Metal shrieked. Sparks flew. The train rocked violently from side to side as Levine Shishiroma's entrance shattered the roof and the mission's calm.
Before Xzavier could even respond to his brother's taunt, another blast hit the front of the train. Lightning carved through the sky and slammed into the engine. A second figure landed—crackling with voltage.
Raijin Inazuma. Eyes glowing electric blue, a cruel smile on his face.
"Let's shake things up, shall we?" he muttered, lightning dancing between his fingers.
Then, in a swirl of crimson petals, a woman materialized near the back door of the car, twirling two bone daggers.
Ophelia Maeve. Elegant, silent, lethal.
Sensei Gara jumped up, shoving Kaze behind a steel wall conjured from his gauntlet. "Team X—brace for impact!"
And then—
BOOM!
The train derailed.
Steel twisted as the train ripped through the tracks, flipping cars into the sky. Glass shattered. Everything turned to chaos.
When the dust settled, the shattered wreckage of the train lay scattered across the forested hills. Flames licked the sides of broken compartments.
Xzavier groaned, emerging from a smashed car with his blade half-buried in the ground. His cloak was torn, face bloodied—but his eyes burned hotter than ever.
"You're going to pay for that, Levine!"
From the smoke, Levine strolled forward, casually cracking his neck. "Then stop me."
Clang!
Xzavier launched at him, Flame Blade roaring with crimson fire. Levine blocked it with one hand—barehanded. Sparks burst.
"You're still too soft, brother."
Elsewhere, Hageshi was already mid-fight with Ophelia, who danced around his frost slashes with eerie grace.
"You're fast," Hageshi muttered, panting. "Too bad you're not smart."
He froze the ground beneath her, sending her skidding into a steel pole—only for her to vanish into a swirl of blood and reappear behind him.
"Cute," she whispered, slicing his shoulder.
Yagumi, meanwhile, clashed with Raijin, their battle lighting up the sky. Raijin hurled bolts like spears, and Yagumi weaved through them with terrifying precision, his twin Grim Reaper Blades spinning.
"You're not bad," Raijin smirked. "But you're not him."
Yagumi didn't answer. He just moved—fast.
Slash.
Blood spilled.
All three battles raged across the burning wreckage.
Team X was powerful—but this was different. These weren't ordinary enemies. These were monsters.
And worst of all?
Levine wasn't even using his full strength. Not yet.