Tomaru lunges at Noa, attempting to land a punch.
Noa immediately counters, but a strong force of attraction violently pulls him behind his opponent.
Tomaru takes advantage.
A powerful punch.
Noa is sent flying and crashes into a rock, raising a cloud of dust.
He emerges with minor scratches.
— His technique… it lets him manipulate gravity.
Noa draws his saber and observes the blade.
« But it has limits… he can't use it directly to attack. Otherwise, he already would have. »
Tomaru slowly descends and lands in front of him.
— You're really durable… I have to admit, I'm surprised.
Noa remains focused.
Tomaru begins lightly bouncing in place, as if warming up.
— You've already figured out my technique relies on gravity. It allows me to control the influence of gravity on my opponents.
He stops.
Noa gets into a fighting stance.
Tomaru activates his aura.
— But I think I'll stop the explanations here… something tells me I shouldn't say too much.
He pushes off the ground and rushes forward.
Noa blocks his kick with his already weakened right arm.
Tomaru coats his arm in chaotic energy.
— 16.
He follows up.
Sixteen punches.
Fast. Precise. Violent.
Noa blocks them all with his saber…
But the impact staggers him.
— 1.
A final strike.
Noa is launched into the air, spinning uncontrollably.
— Damn it!
Tomaru reappears above him and strikes.
Noa narrowly dodges.
The ground explodes.
He stabilizes himself and creates distance.
Tomaru points his finger.
His aura activates.
A massive boulder detaches from the ground and rushes toward Noa.
He dodges.
But the boulder suddenly changes direction.
It continues chasing him.
— No way!
Noa zigzags repeatedly.
Then—
A blade of air descends from the sky.
Explosion.
The boulder is pulverized.
Noa stabilizes at a distance.
— This chaos…
Tomaru scans the surroundings.
Silent.
…
A silhouette appears in the shadows.
Minor scratches.
Wrinkled clothes.
A torn sleeve.
Nicolas.
Calm.
— Nicolas… what is he doing here?
Noa forces himself upright despite his injuries.
— What are you doing here?
Nicolas takes a light breath.
— I won my fight against a member of their team. On the way, I sensed your aura… so I came to see how you were doing.
His gaze shifts to Tomaru.
— And clearly… not very well.
Noa returns to a fighting stance, tightening the bandages on his right arm.
— If that's the only reason, you can leave. I'll handle this alone.
Nicolas stares at him for a moment.
— Absolutely not.
He steps beside him.
— I'm not here to help you out of friendship. But understand one thing… we're on the same team. Each of your actions affects us.
He takes a stance.
— If we want to become Directors, we have to fight together. So spare me your nonsense.
Noa looks irritated.
But he can't deny the logic.
Tomaru, who has been silent until now, lets out a slight sigh.
— Are you done?
He rubs his forehead.
— Whether there are two or three of you… it doesn't matter. I simply can't let you pass.
Without warning—
A blade of air cuts through the space.
Tomaru tilts his head to avoid it.
Noa charges.
Attacks.
Tomaru dodges.
But Nicolas follows up.
He pushes off Noa, launching himself—
A fast kick.
Tomaru is forced to block.
He steps back slightly.
His eyebrows tighten.
Nicolas points his fingers at him.
— You should stop holding back. From now on… the momentum is going to shift.
Tomaru abandons his defensive stance.
His green eyes shine.
He extends his hand.
His aura spreads.
Rocks begin floating around him.
— Very well… in that case, I hope you're ready for this.
Nicolas doesn't take his eyes off him.
Then turns to Noa.
— That applies to you too. If you're capable of it.
Noa closes his eyes.
A memory resurfaces.
The attack in the underground tunnels of the Empire of the East.
The pain in his arm.
He looks at his right arm.
Still bandaged.
Silence.
Then—
He tightens his grip on his saber.
His eyes light up.
A pure, deep blue… like the ocean.
— Then…
His stance changes.
— Let's begin.
Next chapter: The blue prince strategy