Gamble, trying to stay calm and not show fear, sprinted forward.
— The Shield Hero is running away? — Shuu mocked from afar, but Gamble ignored his voice.
— Pathetic. You're trying to fight against the fate I showed you. Do you think it's just an illusion? — Shuu added, emerging from the shadows right in front of him.
Gamble didn't have time to react—Shuu grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into the ground with force. The surroundings once again shifted into a black void.
— We will ask you this question one last time. Will you come with us, or do you want your life to end like—
He was interrupted by a powerful kick from Akira, sending Shuu flying backward.
— Alright, now you're really starting to piss me off — Akira growled, drawing his sword.
Almost instantly, he blocked the rapier of the half-cat girl, who had charged at him from the side. Akira parried the strike and, using magical winds, pushed his opponent back several meters.
— Are you just gonna lie there, or are you going to help me?! — he called toward Gamble in a dark tone.
Gamble got up, but his legs trembled as if he were standing on a rocking ship. Akira looked at him with disappointment, then let out a heavy sigh.
— You want my body?! THEN TAKE IT! — he roared and stabbed himself in the neck with his sword.
Gamble froze in shock. With his last breath, Akira ripped the sword from his wound and hurled it toward Shuu. It struck him straight in the shoulder, forcing him to step back. The half-cat girl and Shawn launched a counterattack, but a sudden vortex of flames forced them to retreat.
— Do you get what's happening now? — a female voice echoed.
Akira's hair turned a bright golden color, and his eyes burned with an icy glow. Aura, taking control of Akira's body, began healing the wound on his neck.
— Offer accepted — she hissed, charging at Shuu with inhuman speed.
In one hand, she gathered lightning; in the other, flames. Shuu, using magic, shot toward her like a bullet. Aura responded with a beam of energy. Shuu, shielding himself with a barrier, pierced through the blast and engaged Akira in close combat.
Their strikes tore through the air. Each clash rang like a bell, sending sparks flying in all directions. A sadistic grin grew more evident on Aura's face—a pure expression of joy in battle.
— He's changed… — Shawn said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
— What do you think, Noa? — he asked, looking at the half-cat girl, who was barely getting up from the ground.
— We have the advantage… — she answered weakly, but she didn't have time to finish as Gamble cast a spell:
— Spark!
A flash of energy knocked Noa to the ground.
— So, you can fight after all… — Shawn muttered, entering the master of flames state. Green fire enveloped his body, reflecting in his eyes.
— You know… — Gamble said uneasily, glancing at the raging fire around them. — Everything is part of some plan.
Shawn stomped his foot on the ground once... twice... three times. With each stomp, green flames spread across the ground, forming a ring of fire that trapped him and Gamble inside.
— You're not going anywhere — Shawn growled, his eyes glowing like emeralds reflecting the fire.
The green flames grew stronger, wavering like living creatures, but they were suddenly torn apart by a powerful explosion of energy. Aura blew out the fire with a single gesture, as if snuffing out a candle.
— Is that all you've got? — she snarled, lunging at Shuu.
Shuu reacted instantly—he crossed his arms, reinforcing his defense with a magical barrier. Aura struck it with immense force, but Shuu managed to deflect her blow and knock her to the ground. However, she rebounded off the ground with her legs almost immediately, returning to the offensive. Her movements became faster, more aggressive—her strikes rained down on Shuu like an avalanche.
— You're starting to tire me... — Shuu sighed heavily, barely keeping up with blocking her attacks.
He raised his finger and snapped.
The entire environment vanished—the darkness gave way to a vast ocean. Waves swallowed all the fighters. Water filled their lungs, and Gamble's body instantly went numb from the cold.
— Damn... — he managed to think, struggling for breath.
Meanwhile, Shuu floated above the surface, watching the struggling fighters with a mocking smile.
— So, the one reborn as Lady Aura is you... — he murmured, raising his gaze to the water's surface.
Suddenly, Aura appeared right behind him—her wet, golden hair shimmered in the reflected light of the waves. Her eyes, once blue, had turned into an intense violet hue. A grim smile twisted her face as she whispered:
— Space... Infernal Flame... Imagination...
A cold shiver ran down Shuu's spine. His face paled.
— Release! — he shouted in terror, deactivating Reality Breakdown.
The surroundings exploded, shattering like broken glass. The waves, the wind, and the light fractured into thousands of shards that disappeared into nothingness. Everyone plummeted downward, landing amidst a dense jungle.
Aura was the first to rise, her hands still crackling with blue fire.
— Do you think changing the scenery will help you? — she hissed, as the flames on her hands exploded into long whips of fire.
Shuu, slightly hunched, extended his hands forward. Black energy pulsed within his palms, forming blade-like claws.
— I'll just make you suffer longer — he replied with icy calm.
In the blink of an eye, they clashed again. Aura lashed her fiery whip, but Shuu sliced through it with his claws, creating a burst of sparks. Aura instantly vanished from sight and reappeared behind him, but Shuu had anticipated her move—he spun around and sent a wave of dark energy at her. Aura dodged, flipping through the air, then struck the ground with her fist.
— Blue Geyser! — she shouted.
At the point of impact, a geyser of blue flames erupted, engulfing Shuu. However, through the fire, his silhouette could still be seen—he stood unharmed, his face twisted into a wild grin.
— Not bad… but I can do something better... — he murmured, spreading his arms wide.
Black spheres of energy began to rise around him.
— Negative: Labyrinth of Fear. — he spoke slowly.
The entire jungle trembled as the trees began to transform—their branches twisted into shapes resembling bars, roots shot up, forming walls. The entire area turned into a dark labyrinth pulsating with black energy.
— No one is getting out of here... — Shuu whispered triumphantly.
Aura, however, only smiled wider, the flames on her hands beginning to take the shape of dragon-like wings.
— In that case... I'll burn this whole damn labyrinth down — she hissed, preparing for her next attack.