Unveiled Strengths

As the dust settled and the remnants of the Lock On barrier flickered in and out of existence, Seiji could no longer contain his impatience. With a burst of energy, he lunged forward, his fist connecting with the invisible wall. The impact sent a spiderweb of cracks across the surface, and with a resonant shatter, the barrier exploded like glass under a hammer's blow. Free at last, Seiji blurred into motion, reappearing instantly behind Agent 66.

"I'm sure you didn't expect things to turn out this way, this fast, eh?" Seiji taunted, his voice dripping with mockery as he tapped Agent 66 on the shoulder. Without waiting for a response, he delivered a powerful round kick, sending Agent 66 stumbling backward, his steps unsteady as he struggled to maintain balance.

Seiji prepared to follow up his attack, but as he and Shenlog, mounted atop his imposing dragon, closed in, Agent 66 conjured a swirling portal. With a defiant glance, he stepped back, allowing himself to be swallowed by the vortex, escaping to regroup.

On the ground, the tension briefly gave way to frustration. Shenlog, visibly annoyed, turned to Seiji. "Really, getting yourself locked up?" he chided, his tone heavy with reprimand.

Seiji shrugged, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Not that I couldn't escape if I wanted to," he quipped. "I just wanted to see how far Jin could stand against him."

Shenlog shook his head in disbelief, while Urashima, who had also been freed from the barrier, expressed his frustration more vocally. "You could have escaped anytime and you didn't?" he exclaimed, his annoyance clear.

The conversation shifted as Seiji walked over to Jin, who was still recovering on the battlefield. As Seiji approached, the 32 Marks of God glowed on his palm. He placed a hand on Jin, and with a whispered incantation, a warm, healing energy flowed into Jin, swiftly restoring his depleted reserves.

"You did perfectly well," Seiji commended, helping Jin to his feet. "But we'll need to talk later."

Meanwhile, Shenlog wasted no time in reinforcing their defenses. He barked orders for increased security on the borderline and demanded an explanation for the communication failures. "Why wasn't this reported immediately when the portal was broken?" he demanded.

A Sentinel responded, his voice tense, "The veil prevented even communications, sir."

Back in the New World, Agent 66 re-emerged in a secluded factory. As he stepped onto the cold, metal floor, a shadowy figure approached him, their features obscured by darkness.

"How was Jin? How strong has he become now?" the figure inquired quietly.

Agent 66 paused, his voice measured. "He's good, but not yet perfect," he replied. "And no, he hasn't manifested it yet."

The figure nodded slowly. "I see," they murmured, turning away to contemplate the implications.

Back in the Free World, the reconstruction began in earnest. The damage from the battle was extensive, and both Sentinels and civilians joined forces to rebuild. Amidst the clatter of construction and the hustle of recovery, Jingwei and Jin found themselves side by side.

As they worked, a conversation blossomed between them, an exchange of experiences and shared hardships, symbolizing not just the physical rebuilding of their surroundings, but perhaps the beginning of a new camaraderie forged in the heat of battle.