Cold sweat ran down Shingo’s brows as he watched Fuwa and Hayato move to the rooftop of the GI HQ Building. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was about to happen.

Naturally, he and his comrades followed the two leaders. However, the agents didn’t move from their spots and just stood there, probably to prevent the criminals from running away.

On the expansive helipad rooftop of the GI HQ building, Shingo and his team faced off against Fuwa Mizutani. The air crackled with tension as the inevitable battle was about to begin.

Fuwa turned to Hayato, a look of respect on her face. “Thank you for holding back and following me up here,” she said. “Now, as per my promise, I’ll fight fair, and honorable without worry.”

Hayato nodded. “That’s the only leniency from me as a sign of my respect for you. From this point on, only my fists will do the talking.”

But Fuwa had other plans. “Well, in my case, the one’s talking will be my fire,” she said. “And it talks loudly. Watch!”

As she spoke, Fuwa was transformed into Feng Huang, the Wushunese fire phoenix. A series of explosive sounds erupted from the rooftop as Fuwa unleashed a torrent of flames. The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke and the sound of burning.

“For your information,” Fuwa said, her voice carrying over the roar of the flames. “I want to do battle here because I need to unleash my true power. Feel the fiery wrath of my esper, Feng Huang!”

Realizing that his opponent was immensely powerful, Hayato’s team readied their energies. Shingo could feel the tension mounting as everyone braced for what was sure to be a fierce battle.

Shingo gripped his katana tightly, his muscles tensed, ready to spring into action. Gale assumed a defensive stance, his kung-fu expertise is evident in the way he balanced his weight on the balls of his feet. Mariko, her priestess robes billowing in the wind, channeled her light magic, her hands glowing with a soft radiant aura. Hayato and Chiyo stood side by side, their determination unwavering, their abilities ready to be unleashed.

Fuwa’s eyes burned with intensity as she commanded her esper, Feng Huang, to attack. The majestic phoenix unleashed scorching flames, engulfing the rooftop in a blaze of searing heat. Shingo and his team darted and weaved, narrowly evading the inferno, their bodies singed by the intense fire.

Gale, his movements fluid and precise, launched a series of lightning-fast strikes at Fuwa. His fists blurred as he delivered a barrage of punches and kicks, but Fuwa proved to be a formidable opponent. She deftly countered his attacks, her movements swift and calculated.

Mariko channeled her healing magic, her hands glowing with a soothing light. She rushed to her teammates’ aid, mending their wounds and providing them with the strength to continue the fight. Hayato unleashed the full power of his double claws, slashing at Feng Huang with unmatched ferocity. The phoenix screeched and fought back, its wings creating gusts of Phoenix Firestorm that buffeted the team.

Chiyo unleashed her Chain Lightning magic, calling forth bolts of electricity that crackled in the air. With a flick of her wrist, she sent arcs of lightning toward Fuwa, forcing her to dodge and defend against the electrifying assault. The rooftop became a battlefield of elemental forces, the clash of fire, wind, light, and electricity creating a dazzling spectacle.

The fight raged on, each side refusing to back down. Despite sustaining injuries, Shingo’s team fought with unwavering determination.

The battle reached its climax when Shingo, fueled by his resolve, launched a swift and precise strike at Fuwa. His blade found its mark, leaving Fuwa badly wounded and gasping for breath.

Simultaneously, Feng Huang, weakened by the relentless onslaught, faltered and disappeared in a shimmering haze. The rooftop fell into a tense silence as Shingo’s team, all alive but nursing their injuries, watched Fuwa fall to the ground, defeated.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The rooftop of the GI HQ building was in a complete mess. The smell of burnt concrete and metal filled the air.

Blood dripped from Hayato’s face, as he tried to catch his breath after the intense fight with Fuwa.

The rest of his team members, Shingo, Mariko, Chiyo, and Gale, surrounded them, staring at Fuwa’s battered body lying on the ground.

Fuwa, trying to get up with a shiver, finally spoke up. “I guess I’m at your mercy now. But mind you, if you even lay a finger on me, all the agents downstairs will flood up this place, and things will get messy and bloody.”

“Oh, we can do bloody all right. But, to prevent that, answer my question one more time. Do you have Reika Diose in your custody or not?” Hayato asked Fuwa threateningly.

“Of course not! We never had her in the first place! The Hannya-masked man used Reika to lure you and attack us here,” Fuwa replied with a hint of anger in her voice. “Look, now that my life is in your hands and you have the Shinran priestess to verify the truth in my words, I wouldn’t waste it upon a single lie, right?”

Hayato was taken aback by Fuwa’s response. His team had attacked the wrong place, and they had caused a major disaster.

“It seems Miss Fuwa has told us the truth from the start,” said Mariko, based on her analysis of Fuwa’s aura, face, and gestures.

“We have attacked the wrong place. They have resisted us, but now they’re at our mercy instead,” Chiyo added.

“So, let’s just end this senseless bloodshed. Let’s run away from this place before all the other agents come swarming and surround us here,” Gale suggested.

Shingo, on the other hand, just stared at Hayato who fell silent for a while, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The next moment, Hayato opened his mouth to speak. Maybe he had found the solution and decision for the good of all sides.

Suddenly, a man appeared from a dark portal and perched on an antenna tower on the rooftop. With one glance, Shingo recognized him as his nemesis, the Hannya-masked man.

“All of you! Thank you for setting things up for me again. The phoenix lady is coming with me,” Hannya said.

Before Shingo or anybody could react or even take action, the fiendish ninja vanished again and reappeared on a spot on the helipad, face-to-face with the vulnerable Fuwa.

Todo, the top GI agent who went rogue ran upstairs, all the way to the helipad, and next to Fuwa, shielding her from Hannya.

“Don’t touch Fuwa, you fiend!” Todo shouted.

“One dead fool coming up.”

Saying so, Hannya dashed forward. He stabbed Todo with his Masamune’s katana and snatched Fuwa away, all in one move.

Todo was dying on the spot, yet he was still standing. His face went blank in disbelief, and he didn’t turn back at all.

“If you want to fight me, come to Inazuma Airport. I’ll wait for you there,” Hannya said before disappearing with his hostage, Fuwa in a puff of thick smoke like ninjas in general.

Hayato was shocked at what he had just witnessed. He supported the now collapsing, dying agent. Humbly, he apologized for the devastating mistake he had made.

“It’s okay, Hayato. We all make mistakes… Just promise me… Please, save Fuwa… I came back here… because I love her. Promise me… Hayato!” Todo said with his dying breath.

“I promise. So, will you forgive me?” Hayato asked back.

“I have already forgiven you… from the start…” Saying so, Todo rolled to a side like a broken puppet, breathing his last.

Shingo and the whole group bowed solemnly at the fallen warrior. But, the thing that moved them to do so was regret.

Fortunately, Gale overcame that feeling of regret and urged the team, “Come, we must escape from this place through the emergency stairs before all the agents catch up with us!”