After Zairen assumes his combat-ready stance, Hirata says to himself "Here he comes! He is going to strike at any moment!"
Zairen begins to spin the sword, gradually increasing its speed. He starts slowly, but soon the motion becomes so rapid that yellow blade begins to envelope the blade. As Hirata observes, Hirata talks "I see– you are spinning the sword at an extremely high velocity. Since the blade is metallic and a conductor, it can accumulate electrical energy within it. However, from a purely physics point of view, the blade would originally need to be connected to a powerful energy source. That is where ritual energy shines and comes in handy; it effectively substitutes for that power source, hence enabling you to discharge that yellow lightning."
Zairen responds in a surprised tone mixed with acknowledgement "You are a sharp one, Hirata Alex. To think you'd see through how my power works is commendable."
Hirata talks to himself with a smug face "Maybe I should study Physics after graduation."
After Zairen continues to spin the sword at a very high speed, he abruptly halts within a fraction of a second and unleashes the stored yellow electrical energy stored in the blade toward Hirata. Hirata ducks to evade the attack, yet Zairen persists in firing relentlessly without pause. Hirata yells "OH MAN! A ranged assault while I am unarmed? This could not possibly get any worse! Nevertheless, I should never let none of those lightning projectiles strike me, or I am done for good."
Hirata continues to dodge Zairen's lightning strikes, leaping and taking cover behind the walls of the abandoned building. A minute later, Zairen's sword is depleted of its electrical energy. Hirata calls out to him "You are already out of juice?" Then, under his breath he mutters "Good, so he has a weakness after all! I should seize this opportunity. This is an opening."
Zairen yells "You are not getting away, Hirata Alex. It seems I will have to take you by force." Then Zairen begins to spin his sword again, exactly like he did the first time. Hirata says in a frantic tone "Now! My chance to strike!" Hirata runs toward Zairen– as zairen is spinning the sword, Hirata launches a kick at Zairen, but Zairen blocks Hirata's attack using his sword as he is spinning it. The blade starts to get enveloped by yellow electrical energy, Hirata does not stop, he continues to attempt to hit Zairen with a series of punches and kicks but Zairen continues to either evade the attacks or block them using the sword.
Zairen's sword becomes fully charged again, enveloped in yellow electricity. Hirata immediately retreats to avoid damage and electrocution, exclaiming "This is bad– I am at a disadvantage If I fail to find a way to fight this guy. I have no other choice." Hirata runs forward and picks up a large rock from the rubble left when Zairen demolished a wall of the abandoned house. Haruto lifts the rock and says in Middle English "Stoon, wexe manyfold and springe upward, and smyte in shoures." which means in Late Modern English "Stone, grow manifold and rise upward, and strike in showers."
Hirata hurls the rock at Zairen; after invoking Middle English through the Branch of Language ability, the rock fractures mid-air? Its trajectory shifting upward. Once the fragments are positioned above Zairen, they cascade downward in a relentless shower of rocks.
The moment the rocks begin to shower down at Zairen. Zairen says in Middle English "Swerd, harden thee and kene thy egge, be swift and weighty." which translates into "Sword, harden yourself and sharpen your edge, be swift and weighty." in Late Modern English.
Zairen's sword becomes enveloped in his Linguistic Energy– a radiant yellow aura that surrounds the blade. The sword grows significantly lighter as well as its durability is enhanced. Zairen then activates his ritual energy and begins deflecting and blocking the rock shower at an astonishing speed, hard for the human naked eye to catch up. Zairen systematically shatters every incoming rock until the barrage ran out completely, the resounding clash of metal against stone dominate the scene.
Hirata addresses Zairen as the latter is blocking his attack "I see– you are combining Linguistic and Ritual energies. So you do truly possess two branches of power... but how?"
Zairen responds after completely blocking All Hirata's attacks "The Silent Abyss always has its methods to attain power, even by unconventional means. We simply defy the natural order, Hirata Alex."
