ACE OF FATE

"LITTLE? HIC! LITTLE? HIC! LITTLE? HIC! LITTLE?"

"You're hic dead," Lewi got very angry at the word, his anger showing even through the cloak that covered his face.

[Tremble]

The ground began to quake violently. Cracks spidered across the surface as purple aura surged around him.

"Guess I hit a nerve," the blue-haired samurai quipped with a smirk—though it quickly faltered, replaced by fear.

[Crackle]

"No worries," the samurai said, forcing confidence into his voice. He began gathering his Zor energy into a glowing sphere.

[Swish-WHIRRR]

Lewi abosrbed his attack.

"What? How... did—"

[Whoosh]

"Hic... die," Lewi whispered, suddenly appearing in front of him like a phantom.

[BAM-BAM-BAM]

Lewi unleashed a relentless barrage of punches and kicks, moving so fast that the samurai couldn't even comprehend what was happening.

[Thud]

The samurai crumpled to the ground. A moment passed before the pain hit him like a tidal wave. "AARRGHH!" he screamed in agony.

"Now... hic for the final touch," Lewi muttered, twin knives gleaming in his hands as he prepared to strike.

"Lewi!" Niko's voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

Lewi froze at his captain's command, lowering his knives instantly.

"I told you to be careful," whispered the old clan leader with blue hair, still in an awkward position.

"I could take Miku to safety," Felix thought calmly. "These people aren't trying to kill anyone else—they were only after the shogun. Fighting them is pointless."

He paused, watching the scene unfold before him. "But they've taken a life... If I let them go now, they might come after us again. This could just be the start of their plan." Felix clenched his fists, steeling himself. "I guess I'll have to step into the spotlight again."

[Whoosh-Thud-Swish]

Without warning, Felix kicked Lewi into a wall with enough force to leave cracks in it. He began gathering Zor energy in his hands.

As Niko looked at Felix, he was stunned by what he saw. What?! That guy has so much Zor energy—it's practically infinite! No... that can't be true, he thought to himself in disbelief.

"Captain, please allow me to handle him," came a voice from behind Felix—a cloaked figure stepping forward with calm determination.

Niko replied curtly, "Fine, M," addressing Mike as "M." Then, almost inaudibly, he whispered to himself, "I hope I see you alive after this."

The cloaked figure—Mike—stepped into position and addressed Felix directly. "Your Zor energy is far beyond normal levels for someone like you. Care to explain why?"

[Whoosh-Bam]

Felix didn't respond with words. Instead, he dashed toward Mike in an instant, crackling energy swirling around him as he aimed a devastating cross punch.

But Mike was ready. Anticipating Felix's attack, Mike leaped into the air to dodge and countered with both feet slamming into Felix's chest. The impact sent Felix stumbling back slightly—but not for long.

[Crackle-Swish-Whirr]

Felix launched two sphere energy balls at Mike—but Mike absorbed them effortlessly.

"Ah!" A voice suddenly roared from behind Mike.

[Thud-Swish]

It was the orange-haired samurai from the Sasaki clan, attempting to strike Mike from behind. However, Mike evaded the attack with ease, causing the swordsman to land closer to Felix.

"Hey, partner! Let me have some fun too," the orange-haired man said with a grin.

"Me too!" chimed in Nanami's gray-haired samurai, materializing beside Felix with her massive katana—almost as tall as she was—resting on her shoulder.

Felix nodded at them as the orange-haired man unsheathed his uchigatana and Nanami readied her weapon.

"Three versus one? Isn't that a bit unfair?" Mike said with a smirk.

[Whoosh]

The two samurai appeared near Mike and began swinging their weapons at him in tandem. But Mike dodged each strike with ease.

[Swish]

A massive beam of energy shot from Felix's side toward Mike's position. The two samurai leapt out of the way just in time—but Mike couldn't react fast enough.

[Boom]

"My my... fine strategy," came Mike's voice as the smoke cleared.

"Doesn't surprise me—I knew he was tough," Felix thought grimly as he watched intently.

When the smoke dissipated fully, Mike's cloak and clothes were burned away, revealing his true identity: a dark-skinned man with black-and-white braided hair and a faded beard. His piercing gray eyes glinted dangerously as he stared them down.

"I'm through messin' around," Mike said coldly. "Props to you for still being alive."

[Whoosh-Thud-Crackle-Bam]

In an instant, Mike appeared beside the orange-haired swordsman, grabbing him by the neck and slamming him into the ground with bone-shattering force. 

Before anyone could react further, he shot a thin purple beam at the other samurai, striking her directly in the chest and knocking her unconscious.

"I wasn't supposed to kill anyone," Mike said flatly as he turned back toward Felix. "But if they die... that'll be on your conscience."

Felix narrowed his eyes in fury and prepared himself for battle.

