The battle begins

The rain pounded the alley, sending steam rising from the puddles and splashing every wall with reflections of light that seemed to move on their own. Lexus moved straight toward Tyfo and, with a sharp punch to the stomach, knocked him down in a single blow. Tyfo hit the ground, gasping, the rain covering him as if trying to wash away his fury.

Kahn didn’t waste a second. He slid over the wet pavement, moving like a lightning bolt that seemed to tear reality itself. Every slash he made sparkled with droplets suspended in the air, making them almost impossible to track.

Lexus drew from his cloak a silver gun that shimmered with blue sparks, crackling with contained energy. He fired several energy-infused bullets that cut through the air like blue lightning, but Kahn was too fast: he dodged, sliding side to side, letting the bullets whistle past his body without touching him.

Still, Lexus didn’t panic. He dialed back the power, using Kahn’s own skill: sliding, dodging, blocking with the gun, and searching for a single opening to fire with precision. Every step splashed water, every twist was a silver flash against the rain as the two moved like shadows over the pavement.

Meanwhile, Lucy knelt beside Axel. Her hands hovered over his torso, channeling energy that sped up the regeneration of his cells. Axel felt warmth, tingling, a shiver running through his whole body.

—H-How… are you healing me? —he stammered, eyes wide in shock.

Lucy didn’t take her eyes off Tyfo, but her voice was calm, soft:

—It’s spiritual energy, Axel. I accelerate the creation of your cells so your body can repair itself… I know all of this must seem unbelievable to you.

Axel’s eyes widened even more, unable to fully process the explanation:

—Unbelievable… yeah, that kinda sums it up.

Lucy’s voice softened even further, trying to calm him:

—If we could avoid all this, we would. Putting an innocent in a war that doesn’t belong to them isn’t our style. I was against it… but war is harsh, Axel. There isn’t always another option.

Suddenly, Tyfo swung a direct punch at Axel. He slammed against something invisible and staggered. Axel waved his hand through the air, astonished:

—W-What the…?!

Lucy smiled at him while continuing to heal:

—It’s an energy field protecting us. Something I created with my energy so I could heal you safely. Though doing two things at once was never my strong suit…

Axel looked at her. For the first time, he could see her eyes clearly, noticing the conflict in them, and also the kindness they radiated.

—All done, I’ve finished healing you, and also…

Before she could finish, a furious Tyfo attacked Lucy from behind. Just as he was about to strike, a shot from Lexus hit his hand, rendering it useless. Lexus roared in fury as the silver gun gleamed in the rain.

Lucy gave Axel a quick, confident glance:

—I gave you a bit of my energy, Axel. That’s why the field broke. My energy will act as a shield to protect you in this chaos. Trust it, please.

Axel felt something warm wrapping around him. It was similar to a sensation he’d felt in his dream… and there was a strange familiarity to it. Before he could think further, he saw Lucy draw a whip from her pocket and, with an elegant spin that kicked up water and light around her, snared Tyfo’s arm. She pulled him toward her and struck him square in the face, leaving him staggering.

Lexus stayed focused on Kahn. Every movement was a silver-and-blue flash, each dodge sent droplets of rain suspended in the air like crystals. The gun crackled, and the clash of steel and energy echoed through the alley.

Axel felt completely lost in the chaos. The rain, the punches, the lights and flashes made him dizzy; it was as if the whole world was moving faster than him, and all he could do was stand there and watch.

Seeing Lexus unharmed and Tyfo on the brink, Kahn pulled a pill from his pocket and swallowed it in one gulp. His body glowed with intense, pure energy, and in a single, rapid movement, he rescued Tyfo. Lexus blinked, surprised and worried; adrenaline coursed through him.

Kahn took another pill from Tyfo’s pocket and held it to his companion’s lips. Tyfo took it, and immediately his energy shone with the same intensity. Lexus frowned. Now, more than ever, he knew the fight had escalated to a whole new level.