I Won't Let Her Die!

Sumire levitated gracefully in the air, her crimson hair flowing like silk in the wind. A chilling grey beam tore across the sky toward her, its aura pulsing with malevolence. In a split-second response, her eyes narrowed, sensing the ominous threat. Without hesitation, she raised a single finger. From its tip erupted a brilliant golden beam, crackling with divine energy. It clashed against the incoming attack, the collision igniting a massive explosion that lit up the sky. The shockwave rippled outward, shaking the ground and whipping the air into a frenzy. Golden and grey light battled for dominance, electricity dancing in every direction.

Sumire sprang higher, her body slicing through the air as she brought her hands parallel, golden aura crackling between them. She unleashed a concentrated golden beam, searing forward like a divine spear. But the target was invisible. The beam missed, vanishing into the horizon—until it struck a distant building. The structure didn’t even get a chance to crumble. It vaporized instantly.

Suddenly, the demon revealed himself, and the two exchanged punches. But Sumire’s fist slipped right through his ghostly form, just as she narrowly dodged a retaliating blow.

From a nearby cliff, Kaminari watched with awe.

“She really knows how to fight… yet the demon’s impossible to touch. We must not underestimate this ghost demon.”

The ghost-type demon raised a hand, and an eerie hum filled the air as it fired a grey beam straight at her. Sumire’s eyes flared with golden light. In a split second, she twisted mid-air, narrowly dodging the blast that carved a smoking trench behind her. But before she could recover—

Whoosh!

The ghost was already in front of her. Its fist rocketed toward her at blinding speed. She tilted her head just in time, the attack grazing her cheek as the wind sliced past like a blade.

He’s faster than before, she thought, gritting her teeth. There’s always a blind spot in ghost-type demons. I have to find it—quick.

She swung her fist at the demon’s face—nothing. It phased through him like smoke. She spun mid-air, launching a fierce kick, but her leg passed through as well.

The ghost retaliated.

His aura-charged punch aimed straight for her ribs. She twisted at the last second, the blow barely missing as she flipped backward, landing softly. The air tensed.

Sumire dashed forward—golden lightning in motion—unleashing a flurry of kicks to his head, ribs, back, legs, and shoulders. Each strike was swift and precise… but every single one passed right through.

As her final kick phased through his chest, a sudden punch emerged from within the ghost’s form—silent and brutal—slamming into her stomach.

Her eyes widened as her body crashed through a nearby building wall with a thunderous crack.

Dust filled the air. Debris crumbled.

And then—Sumire rose. Eyes blazing with fury. Aura sparking like wildfire.

She shot into the sky at unbelievable speed, unleashing beams of light in every direction.

But then, an invisible strike hit her again—sudden, silent. She staggered. There was no wound, no blood—just a sting. The ghost wasn’t just fast… it was precise.

Hell no, she thought, eyes sharp. The attack hit him—but where?

She scanned quickly. I have to attack from behind… but how?

The demon charged another beam. Sumire dodged. Then she saw him—charging toward her with a deadly grey aura in his fist.

She didn’t resist.

The blow hit, and her body exploded into light—sparkling across the battlefield before vanishing.

The ghost blinked—confused.

Behind him, the real Sumire struck from every angle. But again, her attacks phased through. Like smoke.

Kaminari’s jaw dropped as he watched from the rooftop.

“W-Woah… Is that really Sumire?!”

His heart raced. Golden beams slashed the sky.

“She’s fighting like a goddess,” he whispered, clenching his fist. “That’s my comr— I mean… teammate!”

As her attacks continued, she noticed it—a spot just above the ghost’s neck. The only part he protected. She struck, but he vanished again, leaving behind only mist.

“Tch, that ability is annoying,” Sumire muttered. “I guess I have to use my Ryogan.”

Her eyes shifted—glowing gold, with star-shaped pupils outlined in black.

From his hiding spot, Kaminari blinked. “What the hell is that?”

The Devil King stirred in his mind.

“Hmph. That, kid, is the Ryogan.”

“Ryogan? Sounds badass.”

“It is. An ancient eye ability. It predicts enemy movements before they even make them. Shreds illusions. Tracks even the fastest attacks. And no aura in existence can blind it completely. She’s seeing things you can’t even comprehend.”

“So she’s basically fighting in god mode?”

“You could say so. But don’t get too excited. Power like that… always has a price.”

