Part 1: Aoi Mizuka's Attack (Void Burst)
When Aoi Mizuka heard the threat from Hayate Shiro (The Electro Flash), her eyes completely transformed into a deep blue, and the black line markings beneath her eyes became more pronounced. The ground shook from the intense Void Stellar Flow energy forcefully emitted from her body. Aoi completely disregarded Takuto and Kaori, who stood nearby, filled with an unyielding hatred aimed at The Shadow Syndicate.
Aoi stretched both hands forward.
Aoi: "Demon's Call!"
Deep blue, spectral flames (Demon Flames) and destructive Power Orbs were unleashed with full force from her palms. They moved rapidly and erratically toward Hayate Shiro. Simultaneously, Shadow Chains suddenly emerged from the ground, attempting to wrap around Hayate.
Hayate Shiro's eyes glowed with an amber, lightning-like light. He sneered, watching the way Aoi unleashed her power.
Hayate: "You're strong, alright, but you have no control, like a child!"
Hayate: "Raijin no Mai (Lightning God's Dance)!"
Hayate's body became enveloped in lightning, and he suddenly vanished from the scene of Aoi's attack. The Demon Flames and Power Orbs struck the surrounding walls without a target, causing massive explosions and widespread destruction.
Hayate moved around Aoi like a streak of amber lightning. He took advantage of the fact that Aoi's unrestrained effort was already causing the flow of her Stellar Flow to become unstable.
Aoi: "I'll end this now!"
Just as Aoi created a massive Shadow Orb, Hayate instantly appeared behind her and released a precise Electric Shock Wave directly onto Aoi's back, right on her Stellar Flow Channel.
Hayate: "Is that all there is to the powerful Void Oculus user!"
The deep blue light in Aoi Mizuka's eyes abruptly dimmed, and her entire body stiffened and collapsed due to the pain. The side effects of her Step 2 (Imperfect State)—Exhaustion and Temporary Paralysis—immediately overwhelmed her.
Hayate grabbed the shoulder of Aoi as she fell to the ground. He glanced at the remaining Takuto and Kaori.
Hayate: "My business is done. Now, all I need to do is take this girl with me!"
Part 2: Intervention of Phoenix & Aegis
Seeing Hayate grab the collapsing Aoi and about to take her away, Kaori Ichinose quickly recovered from the shock of the attack.
Kaori: "Let her go!"
An expression of rage appeared in Kaori's eyes, and a red-glowing Stellar Flow (Aegis Boost enhanced by Phoenix Gaze power) suddenly erupted around her body. Moving with the incredible speed she used against Toki, she lunged toward Hayate, trying to snatch Aoi away.
However...
Hayate Shiro merely sneered without even looking back. A second before Kaori reached him, he suddenly vanished into a streak of Electro Flash lightning, reappearing next to Takuto, still holding Aoi.
Hayate: "Hmph... Is that all the speed you have? How ridiculous!"
Kaori completely missed Hayate's movement, hitting only the spot where he had been standing. By the time her movement stopped, Hayate was already standing next to Takuto, far from her.
Takuto instantly understood the situation. Kaori's lightning-fast speed was enough to defeat a Syndicate Agent, but Hayate's Amber Flash (Lightning God's Dance) was on a completely different level.
Takuto's The Phoenix Gaze (Step 1 crimson spark) sensed the combined red Stellar Flow from Kaori and analyzed the power emitted by Hayate's amber Stellar Flow in detail.
Takuto: "Speed! He's too fast! Even Ichinose-san's speed can't match him!"
Frustration and anger flashed across Takuto's face. Aoi, whom he wanted to protect, was being captured right in front of him. He clearly knew that his trained Crimson Spark power was completely insufficient to challenge this Elite Agent.
Hayate, with Aoi slung over his shoulder, challenged Takuto.
Hayate: "Well... Phoenix Gaze user. Let's see how you'll resist. Is your Phoenix just starting to spark? Or..."
Hayate's eyes glowed fiercely, crackling with lightning.
Part 3: The Combined Attack of Phoenix and Aegis
Hayate Shiro still held Aoi Mizuka. He looked at both Takuto and Kaori with a dismissive smile.
Hayate: "Alright. Phoenix Gaze user. Let's see how well you and your girl can fight together."
Takuto's red eyes focused on the flow of Hayate's amber energy. Kaori stood beside Takuto and spoke quickly.
Kaori: "I'll try to stop his movements. Use your power to cover me."
Takuto nodded. He immediately unleashed the full power of The Phoenix Gaze (Crimson Spark), and a Red Stellar Flow Aura completely enveloped his body, significantly boosting his Physical Strength and Reaction Speed. His fighting style would now be combined with Kaori's speed-based attack.
Takuto: "Ready!"
Kaori, possessing Lightning Speed with the Phoenix Gaze enhancement, rushed toward Hayate with Takuto, appearing as two streaks of red lightning. Because their Stellar Flows were combined, their Teamwork felt unusually smooth.
Hayate seemed interested for a moment. He dropped Aoi and used Raijin no Mai (Lightning God's Dance), fighting them as if playing with two children.
