The corrupted shinobi raised both arms, and jagged tendrils of unstable Arch Energy surged outward like living chains. Shisui threw up a defense.
"Iron Tempest: Magnetic Sandstorm Armor!"
The swirling black iron sand blocked the initial wave of chains, though the backlash burned through parts of it. Shisui winced—it was raw, unstable chakra unlike anything he'd trained against.
Makoto charged the enemy, deflecting attacks with his reinforced staff, while Yua created overlapping illusion fields to disorient the rogue.
"I've seen this before," Yua muttered. "That chakra—it's artificial. Twisted."
Shisui nodded. "Synthetic Arch Energy. We're dealing with an experimental type."
The rogue shrieked and activated a pulse—one that drained the very minerals from the environment, feeding them into his energy core.
"Fall, shinobi of petals! The Withering consumes all!"
Shisui focused, eyes glowing with intense magnetism.
He extended his hand.
"Iron Tempest: Rail Fang Cannon!"
A compressed iron sand bullet, laced with Arch Energy, fired at supersonic speed—piercing the rogue's corrupted core. The shockwave tore through the trees behind him, and the enemy collapsed, unconscious and convulsing.
Yua quickly sealed him in a reinforced chakra barrier. Makoto secured the merchant.
As they resumed their journey with caution, Shisui stared at the remnants of that corrupted energy still crackling faintly on the rogue's broken gloves.
> "There's someone out there," Shisui thought.
"Someone experimenting with Arch Energy in terrifying ways. And this... was only the beginning."