[Whoosh-Bam-Bam-Whack]

The two clashed violently in the center of the hall—punches and kicks exchanged at astonishing speed.

[Clutch-Thud-Whoosh]

Mike caught Felix's leg mid-kick and hurled him across the grand hall. Felix skidded across the ground but quickly regained his footing and rushed back at full speed, attempting to confuse Mike with rapid movements.

[Clutch]

"You're too slow—that won't work here, boy," Mike said calmly as he grabbed Felix by the neck mid-dash.

[BAM!]

A foot slammed into Mike's head from above, driving him into the ground with tremendous force.

"I guess that's enough out of you as well," said an old voice from above.

[Thud]

Felix collapsed onto one knee as the old clan leader helped him up with surprising ease.

"Look i am finally free! I thought I'd never move again after that!" The old man chuckled before breaking into an awkward little dance.

Felix groaned as he stood upright beside him. "Why do I always get saved by old people?"

"Who're you callin' an old-timer? I'm just a few years older than you!" The clan leader shot back indignantly—but there was no mistaking the playful grin on his face.

Meanwhile, outside. Isamu faced Igor in battle.

"Gasp... Man, you don't give up! I'm liking this!" Isamu said with growing excitement.

[Clink]

He twisted his naginata, removing a cap from the other end to reveal another blade.

[Vrrrm]

Spinning the weapon in tight circles, Isamu shifted into a battle stance, his energy rising.

[Tear]

Igor removed his cloak, unveiling his towering frame. He was a giant of a man with long, whitish-golden hair shaved at the sides and a thick, braided beard. 

His piercing green eyes glimmered with hints of blue. Tattoos sprawled across his arms, neck, and legs, and he wore a battle tunic adorned with scars of past victories. Silver piercings glinted in his ears.

"Let's continue... but this time with your end," Igor said in a heavy tone that reverberated through the battlefield.

"My lord! Be careful!" shouted one of Isamu's samurai—a woman clad in armor who watched anxiously from the sidelines.

"Sigh... I can't even see clearly," she muttered. "I didn't bring my glasses because I didn't want to look lame."

[Swish]

"Here!" came a voice as the mushroom-haired man tossed something her way.

"Sei, you pervert!" she yelled when she realized it was her glasses.

"Hey! How many times do I have to tell you Nene? My name is Seikichi, not Sei!" he retorted. "And I only brought them because I thought you might need them!"

"Those two never shut up, do they?" Isamu whispered to Igor as both men momentarily glanced at the bickering pair.

"They remind me of someone," Igor replied.

"Anyway—let's continue!" Isamu declared, lunging forward with his naginata.

Igor dodged by leaping backward before springing forward again. He swung both of his blades in an X-shaped slash aimed at Isamu's torso.

[Clash]

Isamu blocked the attack by holding his naginata vertically and pushing Igor back with brute force.

[Spin-Swish]

With a swift motion, Isamu spun his naginata and imbued it with Zor energy. He hurled it at Igor with incredible speed.

Igor bent backward at an impossible angle to narrowly avoid the spinning weapon. But just as he straightened up—

[Crackle-Swish]

The naginata boomeranged back toward him. Caught off guard, Igor had no time to react.

From ahead, Isamu unleashed a massive beam of energy directly at him.

"Hee-hee..." Igor chuckled under his breath.

[Boom]

Both attacks struck simultaneously, engulfing Igor in smoke and debris.

As the dust settled, Isamu's naginata lay near Igor's feet. The towering warrior stood tall and unscathed, brushing off his tunic as if nothing had happened.

[Crackle]

A translucent reddish-purple light enveloped Igor's body as his eyes turned completely red. The air around him pulsed with immense power.

[Swish]

He raised his hand and hurled back the same energy blast that Isamu had launched moments ago but much stronger. The glow around Igor intensified.

The energy beam closed in on Isamu as he hastily erected a barrier to block it.

[Boom]

The blast tore through the barrier effortlessly, slamming into him with devastating force.

"You're foolish to trust your barrier," Igor said coldly. "I can destabilize your Zor energy once I get a sample of it. Not only that—any attack meant to kill me is rendered useless." He laughed menacingly as Isamu lay on the ground, bloodied and battered from multiple injuries.

"Master Isamu!" cried Seikichi in desperation.

"I've got to hand it to you, clan leader. I had to use both my releases just to fight you," Igor said with a smirk.

Isamu coughed, quickly regaining his footing. His clothes were torn, and one eye barely remained open. "You're stronger than I thought," he admitted with a grin. "But I'm not done yet."

Igor smirked. "Aren't you a passionate fighter"

While Isamu charged up his next move, Igor seized the opportunity to go on the offensive.

[Whoosh-Bam]

Igor closed the distance in an instant and delivered a powerful punch to Isamu's chest, sending him skidding backward across the battlefield.

