Episode 7 – Shadows and Steel

Ronin and Volvok’s blades crashed again and again, sparks bursting with every strike.

Ronin grit his teeth. Each blow carried crushing weight, the force numbing his arms.

I can’t keep going much longer… my arms are giving out, he thought, chest heaving.

Then—an opening.

Ronin dashed in, katana flashing.

SHHK!

His blade cut clean across Volvok’s arm. Blood sprayed as Ronin leapt back, creating distance.

But Volvok only smiled.

Before Ronin’s eyes, the wound closed, flesh knitting together as if nothing had happened.

Volvok inhaled deeply, eyes flaring bright orange, glowing demonic in the dark.

“Fear…” he murmured. “Fear is one of my favorite scents a human can make.”

The two circled each other slowly, blades steady, steps deliberate.

Volvok’s grin widened.
“But when a Disciple… or a Shaitan… are afraid? The scent it creates… makes me excited.”

Ronin steadied his blade, crimson eyes reflecting sharp against the steel.

“First Wall: Obenashi.”

He kicked off the ceiling, body rocketing down like a tiger pouncing on prey.

CRACK!

His strike slammed into Volvok’s chest at full speed. The impact echoed like thunder, driving them both through the floor—

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

Walls and ceilings shattered as they plummeted, smashing through level after level, debris raining around them.

They hit the ground hard.

Volvok gasped, coughing dust as he crawled across the cracked floor. Ronin loomed above him, katana steady.

Then—Ronin froze.

A sound echoed through the walls. Familiar. Terrifying.

Ja… no. Not now.

—--------------

Back in the hall above.

Ja’s grin widened, his voice sharp.
“Output.”

BZZZT!

Blue energy flared violently across his face, lightning cracks ripping through his skin.

BOOM!

His fist slammed into Mordo’s gut with earth-shattering force.

The explosion shattered every window in the building. High winds ripped down the hall, doors bursting open one by one.

Mordo’s scream pierced the chaos as his body was launched, weightless.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

Walls and doors exploded as he tore through them before bursting free of the building—hurtling out over the city.

His scream stretched thin, fading as his body flew miles away until it vanished into the night.

—-----------

The hallway drowned in dust.

As the smoke cleared, Jonathan staggered forward, dragging Diag with him. Blood streaked down his face, his one good eye burning with terror.

“Get away… you monster,” he spat, his voice trembling.

Ja’s glow flickered, fading out. He stood tall, watching them limp away.

“Y’all ain’t worth my time anymore,” he muttered.

But as he turned, he thought with a smirk:
Damn, I don’t know how much longer I could’ve gone. That was getting kinda close.

The rage faded. His adrenaline burned out.

He reached the end of the ruined hall, turned the corner—

And froze.

His eyes lit up with joy.
“RONIN!”

He sprinted forward, voice breaking with relief.
“Are you okay??”

Ronin smirked, katana still in hand.
“Was gonna ask you the same,” he replied.

The brothers stood together, side by side at last.

But behind them, rubble shifted.

Volvok crawled through the debris, gasping, eyes glowing faintly orange.

Ja tilted his head toward him, lips curling into a smirk.
“…And who’s this loser?