Kuro attacked relentlessly, each blow precise. His Thunder Cp made his strikes even strohe electrified hits pounding Ichigo's defenses. But Ichigo was tough. He moved smoothly, almost like a human, and his meical strength gave him a huge power advantage.
"O time," Kuro said, his voice steady even though he was breathing harder. He dodged another swing from Ichigo's bde arm and kicked the cyb, making him stumble back. "How did you get here?"
Ichigō ughed, his tone cold and sharp. “You think I owe you answers?” he sneered, blog Kuro’s strike with a sweep of his arm. “Fine. I’ll give you one. Ask Xaker.”
The name froze Kuro for a fra of a sed—just long enough for Ichigō to press the advantage. He lunged forward, his bde whistling toward Kuro’s midse. But Kuro’s instincts saved him, his body reag before his mind could catch up. He spun away, his fist shing out in a terstrike that nded squarely on Ichigō’s shoulder, sending a burst of electricity through his frame.
Ichigō barely flihough his smirk widened. “He’s watg yht now,” he added, his words carrying a venomous satisfa.
The revetion hit Kuro hard, like a punch to the gut. Xaker—the man who’d orchestrated his dispt, one of the people responsible for the mess his old life had bee—was here. Not just here, but actively targeting him, watg him even now.
For a moment, the sounds of the forest seemed to fade, drowned out by the storm of thoughts r through Kuro’s mind. Xaker wasn’t just a specter of the past anymore. He was here, in this world, pulling the strings of whatever game he ying.
Kuro’s fists tightehe crag energy around them fring brighter. “If Xaker’s watg,” he said, his voice low and resolute, “then I’ll give him a show he won’t fet.”
Ichigō raised an eyebrow, his smirk faltering for the first time. “Big talk,” he said, though there was a flicker of caution in his gaze now.
“You’re just the opening act,” Kuro shot back, his movements shifting as he prepared to press the attack. The pause had passed, and now he was more focused than ever. If Xaker was truly watg, then this battle wasn’t just about survival anymore—it was a message.
The forest seemed to darken around them, the tensioweewo fighters building to a breaking point as the battle resumed with renewed ferocity.
Meanwhile, Xero and Reika fought valiantly against the uing swarm of Cerberus Children. The air around them was a cacophony of g metal, snarling wolves, and the hum of energy bsts, a chaotic symphony of destru.
Xero was a force of nature, his massive bde moving in a deadly arc with each swing. Sparks flew as the on cleaved through the cyberic wolves, their metallic bodies crumpling uhe sheer force of his strikes. His movements were wild but precise, each attack powered by raw strength and adrenaline.
“This is too easy!” he shouted, ughter in his voice as he swung his bde in a wide sweep, taking out three wolves in a siion. The remnants of their bodies scattered like broken maery, but his grin only widened as more wolves surged forward. “Keep ‘em ing!”
Reika fought with the sharpness of a scalpel, every motion deliberate and effit. Her hands glowed with crimson energy, f shimmering shields that deflected the wolves’ razor-sharp cws and snapping jaws. With a flick of her wrist, she sent waves of trated projectiles slig through the air. Each bst struck its target with pinpoint accuracy, ripping through the wolves’ bodies and leaving behind nothing but sm wreckage.
“You call this easy?” Reika retorted, her voice cool but edged with exertion. “I think you’re enjoying yourself too much.”
Xero ughed again, sidestepping a lunging wolf and smming his bde down with a thunderous crash. “You bet I am!”
Despite their overwhelming skill, the tide of wolves didn’t relent. For every ohey destroyed, two more seemed to rise from the shadows, their glowing red eyes unyielding as they advahe forest floor was littered with the debris of their fallen, but the swarm showed no signs of slowing.
Reika’s breath came quicker now, her movements still precise but tinged with growing frustration. “Xero,” she called out, her voice sharp, “these things aren’t running out anytime soon. We o thin their numbers faster.”
“W on it!” Xero replied, pnting his foot firmly and swinging his bde in a devastating horizontal arc. The resulting shockwave tore through a dozen wolves, their metallis crumpling uhe forbsp;
Kuro, standing a short distance away, caught glimpses of his teammates’ battle through the chaos. His expression remained unreadable, but his sharp eyes missed nothing. He saw the precision in Reika’s strikes, the raw power in Xero’s attacks—and the eide of enemies wearing them down, bit by bit.
Ichigō’s smirk widened as he followed Kuro’s gaze. “Impressive, aren’t they?” he said, gesturing toward the Cerberus Children with a casual wave. “Fire Fly’s fi work—effit, tireless, and infinitely repceable. Your friends fight all they want, but they’re only deying the iable.”
Kuro turned back to Ichigō, his jaw tightening. The weight of the situation pressed down on him, but it only hardened his resolve. He knew his team couldn’t keep this up forever. This battle wouldn’t be won by endura would take decisive a.
“This ends now,” Kuro said, his voice low but resolute.
Electricity crackled to life around him, the air growing charged as he began to el every ounce of energy at his and. The faint hum of his Thunder Cp skill grew into a roar, arcs of lightning dang across his body like living serpents. The forest seemed to respond to his power, the shadows retreating as the space around him lit up with electric brillianbsp;
Ichigō’s expression flickered, his fidence dimming for the first time. “Oh?” he said, though his tone carried a hint of uainty. “What are you pnning, Kuro?”
Kuro didn’t answer. His focus was absolute, his body tensing as the energy built to a cresdo. The electricity around him surged outward, f a storm of crag power that made the very air vibrate.
Reika and Xero felt the shift immediately. Both goward Kuro, their battles momentarily fotten as they saw the surge of energy radiating from their rade.
