—Seconds Later—
BOOM.
A deafening explosion ruptured the silence of the riverside.
A violent burst of red lightning detonated across the water, erupting in spirals of steam as the river boiled and surged. At its center stood a figure engulfed in crimson fire—his presence sharp, deadly, and unrelenting.
Red Howl had arrived.
"AHAHAHAHA…," the figure cackled, voice deep and infernal, each syllable like a gravel drag across scorched bone. "I must thank you… for giving me this thrill."
His eyes glowed like blood-soaked embers.
"Now—hand over the boy with the stronger connection to Adolla."
Kisuke stepped forward without hesitation, arms raised and sword at the ready. His knuckles were white from the grip. His knees didn't shake. Not this time.
"You think I'm gonna let you touch Kai?" Kisuke snarled. "Shut your burnt, charcoal, no-dental-care-having bitch-ass UP!"
His voice cracked the air like lightning.
He wasn't scared anymore.
He was ready to fight for Kai.
Red Howl sneered. "How… fucking… cute."
He vanished in a blaze of heat.
FOOM.
Red Howl launched himself with explosive speed, the water beneath him vaporizing on contact. His flaming red fist tore through the air like a meteor headed for Kisuke's skull.
Kisuke moved on instinct.
-PLASMA BARRAGE!-
He locked into stance, feet skimming the ground with electric momentum. Plasma sparks ignited across his blade as he met Red Howl blow-for-blow, intercepting the incoming strikes with pinpoint parries and slashes. Each impact cracked the air like thunderclaps, his body pushed to the brink.
But one punch slipped through.
A gut-shot.
WHAM.
Kisuke reeled, dazed, his body flung back by the force of Red Howl's strike.
"NOW YOU'RE OPEN!"
Red Howl grinned, fangs flashing as he unleashed a brutal combo—fists blurring, flames flaring, his relentless assault turning Kisuke into a punching bag. The ground beneath them splintered from the impact.
Kisuke couldn't move. Couldn't think.
Just pain. Bones screaming. Muscles failing.
Life and death.
And death… was winning.
-PRESS OF DEATH-
Kisuke caught Red Howl's fist with his bare hand.
His eyes blazed with plasma fury.
"I've had enough… of being the one who needs saving."
Cracks of light surged up his arm, plasma whipping around him in uncontrolled chaos. His sword, broken and cracked, began to glow, shifting and reforging in the heat of his will.
"I won't stay weak. Not if it means fighting beside Kai."
A nova burst of energy exploded from within him.
"NOW BACK UP!"
Kisuke slammed his reforged sword into the earth. A titanic wave of plasma surged outward, hurling Red Howl back and carving a massive crater into the land.
Red Howl skidded across the riverbed, steam erupting in violent pillars around him. He coughed, eyes narrowed—interested.
"…Heh. So the boy's not the only one…"
He could feel it.
Kisuke's connection to Adolla… was awakening.
Kisuke's blade shimmered, now long and shining with an inner fire. It resembled a sword out of myth—massive, noble, and roaring with electric heat.
"Now…" Kisuke raised the sword.
"FACE ME."
He vanished in a flash of plasma light.
-PLASMA FLASH!-
In a blinding instant, Kisuke reappeared behind Red Howl, slashing with overwhelming speed. The cut sent shockwaves through the riverbed, slicing through stone and steam alike. Kisuke's power built with every strike, time dilating as he poured energy into a final decisive blow.
Thirty-five seconds. That's all he needed.
The red arc of his blade burned across the horizon, plasma spiraling outward like a celestial storm.
KA-THOOM.
Red Howl was launched into the distance, vanishing into the misty skyline.
Kisuke staggered.
"…Damn. Could've gone for a barrage or something. That was… way too much."
Hours Later…
Shadows moved.
Raina stepped out from the trees, her white-clad robes fluttering with silent menace.
"Interesting…," she purred, eyes gleaming. "Capture them."
White-Clads surged forward.
Kisuke tried to lift his blade, but his arms gave out. Blood ran from his lip, his legs shaking.
"Hey bitch! Don't you touch my frien—"
A karate chop to the neck knocked him unconscious.
-MANY HOURS LATER-
Kisuke awoke first.
He blinked at his surroundings—dark chamber, stone floor, strange warmth.
He and Kai were shirtless, wrists shackled high above their heads to a cold iron pole.
He squinted. "…What kinda kink dungeon is this?"
From the shadows, high heels echoed.
Raina emerged, strutting with slow intent. In one hand she held a cruel whip. In the other—the Red Book.
"That," she said with a smirk, "should be the least of your concerns."
Kisuke stiffened, rage prickling his spine as she leaned too close to Kai's unconscious body.
"Back off, you creepy—!"
CRACK.
The whip licked across his chest, searing a red mark.
"I do as I please," Raina said sweetly. "You're mine now. Both of you."
Kai stirred, groaning as he came to. His face flinched away from her touch.
"…Agh—what the hell is going on?!"
"Can't believe you woke up to a girl's touch," Kisuke muttered.
Kai snapped, "Like you wouldn't! But seriously—why the hell are we chained and why does she have the Red Book?!"
Kisuke quickly explained everything—Red Howl, the battle, the trap.
"…Infernal King… Red Howl…" Kai muttered, connecting the dots.
Raina chuckled. "Ooooh, handsome is finally catching up."
"Do me a favor and drop dead, hoe," Kai snapped. "Nobody wants you."
"Harsh," she whispered, cheeks flushed, "but very hot coming from someone like you~"
Kisuke had had enough.
The cuffs around his wrists melted in a flash of plasma heat. He summoned his sword from thin air, heatwaves pulsing around him.
"I'ma need you to stop," he growled. "You're makin' him mad uncomfortable. And I want my rematch, you stank freak hoe."
Raina smirked, her own flames erupting around her as she stepped back and entered a fighting stance.
They clashed.
BOOM.
A plasma blitzkrieg. Heatwaves scorched the walls, each slash from Kisuke forcing her to defend, retreat, counter, strike.
"Don't think I've gotten weaker!" he shouted, blades spiraling. "The sparks roaming this chamber are mine!"
ASURA FLASH CUT!
Kisuke vanished and reappeared in a blur, his blade slicing through her defenses.
Raina stumbled, catching her breath, her heat barrier flickering under the onslaught.
But Kisuke wasn't done.
He swapped with a plasma orb mid-air, appearing behind her with deadly precision.
-SILENT BLUE-
A deep, slicing blow connected across her back.
She dropped to her knees, stunned.
"…Guess… you did get your get-back… huh…"
Kisuke turned his back, panting, but didn't finish her off.
Click.
A floor panel shifted beneath them.
"WAIT—MOVE—!" Kai shouted.
Too late.
CLANG.
The ground swallowed them, sealing them inside a thick iron containment pod.
Raina laughed from above.
"HAHAHAHA! Now I really have you two… Now we wait for that big infernal baddie boy~"
Her laughter echoed through the halls.
The Red Book pulsed in her hand.