He twirls his sword, and the wind starts circling him, the intruder suddenly feels the gate being dragged by the harsh winds. She jumps off and uses the speed of the wind, to boost herself towards Daichi, and strapping her katana on her leg, and swings.

She closes the gap but is repelled by the wind. Daichi suddenly appears behind her and finally uses his lightning and tries to stun-lock her. Much to his surprise, he doesn’t affect her at all. She reaches for her katana, and places it from the back of Daichi’s neck and swirls towards the ground. Both crash into the pavement and Daichi lays flat on the ground while the intruder lays on top of him. She tries grinding on Daichi, however his armor repels her, she laughs and then says.

“Hmph, come on. I thought you got better at fighting me, Dieske.”

The intruder says with a sigh.

Daichi lays there paralyzed and says.

“That’s not possible, there’s only one person who can possibly know to call me that. Just who the hell are you?”

“Don’t ask me that, you know exactly who I am. It’s been a long time, you’ve grown more attractive with age. I see your kid has grown up, I can sense him nearby. Like maybe behind those shrubs over there.” The intruder says.

Immediately, Saito stipends his breath and adjusts his position behind the shrub.

Daichi hears the subtle movement and becomes alert. He holds his breath and clenches his abs, the wind armor shoots the intruder airborne and a big gust of wind throws her off balance. She falls to the ground and lands on her sides, she gets up and her left leg trembles a bit.

“Gosh, speak about the kid and he gets one up on me.” The intruder says under her breath.”

While Saito stipends his breathing, his joints and head feel like it’s pulsating, he can barely move as if he broke all his bones. Just a pain that’s similar to pins and needles, almost like getting tased over and over. He moves his eyes quickly and the environment looks like afterimages, regardless of his condition, he wants to see how this fight will continue.

Daichi tries running over to Saito, but the intruder won’t let him do that. The katana launches from her right leg and goes directly towards Daichi. He turns around and deflects it, the katana disappears and reappears at different angles of Daichi, he keeps deflecting it but it always reappears elsewhere. Saito tries to crawl away from the shrub so he can get a good look at the katana and the intruder. Saito’s eyes finally start adjusting and he looks at the intruder’s appearance. He tries focusing on the katana, constantly moving around his dad, and devises a plan.

The intruder gets tired of doing things from a distance and works in tangent with the blade. Daichi had been deflecting it with a two-handed stance all the while but with the intruder pursuing him, he had to dodge, guard the intruder’s kicks and jabs, and still deflect the blade pursuing him.

Saito waits for his chance and spawns a tear towards the sky, once the blade appears from above. The pull of Saito’s portal interrupts the pull of the intruders, leaving Daichi a chance to attack and end it.

Daichi picking up on the chance his son gave him, he does a sweep kick to the intruder, causing her to fall and from there, he uses all his force to deliver an overhead strike, reversing his blade to knock the intruder out instead of killing them.

Suddenly, the intruder smirks in Saito’s direction.

“That’s a shame.” The intruder says as she falls towards the ground.

She claps her hands, and a new portal appears underneath her. She shifts herself to propel off the back of the sword and passes through the portal. She appears from the same portal above that was pulling her blade and she connects the blade to her leg and as she dives down for a dive kick.

I cry out to my father before the blade lands and I clench my hands. Suddenly, everything around us is white, both my dad and I are highlighted in black and white. I’m stuck in place and if I try and force myself, my body begins to burn up. I close my eyes and open them again, and appear in a vast land that stretches forever. In front of me, my dad stands there, in shock. Above me, almost atmospheric, I take a step forward, and the white floor ripples as if I was standing on water. I rush over to him and embrace him.

“Dad, you’re okay! I don’t know what’s happening but the intruder isn’t here. Doesn’t that mean we’re safe?” Saito says.

“I have no words. This place is beautiful.” Daichi says as he hugs Saito harder.

