SIXTH

Nevertheless the fiery sensation of the flames which immerses his sword, Kato was experienced enough to not let himself get burnt in the process. Wielding one prowess is like mastering your other half. Raising the flame sword in an attempt to slash the young man in front of him, Raijin managed to quickly evade the attack that even surprised himself.

"Oh? How about this then?" In a blink of an eye, the flames of Kato have reached Raijin. It created an ache of burns in the young man's whole.

His teeth gritted in pain, quickly running away from Kato. He felt that his body might not withstand the burns.

"You can't get away Ikazuchi Raijin!"

With a heart pounding at a fast pace, his eyes ventured from everywhere trying to remember the location of a stream that he passed by before getting caught up with the beast. He continued to scuttle until he heard the gushing flow of the water. "There it is!" Pant after pant as sweat is dropping off his face, he endured the stinging pain of the burns over his arms and side.

Splashes bloomed on the surface when he quickly submerged himself into the water to let his body cool down. He knelt on the surface of the low stream scooping bits of the water to his arms and even if the burning has subsided for the meantime, Raijin could still feel the pain left by it. He stood conscious of his whole surroundings anticipating for his opponent to launch an attack. The sound of his breathing and noises made by the insects throughout the woods made him tenser than he was.

"Burst through Ignis Schwert"

With widened eyes, Raijin quivered hearing the voice. He felt Kato's presence behind him appearing in a quick move. The crackling of flames surrounded the entire area followed by the outburst of fire around trapping them in a circle of flames that seemed to engulf them closer each time. There was no place to escape nor a chance to create a counterattack.

"W-when did he?" As if chains were tied between his feet, Raijin couldn't move an inch to where he was standing. How it had reminded him of the similar experience when he and his grandfather has battled the two Nemiendlich. His upper body damped in water is beginning to dry because of the fire encircling them. "H-hey Kato, isn't this illegal? Burning the trees, I mean" Despite the danger he was facing, Raijin still managed to speak to him as if he were still the same companion he had met along the way.

Kato didn't reply. Instead, a swift move was all it took him to completely pierce him by his sword. Raijin was completely caught off-guard by the sudden attack that he had not anticipated Kato to quickly stab him as soon as he had found his location. He turned his head slowly to Kato and blood started to flow on his mouth as he remembered his utterly sorrowed expression back then.

"Was that all an act?" Raijin struggled to speak followed by the coughing of blood from the injury he took.

There was nothing but dreadful eyes on Kato. "A person like you would take pity on me if I showed you a pitiful look like that. I took that chance to make you feel that I could be of trust as a friend and you're easily deceived"

The said truth was laid out before him but this stubborn young man refused to believe his words. Something in Raijin is continuously pushing the echoes of his betrayal. For him, Kato's sorrow was real for that expression was reaching out to an unknown void screaming the words 'save me'. Though this remaining Ikazuchi member should be the one to scream those words since their clan might lose its sole existing member sooner or later than expected.

"K-Kato" even if it weakened him, Raijin tried to stretch his hands for him, calling out his name one more time.

Between them stands a wall of distinction that seemed to detach the bond they had shared. And yet, in the first place was there a string that banded the two of them? To Kato, it was rather contempt and only a tread to achieve his objective.

With a gaze full of annoyance, Kato chanted his words as an abundant amount of energy began to accumulate on the sword furthering the damage on Raijin's body. "Ignite- ack!" puzzled on the interruption, his eyes roam around—a needle pierced his right arm and it was odd for the transparency of its figure glistened to the moonlight. As if it was made out of...water?

Kato immediately pulled his sword that impaled Raijin, the sudden act caused Raijin to stumble on the rocky surface of the low stream, his blood stained the water. And the flames began to disappear around them when droplets have fallen from the skies.

"Hmm. Fire and water. Nice!" A voice of a stranger interrupted them. His feet landed flawlessly on the ground, revealing a towering figure of a man.

Kato clicked his tongue in displeasure, "I know who you are Anshiantiae" he stared at the stranger sternly.

"Oh. You do? I'm quite flattered" the man said, letting out a playful laugh.

"Sixth General Algard Yozou" The glare on Kato had not faded.

"Bingo!" said Algard Yozou, creating a checkmark with his fingers swaying it in front of him.

