A heavy, suffocating tension saturated the air.
The silence was so absolute that Raiha felt as if her own shallow breathing and the frantic pounding of her heart were the loudest things in the world. Amidst that stillness, she watched the confrontation between Ryuga and Garando—the man known as Kurotobari.
Unlike the explosive, violent clash between Yugo and Glonas, this duel was defined by its lack of motion. Even though Kurotobari radiated a bloodlust so thick it felt as if he might pounce at any second, he remained rooted to the spot, doing nothing but glaring.
There was a simple reason for the stalemate: Ryuga’s stance offered no openings whatsoever.
Watching him from such a short distance, Raiha understood the sheer difficulty of challenging the current Ryuga head-on. If an opponent stepped into his range carelessly, they would be cut down in that very instant. Witnessing him in his element firsthand, she realized anew that his reputation as Yamato’s strongest swordsman was no empty boast.
At the same time, Raiha sensed that Kurotobari possessed enough martial intuition to recognize Ryuga’s caliber. She watched the two of them, her breath catching in her throat as they measured one another.
"What’s the matter? Aren’t you coming? What happened to all that bravado from before?"
"Urgh...!"
Kurotobari groaned in frustration at Ryuga’s provocation. Having chosen a style focused on counterattacking, he seemed to be waiting for his opponent to make the first move. Perhaps Ryuga’s own desire to protect Raiha was influencing his decision to hold his ground as well.
Gearing at Ryuga with pure loathing, Kurotobari suddenly relaxed his posture.
"Fine. To slaughter the evil that is you, I shall give my all...! Ooooooh!"
The bloodlust she had been sensing—the very pressure of his Magic Power—swelled explosively. While Raiha grew agitated, sensing that something extraordinary was happening, Ryuga remained calm. He merely readjusted his grip on his katana, his eyes never leaving his foe.
Before them, Kurotobari’s physical frame grew a size larger. He spoke while flaunting his empowered form.
"How is it? This is my True Form... the ultimate form of justice I sought to destroy all evil."
"Spare me the grandstanding. This is just that ‘Level 2’ phenomenon, isn’t it? A twisted monster has simply become more monstrous."
Having already witnessed Magic Armor Beasts evolving during the battle at the Insect Museum, Ryuga was entirely unfazed by the transformation.
Whether he was provoked by Ryuga's indifference or simply eager to test his power, Kurotobari lunged forward. The claws on both his arms glowed with a predatory light.
"Do not mock me! My name is Kurotobari! The Messenger of Justice who judges evil! I am most certainly not a monster!"
He charged in a straight line, bringing his claws down in a devastating overhead swing. As the sharp talons traced arcs of light through the air, Ryuga evaded the strike, gauging the distance down to a hair’s breadth.
From there, Kurotobari unleashed a relentless barrage, weaving claw strikes together with raw martial arts. Even if he was no longer on active duty, the combat techniques he had refined during his years in the Security Force were formidable. However, Ryuga handled the onslaught with practiced ease, parrying with his katana or slipping past the blows with precise footwork.
"Sorry, I’m going to have to pick you up for a second."
"Eh? Kyah!"
Midway through the exchange, Ryuga leapt backward and spun around, scooping Raiha up in his arms. With a powerful jump, he put significant distance between them and Kurotobari. Once he had pulled her safely away, he set her back on her feet.
"Ryuga-san, I am not some helpless woman who needs constant protection," Raiha said firmly. "Please, let me fight alongside you."
"...No. Stay back. I want to handle this one alone."
Raiha asserted that she was a Warrior Shrine Maiden with the strength to hold her own, not a fragile girl to be coddled. Ryuga acknowledged her words with a nod, yet his gaze remained fixed on the Magic Armor Beast. Seeing the indescribable mix of emotions in his eyes as he looked at the tragic avenger, Raiha gasped softly. She fell silent and gave a small, respectful nod.
"...At the very least, please fight without worrying about me. I can protect myself."
"I understand. Thank you for respecting my wishes."
Ryuga offered a brief word of thanks before turning back to his opponent. He approached Kurotobari and took his stance once more. This time, however, he abandoned his defensive posture and went on the offensive.
"Fuuh...!"
"Nu—nuuuu!?"
Kurotobari let out a cry of agony as the first and second slashes bit deep into his hide. He attempted to cross his heavy claws to block the third strike, but Ryuga met the defense head-on, his blade infused with refined willpower and Magic Power.
"Storm Dragon Swordsmanship: Rain Style — Flower-withering Rain."
"What...!?"
The claws Kurotobari had braced to shield himself were hacked through effortlessly. Like a blossom rotting and falling under a relentless, heavy downpour, the long blades of his claws were severed cleanly in the middle. He stared in disbelief at his ruined weapons, now stumped and useless, just before the secondary shockwave of the blow hit him.
"Gubuh!? Goah, hah...! Gah, gugah...!!"
The impact hit him with the force of a flash flood, sending him sprawling backward. Groaning in agony, Kurotobari struggled to his feet. His vision blurred as he saw Ryuga steadily closing the distance once more.