Kaminari clenched his teeth. “Then I better catch up soon. I won’t let her fight this alone.”

As the ghost darted and weaved, Sumire caught it—just for a second. A pink crystal shimmered faintly on the side of his neck.

There it is! The one spot he protects. That’s the weak point.

Sumire aimed a flying kick for the crystal—but the ghost caught her leg and hurled her into a building.

While falling, she shouted, “Kaminari-kun!”

“Yes!” Kaminari responded, Devil King clapped and Kaminari vanished in a blink.

He appeared behind the ghost, blood sword in hand. It dripped red as he slashed hard—his blade smashing the ghost into the ground.

Landing on the terrace, Kaminari blinked. “What? My attack worked?”

The ghost, invisible again, lunged.

Sumire intercepted, aura-concentrated leg slamming into him, launching him skyward.

“Don’t forget me!” she snapped.

The ghost regained footing, dodging Sumire’s light waves with ease.

“Now, Kaminari-kun!”

He soared above, swinging his blood sword down at the crystal—but the ghost caught the blade.

“Not yet! I won’t give up!”

Kaminari kicked him, spun mid-air, and with a final punch—struck the crystal dead-on.

CRACK!

The crystal shattered. The ghost collapsed.

“You… you’re a blood user?” he gasped.

Kaminari, sword dripping red, stood over him. “Yeah. I am. And I’m here for revenge.”

A smokescreen erupted.

“He’s heading for Sumire!” the Devil King warned.

But Sumire was ready. She raised a single finger. “Bang!” A ray fired. “Bang!” Another. “Bang! Bang!” Each light ray shot through the air—every one hitting the ghost.

She landed, panting. “That exhausted 50% of my aura. Kaminari-kun, fight with caution!”

“I will!” he shouted, clashing swords again with the ghost. “What’s your name?! Who do you work for?!”

“If you ask my name… it’s Ryujin. But I won’t tell you who I serve!”

He fired a massive grey beam.

Kaminari spun his sword, deflecting it skyward. “What if I pour my aura into my sword?!”

The Devil King roared, “FOOL! YOU GOT THAT IDEA NOW?!”

Ignoring him, Kaminari infused the sword with aura—it glowed fiercely red.

He charged—but missed in the haze.

Ryujin struck him hard, sending him flying into a pool of blood.

Kaminari’s sword—blunt before—repaired itself in the blood.

“I should make another,” he muttered while grinning. Now dual-wielding, he connected his swords with a chain—swinging them like a nunchaku.

Out of nowhere Ryujin took out a massive scythe, and they clashed again.

Kaminari blinked—and in that instant, his eye flared with a glowing, ominous purple. The casual smile vanished from his face, replaced by a deadly calm. His expression sharpened with razor focus, as if the world around him had fallen silent, leaving only the hunt.

"It... It happened again!" the Devil King muttered, a hint of shock creeping into his voice. "But his aura didn't change this time."

Kaminari was fighting with Ryujin, each strike sparked fire. Their auras roared. The land cracked, trees ignited, chaos consumed the battlefield. 

They moved like blurs—flashes of red and blue streaking across the battlefield. The blood sword and spectral scythe collided at breakneck speed, each strike erupting in bursts of crimson and cobalt sparks. Their roars echoed like beasts of war, their blades tearing through the air with such velocity that the very sky trembled. Every clash cracked like thunder, lighting up the battlefield in a relentless storm of fury and steel.

Suddenly—Kaminari weakened. His glowing eyes dimmed, fading back to their normal color.

“His scythe is draining your aura!” the Devil King yelled. 

“Kaminari-kun!” Sumire called, rushing in like golden lightning. She saved him in time, placing him aside.

“I need to rest…” he whispered.

Sumire nodded.

She turned back, kicked Ryujin’s scythe away, formed a triangle with her fingers—and unleashed pure light.

The ghost flew high to dodge.

He vanished from her sight.

Then—behind her—Ryujin charged his strongest attack: the Ultimate Destruction Beam.

Kaminari saw it. Barely conscious.

I have to save her… She’s my only friend. She gave me a reason to live. My father… he wants me to be strong too. I have to save her.

He stood. Jumped.

But the beam struck his stomach. Kaminari dropped his sword, clutching his back.

“I WON’T LET IT HURT SUMIRE… NEVER!!”

And then—he collapsed.

“Kaminari-kun!!” Sumire screamed, turning toward him, eyes wide.

—To be continued.