"You have no business here, Algard" Kato creased his eyebrows facing the General.

Still not brushing the teasing look of him, the man answered: "Eh? That's quite a rude way to address someone older than you, Katotsuri" letting out a faint laugh, he continued. "Or should I call you Katotsuri Azarniun..."

Irritation washed over Kato's face hearing the man emphasize his given name.

The small and slow droplets of water from the skies have been immediately transformed into heavy raindrops in a single snap of the General's fingers. "Lass es regnen" Algard Yozou chanted.

Kato's flame sword immediately evaporated in contact with the water and in a displeased state Kato decided to fall back, escaping his way through the area. He had known to himself that he can't risk fighting someone who perfectly counters his attribute.

"Escaping, are we?" A blink of an eye was all it took for the General to appear in front of him to stop his tracks.

In an attempt to defend himself, Kato tried calling for his power. "Ignis Schwert" But to no avail, the summoned flame sword immediately disappeared in thin air. 'I must escape, but where?' He continued searching his surroundings, feeling the tension of pressure crawling upon his back.

"It's no use Katotsuri. Just give it up and let me kill you!" the man quickly charged at him suddenly appearing at a close distance from where he was standing to flee.

It was too sudden that Kato didn't have the time to react and to formulate a plan for a counterattack. He received several punches and kicks. It was just bare hand-to-hand combat, how come their differences in strength are this big? The only thing he could do is to let the impacts assault him continuously.

Hence the General had continued his pursuit. His movements might be seen rough but there's no denying that he was skilled enough to push his enemy into the corner—repeatedly charging onto Kato without a sense of mercy. Kato on the other hand has been struggling to defend himself and yet, as seconds pass, he seemed to be quite used in the pattern of attacks as he was able to evade some of it one by one.

"Oh? Not bad" Algard complimented. He started to accumulate controlled energy that was converted into the water towards his palms, directly releasing it to Kato. There was a powerful blast as the attack succeeded in executing its onslaught that resulted in the woods being almost flooded and drowned in water.

Kato stumbled on the ground because of the sudden blast. He remained panting, slowly trying to regain his composure and thinking of a way to counter it.

"Don't you know?" The General approached him slowly, coming closer to the ragged state of his opponent had become while his expression and posture have changed into a solemn one. "The difference between a mere Guardian and a General?" Kato raised his head and their poses seem to symbolize a superior and an inferior person—him kneeling and the man in front of him standing proudly, making him recognize his affiliation as a General. "It is when you Nemiendlich Guardians are blind with your faith that you can't see what's in front of you"

Refusal over the words runs through him. It was displeasure for his ideals to be taunted by an Ashiantiae. Kato stood up charging his fist towards him—filled with nothing but vexation on the man.

"It's no use, Nemiendlich" Algard said, looking at him with pitiful eyes as he blocked his punch causing Kato to fall over again, water damping his now wet clothes. Algard didn't give him a breath of rest and gathering energy with his hands he created a massive globe of water causing the stream to almost wither as it had accumulated to him. "It's over"

Kato didn't move an inch, accepting his ill fate. The phrase had repeatedly echoed on his mind, reminding them of the same words he had spoken to Raijin.

"Goodbye Katotsu-"

The General's attack stopped abruptly when a sudden sound of rapid marches appeared before them. A number of men dressed in garbs of titian fading into black surrounded them.

"Enemy reinforcements huh? Unfair. Should I also call the remaining Generals?" Algard said. In an attempt to speak another chant to pursue his threat. The number of the enemy has increased one by one.

"Don't move or we'll kill him" Spoke one of the warriors that approached Raijin who's currently unconscious. He held a blade towards the young man followed by the stretch of a bow behind the trees. Arrows pointed to them directly and yet the General didn't look as if he were intimidated. Algard raised both of his hands in surrender while withdrawing his attack that caused the water to splash all over them.

Two men of the group helped Kato stand though he had only brushed their hands away. "I can walk," he stated with a glare.

"This is quite unfortunate, but you get to live Katotsuri boy" The General uttered, going back to his usually playful demeanor. Kato gave a final glance at the General as his group immediately disappeared. Algard's eyes followed their figures slowly fading into the dark. He shook his head, letting out a heavy breath. "Well, I can't risk having a person from the Ikazuchi clan get killed anyway"