As the girls made their way to the waterfall, an eerie stillness settled over the air. The peaceful sound of cascading water was suddenly interrupted, causing them to freeze. Their breath caught as they noticed movement near the barrier—a figure stepping through. It was her, the girl Rose had warned them about, walking with a confident ease as another figure, Tori, assisted her.

The girl, Tsukina, stopped just beyond the barrier and tilted her head, her expression playful. “Aw, I get a whole welcoming party?” she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.

In an instant, Mahogany sprang into action, charging at Tsukina with blinding speed. Her blade arced through the air, aiming for a decisive strike, but before it could land, it collided with something unseen. The force sent her stumbling back, her grip tightening on her weapon as she narrowed her eyes in confusion.

“Why are you interfering, Ryuu?” Persephanie’s sharp voice broke the tension. Her gaze darted to a darkened spot under the nearby trees.

From the shadows, Ryuu emerged, his expression unreadable. He moved in front of Tsukina without a word, positioning himself as her silent shield.

Mahogany, undeterred, quickly activated her communicator, relaying the situation to Rose. Moments later, the air shifted, and Rose appeared in a heartbeat, her presence commanding as always.

“Hello, Ryuu,” she greeted calmly, though her tone carried a sharp edge. “Are you aware that you’re breaking a seal?”

Ryuu’s gaze was cold, his voice low but filled with defiance “I don’t care.”

Tsukina stepped out from behind Ryuu, her eyes locking with Rose’s.

“You’re not going to hurt her,” Ryuu said firmly, his stance unyielding.

Rose’s calm facade cracked, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “Ryuu, get out of my way, you keeping her here will only cause her pain” she demanded, her irritation beginning to seep into her tone.

But as she took a single step forward, another figure materialized between them. Jayce, one of Claudia's partners. He stood alongside Ryuu, his body language just as protective.

“I’m sorry, Rose,” Jayce said softly, though there was no hesitation in his voice. “I can’t let you hurt her.”

Rose’s composure shattered further, her voice rising. “Get out of my way!”

Jayce’s lips curled into a faint, mischievous smile. “what are you gonna do kill her?”

The tension thickened, the air practically vibrating with the unspoken challenge between them. Lines had been drawn, and neither side seemed willing to back down.

The air around the waterfall was thick with tension. The tranquil sound of cascading water had been replaced by a heavy silence, broken only by Tsukina’s labored breaths. Her body trembled as she clutched her chest, pain etched across her face. The banishment seal that had exiled her from this realm was relentless, eating away at her strength with every moment she remained.

“You shouldn’t have come back,” Ryuu said, his voice low and measured. His dark eyes scanned the area, his assassin’s instincts kicking in. She leaned against him for support, though her hands never strayed far from the small daggers at his side. Rose stepped forward, her piercing gaze locking onto Ryuu. “You’ve made your choice, haven’t you?” she said, her voice sharp and unwavering. “Step aside, Ryuu. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” Ryuu’s lips curled into a faint smirk, though his eyes remained cold. “Harder for who? You?” “Enough.” Rose’s patience wore thin as she motioned to Persephanie and Mahogany. The girls nodded, drawing their weapons with precision. Mahogany’s greatsword gleamed as she advanced on Ryuu, while Persephanie’s twin blades cut through the air in a blur. Ryuu didn’t move at first, standing as still as the shadows around him. Just as Mahogany’s massive blade came crashing down, he sidestepped with eerie speed, vanishing into the darkness. The blade slammed into the ground, sending shards of rock flying, but Ryuu was already gone. “Where—” Mahogany began, only to freeze as a dagger grazed her cheek, the strike so fast she hadn’t seen it coming. “Too slow,” Ryuu’s voice murmured from the shadows, his tone calm and deadly. Persephanie spun toward the sound, her blades at the ready. “Show yourself!” she demanded. Ryuu stepped into the faint light, his expression unreadable. His movements were deliberate, calculated—every step a predator stalking its prey. “If you insist,” he said quietly, tossing a small throwing knife into the air and catching it with practiced ease. Persephanie lunged at him, her blades flashing in a flurry of strikes. Ryuu dodged each one with inhuman precision, his movements fluid and effortless. He twisted around her, his dagger slicing the air dangerously close to her throat before he pulled back at the last second, just to taunt her. “Sloppy, gee who taught you how to fight” he said, his voice laced with quiet disdain. Persephanie growled in frustration, doubling her efforts, but Ryuu was always a step ahead. He ducked low, sweeping her legs out from under her before disappearing back into the shadows. Mahogany, meanwhile, had recovered and charged at him from behind. Her greatsword swung with tremendous force, but Ryuu anticipated her move. Without looking, he threw a smoke bomb at his feet, the area filling with a choking gray mist. “Coward!” Mahogany shouted, coughing as she tried to find her footing. But Ryuu’s voice came from everywhere and nowhere. “Cowards die loudly. Assassins strike in silence.” A second later, Mahogany felt the cold press of a blade against her neck. She froze, sweat beading on her forehead. “Yield,” Ryuu whispered, his tone devoid of emotion. “Enough!” Rose’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. She raised a hand, summoning a sigil of glowing light. A shockwave burst forth, dispersing the smoke and forcing Ryuu to retreat. But as Ryuu shifted away, Rose seized her chance and rushed toward Tsukina. “You won’t escape me this time,” she hissed, her hand glowing with magic as she reached out to grab Tsukina. Tsukina staggered, unable to move fast enough, her pained expression twisting into panic.

Before Rose’s hand could make contact, Ryuu appeared in a blur of movement, his dagger flashing as he intercepted her. Their weapons clashed, the force of the impact reverberating through the clearing. Rose’s expression hardened as she pressed against him. “You can’t protect her forever, Ryuu,” she snarled. “You don’t understand what she’s capable of!” Ryuu’s gaze was ice-cold, his dagger unwavering as he pushed back against her assault. “What I understand is that you’re too afraid to see the truth.” Rose broke the clash with a burst of magical energy, forcing Ryuu back a few paces. She lunged again, her movements swift and calculated, aiming directly for Tsukina. Ryuu anticipated her move and sidestepped, sliding a second dagger from his belt and throwing it with precision. The blade sliced through the air, grazing Rose’s shoulder and forcing her to halt her advance. “Stay away from her,” Ryuu said, his voice low and venomous.