'Raiden... I don't want to fight.'
'That's why you're weak, Nishihara. You fail to understand that we are no longer friends, comrades or brothers. You've chosen to side with the Chimera, so I must kill you.'
Kanesaki took two steps forward before dashing again, aiming to beat Raiden's dodges and hit him with a suprise attack. As he swung, Raiden dodged, as predicted. The Chimera fiercely swung downwards, crushing the ground below to create a little dust cloud. Utilising this, he ran around the lieutenant and went straight for his neck. A sudden jolt of electricity went off before Kanesaki as he heard the clash of steel. Raiden had blocked him almost effortlessly, not even looking back at him. Shit... He's a lieutenant for a reason... If I can't even beat Nishihara in one-on-one then how can I touch this guy!
'This is a weak Chimera you got here, Nishihara. He can't even understand that I'm leagues above him in combat experience...'
As he spoke, Raiden lifted his spear, throwing Kanesaki off balance, turned around and swiped the spear across the Chimera's chest almost instantaneously. Eyes widened, Kanesaki just stared at his would, amazed by the sheer speed.
'Kanesaki!'
Quickly retaliating, Nishihara swung to Raiden's back. Instantly, the lieutenant looked over and ducked under the blade before jumping up, throwing a quick kick to Nishihara's chest, pushing him back and breaking his stance.
'Nishihara, a simple kick threw you off? You've truly gotten rusty already?' With a look of joint sadness and annoyance, Raiden thrust the spear straight through the unsuspecting officer's stomach. Coughing up blood, Nishihara squinted his eyes as he he looked past Raiden to see Kanesaki getting up, reading a quick attack from behind.
'Hey, Dumbass lieutenant..!'
Looking past his shoulder, Raiden questioned how the wound had healed so quickly, it should've been near fatal, even to a Chimera. Then he realised; the wound hadn't healed. Kanesaki was just fighting through the pain. 'I see, you're fighting despite the huge wound, an odd decision no less.' Smirking a little in agreement, Kanesaki wiped blood from his cheek, his eyes slightly violet around the edges of his pupils. 'Heh... Guess so...'
A faint smile curled at the edges of Raiden's mouth as he glanced back at Nishihara. The officer was grimacing, his hands trembling as he pulled the spear from his stomach, blood spilling in a sickening rush. Raiden stepped forward, seizing the weapon's long hilt with brutal efficiency and yanking it free, the sound of torn flesh followed by a fresh wave of blood spilling out.
Nishihara coughed violently, blood staining his lips, but his grip tightened around his weapon, his resolve unshaken. He was ready - whatever came next, he would fight through it.
Kanesaki made the first move. Without hesitation, he thrust his weapon directly for Raiden's heart, a brutal strike meant to end it all. Raiden's reflexes were a blur - he dodged effortlessly, the spear tip slicing through the air. In a fluid motion, he retaliated, his spear cutting cleanly across Kanesaki's arms.
For a frozen moment, both Nishihara and Kanesaki stared in disbelief. The Chimera's arms had been severed cleanly at the elbows, and there was barely any blood. The wound looked almost surgical in its precision. Kanesaki's eyes were wide in shock as he staggered back, his stumps dripping red, but there was no time to react.
Raiden's gaze remained cold, almost pitying, as he plunged his spear deep into the Chimera's chest, twisting it for extra measure. He murmured softly, 'Hold this for a moment.'
With a harsh, dismissive shove, Raiden kicked the Chimera away, leaving the spear embedded in the Chimera's body, its blood staining the earth. Nishihara's heart pounded as he watched the grim scene unfold. His mind raced—there was no chance for diplomacy anymore. There was only one option left: defeat Raiden. And it seemed impossible.
But Nishihara stood, his legs shaky but determined. He was ready to die trying - to protect his friends, to end this nightmare.
His free hand shot to his back, grabbing his sheath and hurling it aside, discarding the dead weight. Raiden's eyes flicked to the motion, a small, acknowledging nod of recognition, as if the action had spoken volumes. Nishihara squared his shoulders, his gaze narrowing, preparing for whatever would come next.
'No weapon?'
'I'm confident. That's all.'
