Burning Determination

Her final words… were to tell me to live. I was so consumed with despair, I hadn’t even thought about that. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks, sobs pushing themselves from my throat. The creature straightened up, the blades glowing in its hands. Kang was still bleeding from the side but seemed to ignore it as he looked at the monster before us.

“We’re a team Yuka, which means we have each other's backs. Chiaki understood that better than anyone… so please. Fight by my side,” he said softly. I looked down at my flaming sword. Chiaki… I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. But–maybe I can avenge you at least with this strange new power. I looked up at the creature as it waited for us to strike.

“Right!” I replied, getting my sword ready.

“I’ll be your support, then. Give it hell!” Azarin said from behind us, Kti laying on a pile of rubble nearby, probably unconscious. I gave them a nod before running at the creature with Kang. Kang was the first to arrive, his blades clashing with the large violet swords in a blur of strikes. I can hardly keep up with his movements. I have to do everything I can though! Several spikes of bone materialized in the air, shooting towards Azarin and Kti.

“No you don’t!” I cried, leaping in front of the projectiles. I weaved my way between each one, cutting each of them with my blazing weapon, reducing them to ash. I then lunged for the monster, lifting my sword. 

Without warning, several spikes of bone erupted from the ground, streaking towards me. Crap! I got carried away! Suddenly, two yellow streaks cut through the spikes, clearing them from my path. Thanks, Azarin. That gave me the opening I needed! I got in close, aiming for its neck.

“I’ve got you!” I cried, before my blade connected with the barrier again. Its attention is on Kang–which buys me time to cut through! The barrier began to crack as Kang locked its blades in a clash. We can destroy it! My optimism was shattered as a second mouth appeared on the side of its head, a red sphere glowing brightly. 

This time I raised my sword to block, but the beam still sent me flying, slamming into the ground hard. Then it fired a second beam from its original mouth, hitting Kang as well and sending him smashing into a nearby slanted building.

“Kang!” Azarin cried but the creature closed in on him next, bringing the two blades towards Azarin’s neck. Azarin managed to form two of his yellow shields to block the strike, but they were already cracking. Sparks flew as I pulled myself to my feet. 

I won't let this monster take Azarin too! My whole body felt sore after being slammed around so much, and I could taste sand and blood in my mouth. Despite that, I forced my legs to move, running at the creature.

“Get away from him!” I yelled as the familiar pale spikes erupted from the ground. I clenched the scalding blade in my hands, slicing through each spike and reducing it to ash. Azarin’s shields cracked more as I got in close. 

I swung my sword towards its’ back, delivering a powerful slash. A cut formed on the cloak, black shadows leaking out as the creature screeched. It suddenly broke one of Azarin’s shields, but didn’t cut him. Instead it swung towards me.

I blocked the strike as Azarin fell back, stumbling a bit. The second sword came out of nowhere. One slash sliced my leg open, making me cry out in pain. It then brought both blades down, connecting with mine. The ground dented as I grit my teeth, struggling against the weight of the two great swords. 

I could feel the strength in my arms depleting fast. It was only a matter of time before it broke through my defenses and finished me off. However, before it could reach that point, something happened.

A sword engulfed in electricity shot down like a bullet, hitting the creature right in the face. A chunk of the skull flew off, landing in the sand. The blades were pulled back, giving me an opening. I let out a cry as I slashed upwards in a bright arc of flame, taking an arm off. The appendage landed in the sand a few feet away. 

I was ready to finish it off, but spikes falling from the sky forced me to jump back. Down to one arm. We have it! My heart sank as it turned towards where the sword had come from, the arm reforming before my eyes in an instant. 

“No… no way…” I said in pure defeat. It didn’t even look back at me. Instead it flew up towards where Kang stood on one of the floors of the building, panting as blood dripped from his wounds, holding one blade. In an instant, it grabbed Kang by the neck, slamming him up the side of the building. I was helpless. Again.

“Go! Go help him!” Azarin cried as several yellow discs formed before me. Feeling the pure adrenaline in my veins, I wasted no time dashing up the path he’d made, heading for the top. The creature reached the top with Kang, slamming him down on the top of the building before letting go of him. It then held its single purple blade up, ready to finish him off.

“I won’t let you take anyone else from me!” I screamed, leaping towards it. 

This time, the spike came from the side. It stabbed into my gut, making my eyes widen. I coughed up blood, hanging in the air for a moment as my sword fell from my grasp. 

“NOOOO!” Kang yelled, his eyes wide in horror. I looked down at my body, seeing the bone stuck in me. Blood ran down it towards the ground. It was over.

“Live, Yuka.”

No… it wasn’t over. Not yet. I grabbed the spike, gritting my teeth in pain. Flames lit up my eyes and hands as I let out a cry.

“No… I–I’m NOT DONE YET!” I screamed, the bone lighting ablaze, turning to ash. I fell to the ground, grabbing my sword. Despite being on the verge of death… something felt different. When I lunged for the monster, it felt faster than before. I brought my sword down, connecting with the barrier again.

This time, there was more power behind the swing. It crashed through the roof, both of us smashing down the building as the barrier cracked.

“I’LL KILL YOOOOOU!” I screamed with every bit of rage I had left in me while bloody tears streamed from my eyes. My sword broke through. My slash went straight down as we reached the bottom of the building, the entire structure splitting in half. A large pillar of flame shot up as I yelled. 

The creature crumbled to ashes as the flames engulfed it. Bits of rubble fell as the flames died out. I stood there, panting, before my vision flashed white. I could see her. Giving me one last smile and wave before turning away. I then fell into darkness.