[13] Mizuki Shiranui

Shiranui's body trembled violently inside the incubation tube, tormented by the electric shocks ravaging her brain. The green liquid surrounding her began to churn, creating bubbles that filled the confined space. She tried to scream, to release the excruciating pain, but her voice was choked by the liquid that was drowning her. Her eyes widened, spinning wildly in search of escape, while the electric current continued to surge, delivering shocks that could kill an ordinary human.

However, Shiranui was no ordinary human. She was a Taimanin—a ninja capable of manipulating Taiman particles with strength and resilience beyond human limits. Although the suffering was almost unbearable, her well-trained body and mind managed to endure, crossing the threshold of death. The researcher standing in front of her watched with a mix of fear and awe as the control process finally succeeded. The Taimanin was now his, completely obedient to every command he would give.

The green liquid in the tube began to drain rapidly, gurgling out with a roaring sound that echoed throughout the room. As the liquid receded, Shiranui's electricity-scarred body became visible, but her gaze was vacant—the life that once sparkled in her eyes had vanished. A spear, a weapon laden with memories, was handed to her by a robotic arm that emerged from the wall. She gripped it with mechanical strength, ready to obey orders without question.

As the researcher sighed with relief and prepared to step back, the door to the room suddenly exploded with immense force. The door shattered into pieces, and a man stood in the doorway, a terrifying aura surrounding him. The researcher's eyes widened in sheer terror as he realised who had arrived. "Damn, he's here already!" he hissed in panic. With trembling hands, he pressed a button on his keyboard, forcing himself to give one final, desperate command.

"Shiranui! I command you to rampage—" His voice was cut off by the sound of metal flying at lightning speed. A metal plate, torn from the wall by Kaoru, flew directly at the researcher's head. Blood spurted rapidly, and the researcher's body fell to the ground with a sickening thud. His life was snuffed out before he could finish his final command.

"Well, that was the last one..." Kaoru muttered softly, his voice cold and calm. He stepped into the room, passing the fallen body, before his gaze settled on Shiranui. His sharp eyes instantly recognised the tight uniform she wore, and he immediately realised who he was facing.

"Oh... A Taimanin!" he exclaimed, his tone a mix of admiration and surprise. However, before he could continue his thoughts, Shiranui, who had received the command to rampage, attacked with extraordinary speed and power.

"What the—!" Kaoru exclaimed, his body moving reflexively to dodge the spear that was thrust towards him. He realised how dangerous the situation was. Although he knew about the Taimanin—he had even teased Asuka, another Taimanin, just yesterday—he had never imagined he would face one of them directly in such a dire situation.

Shiranui attacked relentlessly, her spear whizzing through the air with deadly speed. Kaoru, who usually maintained a relaxed and indifferent attitude, now had to focus entirely on evading the onslaught of attacks. Though he was very strong, he knew that facing a Taimanin in such a state was no trivial matter.

"Calm down, I don't want to fight you," Kaoru said more seriously, trying to calm the woman. However, Shiranui's vacant stare made it clear that there was no turning back—she had become a weapon fully under the control of the deceased researcher's final command.

"In that case... I have no other choice," Kaoru murmured, his voice now heavier and more serious. With a deep breath, he released a dark reddish aura that immediately enveloped his body. The aura vibrated, emitting a terrifying power that amplified his physical strength and reaction speed to levels far beyond that of an ordinary human.

Kaoru, who typically faced his opponents with an indifferent attitude, now smiled slightly, a smile that reflected curiosity and excitement. This was the first time he had faced a Taimanin, a warrior capable of manipulating Taiman energy, a force similar to Mana, but far darker and more dangerous. The desire to test his limits stirred within him, reminding him of enemies from other worlds who once enjoyed toying with him. Now, it was his turn to "play a little."

Shiranui, with her vacant stare and control fully under the influence of the researcher's command, responded with the combat instincts ingrained in her. Although her mind was bound, her perfectly trained body still functioned with lethal efficiency. In an instant, the air around her began to shift, forming subtle ripples that developed into water currents swirling around her body.

"So, your ninja art is Water Art," Kaoru said in a low voice, his gaze sharp as he observed Shiranui's every movement. The water began to gather, forming a vortex that followed Shiranui's hand movements, creating a circle of defence and an equally formidable threat. "This will be interesting."

With a swift motion, Shiranui swung her spear, now surrounded by high-pressure water. The spear shot forth with deadly force, surrounded by rotating blades of water like sharp knives, ready to tear through anything in its path. However, Kaoru, fully prepared, did not retreat even slightly. Instead, he stepped forward, calmly facing the attack.

As the spear and spinning water approached him, Kaoru raised his left hand with nearly imperceptible speed, deflecting the attack with a push of the dark reddish aura enveloping his arm. The impact created a shockwave that shattered the surroundings, but Kaoru remained firmly in place.

Shiranui did not relent. With even quicker and more agile movements, she manipulated the water around her, creating an illusionary veil to mislead Kaoru's vision. The water illusions formed multiple shadows of herself, attacking from various directions in an attempt to confuse her opponent.

However, Kaoru merely smiled wider. "You truly are a skilled ninja. But... I've long since moved past being surprised by such illusions." With a single sweep of his hand, the dark reddish aura spread, shattering the illusions with brute force.

As the illusions crumbled, Shiranui launched a direct assault, targeting Kaoru's weak point with her spear. However, Kaoru swiftly spun his body, dodging the attack with movements that were almost like a dance. In one swift counter-move, he grabbed Shiranui's arm and pulled her close.

"Though you are strong, you are merely a puppet now," Kaoru whispered coldly into Shiranui's ear. "I could end this now, but I want to see if there's anything left of the person you once were."

Despite having lost full control of herself, there was a flicker of awareness in Shiranui's eyes, as if her trapped soul was struggling to break free. However, the command was too deeply ingrained, and her body continued to fight against Kaoru.

"Let's see how far you can fight against your fate," Kaoru continued, this time with a calmer yet challenging tone. He released Shiranui, giving her the chance to strike again.

The battle was far from over. For Kaoru, this was not just a fight to win—it was a test for the Taimanin standing before him. And perhaps, within him, there was a faint hope of saving the woman who had been turned into this cold weapon of war.