Shingo and his team continued their raid in the towering Jincorp Infinity Tower, determined to complete their mission. As they stepped into the big freight elevator at the center of the first-floor lobby, they braced themselves for what lay ahead.

The doors slid shut, and the elevator elevated relatively slowly. As expected, the elevator stopped at certain floors, and the team found themselves face-to-face with heavily armed ninja droids, pouring into the fray in groups.

The battle in the elevator was intense, with each member of Shingo’s team fighting with everything they had. Blasts and gunfire echoed off the walls of the extraordinarily sturdy elevator as they battled the troops, each step taking them closer to their ultimate goal.

As they finally reached the 96th floor, a sense of relief washed over them. Vasty, the voice of the elevator, greeted them warmly. “We’ve arrived at the 96th floor. Thank you for using the JinCorp-Votech elevator. I’m Vasty. See you next time!”

Shingo and his team stepped out of the elevator, ready to face whatever lay ahead. The 96th floor was eerily quiet, save for the distant hum of machinery. As they walked down the hall, they spotted a figure slumped against the wall.

“Good heavens! I-it’s…! Miss Fuwa, I’m glad that you’re okay!” Keiji exclaimed, rushing over to the figure.

But to their surprise, the woman did not respond. Her expression was blank, and she seemed to be in a state of shock.

“What’s wrong with her? Her expression is blank, and she’s a mess like a zombie,” Nishi observed.

Shiori looked around and gasped. “Look, that woman in the container looks exactly like Miss Fuwa! I think this one is her clone!”

Nishi was skeptical. “What!? Are you sure there’s such a thing here?”

“Well, this is JinCorp. In so large an enterprise, they can make anything, even human clones,” Keiji replied.

Shiori wasted no time in suggesting that they fight the clone. “Let’s fight Fuwa the clone then! Watch out, here comes her esper, Feng Huang the phoenix!”

The ethereal flames that engulfed Feng Huang illuminated the expansive floor, casting flickering shadows that danced across the walls. The heat was palpable, intensifying the atmosphere of the battle to come.

Shiori, Keiji, Nishi, and Ryonoken concentrated their attacks on Feng Huang, and the rest of the infiltrators handled Shiori tightened her grip on Muramasa’s katana, its blade shimmering with a deadly, icy aura.

Feng Huang unleashed a torrent of flames, engulfing the area in a blistering Inferno. The searing heat threatened to consume everything in its path, but Shiori and her team stood resolute. They had trained for this moment, honing their skills to face the ultimate challenge.

With a swift motion, Shiori dashed through the flames, her katana slicing through the air with precision. The fiery aura around Feng Huang provided little resistance as Shiori closed in, her movements fluid and calculated. She struck with the strength and agility of a predator, each swing of her blade a testament to her unwavering determination.

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As the clash between Shiori and Feng Huang escalated, the battlefield became a whirlwind of destruction. Ryonoken’s twin kodachis danced together with Nishi’s deadly gunshots, their coordinated attacks creating openings for Shiori and Keiji to exploit. Together, their synergy was a force to be reckoned with.

Shiori’s eyes blazed with an unyielding resolve as she unleashed her ultimate technique, Falling Sakura Petals. With a graceful flourish, she twirled her katana, causing a cascade of ethereal cherry blossom petals to rain down upon Feng Huang. Each petal carried the weight of her determination, their razor-sharp edges slicing through the fiery form of the esper.

The onslaught was overwhelming, the sheer force of Shiori’s attack ripping through Feng Huang’s defenses. The phoenix’s form wavered, its flames flickering as if on the verge of extinction. In a final, devastating blow, Shiori’s katana cleaved through the heart of the esper, extinguishing its fiery essence.

As Feng Huang dissipated into thin air, a solemn silence enveloped the battlefield. Shiori stood amidst the remnants of the battle, her katana stained with the remnants of her fallen opponent. The victory was bittersweet, for the cost of their triumph was the life of Fuwa, who had been fused with the esper.

Shiori’s breaths came in ragged gasps as she surveyed the aftermath. The floor was charred, the air heavy with the lingering scent of burnt feathers. The gravity of the moment weighed upon her, the weight of her actions settling heavily upon her shoulders.

However, Shiori examined the lady’s dead body and her surroundings and sighed in relief to see Fuwa’s figure in the intact incubator full of liquid at the corner of the floor.

“Turns out the fallen Fuwa was a clone, after all. A dead clone,” Shiori said, her voice tinged with sadness.

“Let’s just proceed to the next floor,” Nishi suggested.

“Good idea,” said Shingo, who joined in with all others as they have driven the rest of the squad scattering away.

“Wait, guys.” Saying that Shiori put the Mikazuki-Munechika katana next to the real Fuwa’s incubator. “Here is your sword back, Madam. Sorry, I borrowed it without your consent. Now you can use it to escape from here if you break out from there.”

Keiji, however, had other ideas. He picked up the Mikazuki-Munechika katana and said, “Just hold on a little longer, Madam Director. We’ll free you soon once we know how to do it safely. And the one we must ask for it is Noboru Jinbei."