The assassin's voice still rang in Kaito's ears—"Your bloodline ends here." The words weren't just threats—they were a promise carved in steel.
The first strike came without warning. Twin energy blades screamed through the air, slashing at Kaito's chest. His armor cracked with the impact, and a fiery sting exploded across his ribs. Pain lanced through him, sharp enough to steal his breath.
He staggered as blood dripped from the torn fabric of his suit, sizzling where the plasma had burned through. The assassin was a ghost made of death, moving like a shadow, every strike a knife's whisper of finality.
Kaito gritted his teeth. "AICE, ghost mode. Now."
"Engaging combat protocol," AICE's voice was calm but fierce inside his mind. Neural links flared as circuits sparked beneath his skin, fusing flesh with tech.
The world sharpened. Every heartbeat, every breath synchronized into a razor's edge of awareness.
But the assassin was relentless. He didn't give Kaito a moment to catch his breath, slashing and striking with brutal precision. Kaito's left arm went numb after a glancing blow, the impact sending vibrations up his bones. His legs burned with exhaustion, but his hands clenched tight around his blade.
They crashed through the shattered glass of the conference room windows, plunging into the corridor beyond. The cold metal walls echoed with the clash of steel and the hiss of energy weapons.
Kaito barely dodged a spinning strike that would have cleaved him in two, feeling the rush of wind as the blade sliced inches from his face. He rolled, smashing his fist into the assassin's ribs. Bones cracked beneath his blow, but the assassin only grunted, smirking beneath the helmet.
"Not bad," he hissed. "But this ends now."
The fight surged like a storm, moving through the Tower's labyrinthine halls. Kaito's vision blurred with sweat and pain. Blood dripped down his arm, mixing with the grime of battle.
"Sync at 65%," AICE warned. "You're pushing limits."
"I'm not done yet," Kaito growled, lunging forward with renewed fury.
Their blades collided with a brutal clang. Sparks flew meeting with energy steel. Kaito's muscles screamed, but his mind was locked in the lethal rhythm of combat, every move a desperate calculation.
Around a corner, the hallway exploded with noise.
"Get ready!" Luna's voice cut through the chaos as she, Rin, Lio, Yuisaka, and Suzuka emerged from a side room—wiping blood from their faces, eyes wide with adrenaline.
They'd just finished off a squad of Prometheon reinforcements, weapons smoking, breathing hard. Now, the battle was theirs to witness.
Kaito didn't break rhythm. The assassin surged, slashing with feral speed, forcing Kaito back step by step.
"Remember," AICE urged. "Let me guide you."
A surge of energy pulsed through Kaito's veins as circuits aligned, his suit glowing bright with neon light. The pain dulled, replaced by raw power.
He blocked a vicious stab, then twisted, driving a charged punch into the assassin's jaw. The impact echoed like a gunshot. The assassin stumbled, helmet cracking.
"Sync 85%... perfect alignment," AICE whispered.
Kaito pressed the advantage, fists and blades moving faster than thought, a blur of violence and control. The assassin swung wildly, desperation bleeding into his strikes.
With a final, brutal kick, Kaito pinned him against the cold metal wall, shattering ribs under the force. His blade flared with energy, piercing the assassin's chestplate apart in a silent strike.
The assassin gasped, collapsing in a heap.
Kaito's breath came in ragged gasps as he stepped back, blood dripping from his wounds, heart pounding.
The others stood frozen, awe and relief washing over their faces.
Rin broke the silence, voice low and fierce. "Well done, Kaito."
Yuisaka wiped her mouth, grinning. "Damn, I didn't think anyone could fight like that."
Lio nodded, her usual smirk softening. "That was... art."
Luna simply smiled, her eyes proud and sharp.
Kaito looked at his team, battered but unbroken.
"I thought I was gonna die," he said grinning, voice steady despite the pain. "I want some high class sushi after this."