Glistening Water (2)

Both of them took a deep breath as they looked at Ryujin.

We can't win in an all-out battle. We can only run to survive. Then, the only tactic we can do is push him back and allow him to run away and meet up with the others.

Ryo pondered to himself. Suddenly, a telephatic voice spoke through him.

"Where are you, Kyosuke-san?" Arata yelled out telepathically.

"I'm with Kyouko. And we're face-to-face with the hunter himself."

"What?! Do you guys plan to fight that beast?! Earlier, he just ran through many, many students, and simultaneously eliminated them!"

"We'll only do this momentarily. We'll push him off, and run. "

"Okay, be safe, we'll be there!"

With those words, the telephatic connection broke off.

Ryo looked at Kyouko, and as if their minds were connected, they nodded, thinking of the same strategy.

"Are you two done? Let's start!" Ryujin yelled out, as he dashed in the same inhumane speed as before.

However, this time, Ryo manages to follow it with his eyes. He swiftly stepped up, brought his sword upfront, and parried Ryujin's attack.

Sparks ignited upon the contact of their metal blades.

While Ryujin was locked in with Ryo, Kyouko took the time to jump, and from there, launched a thunderstrike from above Ryujin.

"Don't forget about me," Kyouko said in annoyance.

Ryujin looked up, and immediately broke contact with Ryo, and jumped back.

"As if, I'll let you," Ryo mumbled, his eyes fierce and focused on a single target.

"Ablaze." Taking the opportunity while Ryujin was in mid-air, he dashed towards him with a blazing sword.

"Ablaze? Amazing!" Ryujin yelled out. While still in momentum mid-air, he swiftly summoned his water magic and coated his blade.

As Ryo reached Ryujin's vicinity, they clashed their magic-infused weapons. However, upon immediate contact, Ryo's eyes widened in disbelief. "Tsk! He blurted out.

Ryujin's water element easily extinguished his fire. At this point, Ryujin will easily overpower him.

"Weak, too weak!" Ryujin taunted, as he pushed Ryo back to the ground, and followed up a set of water slashes towards him, and landed on a high tree branch.

It's pretty hard to parry, or dodge them with me flying uncontrolled in mid-air! He quickly pondered of a way to deal with it.

Fortunately, at the last second, Kyouko was able to get in between and parry those water slashes with her lightning sword.

And so, Ryo was able to safely land on the ground.

"You two can keep up with an upper echelon, that on its own is an achievement. However, that isn't enough."

In the next second, his eyes began glowing of a brilliant blue. Then, he swings his sword around in front, as if he's writing in the air.

Then... Unexpectedly... He disappeared into thin air.

Ryo and Kyouko were in shock. They raised their weapons up, and cautiously looked around.

Ryo heightened his senses and closed his eyes, focusing on detecting where Ryujin's presence is.

The strings his presence... The energy of his magic...

However, he can't find it. It was as if... He diminished from this battlefield. He can't sense him at all.

"Let's run!" He yelled out to Kyouko.

She nodded, and they both ran. The feeling of dread... And danger swirls around Ryo's chest.

He can't shake it off. It's like... Ryujin's following them.

"Can you sense his presence?" Kyouko asked.

"I can't yet... Be careful."

"Alright. Let's keep our eyes peeled."

Kyouko opened her hologram, and to her surprise, Ryujin is still just around them.

"Be cautious, he's still here!" Kyouko yelled out as she immediately stopped and entered a fighting stance.

"Okay."

They both stood there cautiously. Ryujin's presence is still unknown. However, Ryo knows something is up. He takes several deep breaths, trying to calm his breathing and focus.

Then, he closed his eyes.

His heartbeat echoed on his head, as he diminished all that he sensed around him. His mind is as calm as still water, void of any ripples or disturbance.

Yet... Something began to interfere. The strings of Ryujin's upcoming presence quickly rushes...

It quickly rushed, obliterating the calmness within. With this disturbance, He quickly opened his eyes. He pulled Kyouko towards his arms, holding across to her shoulder, and just as he anticipated, Ryujin reappeared out of nowhere, targetting Kyouko. Ryujin changed his target and instead went for Ryo.

He quickly dodged his attack with his blade.

"There you are," Ryo mumbled coldly under his breath. Ryujin's eyes widened in disbelief.

Even my co-council members have a hard time tracing my presence. And yet...

Ryujin thought to himself, with greater excitement spurring in his heart. He smiled, before turning into water, and falling onto the ground, seeped by its soil.

"Are you okay, Kyouko?" He asked Kyouko, who was wrapped in his other arm. She stares at him, surprised.

"Thank you. You saved me." She said as she put a little distance over them. She felt a little awkward.

"Check his location, I'll cover," Ryo ordered as he entered a defensive stance.

"O-Okay." She promptly checked the tracker. Ryujin was still around them.

"He's still around here."

Earlier, I was able to track him down... However, maintaining that level of focus takes time and effort.

"We should run away from here," Ryo commanded.

She nodded. And then, they ran in the other direction. While running, Ryo remained looking for incoming danger, while Kyouko checked her tracker occasionally.

