"Body Development" (047)

Nina and the others took a break from watching Codey train and walked to a sushi stall, while Codey stayed with Nobuhiko and Ayuka.

"It's been a long time since I've had sushi..." She laughed, despite the fact that she was carrying a duffel bag on her back. But just as she was ready to take a bite, Alpha appeared in front of Saraki.

"Yo! There's Saraki, Nina..." Alpha asserted, behaving differently than the others. "Wh-Where?!" Saraki snuck around the corner as soon as she came into view.

"I believe it is past time to take action..." Stretching, Kiyoshi claimed. "Yes, I understand. Just remember to bring the sushi when I return..." Nina slipped behind an alleyway and dressed in secrecy before stepping out of the alleyway the next minute.

"On the Zero Watch, you have our contact information. Notify us if you sense or see problems." When Nina nodded, Alpha explained. "I've covered everything, so wish me luck." Saraki had been acting strangely, so she began silently following him.

Nina proceeded to navigate through the pack, silently conversing, successfully following Saraki. ("There are so many people in this area... I wouldn't be surprised if he vanishes in a matter of seconds... But don't give up just yet; you've got your notebook, so take notes on everything you see.")

Saraki walked around the corner after a few feet, and Nina carefully concealed behind the wall, checking to see if he had observed her.

Fortunately, he didn't, and she was able to continue when she unexpectedly entered a bar.

"Bar..." She crept up to the window and peered carefully through it, only to find a larger number of individuals inside, all dressed in crimson.

Nina's eyes shook immediately before that when a female voice from behind her spoke. "How did you end up here?" Nina turned around and became terrified right away. "I-I was only searching for something! Sorry for the inconvenience!" The woman appeared to think before Nina could send a message. "Of course, I'd forgotten! My name is Shion, and I'm the Captain of the 13 clans..."

"I've heard that name before, S-Shion..."

"You did, of course. Along with Tim and others, I was informed of your arrival. But, nevertheless, what are you doing out here snooping?"

Shion was stunning as usual, and Nina felt torn away from her natural beauty. "Oh... I'm not sure I should be discussing it..." But before she could stop Shion from peering through the window, the young captain had already done so and was taken aback.

"... It's the 9th Clan's lieutenant Saraki... And those people appear to be fans of the members of the nefarious organization Alexis mentioned... This must be put to an end..." Nina intervened to prevent Shion from interfering with their rendezvous.

"W-Wait! Shion! Captain Shion, I mean! We shouldn't become involved; I'm gathering information on them so that we can learn more about them for the future..."

Shion rested her right arm against her hip.

"And I'm presuming Tim sent you undercover due to Saraki's inability to recognize you immediately and your lack of Spiritual Symbolism?"

Shion crossed her arms under her chest as soon as Nina confirmed. "I see... Okay, I won't get in the way, but be careful, and keep up the good work. If you require assistance, I will be happy to assist you."

Nina was taken aback when Shion burst out laughing. " R-Really?" Nina was taken aback, but as soon as Shion nodded, she smiled.

"Many thanks, Captain Shion!" Finally, Nina sat next to Shion and listened in on the discussion.

Sakami's scorching aura continued to emanate from her right arm, causing her garments to sway and shred as a result of the stress.

The scythe's fallen portion flew behind her back and hooked itself to the second part she was holding. The grass began to sway at that same moment.

"Oh, it appears that my venom was destroyed... So extravagant... So, shall we go ahead and continue? However, you should not be overconfident, as I may come into contact with your muscles at any point." Jean chuckled as she stretched.

Her long gray scarf began to wave quickly, and her right eye began to glow purplish at the same time. With that out of the way, his Spiritual Symbolism grew dramatically, much to Tim's amazement.

"... That's new... Is that her new technique, and what exactly does it accomplish?" And, in response to our Hero's inquiry, the scythe she wielded charged itself with purpleness and emitted a scorching, hot aura.

She exhaled, and it was evident that she had matured into her solemn face.

Sakami vanished at that very time, leaving a purple cyclone behind her, which blew back abruptly and ferociously, prompting Tim to protect his eyes.

And in less than a second, Jean, who had had the upper hand up to this point, came to a halt, stunned and fantasizing about what he had seen. "Wow, she's quick!"

She appeared in front of Jean and forced him to spit up saliva with a stomach strike, at which point Sakami vanished behind him and turned in midair, crushing her sole's side into her foe's skull and kicking him away.

She had just squatted and ran forward, swinging her left arm across her chest and tossing the attached scythe, startling Jean, who swiftly raised his pole to guard.

When the scythe rebounded an inch back, Sakami appeared in front of him and seized its handle, slamming the blade into his body and causing a pressure eruption, which blew Jean back.

Sakami shifted sideways and encircled her body with her scythe, unleashing a swirling wave that slammed into her opponent's body and incapacitated him for a brief two seconds.

But Sakami had ample time to make the next move, and just as the antagonist was about to recover, she kneeled him in the stomach and inflicted severe pain on him, making him suffer.

"Crap! I was dealt a severe setback..." Sakami instantly seized her foe's face and slammed him to the ground in a stunning position, when a purple aura exploded from beneath them, delivering another severe punch.

Sakami launched from inside the aura at that precise moment and landed in the distance, her left arm entirely softened.

"... dammit... dammit... the pain is going beyond and beyond my expectations. I'm awestruck by you... A Duelist who can genuinely compete with someone like me. But I'm curious - what is the name of your special ability?"

Sakami took a solemn stance and closed her eyes. "Its name..." Her stress level rose. "It's only called 'Paroxysm' by me..." Her remarks were powerful enough to be heard.

