The battlefield quaked as dust and broken trees spiraled through the air.
Anos—the leader of the Five—stood calmly with his hands in his pockets, unfazed by the chaos around him. Not a single particle of dust clung to his robes, nor did the violent shockwaves disturb his footing.
"I can see why you were able to defeat Alaska," Anos said, his tone even and unbothered, his voice carrying above the storm of destruction. "You're indeed worthy to be called the disciple of that man—the one they whisper about as the Unknown."
Behind him, two of his men shielded themselves with glowing Renshi barriers, their forms flickering as the tremors pressed against them. Their eyes were locked on Miyamoto, waiting for the perfect moment.
Miyamoto's grip tightened, his breath ragged but his will sharper than ever.
"Art of Mojito… Second Connection—Unlimited Blades!"
The air shivered.
Countless swords, ethereal and impossibly sharp, tore into existence. Each blade gleamed like lightning, forming a storm of steel around him before hurtling toward his enemies. The forest erupted with the sound of metal screaming against metal as the two men leapt into action, their swords clashing desperately against the endless barrage. Sparks sprayed, trees split, the earth cracked open beneath the weight of Miyamoto's fury.
"Damn it…!" one of the men hissed, his arms straining as he barely deflected a blade that carved a canyon behind him.
The other cursed as he twisted away, his cloak sliced apart. "These swords… they don't stop!"
From his perch, Anos tilted his head lazily. "Get this over with already."
"Roger that."
One of the men vanished in a blur. Switch Mode.
He reappeared directly in front of Miyamoto, his blade flashing with impossible speed.
"Ding-dong," the man sneered.
"Too fast—!" Miyamoto barely twisted away as the blade cut through the air, a silver streak missing his torso by a hair. But the man did not relent. He became a whirlwind of steel, his strikes carving lines of death in every direction.
Before Miyamoto could catch his breath, the second attacker also activated Switch Mode, flickering into existence on his other side. Unlike his partner, his swings were not precise—they were overwhelming, a storm of raw power. Each strike rattled Miyamoto's arms as he blocked and dodged, the weight forcing him back step by step.
"Anos told us to end this quickly," the brute growled, his voice cold. "There's no reason to hold back anymore."
Miyamoto's boots dragged trenches into the dirt. His chest heaved. Damn it… if this keeps up, I'll lose my only chance to protect Master's children… I cannot—will not—let that happen!
His eyes blazed.
"No way I'm letting that happen!"
He vanished with Switch Mode, reappearing several meters away. His aura exploded—bright, burning, a surge of Renshi so strong the forest itself seemed to recoil.
Light engulfed his body, radiating off him in waves.
"I wasted most of my strength against Alaska… my body hasn't recovered. But so what? Even if it costs me my life—I'll die protecting Master's children!"
He thrust his palms outward. The earth quaked violently.
"Bloodline Technique… Range Domain!"
BOOOOM.
A quarter of the forest was torn apart in an instant. Trees collapsed, boulders shattered, the ground split open into jagged trenches as fragments of earth levitated into the air, pulsing with raw Renshi. Each floating piece glowed with destructive energy, filling the battlefield with a suffocating pressure.
The Five froze. Even Anos's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"Both of you, retreat," he ordered without hesitation.
The two men who had been pressing Miyamoto back instantly jumped away and switched close to Anos. They could feel it—the sheer murderous intent radiating from the hovering fragments.
"I didn't think he had this much Renshi left after the battle with Alaska," Anos muttered under his breath. "This man… is troublesome."
Miyamoto's voice cut through the rumble.
"Phase Two of the Chronicles… Unlimited Flames."
The fragments ignited, bursting with roaring infernos.
"Phase Three of the Chronicles… Unlimited Ice!"
The other half froze solid, crystalline shards glinting like razors.
He extended his hand, his face twisted with resolve.
"Now… BURN AND FREEZE!"
The fragments launched forward, transformed into a storm of colossal lances—half blazing fire, half piercing ice—each strike tearing through the forest like divine punishment. The sky turned into a lattice of destruction as ice and fire rained down mercilessly on the Five.
The four underlings scattered in panic, switching and dodging, their Renshi shields cracking under the relentless assault.
But Anos did not move. His aura flared like a calm ocean, deflecting the strikes that reached him. His gaze remained locked on Miyamoto.
"Just as I thought… the leader isn't even rattled," Miyamoto hissed through his teeth. "Then I'll force him to be."
He raised his arms again, his aura spiking.
"Phase Four of the Chronicles—Elements Manipulation!"
The levitating fragments spun violently, whistling like meteors before launching in every direction. They ripped through Anos's protective aura, forcing even him to step aside—vanishing with Switch Mode at the last instant, his hands still tucked in his pockets.
"Still not enough… what the hell is this man?" Miyamoto gasped, sweat pouring down his face.
"HELL NO!" he roared, his voice shaking the forest.
He lifted every remaining fragment high into the sky until they formed a massive orbit above his enemies. Then, slamming his palms to the ground, he unleashed them all at once.
The storm descended. Fire and ice carved the battlefield into a wasteland, explosions splitting the forest apart in waves of destruction. Trees disintegrated, rivers boiled into steam, and the earth caved in under the relentless rain of elemental devastation.
The Four screamed as they blocked, dodged, and were thrown around like leaves in a hurricane.
Only Anos remained calm, flickering through the storm with flawless timing, every Switch Mode carrying him just out of reach. His expression had shifted now—still calm, but edged with acknowledgment.
"This damage is drawing too much attention," Anos finally spoke, his voice low and sharp.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Miyamoto.
Miyamoto's eyes widened. "Wha—"
Anos's fist rocketed toward his stomach—only to halt at the last fraction of a second, frozen inches from impact. Miyamoto's Renshi barrier held, cracking under the pressure.
"…Not bad," Anos said with a smirk.
Then his other fist, wrapped in condensed Renshi, struck like thunder.
CRACK!
The blow ripped through Miyamoto's defenses, launching him across the battlefield like a cannonball. He tore through trees, shattered cliffs, and finally crashed into the earth, skidding across the ground until he stopped—perilously close to the Kingdom of Eminence.
Anos lowered his fist, exhaling softly.
"We're getting too close," he muttered, eyes narrowing. "I think it's time you come back."