Takuto, with his Red Aura, threw a full-speed punch at Hayate, but Hayate easily dodged it with his Amber Flash Speed, appearing behind Takuto and tapping him lightly with a non-lightning fist.
Hayate: "Too slow, Phoenix boy!"
Kaori instantly arrived behind Hayate and attacked with a Full Speed Kick, but Hayate, crackling with amber lightning, instantly reappeared behind Kaori.
Takuto and Kaori tried various coordinated attacks, but they couldn't match Hayate's Amber Flash speed at all and failed to land a single hit.
Hayate suddenly increased his lightning speed, appearing behind Takuto with extreme velocity. Kaori realized the situation and jumped in front of Takuto, shielding him with her body against Hayate's attack.
Hayate's punch, fully charged with amber lightning power, struck Kaori's body directly. Kaori couldn't even scream from the pain as she was thrown backward with immense force, violently hitting a roadside wall and collapsing to her knees. The Red Stellar Flow Aura around her body dimmed, and blood streamed down her face from the pain.
Part 4: The Shadow of Betrayal and the Blind Rage
Hayate stopped playing, grabbing Aoi again when both were utterly exhausted and unable to move.
Hayate: "Let's end the game! Your teamwork is excellent, but your speed still can't match mine!"
Kaori got up from the ground, ready to fight again.
Takuto, filled with pain and frustration, unleashed his Red Stellar Flow to its maximum and rushed toward Hayate, forcibly pinning and holding him with physical force.
Takuto: "Kaori, now!"
While Hayate struggled to push Takuto's body away, Kaori, ignoring her wounds, rushed in from Hayate's side with full speed to attack.
A sneer appeared on Hayate's face. When Kaori saw that sneer, she suddenly realized something was wrong, but it was too late.
Hayate stopped struggling in Takuto's grasp and unleashed a powerful wave of amber lightning directly from his Amber Flash eyes, cutting through Takuto's body and hitting Kaori.
Hayate: "Shock Burst!"
Kaori suffered a severe Electric Shock from the lightning attack, and her Aura instantly dimmed, causing her to collapse abruptly.
Just then, as Takuto felt the pain in Kaori's Stellar Flow while holding onto Hayate, their two Stellar Flows briefly connected.
A sudden vision flashed into Takuto's mind.
Vision (POV): An 11-year-old boy with amber eyes is desperately running for his life on the ground. Behind him, Hayate follows with a sneer.
The boy: "Please don't!! I don't want to die yet!! Spare my life!"
The boy continues to run forward, saying, "My onee-chan and mother are waiting for me, I can't die."
Hayate: "Are you talking about these two?"
Hayate shows two objects he is holding in his hand. They are two severed heads.
The boy: "Mother? Onee-chan?"
The boy: "No!!! This can't be!!"
The boy feels an overwhelming pain in his heart and collapses to his knees on the ground.
Hayate: "Come here, don't worry, I'll send you to them."
Hayate grabs the boy and gouges out his eyes. The innocent child, lying in a pool of blood, reaches out with a small hand, searching for the heads of his sister and mother that Hayate had discarded, before falling still.
The innocent child breathes his last on the blood-soaked ground.
The moment the vision disappeared, Takuto almost stopped breathing. Hayate took this opportunity and powerfully kicked Takuto in the abdomen.
Hayate: "That's it! Is that all your effort amounts to!"
Takuto fell to the ground, his Phoenix Gaze simultaneously seeing the tragic scene of the dead child and Kaori's pain. Heartbreak and a desire for destruction surged through his body.
Takuto experienced the biggest Emotional Burst from his rage over the dead boy, his failure to protect Aoi, and Hayate's cruelty.
Hayate delivered a full-powered punch aimed at Takuto's face to finish him.
Hayate: "Die!"
The wounded Kaori yelled out worriedly from the ground.
Kaori: "TAKUTO!"
In that moment...
Takuto easily blocked Hayate's full-powered punch with his palm. The way he clenched his fist made it seem as if Hayate's blow was nothing more than a gentle breeze.
Hayate: "What!!" Hayate looked at Takuto's face in shock and surprise.
Takuto's eyes glowed with an even more intense red than before. Black line markings suddenly appeared beneath his eyes on both the left and right sides. The tips of his hair also changed to a bright red.
Aoi Mizuka, Kaori Ichinose, and Hayate Shiro were utterly shocked and stunned, watching the awakening of The Phoenix Gaze's Step 2 (Imperfect State phoenix ember).
Hayate stumbled backward in surprise. "Did he power up?"
Takuto's face was different from before; his eyes were terrifying and full of bloodlust.
Kaori: "He's like someone else now."
Hayate quickly attacked Takuto first. Takuto easily dodged the punch and struck Hayate's face with his own fist.
Hayate was thrown far away. He got back up and thought, "Did he dodge my punch and hit me back?"
Aoi: "So fast."
Kaori was also amazed by the increase in Takuto's power.
Takuto took one step forward, and Aoi, Kaori, and Hayate all felt an immense pressure.
Hayate prepared to fight. However, his hands were trembling. "Am I... afraid of him?"
Takuto: "What's wrong... are you scared... then come... I'll make you regret being born!!" He clenched his fist, and the Red Stellar Flow sparked brightly.
[END OF CHAPTER 4]