At one point, Kyouko noticed that Ryujin was still after them.

"He's not letting us go." She told.

It's hard to keep running, and fighting. I overestimated myself. My stamina is quickly running low.

"Then, let's-

However, mid-way through his speech, a sudden menacing presence is rushing behind them.

Their eyes widened in annoyance, as they both looked behind him. Ryujin was quickly catching up to them...

This guy is pretty annoying.

"Continue running, find the others. I'll stall him for the meantime." Ryo said,

"You're not out of your mind, are you? Facing someone that is monstrous alone."

"Just do it." Kyouko looked at Ryo. His eyes were serious and determined.

When he showed his skills back in the forest, they were one of a kind. In our battle, he was different and special. I was taken aback. He has talent. Maybe, I'm overestimating Ryujin.

First battle, and she lost. Ryo's aura is different. Yet hesitant, Kyouko decided to play along with what he wanted.

"Just return with that badge intact."

"Try me." He replied coldly.

A gust of wind blew, sending shivers and coldness down her spine. Ryo's eyes were cold...

He is... serious. Dead-serious.

"You have my encouragement."

Kyouko stopped in her tracks and proceeded to run in the opposite direction, while Ryo continued running straight.

"Kyouko? Why are you running away?" Ryujin yelled out from behind.

"Hey." Ryo stopped in his tracks and turned around, swinging his blade as he did. He swung his sword horizontally, in which Ryujin stopped, and parried.

"Let's fight, councilperson." Ryo uttered, as his blade lit ablaze."

"That's how it should be. Entertain me!"

Soon, they broke contact. Ryujin's blade lit up in a bluish shine and at a speed almost inhuman, he dashed.

With great focus, Ryo looked to follow his speed. A spark of power lit up in his eyes, as he followed Ryujin in his every move.

Both of them clashed their blades together, bringing a mix of reddish and bluish explosions as they did.

Their speed was unmatched, and to the normal eyes, it was as if they were just flickering all around the battlefield.

Only the sparks of their clashing blades could be seen, and only they could see what was happening. Several of the students stopped in their tracks as they saw this.

Jaws dropped, and eyes widened in amusement and surprise, as murmurs began echoing like an annoying buzzing sound around.

How is this possible? Someone is matching the hunter's strength.

They thought. They were evenly matched, and no one had the upper hand. It was down to the smallest of details.

Ryujin noticed this, and at one point in their battle, he pushed Ryo away and jumped high in the air.

"Don't let anything distract you all!" He yelled one. While standing in mid-air, In a single glance from above, he was able to tell the location of each of the students. Then, he swiftly summoned water blades and launched them simultaneously around.

Just like that, multiple students were eliminated at once.

Ryo looked at him from below, seemingly waiting for him to come down. Ryujin immediately descended towards Ryo.

"Sorry about that, I just don't want students watching us," Ryujin said.

"It's fine. Besides..."

He immediately dashed forward with his blazing sword, and with the clear intent to win, he swung his sword, stronger than before.

"This battle is almost ending." Ryo coldly mumbled as he looked at Ryujin directly in the eye.

This cold gaze slightly wavered Ryujin's confidence, as he sloppily parried the attack.

"Tsk!" Ryujin clicks his tongue in annoyance as he jumps back. However, Ryo would instantly follow him, giving him no time to breathe.

The tables have turned. Earlier, they were evenly matched, yet because of a simple, sloppy parry, Ryo now has the upper hand.

At one point, Ryujin was overwhelmed. He wasn't able to parry, causing him to take a blow on his abdomen, sending him towards the nearby tree, his back taking the impact.

His body fell to the ground.

That kid is strong... We are evenly matched. No... He's stronger... He quickly adapted to the situation and was able to catch up to me.

Ryujin smiled in satisfaction.

You are so unlucky, President. Last year, you didn't encounter anyone interesting. Yet right now, I'm faced with someone strong... Someone with potential... This is getting me all excited, I can't contain it.

He stood up and wiped the dirt from his uniform. He reassumed his posture and stretched like a cat. Ryo was slowly walking towards him.

"I'll give you my praise. This is certainly an enjoyable battle. Originally, the plan was to hold back, but now, I don't think I can do that." Ryujin calmly spoke.

That's right. I can't put up a terrible show for the other council members watching me.

The other council members watch him from different locations. Their emotions and reactions vary. However, they all have their attention to someone in common.

Their eyes were laid on Ryo and Ryujin's battle.

"We still have a few minutes left, so let's enjoy it to the fullest," Ryujin suggested. In the next second, his body began glowing with a blue shine. Then, he duplicated his sword, both shining bluish-ly

Ryo's expression remained cold and unchanged, as he looked at Ryujin.

"Let's clash again," Ryujin suggested, with a smile on his face.

"There are many students remaining, Ryujin, don't just focus on Kyosuke-san." A female voice suddenly spoke out of nowhere.

Their attention shifted to several figures walking out from the forest trees.

It was Kyouko, and behind her was Airi, Haruto, Arata, and Hina, all nervous, yet determined to fight.

"Interesting, Kyouko. That makes it much better. I will savor this moment."