“But where are we? She was gonna strike you down and suddenly I saw that we were frozen, and then I closed my eyes and we’re here.” Saito questions.

“I might have an idea. I’m gonna need you to sit down for this one.” Daichi says.

The two look up at the sky, as the stars leave trails of light.

“Saito, I need you to understand everything I’m gonna say to you right now. As this is your first time, we won't have much time.” Daichi says with a stern face,

“What do you mean my first time, why don’t we have time?” Saito askes as he grabs his Dad’s shoulders.

“Your dimension control kinetic caused this. There are few people I know in MANKO that have this ability. This is a pocket dimension, that has its own workings of time. Nanoseconds are going by in the real world, but to put it in easier words... You stopped time and transported us to a pocket world, one you dreamed up. Kinetic users share traits but some skills are unique, this one is one of them. I know of only a few people who have this ability, luckily one of them is in New York, so go there immediately after we get back to the real world.” Daichi says

“ Wait, what do you me-.” Saito tries to respond.

“We don’t have much time, I need you to listen up. Be a big boy. Once we exit this dimension, I will die. There are two phases of this technique, the first phase is when time stops, if you try to move during the time, your body will be ripped apart by time itself, to get to the next phase, you must close your eyes once you open them, you'll be transported here with whomever you looked at last. You have power over this dimension, so you rule this place. When we return to phase one, you must not try and save me. Promise me that.” Daichi says while looking into Saito’s eyes.

“Dad, you can’t just say all that and expect me to be okay with this,” Saito says as tears form in his eyes.

“I don’t want this end for me, but I need you to promise me,” Daichi says as he wipes Saito’s tears.

“This isn’t fair at all but I’ll promise me.” Saito sniffles.

“I still have more to say to you, so hang in there, kiddo.” Daichi tries to crack a smile.

For the next few minutes, we sobbed and sobbed, he gave me all the life advice I could need, all of his sentiments and dreams for my future. In his last hours, he truly showed bright.

“Dad, my head is feeling weird, like the top of my eyebrow feels strange. What does this mean?” Saito questions as he feels his forehead.

“I guess that means time is running up. Are you ready for what comes next?”

Daichi says with tear-stained eyes.

“I have two more questions, that's all I ask.” Saito trying to fake a smile.

“Go ahead, shoot kiddo.” Daichi hangs his head.

“I never wanted to ask this as I know it’s a tough question but where did mom go? I know you’ve been searching for any lead on her.” Saito asks.

“Wow, that’s a heavy hitter… To tell you the truth, I don’t know what to believe. I’ve searched this whole time and I thought I had a lead which is why I brought you to America with me.” Daichi responds as he feels for the pit in his stomach.

“Dad, I know how much she means to you. And thanks for bringing me along, and searching this whole time. Now for my last question, I’m also seeking advice on this one.

Who is that person?

What I should do next?

She seems to know a lot about you, and based on your reactions, it seems like you have an idea.” Saito says with a straight face,

Daichi stands up and walks in the other direction, he lets out a sigh and tries to formulate his words.

“I can’t answer that question, even if I do know the answer. However, I’ll tell you what you can do next. Don’t attempt to fight her, she’s in a tier above me or anyone at MANKO. That’s an order. I have a few things stashed in the shrine, take them, and head to New York. When you’re ready, go back to Japan. I don’t need you to avenge me so don’t make that your life mission. Live your life, confess to you know who, be whoever you want to be. That’s all I have to say.” Daichi says to his son.

Suddenly, the strange sensation gets more abhorrent and a single pop, as Saito blinks his eyes, he’s back to phase one. Saito stares at the scene in front of him and tears fall down his cheek. He blinks and clenches his fist…

Time resumes.

The thick cold steel of the katana plunges through Daichi’s back. Piercing through his spine and blood splatters. A droplet of blood flies toward Saito’s cheek. He touches it and looks at the blood on his hand. Rain begins to fall and he stretches his hands to the sky. He drops his arms and he clenches his fist.