Kaze's words were still hanging in the air when he sprang into action.
No heads up.
No fighting pose.
Just movement—
Like a dark shadow with glowing hands, he shot right at Riko.
Riko barely got his arms up in time as Kaze's fist slammed into him. This wasn't a normal hit—not even close. It felt like a building falling on him. The air whooshed out of Riko, sending him flying backward, his shoes scraping against the floor.
He crashed into the lockers behind him, making a loud, deep, metal sound as they bent from the force.
Luna shrieked, Riko!
But Riko wasn't giving up.
He instinctively took a step forward, his arm glowing with system energy. Another tremor shook the hallway. The Level Screen flashed, showing warning messages like crazy handwriting.
DEFENSIVE MODE ON
ENEMY: USER HUNTER
But Riko wasn't thinking about defense anymore.
Kaze charged again, even faster this time. He moved so quickly, it didn't sound human—no footsteps, no breathing, just the air moving around him. Riko dodged the attack, feeling the wind rush past his head like a knife.
He punched back.
His fist crackled with blue energy, like the surge he felt during the boss fight in the city. When his punch hit Kaze's arm, the impact echoed down the hallway—
BOOM
Lockers exploded, doors flying off as the force blasted down the corridor. Papers went everywhere like a snowstorm.
Kaze took a few steps back, his shoes scraping against the broken floor. He looked at his arm, moved his hand, and raised an eyebrow.
Better.
He sounded almost impressed.
Riko's anger flared. Stop acting like I'm training for you!
You're not, Kaze replied, rushing forward again. You're surviving me.
His next hit came from above—he had jumped, twisting in the air, coming down with a strike. Riko barely blocked it. Their fists met again.
BOOOOM.
The ceiling cracked.
Dust and pieces of pixels fell as the hallway shook. Lights burst, sending sparks flying everywhere.
Students who were too scared to move finally screamed and ran past the fight.
Run! RUN!
What's going on—why are they—??
Get out—THE SCHOOL IS COMING APART!
Luna shielded a group of kids from falling stuff. Go! Keep moving! GO!
Riko didn't have time to worry about them.
Kaze wasn't slowing down.
He landed behind Riko, crouching—silent, controlled—and swept Riko's legs with a quick, precise kick. Riko flipped backward, caught himself with one hand, and lunged forward with a desperate, glowing punch.
Kaze caught it between his hands.
The hallway shook with the raw force between them, cracks spreading along the walls. The floor glitched under their feet, pixel blocks rising and falling back into place.
Kaze leaned in, his eyes steady. This is why your system is dangerous.
He pushed harder.
Riko's arm trembled. You're the dangerous one!
If I wanted you gone, Kaze said calmly, you would be.
Riko gritted his teeth and pushed forward with all his strength. He broke their grip—Kaze slid back a little, his shoes digging into the floor. Riko stumbled, breathing hard.
He didn't get Kaze.
Didn't get the system.
Didn't get any of this.
But he knew one thing:
He wasn't going to be beaten.
Kaze moved again, punching low. Riko jumped, flipped over him, landed behind him, and swung a wild punch—
It hit Kaze's shoulder and blew apart a row of lockers. Metal flew like crazy, spinning through the flashing hallway.
Kaze looked at the mess. You still waste power.
Shut up and fight me! Riko yelled.
Kaze smirked. I am.
He spun and kicked Riko in the side. Riko blocked with both arms, but the hit still sent him crashing across the hall. He hit the wall, cracking it. The Level Screen glitched from the impact.
Luna shouted, Riko, stop fighting! The SCHOOL is FALLING APART!
Riko tried to stand, but his ribs hurt too much.
Kaze walked toward him, calmly, like a teacher judging a student.
You started down this road when you kept that screen, he said.
I didn't start ANYTHING! Riko yelled.
Kaze's fist flashed toward his face—
Riko dodged.
Just barely.
The punch broke the wall next to his head, making a hole of glitch-cubed concrete. Riko came back, jumping forward with an uppercut powered by adrenaline and system energy.
It hit Kaze's jaw.
The impact was like a cannon going off.
Kaze flew backward—
—slammed into the opposite wall—
—leaving a crater of cracks and digital stuff.
Luna gasped. Wow—Riko, you got him!
Riko panted. Yeah… I guess I—
Kaze stepped out of the crater.
Not hurt.
Not angry.
Just… focused.
Good, he said.
Riko's heart sank.
Kaze appeared in front of Riko in an instant. He grabbed Riko by the shirt and threw him down the hallway. Riko tumbled across the floor, sparks flying from his arm.
He stopped near a row of broken lockers.
Everything hurt.
Everything was loud.
Everything was falling apart.
But he got up again.
Kaze came closer, slowly, like a teacher talking to a student.
You're getting better. Faster than I thought.
Stop—talking—like that, Riko said, raising his fists.
Kaze tilted his head. Why? It makes you try harder.
Riko charged.
Their fists met again.
CRACKOOM.
The force blew open classroom doors, sending desks and papers flying. Students ran out, screaming as cracks spread across the walls like electric lines.
Luna hid behind a cart, watching. They're gonna DESTROY THE SCHOOL!
Riko and Kaze didn't stop.
Could not stop.
Each strike was faster, stronger. The hallway switched between normal and pixelated with every hit. Lockers bent, walls shook, and pieces of the ceiling fell.
Kaze threw a punch.
Riko dodged and countered.
Their fists connected, and the hallway shook.
Then—
A creaking sound echoed behind them.
Something else had broken.
Riko turned, his heart pounding. One of the classrooms has a door hanging off, frame bent and glitching.
The lights flickered inside.
Then—
Something dark appears from the darkness, Broken classrooms crawling with something shadowy.