Hirata answers Zairen back "So, in other words, you are telling me that your powers are borrowed! There is no conceivable way an ordinary individual could possess such abilities!"
Zairen replies to Hirata "You are partially correct, Hirata Alex. Yes, I have been modified to harbor such powers. However, an individual can indeed be born with more than one Branch of power. The Silent Abyss, however, defies this very principle."
Hirata questions him further "If such extraordinary power can be obtained by external means, there must be inherent caveats! There is no way such power comes without risk!"
Zairen charges toward Hirata and declares "Enough questions, Hirata Alex. Playtime is over– I shall take you by force." Zairen unleashes a series of slashes with his sword; with each strike, the blade crackles with yellow electricity, though not as powerfully as he when he employed his spinning charge technique.
The scene transitions to Haruto, who has arrived at the site of the upside down yellow lightning strike. He remarks calmly "This is where the enemy landed. I must locate Hirata and assist him as soon as possible. I can sense his Linguistic Energy nearby; he appears to be engaged in combat with the enemy."
Haruto runs toward the abandoned building where Hirata is fighting Zairen. He continues sprinting until, suddenly, three blades land infront of him. Haruto stares at the swords; each sword is entirely black in color. Abruptly halting mid-run, Haruto exclaims "Black swords? What in the world in happening?"
As Haruto begins to glance behind him to see who had hurled those black swords, a woman's voice suddenly dominates the scene. She declares "OH! I missed, Haruto Okabe. I suggest that you come with me peacefully, or else I shall be forced to employ whatever means are necessary." Haruto turns fully to face her and shifts into a defensive stance. He asks the woman "And who might you be? Were you sent by The Silent Abyss?"
The woman laughs arrogantly, she introduces herself to Haruto "Allow me to introduce myself– my name is Naelia, Naelia of the Abyss. I shall be taking you with me, Haruto Okabe."
Naelia is a young woman in her mid-twenties, precisely twenty-six years of age. She possesses silver-white long hair, elongated elven ears, and pale ivory skin. Her eyes bear two striking fusion of two color hues– green and black, seamlessly intertwined to form a singular and mesmerizing pattern, resembling an inperfect sun whose uneven rays are composed of both colors.
Then, without warning, the three swords Naelia had thrown earlier at Haruto flew back toward her. Haruto stares at the returning blades in astonishment as they are flying back to her. Naelia then said to Haruto in calm, cold tone "show me what you are capable of, Haruto Okabe. I do not expect you to cooperate and come with me peacefully."
After Naelia utters this line, Haruto instantly assumes a defensive stance. He immediately senses, from her tone and movements, that she is about to make a move. He clenches his fists and crosses his forearms and elbows in an X-shaped guard to prepare for any melee strike. Haruto then imbues his arms in his ritual energy, using them as a shield to absorb the impact.
Naelia immediately charges at Haruto at the same exact moment he exclaims in a swift, startled tone "SHE IS FAST!" She then delivers an immensely powerful punch, which Haruto manages to block successfully; however, the force of the blow pushes him back by half a meter. Regaining himself, Haruto resumes the same defensive stance, but Naelia rushes at him instantly rushes at him once more with even greater speed and unleashes a barrage of strikes against his guard. Haruto is overwhelmed, and Naelia drives him backward with enough force to shatter his balance and equilibrium, sending him crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. Haruto groans in pain as the impact lands, blood spills from his mouth
With several injuries lining his arms from having absorbed in the face of Naelia's strikes.
After Naelia's devastating strike, Haruto rises once more from where he had fallen. He wipes the blood from his mouth using the back of his hand and spits out what remains. Gasping for breath, he thinks to himself "she must have a weakness, I must remain steadfast and avoid fatal damage until I uncover it." He then fixes his gaze upon Naelia and declares in a tone both fierce and composed "I shall now fight with all my might. Prepare yourself, Naelia– I will show no mercy!"