The assassin shadow stood firmly on guard, its instincts razor-sharp, protecting the barrier from any possible sneak attack. The atmosphere was suffocating as the battle heated up. Suddenly, both assassin shadows struck at once — one with a crushing fist, the other with a vicious leg strike — their combined force sent Alfie and Jackson flying toward each other.
In mid-air, Alfie twisted his body, narrowly avoiding collision. Jackson, steadying himself with grit, reached out and grabbed Alfie's two hands, bracing with his legs upon landing. With one explosive push, Jackson launched Alfie back into the air like a catapult. Alfie's body spun, and the moment his legs connected with the assassin shadow, the impact was devastating, sending it flying backward with raw force.
The second assassin shadow wasted no time, already closing the distance. Jackson instantly reacted, manifesting two tentacles of himself. One tentacle holds the other by its hands, spinning it violently like a tornado, hurling the shadow forward. Jackson leapt backward just in time, avoiding the wild trajectory of his own attack.
But the assassin shadow sliced through the spinning tentacle with unnerving ease, redirecting its path straight toward Jackson. Before it could connect, Alfie was already closing in from above. Jackson noticed and quickly bent low, positioning himself as a platform. Without hesitation, Alfie vaulted onto his back and used the momentum to spring high into the air. His sword gleamed, and with one decisive strike, he cleaved the shadow's head in two.
As Alfie landed lightly on his feet, the other assassin shadow guarding the formation lunged like a missile. It rammed its head into Alfie's stomach with crushing force, launching him across the battlefield.
"These shadows… they're different. What's with this attack?" Jackson thought grimly, his eyes following Alfie's painful flight. Without a second wasted, he sprinted after them, manifesting tentacle after tentacle to propel himself forward. Each time he landed, he spun and launched himself again, rapidly closing the distance.
The second shadow closed in on Alfie as well. Alfie, groaning in pain, stretched out, desperately trying to grab at the shadow's feathered frame, but it slipped through his grip.
"Damn it, you monster! Fight me fair and square, you coward!" Alfie roared, seizing the assassin shadow's head in both hands. With furious strength, he spun them both violently until their bodies crashed into Ashura's wall. The impact shook the ground with a thunderous shockwave, tearing a massive hole through the structure.
Breathing heavily, Alfie slid down the ruined wall, battered but alive. He had used the shadow as a shield at the last possible second, destroying it in the process. Relief was short-lived, though. A dark presence loomed above. Alfie looked up to see the final assassin shadow diving toward him with terrifying speed.
He pushed off the wall, plummeting toward the ground. The shadow's claws slashed down, about to tear into his face — when Jackson suddenly appeared, striking with a punch so powerful it sent the shadow crashing away.
Both fighters landed together, their breaths sharp and synchronized.
"It's now or never," Jackson muttered, his resolve hardened.
Alfie nodded firmly. Side by side, they charged toward the formation.
Meanwhile, behind the sealed doors, Sasaki fought his own hellish battle. Every strike from the assassin's endless clones left him reeling, even with his regeneration saving him from instant death. The clones had caught on, focusing their relentless assault on one deadly goal — to sever Sasaki's head. His blades slashed nonstop, carving through every clone that dared get close.
"What's taking those boys so long? Don't let me die here, kiddos!" Sasaki thought bitterly, sweat dripping down his face as he pushed his concentration to the limit.
Back outside, the assassin shadow charged once more, flying at blinding speed. Alfie skidded to a halt, turning to intercept. Jackson understood the plan and sprinted ahead, aiming for the formation.
As the shadow tried to bypass Alfie, he roared, "Not on my watch!" and grabbed its leg mid-flight. With monstrous strength, he slammed it into the ground, the impact rattling the air with a shockwave. The shadow's form dissolved into nothingness.
"Well done, Alfie!" Jackson shouted, his voice echoing as he pressed against the barrier. "But I'll need your hand before these things come back twice as strong!"
Alfie sprinted to join him. But before he reached, the air split apart — a massive assassin shadow emerged, towering above them. It instantly switched its focus, appearing in front of Alfie in a blink. Before Alfie could react, its palm slammed into him, crushing him into the ground with bone-shaking force.
"ALFIE!" Jackson screamed, charging forward. The assassin shadow switched again, appearing right in front of him, its fist driving down toward his head.
Jackson's tentacle lashed out to block, but it was shredded on contact. With no time to breathe, Jackson countered, slashing with the sword that had been in his grip the entire time. Yet the shadow, unnervingly agile, used continuous switch modes to evade each strike. It appeared behind him, its kick slamming into Jackson's back, sending him flying toward Alfie.
Alfie, already on his feet despite the crushing blow, leapt sideways and caught Jackson, saving him from smashing into the rocks nearby.
"This one… this isn't like the others," Jackson muttered, sweat dripping as they both rose to their feet. "It's tough — too tough. I didn't expect a mere protector to be this strong."
The towering shadow didn't rush. It walked slowly, deliberately, positioning itself in front of the formation like a final sentinel.
"We can't waste any more time," Alfie said through clenched teeth. "And I can't believe Master hasn't found the controller yet. Whatever she's facing… it must be something even she struggles with."