A quiet chaos loomed over Daimon, the air thick with tension. In the medical sector, the evacuation had settled down, leaving behind only small crowds. Police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks weaved their way into the sector. Around the laboratories, senior detectives and bomb squads worked tirelessly, searching every corner for the bombs.
Inside one of the laboratories, senior detective Kiria took down a group of armed guards. He moved through the lab, scanning every inch for anything suspicious. To his right, a door caught his eye. It stood out to him, almost calling his attention. He approached it, pulled it open, and was met with a massive, circular black device blinking with a timer on its surface.
“OVER HERE!” Kiria shouted, calling out to the nearby bomb squad.
Four officers rushed over and immediately got to work on the bomb. After a few moments, one of them turned to Kiria to report.
“Sir, the bombs are wired to an interlocked system. If we disable one, the others will detonate. The only way to disarm them is to disable them all at the exact same time.”
Kiria nodded grimly. "Alright, I'll let the others know." He pulled out his phone without hesitation and dialed.
***
Meanwhile, Yamato and Kenta stood face to face with Ryota. The air was heavy with tension, and Ryota’s crazed grin only made it worse.
“You couldn’t beat me with all six of your little friends,” Ryota sneered. “I’ll make quick work of you two.”
“You’re welcome to try,” Yamato said, his voice steady and unwavering.
“Yeah,” Kenta added, gripping his sword tightly. “I still owe you for my sister.”
Ryota’s grin twisted as he formed a wind spear in his hand and darted toward Yamato with lightning speed! But just before he could land the attack, Kenta stepped in, intercepting him with his sword. The two clashed for a moment before jumping back to create space.
As soon as Ryota moved back, Yamato raised his guns and fired off wind bullets with rapid precision! Ryota darted to the side to dodge the attack, but Kenta anticipated the move and matched his speed, closing the gap in an instant! The two exchanged a furious series of attacks, strikes clashing again and again, before breaking away.
“Heh.” Ryota smirked, annoyed but no less confident. “Is that all you’ve got? Pathetic. Let me end this now.”
Behind him, multiple wind spears began to form, swirling violently in the air! The sight sent a chill through the rookies, reminding them of their last fight.
“Here they come!” Kenta warned as Ryota launched the spears.
But this time, Yamato wasn’t about to let history repeat itself. Without thinking, he instinctively charged a massive amount of wind energy into one of his guns and fired. The wind blast collided with the spears in midair, creating a shockwave that blew through the entire warehouse!
Everyone froze, their eyes fixated on Yamato in stunned silence.
“Damn,” Yamato muttered, looking at his gun in disbelief. “Jace did a hell of a job.”
Kenta grinned, glancing back at Ryota. "Heh. Nice shot, Yamato. Let’s keep it up.”
Ryota, visibly frustrated, clenched his fists. “DON’T MESS WITH ME!” he roared.
With a burst of speed, Ryota rushed straight at Yamato, faster than Kenta could react!
“YAMATO!” Kenta shouted in desperation as he tried to close the distance.
But Yamato didn’t flinch. He stood firm, calmly charging his Stormcallers. At the last moment, right as Ryota was about to strike, Yamato fired his guns downward, sending a powerful gust of wind that launched him into the air!
“What?!” Ryota exclaimed, skidding to a stop. “I thought you couldn’t fly!”
“It’s okay to be wrong,” Yamato smirked, hovering for a brief moment before his guns sputtered out and sent him crashing back to the ground.
“Ouch,” he groaned, picking himself up. “Guess that drained all the wind they had stored. That must’ve been what Jace meant when he said I needed a constant flow.”
Taking advantage of the moment, Kenta rushed Ryota with superhuman speed! Seeing him charge, Ryota jumped into the air to dodge. only to be met by Yamato, who used his guns to dive down with a spinning kick that sent Ryota crashing into a wall!
Kenta pressed the attack, moving faster than ever before. He leaped at Ryota, sword in hand.
“AQUA SLASH!”
Ryota reacted just in time, raising his arms to block the attack. While he managed to avoid a fatal hit, the blade cut into his right shoulder, blood spilling from the wound!
“AGH!” Ryota cried out in pain, clutching his arm. “DAMMIT! ENOUGH!” His voice echoed through the warehouse as a spiraling gust of hot wind erupted around him, making the air sharp and suffocating. Equipment flew in every direction, slamming into walls and shattering on the floor.
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Yamato and Kenta braced themselves, shielding their faces from the wind.
“We need to move this outside,” Kenta said, his eyes darting to Rei, who trembled in the corner. “We’ll lose our advantage, but at least Rei will be safe.”
“Good call,” Yamato agreed. “Let’s do it.”
Charging up his Stormcallers, Yamato unleashed a burst of wind that launched him forward! He closed the gap in an instant, grabbing Ryota and dragging him outside. Both of them crashed to the ground in a heap!
“DAMN YOU!” Ryota growled as he scrambled back to his feet.
From inside the warehouse, Kenta dashed toward Ryota, moving to finish the fight! He and Ryota clashed in a flurry of attacks, their speed and strength colliding with incredible force. But Ryota managed to catch Kenta with a kick, sending him flying across the dirt!