[Thud]

Once again, Isamu lay sprawled on the ground when suddenly words echoed in his mind: "My dear son, you are going to protect me always, yes?" a woman's voice asked softly.

"Yes, Mother! I will always protect you! I'll be strong—really strong! I won't stop fighting until I do!" replied a child's voice filled with determination.

[Split]

Isamu stood up slowly and spat blood onto the ground. "Thank you... You reminded me why I fight," he said faintly but with resolve burning in his eyes.

[Thud]

Igor suddenly dropped to one knee. "Agh! That stupid ZEP artifact is suppressing my release again!"

The light enveloping Igor disappeared as he forced himself back up. "No worries," he muttered under his breath.

"You've got seven or eight minutes left of Zor energy," Igor shouted mockingly. "Are you sure about this?"

"It won't be a problem for me," Igor said firmly.

[ZAP]

Igor charged a massive purple sphere of energy above him while Isamu struggled to stay on his feet.

"What... does... he mean... it won't be a problem?" Isamu muttered weakly as exhaustion overtook him.

[Whoosh]

Both samurai appeared in front of their leader like shadows materializing from thin air.

"Let us help you, sir!" Nene declared boldly while gripping her katana tightly.

"N-No... how... many... times... have... I... told... you that—"

[Whiff]

A golden smoky aura enveloped Isamu as he stood on his feet. "That a fight is not just about strength but the courage to stand up for what you believe in and face it with the desire to win!" Isamu shouted at the top of his lungs.

Instantly, Nene lowered her katana at Isamu's words, and both of them stepped aside.

[Whoosh]

Igor launched the huge sphere at Isamu.

Igor looked at him with a grin. "What are you trying to accomplish—"

[Boom]

The huge sphere hit Igor instead of Isamu.

"Aghh.... why did it hit me and why couldn't I react? Wait—his eyes are glowing; it means he is using his Zor release," Igor thought.

"Should we kiil them?" Yuma asked Niko.

"No need," Niko replied calmly. "Let's leave. He's already here." Niko's sharp senses detected an approaching presence—one that radiated immense power. Suddenly, time stopped.

[Whoosh]

"Ugh... this job is so boring," Max muttered as he appeared in the grand hall. "Let's see... We've got five minutes."

He scanned the Zor energy signatures of everyone present when something caught his eye.

[Flick]

"Wait... Did that guy just move?" Max muttered to himself as he noticed Felix twitch slightly within the frozen time field. "No... I must be imagining things. Too much scouting has me seeing things."

[Whoosh-Whoosh]

Max moved swiftly through the battlefield, picking up Niko and the rest of the Kaals one by one. In an instant, he transported them outside to a forest near the castle—along with both clan leaders.

 A monkey perched on a tree eating an apple watched curiously as Max moved each person like statues in some bizarre game of freeze tag.

"He must be goofing the game of statue-statue," it thought idly while munching its apple.

[Clap]

As Max clapped, time resumed its natural flow inside the castle as if nothing had happened. The statues frozen in time could move again.

"The rest of you go on ahead and meet with Zoya, Glenn, Tanya, and Leonardo at the rendezvous."

[Whoosh]

Everyone nodded and went to the rendezvous.

"Max, you have to fix your timing," Niko said as he removed his cloak.

"You know that I can't use this ability too many times a day because of that ZEP artifact," Max replied.

"Well, I guess you got what you wanted. Are those two the ones you chose?" Max questioned.

"Yes, well only Mr. Yuma had the power we needed, but I brought Miss Nanami as well."

"If Yuma was enough, why did you bring Nanami? Weren't we supposed to bring Miku Yotsuba?" Max asked.

"I brought Nanami because she is a beautiful woman and maybe just in case we might need her intelligence. As for that Miku girl, I only fulfilled Minho's request in the best way I could," Niko replied.

"When i looked at her I understand why Minho likes her so much," Niko added.

"And you helped Minho that much just because he has some connection with Los Lobos?"

"Indeed. If it weren't for Minho, I would have taken that gem of a girl for myself," Niko chuckled.

"Why not just kill him? Are you afraid because Minho is stronger than us?" Max said firmly.

"It's true he is stronger than us, but once Queen Silk is here, no one can stand near her," Niko said with a straight face.

"Anyways, let's go back to the rendezvous and then head back to Rebelle and wait for the Draconis Empire to do their thing."

"Yeah, let's have this back in Rebelle," Niko concluded.

[Whoosh]

They vanished into thin air with their incredible speed.

Back in the Castle

"What? Where did they go?" Felix said as he looked around.

"Quick, boy! Heal those two. You only have a few minutes before your Zor timer is up!"

Felix rushed to heal the samurai who had fought alongside him against Mike.

[Thud]

"Master Isamu!" Nene cried out as Isamu collapsed onto the ground in the huge Courtyard.

"Mom... I... promis—" Isamu whispered faintly before losing consciousness.