Meanwhile, at the border between the Kingdom of Eminence and Sunflower, five figures stood in formation—Romero, Voldigo, Onamuchi, Fushira, and Pascal. The very air shook around them, killing intent flooding the land like a storm.
Lucy stepped forward slowly, her black coat trailing behind her as the dust rose in the wind. Sasaki stood by her side, while Lyon and Bash were still lingering nearby.
"Both of you, fall back," Lucy ordered sharply, her voice calm yet heavy with authority. "Go protect the kids. You'll only slow me down here."
Lyon protested, his eyes narrowing. "These Shinras look strong. Can you really handle them all head-on?"
Lucy tilted her head slightly, the faintest smile curling on her lips.
"Worry less about me. They were once my students. If my pupils chose the wrong path… then it's a teacher's duty to correct them."
Bash blinked, baffled, whispering telepathically to Lyon, "Wait… what? They about Same age as her? How the hell were they her students—"
"I can hear you perfectly well, Bash," Lucy cut in without even turning her head, her tone dripping with amusement.
Then she strode forward, her shoes crunching into the dry soil as the five Shinras of the reinforcement regrouped where Fushira had emerged from. Lyon and Bash exchanged glances, then activated Switch Mode, vanishing to rejoin Rebekah, Marcel, and Jackson.
Lucy cracked her knuckles and spread her arms wide.
"Bring it on, kiddos. Master's here… to discipline her students."
--- Romero barked, his presence radiating sharp command. "Fushira, Pascal—you're with me at the front. Voldigo, Onamuchi, hold them back!"
"Roger!" Fushira's voice thundered, moving in step with Pascal.
But Lucy's gaze sharpened.
"Respect your elders… and always ask permission."
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently. A crushing wave of force expanded outward. The gravity around them multiplied a hundredfold. The five Shinras staggered, their knees buckling as the soil cracked beneath their weight.
"What… the hell is this?!" Voldigo groaned, gritting his teeth.
"Don't panic!" Fushira snapped. His hands formed quick, intricate signs. "It's the Art of Mojito — Moon Sign: Gravitational Force. I'll cancel it!"
The gravitational field flickered, then dispersed under his counter-art.
Lucy chuckled lowly, her tone both proud and disappointed.
"Not bad, Fushira. Still the strongest and wisest as always. Let's see how far centuries of living have carried you…"
With a blur of speed, Lucy activated Switch Mode, vanishing and reappearing in their midst. Her face lowered, one eye glowing with ominous black Renshi. She raised both hands wide.
"Bloodline Technique of the Chronicles Izanami — Phase One."
From her back burst five elongated arms of dark Renshi, claw-like hands snapping toward all five Shinras at once.
"Tch—move!" Romero barked. In an instant, all five vanished with Switch Mode, scattering across the battlefield.
But Sasaki didn't hesitate. His blood surged, blood Renshi condensing in his arms. Two crimson blades materialized in his grip. He launched himself forward like a demon unchained, targeting Fushira.
"Die!" Sasaki roared, slashing with frightening speed. His sword cleaved straight through Fushira's torso—only for his body to ripple like water.
The blade passed harmlessly through. Fushira's form solidified again, completely unscathed.
"Pathetic loser," he sneered. His hands flashed through signs, then gravity spiked, crushing Sasaki down.
"Khh—!" Sasaki's knees buckled as the earth cracked beneath him.
Lucy's eyes hardened.
"This isn't your battle, Sasaki. Fall back and let me handle them."
"There's no way I'm going back to sit uselessly!" Sasaki shouted, defiance burning in his voice.
Lucy smirked faintly.
"Fine. Then stand still and watch my back. If anyone dares a sneak attack, cut them down."
"She deactivates the art of mojito Fushira placed on Sasaki immediately".
One of her eyes turned entirely black, oozing dark Renshi.
---
On the other side, Pascal's voice shook with unease.
"Romero… she's still using her dark Renshical side. Do we even stand a chance?"
Romero's gaze stayed locked on Lucy. His jaw clenched.
"Of course we do. With tactics. Voldigo, Pascal—attack from the flanks. If that brat gets in your way, crush him."
"Roger!" both replied.
Then Romero and Onamuchi blurred with Switch Mode, closing in on Lucy from opposite sides. Their bloodlines ignited—purple flames crackling from Romero's body as two massive wolf heads formed on his shoulders, his limbs sprouting claws. His eyes gleamed a savage violet.
Beside him, Onamuchi's flesh hardened, his arms swelling to double their size, his entire body transmuting into living steel.
"HYAAHH!" they roared, both striking at Lucy in unison.
BOOM!
Two colossal fists smashed down, but Lucy's dark Renshi arms shot up, blocking the blows with ease. Sparks erupted from the clash, the shockwave flattening the surrounding terrain.
Fushira lingered in the shadows, watching silently, waiting for his opening.
"Try harder, kiddos," Lucy mocked, before launching all five of her dark arms at them, their claws tearing through the air.
At the same time, she called forth her blade—Damascus. With one swing, the sword split into two dark Renshical sabers, her movements becoming a blur of steel and shadow.
From above, Pascal dove, sand whirling into a colossal spears.
"he attacks her with them from above.
CLANG!
Lucy twisted, blocking with her twin sabers, sparks scattering as the sand spears shattered on impact.
She spun, weaving through the relentless fists of Romero and Onamuchi, their blows heavy enough to shake the borderlands. But Lucy's speed was merciless—her movements weaving between their strikes like flowing water.
"Oh, I see it now…" Lucy's smirk widened as she danced around their combined assault. "An old tactic. Romero distracts, Pascal strikes from above, Onamuchi closes in… clever."
Her smile sharpened into something cruel.
"But it won't work on me."
Her figure suddenly blurred—Switch Mode activating. In less than a heartbeat, she appeared behind Pascal mid-air.
Pascal's eyes widened in horror. He spun desperately, throwing up a wall of sand around his body.
Lucy's twin blades came down with terrifying speed, shattering against the sand barrier with a roar that echoed across the battlefield.