0.35: Sync with me?

Meanwhile, Seto and his family were on their way to the mission with Skiros.

"I feel a little nervous about this mission," Sayori said.

"It's alright, Mom. It won't be too much for us to handle. Besides, we became the most important assets in this guild! So, I doubt they'd put us in too much danger."

"I guess you're right." Sayori turned back to him. "Son, what was Miku talking about back at the hideout?"

"…" Seto fumbled his response, so he decided to answer her. "Mom… there's something I need to tell you,"

ZAP!!

Seto fell to one knee.

"SETO!" Sayori and Noriko got up to check on him. "What's the matter?"

He remained frozen on the ground with a concerned expression. ("This zap…it only happens when…OH NO!) CAPTAIN, STOP THE VEHICLE!!"

SKRRCH!!

Skiros and his men halted the truck and opened the backdoor. "Young boy, what is the matter?" He asked.

"I-I…the, THE ENEMY IS NEARBY! I can sense their spiritas!"

"Sense…their spiritas? I had no idea you could do that." Sayori said.

"I don't know, but I sensed a strong spiritas coming from there. Noriko, let's go!"

Without hesitation, she grabbed his arm and sprinted into the city.

"SETO, NORIKO, WAIT!!" Sayori tried to halt them, but it was too late.

"Nebo, go ahead and support them," Skiros ordered.

"Affirmative, SIR!" Off he pursued the kids, leaving Skiros and Sayori alone. She felt the uneasy silence between them and could not bear another second.

"Uhm, I will go and follow them too." She urged.

"No need; you shall remain with me."

"But my kids are out on their way; I will just provide backup."

"SAYORI!"

BWOOSH!!

Skiros built up spiritas and approached her with an evil smile. "You shall wait with me. Don't worry, I'll keep us BOTH busy!"

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"ALMOST THERE!" Seto insisted that Noriko kept her distance from the chasing Nebo. "Noro, hide in that building!"

SWISH!!

She vanished behind an abandoned building to lose a trace of Nebo.

"Children! Where did you guys run off to?! Damn!! It's dangerous out here!"

He marched ahead, leaving them in the restricted area. Noriko looked at Seto with so many questions in her head.

"Noro…I think I killed Mister Gaiyato."

She softly gasped. "But look, the good news is that he might have altered my future. That is why I felt the zap earlier, but the problem is, I…"

Her smile of relief vanished. "I have to make sure that it happens. The bad guy, he isn't a bad guy! If anything, Azahii can surely have his reasons for doing this."

SLAP!

Noriko slapped him, then signaled her complaint with her fingers.

"You…disagree…with my resolve? But Noro, if Gaiyato wins, I'm sure this was a worry for no…"

ZAP!!

The final zap alerted Seto. "…" He slowly gazed in Noriko's direction. "Uh, Noro…he…"

"I had a feeling there was something behind Azahii's sudden triumph."

Noriko quickly stood before Seto, and Mercedes stood by the entrance. "Relax, young ones. I come in peace."

Seto held her shoulder and stood beside her. "Noriko, it's okay. I…can see him too."

"Fascinating. A blind ronin who can only perceive those with a vigorous number of spiritas, I must say this is quite an honor."

"May I ask who you are?" Seto ordered while still shaking out of fear. ("If I can see him, then he's bad news.")

"Me? Oh, you can consider me a future ally. My name doesn't matter, but my reason for wanting to meet you in person would be way timelier."

"What do you mean?"

"You see, I witnessed the battle between Gaiyato and Azahii…and that I admit was too good to be true. He is strong, but to beat Gaiyato all alone is beyond impossible. He told me to find a boy named Seto and let you know that he's recovering from the spiritas transfer; however, Gaiyato…"

"What happened to Mister Gaiyato?"

Mercedes just smiled. "Seto, have you ever synced with someone before?"

"Sync?"

"Yes, sync. Ronins can increase their abilities by syncing with one's spiritas chain. But for you, it might be more beneficial."

"Spiritas…chain? How is it-"

"Here, why not sync with me then?" He suggested while holding out his palm towards him.

Noriko held Seto back, thinking it was a trick.

"Don't worry, Noro, I will be alright." He looked up. "So, what are the conditions for a sync?"

He smiled. "All you have to do is link your palm with mine and request a sync."

He felt skeptical and nervous, but he linked palms with Mercedes after a sensible thought.

"Now then…SYNC WITH ME SETO!!"