"Paroxysm? That sounds like a powerful and explosive skill..." Tim spoke while snapping his fingers and thought.

His symbol on the side of his hip twitched, and he saw it right away. "Wait... How have I never seen this... Where did I even get it?" Tim suddenly remembered something. "Wasn't that the weapon I used against Elliot in the stadium?"

He took it from the tie and examined it.

And as soon as he gripped it, four scythes protruded from each side, surprising him.

"You've given it a very specific name..." Jean chuckled as he gently rose up and undressed his coat before tossing it in the air.

"But now is the time to see if you can genuinely knock me out!" When his body began to buff up, Jean laughed.

It was an unexpected development as he proceeded to grow in size and muscular mass.

Sakami took a glance at him and quickly saw how hefty he was, ripping his upper garments to shreds. "However, it is now time for obliteration!" He burst out laughing.

"What the hell is that?" Tim questioned as he took a step to the side. "Not only can I liquefy someone's muscles, but I can also take it into my own body and improve my strength! Uaaaargh!" The heat aura began to break out after a loud roar, and Sakami's antagonist began to sweat, eventually laughing.

Sakami's scarf was flapping madly now, and her expression remained dissatisfied. "So it has to be his side technique..." Tim asserted with a grin.

"Given Sakami's appearance, I'm confident she'll be able to win..." Tim grinned, and at the same time, someone cautiously rose behind him.

Tim's right arm rushed forward and lit into blue flames as he stepped forward and whirled, swinging his ignited arm at the enemy's blade, which caught Tim off guard and cut into his skin hard.

But he avoided being assassinated and slid backward, leaving a burning path on the ground.

"Who the hell is this?" Tim, on the other hand, was taken aback.

Sakami dropped her defense after she recognized it, which proved to be a fortunate strike for Jean.

He slammed his pumped-up fist into her head, nearly crushing her skull and tossing her away like a stone.

She slammed against the structure with her back to it and bounced forward onto all fours, luckily still holding the scythe. "Hohohoho! You thought you could let your guard down in front of me?! Missy, this was a huge blunder!"

However, throughout Tim's fight with the foe, his adversary appeared to be a well-known figure.

"C-Captain Haku?! W-What was the point of that?!" Tim was astounded and wondered aloud.

"I suppose a midget I met at the time grew stronger, huh?! So you didn't forget about your commitment, did ya?" Haku's long spikey hair was popping up, and the wounds on his face were still visible.

"Co-Commitment?"

"Come on, let's do it! Back when you were so ecstatic about rescuing your wonderful girlfriend, we decided to fight each other again!" Haku claimed, waving his robe and wielding a razor blade.

~ "Timoshi, hehe... A formidable Duelist... You had best save your pal." Tina, Haku's lieutenant, leaped to her feet in front of Tim's lying body as Haku fell unconscious.

"Isn't Miyazaki Timoshi, is that name correct? Hihi! Captain Haki hasn't had a duel in quite some time, especially not a type that he enjoyed! You should come back to see us so he may fight you again!"

Tina giggled, but Tim's body blacked out right then. ~

"It's great to see you again, Timmy!" Tina appeared on Haku's right shoulder, waving to Tim, who was overjoyed to see them.

"You were the first proper Captain I had to deal with in order to prevent Ayuka's execution!" Tim blushed and scratched his head as he chuckled.

"Mhm! Captain Haki had been missing you terribly! Oh! I know, I know! Now that you've reunited, congratulations! Why don't you two have a tussle?" Tina burst out laughing, her cheeks flushing.

"... I, um... Trouble..." Tim asserted, and Haku got perplexed. "Who is that titan?" Looking at Jean, who had been giggling, Haku was puzzled.

Tim abruptly turned around and dashed towards Sakami. "Hey, how are you doing?" He inquired, but he observed Jean's ability was used on her left arm once more.

"Haki, to be precise! Chihihi! That's a baddy bad!" Tina chuckled, pointing at Jean.

Despite this, Haku remained unimpressed. "Another wretch wreaks havoc on the Spiritual Realm." Haku took a step forward, a blade in his hand.

"Who the hell are you, chipmunk?" Jean was called, and he turned to face Haku, who had been quite serious.

"Captain Haki despises bad guys that cause difficulties, like you! That's a disaster, chihihi!" Tina chuckled, pointing up at Jean.

"What the hell is a toddler doing on your shoulder? I may suffocate her at any moment!" Jean grumbled as he clenched his hands.

"No, no, no... You don't talk to Captain Haki or Tina like that!" Tina was quite amusing at the time, but Jean treated Haku with carelessness.

"Let's get that skull of yours crushed. I'm going to have a great time, even if I have to deal with that jerk!" When Jean looked Haku in the eyes, he laughed.

"Why are all of you nitwits looking for a fight? It's way too dull." Haku yawned as he said.

"Oh! You think I'm uninteresting! Then let's put it to the test! It's time to die!" Jean laughed and smashed with his fist, but Haku's razor-like sword cut directly through Jean's chest, gushing blood and paralyzing his body.

"Bad toy, boy!" Tina called, yelling and pointing her finger at Jean, whose eyes were wide with surprise and smashed against the blood.

"... Then this guy is finished... Timoshi, it's time to fight!" Haku said this while glancing at Tim. "Can the Duel be postponed? Sakami needs my assistance..." Tim was serious when he said that.

"Sureee, go ahead... Just don't make me wait too long!" Tim consented with a cheeky smile and began slowly vaporizing the liquified venom in Sakami's left arm.

It was finally completed. Tim's opponent, whom he has yet to truly defeat, stands in front of him.

What is going to happen?

To be continued...