Yamato rushed to his side. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Kenta said, slowly getting up. “It’s just like last time. We need a new approach.”
“Don’t worry,” Yamato replied, helping Kenta to his feet, a grin spreading across his face. “I think I’m getting the hang of these new Stormcallers. It’s time we go all out.”
Kenta smirked, nodding in agreement. “I’m with you.”
“BRING IT, DETECTIVES!” Ryota roared from above, wind swirling around him as he floated in the air, ready for battle.
With a wicked grin, Ryota summoned a massive storm of wind spears, more than double what the rookies had faced before!
“RAIN OF DEATH!”
Kenta gripped his sword tightly, slashing and blocking as best as he could! Each deflected spear left him more battered and bloody, but he pressed on. Meanwhile, Yamato burst through the air, weaving between the spears with precision! Though he dodged most of them, some cut deep into his skin as he surged forward. He grits his teeth and presses on, colliding with Ryota in the air!
“GO TO HELL!” Yamato shouted as he drove his elbow hard into Ryota’s stomach, sending him reeling backward! Without missing a beat, Yamato propelled himself forward again, headbutting Ryota with such force that it left his head bleeding. As blood trickled down his forehead, Yamato rose above Ryota in the air and delivered a spinning windmill kick that slammed him into the ground below.
“NOW, KENTA!” Yamato yelled.
Kenta dashed forward with lightning speed, tearing through the air! By the time Ryota saw him coming, it was too late!
“AQUA STYLE: TIDAL WAVE!”
A massive surge of water spiraled around Kenta’s blade as he landed a devastating strike on Ryota! The impact sent Ryota tumbling across the ground, his body battered and bloodied!
But Ryota forced himself back to his feet, blood dripping from his wounds. His crazed grin remained as he started laughing hysterically. “AHAHAHA! IS THAT ALL YOU’VE GOT?!”
“NO!” Yamato shouted from the air. Twin gusts of wind swirled around his guns as he charged them up. “Man, I really hope you survive this...” He aimed both guns at Ryota. “WIND CANNON!”
A blast of wind erupted from Yamato’s Stormcallers, crashing into Ryota before he could even react. The explosion was deafening, shaking the ground as a cloud of smoke filled the area. Yamato landed and regrouped with Kenta, watching the smoke anxiously.
When it finally cleared, Ryota lays motionless in a crater, unable to move.
Yamato and Kenta approached slowly, still on guard.
“Did you kill him?” Kenta asked with mock sarcasm.
“I hope not,” Yamato replied.
Suddenly, Ryota coughed, his body twitching weakly. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he glared at the two detectives.
“D-Damn you two…” he muttered.
“Where’s Nishima? What’s he planning?” Yamato demanded.
“I’m not telling y’all shit,” Ryota spat defiantly.
“Why are you so loyal to Nishima? Why won’t you give him up?”
Ryota gave a bitter laugh, his eyes filled with disdain. “Heh… I’m not loyal to that devil. I just hate y’all.”
“Oh, well isn’t that just perfect,” Kenta said, rolling his eyes. “What now?”
Before Yamato could respond, Rei stepped out of the warehouse and cautiously approached Ryota.
“Ryota...” she said softly. “Please, just tell them.”
“Why the hell would I listen to you?” Ryota snapped.
Rei looked him in the eye, her voice trembling. “Because I know you still care about me. And while I can’t forgive you for everything you’ve done… if you ever cared about me, even a little, could you do this one last thing for me?”
Ryota was silent for a long moment, staring into Rei’s frightened eyes. He exhaled sharply. “Fine. I’ll tell you.”
He shifted his gaze to Yamato and Kenta. “Nishima’s using the evacuation of the medical sector to sneak in unnoticed. He’s headed for Crystalfall Laboratory. That’s where they ‘replaced’ his parents, under orders from Mayor Hoshiga. I’d bet he’s already there with the girl he abducted. He plans to kill the Hoshigas there. It’s a small lab, no one would think to look for him there. And no, there aren’t any bombs there. I don’t know where the bombs are, but it’s definitely not there.”
“Are you sure?” Yamato asked skeptically.
“He didn’t tell me directly,” Ryota admitted. “But I’m not dumb enough to work with someone like him without digging up some dirt.”
Kenta groaned in frustration. “Damn, we have to head back to the medical sector?”
“Kenta, take Rei and Ryota back to the DIPD. Leave Nishima to me.”
“What? You can’t do this alone.”
“I’ll get there faster if I go alone, I can fly. Besides, I won’t be alone.” Yamato hesitated before pulling out a burner phone. “I need to make a call.”
Kenta frowned. “Are you sure you want his help?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
Kenta sighed. “Alright. Good luck, Yamato.”
“Thanks.”
Kenta helped Rei into the car and dragged Ryota in after her. As the vehicle drove off, Yamato brought the burner phone to his ear.
***
Meanwhile, in the basement of Shunji’s house, Yuto prepared himself. He put on his gear, top, gloves, bottom, and mask, his strength finally returned just in time. He flexed his hands, ready for the mission ahead. Beside him, a black phone began to ring.
He picked it up and answered.