Explosive Intent

The air around the borderline was thick with tension as Agent 66 stood motionless, his parasol-like hat casting a long shadow across the ground. The faint hum of the portal behind him added an eerie rhythm to the scene. His masked face remained impassive, yet there was an undeniable malice emanating from his presence.

Seiji, seated on a nearby rock with his palm holding his face, kept his eyes on the strange figure. His playful demeanor was still intact, though his tone carried an edge of caution. "You're ignoring me?" Seiji remarked, raising an eyebrow.

Agent 66 responded by lifting a single, gloved finger into the air. His voice, lilting and erratic, broke the silence. "LOCK ON."

The moment the words left his lips, the air shimmered, distorting like heat waves. Seiji took a step forward but was immediately halted by an invisible force. His hands pressed against what seemed to be an invisible wall, and when he pushed harder, the effect redirected, sending him stumbling back slightly.

Seiji laughed, the sound light and almost mocking. "Locking me out? Clever." He tested the barrier again, this time punching it lightly. The force rippled outward but remained unbroken. "Ah, I see. Not bad."

Turning to Jin, who stood just behind him, Seiji gestured with his chin. "Try walking forward."

Jin hesitated for only a moment before stepping toward the shimmering field. To his surprise, there was no resistance. He moved freely, crossing the boundary as though nothing was there.

Seiji grinned, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "It's him you want, after all. Fine." He sat back down, resting one arm on his knee. "Urashima!" he called to the Sentinel commander nearby. "Figure out a way to break this prison."

Urashima, his face grim, nodded sharply. "On it."

Seiji then turned his full attention to Jin, his expression becoming serious. "He's unlike anything you've faced before," he said, his tone firm. "Don't hold back. Not for a second."

An Invitation Denied

Agent 66, seemingly uninterested in the others, turned and began walking toward the portal. His movements were slow, deliberate, each step echoing faintly against the ground. Without turning his head, he spoke, his voice carrying an unsettling melody. "Come with me."

Jin's eyes narrowed. His grip tightened on his sword as he replied simply, "No."

Agent 66 paused, his parasol-like hat tilting slightly. Slowly, he turned to face Jin, lifting the brim of his hat with a deliberate motion. Beneath it, five smaller masked faces were revealed, each one hanging eerily around the hat's edges. Their hollow eyes seemed to stare directly into Jin's soul.

One of the masks shifted, its mouth opening with an unnatural creak. A low hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second. Then, without warning, a condensed explosion erupted from the mask's mouth, its force tearing through the surrounding area.

The ground shook violently as the explosion leveled the nearby mountains, sending plumes of fire and smoke into the sky. The heat was intense, igniting dormant volcanic activity. Lava began to pour from the cracks in the earth, painting the landscape in a hellish glow.

Jin was caught in the blast, the force sending him hurtling backward. His body struck the ground hard, rolling across the scorched terrain. Flames licked at his clothes, but he quickly activated his levitation, lifting himself above the chaos. Hovering midair, he placed a hand on his injured side, channeling his healing ability. The wound closed within seconds, though the pain lingered.

Seiji observed the scene from his position behind the barrier, his usual smirk replaced with a thoughtful expression. "Interesting," he muttered. "One face, one explosion. Flame-based. That's going to be a problem."

Thunderous Devastation

As Jin steadied himself, Agent 66 turned to another face on his hat. The mask's mouth opened, and this time, a thunderous explosion erupted. The sound was deafening, a crackling roar that split the sky.

Jin foresaw the attack using The Sight, his eyes glowing faintly as he predicted the trajectory. Acting quickly, he replaced himself with a nearby boulder, the explosion obliterating the decoy and sending shards of rock flying in every direction. The force of the blast darkened the sky, heavy storm clouds swirling ominously above.

Now back on the ground, Jin crouched low, his body tense as he prepared for the next assault. His breathing was controlled, his mind calculating. He muttered to himself, "One face: flame explosion. Another: thunder. Each one has a unique attack."

Seiji, still watching, nodded approvingly. "Smart. Observant. But will it be enough?"

A Zig-Zag Assault

Jin launched himself forward, moving in a zig-zag pattern to throw off Agent 66's aim. His movements were swift and precise, his sword gleaming as he closed the distance.

Agent 66 tilted his head, almost curious, before another mask's mouth opened. A second thunderous explosion erupted, halting Jin's advance. The sheer force of the blast sent Jin flying backward, his body slamming into the side of a nearby mountain. The impact cracked the rocky surface, and Jin fell to the ground as the volcano's molten lava began to rush toward him.

Behind the barrier, Seiji leaned forward slightly, his expression a mix of concern and amusement. "So far," he mused, "we've seen two types of explosions. One to burn the world, the other to shatter it."

Urashima, working furiously to analyze the barrier, glanced up briefly. "Shouldn't we be helping him?"

Seiji's smirk returned. "Oh, we will. Eventually. But for now…" His gaze sharpened, his tone turning cold. "Let's see how much he can handle."