet, hand over his bleeding shoulder. He had to do something.
"SERA! KURUMI!"
But Justin appeared in front of him.
"You," he said calmly, "are the problem."
Sera dashed in again, clothes torn from earlier impact, revealing far too much thigh.
"DON'T YOU TOUCH HIM!"
Justin flicked his sleeve.
A wave of force knocked her flat on her back. Her skirt fluttered up. Akira tried not to look. Tried very hard.
"You three are bonded," Justin observed. "Interesting. But irrelevant."
He raised his palm, gathering energy.
"One death will unbind the rest."
Sera coughed, eyes wide. "Justin... you wouldn't."
He stared at her with eyes of ice. "Kill Akira. Or I kill all three of you."
Silence fell.
Akira's heart pounded.
Sera slowly stood. Her aura trembled. Her lips parted.
Kurumi, beaten and scraped, whispered, "Don't do it..."
Sera looked back at them. Her eyes shimmered.
Then she walked toward Akira.
Justin nodded. "Good."
She reached out, hand glowing.
Akira swallowed. He closed his eyes. "If you have to do it... just make it quick."
She placed her hand on his chest.
Then, she leaned in.
And kissed him.
The alley exploded.
Silver and crimson energy burst around them, interlocking. Sera moaned softly, the magical resonance between them rippling across the dimension.
Justin's eyes widened.
"You... activated the Crest through a soul-kiss?!"
Sera stepped back, wiping her mouth. Her cheeks were pink. "We're bonded now. Not even you can break it."
Akira glowed. His wounds closed. His body surged with mana.
Kurumi stood beside them, her arm around Sera. "Guess you're not the only Rymer with tricks."
Justin's expression finally shifted.
He frowned.
"Then I'll kill all three of you together."
To be continued...