Smirking a little, Nishihara took a few steps forwards. 'Guess you always were...' Pacing carefully, Nishihara's eyes darted past Raiden for just a moment to see Kanesaki laying, impaled to the ground via the spear as his arms bled. He needs to get his arms back to fix them back on... the wounds should heal quickly, but he needs time to get them back...
Refocusing, Nishihara launched himself at Raiden, a blur of motion. The lieutenant remained calm, effortlessly dodging two of his swings before parrying the third with brutal precision. Raiden retaliated instantly - a quick jab followed by a sharp elbow to Nishihara's stomach, the impact causing a violent rupture. Blood erupted from the wound, staining his clothes in an instant.
Sparks flew as Nishihara's blade clashed against the hardened surface of Raiden's suit. Without missing a beat, Raiden flipped backward, his eyes scanning for any opening. He found it, and in a flash, he lunged, delivering a devastating roundhouse to Nishihara's left leg. The force of the strike sent Nishihara to his knee, a strained gasp escaping him.
Unable to form words, Nishihara choked out a pained 'Gah!' before Raiden's left hook collided with his face, sending him careening backward. Dizzy and disoriented, Nishihara tried to regain his bearings, but all he could see was Raiden, already closing in with terrifying speed.
Raiden's eyes burned with predatory intent as he took a powerful step forward, his foot crashing into the ground with such force that the earth itself seemed to shudder beneath him. He planted it firmly, positioning himself beneath Nishihara as the officer fell from the momentum. Blood-crimson tears welled in Raiden's eyes, trailing down his face as he exhaled slowly, his breath steady and controlled.
With a chilling sigh, Raiden curled his right fist back, his focus unwavering, preparing to finish this with cold, calculated precision.
'Nishihara... There's a clear reason why you can't beat me. And if you have to ask, then you're as blind as I am...'
All Nishihara felt was the brutal aftermath. His spine shattered as Raiden's fist drove upward, connecting with a perfectly timed uppercut. Blood erupted from his mouth, spraying out in violent bursts. His arms hung limp for a moment, the suit struggling to stabilize his rapidly worsening wounds, but it wasn't fast enough to keep up with the onslaught.
A crackling flare of lightning lit up Raiden's eyes as he lowered Nishihara, only to drive his foot into the officer's side, kicking him with bone-crushing force across the platform. Nishihara's body slammed into a burning wreck of a ship, the impact sending a shockwave of pain through his battered form. The heat from the flames seared his skin, but it was nothing compared to the agony that radiated through his chest.
'You're still too weak, after all this time. It's a shame.'
Metal plating scattered out and fell from the wreck as Nishihara stumbled out, barely able to stand upright. A slight smile tugged on the corner of his lips.
'That's true... I am the weak one... Ain't that right... Kanesaki!'
Eyes suddenly widened, now aware, Raiden's whole body spin around as a flash of lighting covered his body. All he saw was blood, all he felt was a sudden pierce through his chest. Looking across, to the other end of the spear, Kanesaki stood, bloodied and broken, yet standing with a sadistic smirk, eyes both lifeless yet exited. A slight drop of blood slipped out from Raiden's mouth, his head tilting down at his own spear embedded into his body.
'Heh... Hold this, would ya..?'
Nishihara chuckled weakly from the ruined ship. Raiden moved his hand to grab the spear and yank it out from his body, looking Kanesaki dead in the eyes as he did so. 'Hm... All of that for a mere flesh wound. Pathetic of the two of you.' Kanesaki's eyes lit up and shuddered slightly as he watched the wound seal itself by the time Raiden was done talking. Sighing raggedly, Nishihara recovered the Odachi and limped out of the flaming wreck. Ah shit... He's getting proper now isn't he..?
Raiden's eyes widened as a wave of lighting shot out, pushing the two back. Yet another tear of blood emerged from the lieutenant's eye, his whole body seemingly coated in lighting now. Drawing his blade, Kanesaki threw his coat over his head and onto the floor, leaving him with his pitch black shirt on, sleeves rolled up and bloodied, black gloves. Wiping some blood from his mouth, the Chimera smirked, ready to die killing this lieutenant bastard.
Chapter 19- end