Part 2 - Once again, Night

Chapter 23 - First Team Battle

Konota glanced back with a grin. "Nice timing, Kiara!"

Konota's metal bracelet shifted, crawling up her arm and solidifying into a long, gleaming katana—no, longer than that. The blade stretched far past her usual length, almost daunting.

"Hope this nodachi does the trick," she muttered, gripping the hilt tightly, her eyes flickering with determination. She kept her distance, scanning for any sudden movements.

Meanwhile, Luna and I advanced toward the remaining members in their team, instincts kicking in.

"Kiara! Watch out!" Luna's voice rang out sharply. "She's about to shoot high-pressured water!"

The girl ahead of us pressed her hands together, mimicking the shape of a pistol. Without warning, blasts of water shot toward us, cutting through the air like bullets, slicing through the space with deadly precision.

Water Mucik???

I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the barrage, the rush of air from the water tearing past me. I planted my feet firmly into the ground, quickly calculating my next move.

"Bloodshot!" I shouted, clenching my fist tightly. The fire spiraled around my arm, blazing hot as it gathered at the base of my palm. In one swift motion, I slashed my arm forward, releasing a giant ball of fire aimed directly at the opposing team.

The heat from the fireball radiated fiercely, heading straight toward them like a meteor.

But before it could connect, their third member stepped forward, voice booming. "Whirlwind!"

A powerful gust of wind whipped up around the fireball, spiraling it into the air. The flames twisted and twirled, but the wind smothered them, dissipating the fire into nothingness as it was completely extinguished.

Konota quickly regrouped with Luna and me, her nodachi raised, her stance ready. The three of us formed a tight triangle, each of us covering a different angle, ensuring that no one could take us by surprise.

"We're not getting past them without a real plan," I whispered, eyes scanning the opponents.

"They've got defense and range," Luna said, her voice calm but focused. "We'll need to break their formation somehow."

Konota glanced at us, a smirk pulling at her lips. "I can handle their wind guy, but it's gonna take some serious distraction."

I nodded, formulating a plan. "I'll keep the water user busy. Luna, think you can find an opening?"

"I'll try..." Luna mumbled under her breath, her voice shaky but determined.

"Duck down! Now!" Konota's voice rang out like a battle cry, her nodachi slicing through the air with a powerful arc.

Without hesitation, Luna and I dropped low, barely dodging the blade as it cut through the space in front of us. I seized the moment, lunging forward with fire coiling around my arm like a serpent ready to strike.

"Kiara, your right!" Luna's voice shot through the chaos, sharp as a knife.

Instinct kicked in. I twisted my body to the side just in time, forcing the flames in my palm to shift into a defensive position. "Split Blazing Wall!" I shouted with urgency as the flames surged outward, forming a barrier of crackling fire between me and the incoming attack.

"Whirring Drill!" The opposing fire user roared, their weapon spinning violently as it clashed with my flame barrier. The screeching sound of the attack drilling into the wall sent shivers down my spine. I could feel the heat intensifying as their fire began to pierce through, the barrier starting to buckle under the pressure.