Wraithbound

Hikari propelled herself forward, the air rippling around her as she surged towards the towering oni. Her psychic energy flared, boosting her speed to the point where she was a blur. The oni raised its massive hands to block, its crimson eyes narrowing as it braced itself. But Hikari was faster. She darted in front of it and delivered a powerful uppercut that made its head snap back. Without missing a beat, she spun in a fluid motion, driving a side kick into the creature's ribs. A deep, guttural growl escaped the oni as it staggered from the blow.

Just as Hikari lunged forward to press her attack, her body rebelled in a cruel betrayal. A searing pain tore through her chest like jagged glass, stopping her cold. She doubled over, a violent cough wracking her frame. Something warm and metallic coated her tongue, and dread sank its claws into her as she instinctively clutched her mouth. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she crumpled to the ground, trembling.

"What… what the hell is this?" Her thoughts fractured, her inner voice quaking with fear.

Shaking, she lowered her hand from her mouth, her breath hitching as her gaze fell upon her palm. Crimson streaks stained her skin—a vivid, undeniable truth.

"Blood…" she whispered, her voice raw and trembling. "My… my blood…"

The words barely escaped her lips before a cold wave of panic surged through her. The world seemed to close in, the noise of the battle around her fading into a suffocating silence. Her chest tightened as the realization burrowed deeper, dragging her into the churning abyss of fear.

The oni loomed over her, its massive shadow swallowing her form. A twisted grin spread across its grotesque face as it raised a clawed arm high above its head.

"Dumb little esper," it growled, its deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.

The oni's claw descended with devastating speed, ready to crush her where she knelt. But in the blink of an eye, a streak of black and purple energy tore through the air, intercepting the blow and yanking Hikari out of harm's way. The world spun around her before she felt herself being cradled by strong arms. She looked up to see Katsuki in his Turbo Form.

His jet-black hair flickered with violet flames, glowing streaks of purple energy rippling across his body like lightning. His once-normal glasses now morphed into angular shades that glinted dangerously. Jagged markings etched into his skin glowed like molten cracks, and his lower face was obscured by a shadowy, shifting mask with a jagged, yokai-like maw. He was a sight to behold—a storm of barely-contained power.

"Careful, Hikari," Katsuki warned, his voice distorted slightly by the mask but still gentle. "You're still new to this. Your psychic abilities aren't stable yet. You can't expect to control your aura perfectly when you've just awakened it."

The oni roared and charged, its massive claws slashing through the air toward Katsuki and Hikari. Its sheer size and speed made the ground tremble with every step.

But before the attack could land, Lila shot forward, sliding between Katsuki and the oni with her hands raised. Her eyes burned with determination.

"No, you don't, YOU BASTARD!" she screamed.

A shimmering shield of psychic energy materialized before her, colliding with the oni's claws. The impact sent out a deafening shockwave, forcing the ground to crack beneath them. Sparks of psychic energy crackled and flared as the oni's claws scraped against the barrier.

Lila smirked. "Too bad for you that you were fighting someone inexperienced. But now…"

She sidestepped in a graceful blur, letting the oni's momentum carry it forward. The creature stumbled, its weight causing it to lurch. Lila seized the opportunity, her hands glowing with psychic energy as she conjured a scythe with a sleek, deadly curve. With a fierce gleam in her eyes, she slashed at the oni's back, her movements quick and precise.

"…now, you're fighting someone with experience," she said coldly.

The oni howled in pain as Lila's psychic scythe tore through its thick hide. She didn't let up. Her weapon dissipated in a flash of light, replaced by two glowing daggers of pure energy. She darted forward, slashing and stabbing with terrifying speed, each strike landing with pinpoint accuracy. The oni's massive frame shuddered as it tried in vain to defend itself, its roars becoming desperate.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The air was thick with heat and tension as Nami continued her beam clash with the Kagutsuchi. Her energy burned bright, a dazzling golden streak against the grotesque creature. Sparks of raw power crackled and hissed in the space between them. But as the battle raged, the Kagutsuchi turned its monstrous gaze toward where the oni, Hikari, Katsuki, and Lila stood.

Kagutsuchi: "Tch, of course he'd fail. If you want something done…"

Its voice was a guttural snarl, oozing contempt. Without finishing its sentence, the Kagutsuchi abruptly disengaged, stepping sharply to the side. Nami's energy blast roared past it, splitting the air with an ear-piercing crack before colliding with a distant building in a fiery explosion.

The Kagutsuchi, a grotesque blend of flesh and molten rock, radiated heat like an open furnace. Its decaying skin stretched over volcanic stone, glowing veins of lava pulsing beneath its surface, filling the air with sulfuric stench. It let out a low growl before dashing toward the group in a blur of molten fury, the ground beneath it bubbling and hissing in its wake.

Nami's eyes sharpened, locking onto the Kagutsuchi's every move with cold precision. She cut off her energy blast with a measured exhale, her breath steady despite the chaos. With a fluid motion, she snapped her wrists, and shimmering spiked chains materialized in her hands, radiating the fierce brilliance of her aura. The chains clanged as they spun in precise arcs, their deadly spikes catching the light with every calculated swing.

Aura Constructs: Nami's mastery over her aura allows her to shape it into intricate and versatile forms. She can summon protective barriers, intricate tools, or animated constructs that serve as sentries or relentless attackers. These constructs, forged with exceptional precision, are both durable and adaptive, granting Nami unparalleled versatility in battle, whether at close range or from a distance.

Nami: "Running like a bitch, huh? That's one thing I hate—RUNNERS!"

With a feral yell, she lashed out. The chains whipped through the air like serpents. They struck the Kagutsuchi mid-sprint, sending it hurtling backward, its grotesque form crashing through the walls of the abandoned hospital with a deafening THUD. Dust and debris erupted from the building as the ground shook beneath the force of its landing.

Nami didn't wait for a response. She pivoted sharply, her gaze locking onto the trio with a fiery determination.

Nami: "I'll deal with the Kagutsuchi. You three handle the oni!"

Her voice carried authority, and there was no room for argument.

The trio exchanged quick glances, a shared resolve passing between them.

"Right!" Katsuki nodded sharply. Lila tightened her grip, and Hikari steadied herself, determination flashing in her eyes.

As Nami turned back toward the smoldering wreckage of the hospital, her chains crackling with renewed energy, the trio faced the oni, bracing themselves for the next clash. The battle wasn't over—not by a long shot.

The oni lunged at the trio with savage ferocity, its speed nearly blinding. Its claws carved through the air with a sharp whistle, its glowing eyes fixed on them like a predator locking onto prey.

Before it could get close, Katsuki, still in his Turbo Form, blurred into motion. In the span of a blink, he closed the distance, moving so fast that the air around him erupted into a deafening shockwave. The sheer force rattled the walls of the abandoned hospital, shattering its windows into glittering fragments. His jet-black aura, streaked with luminous purple flames, burned like a living inferno as his fist collided with the oni's claws.

The impact was cataclysmic. The shockwave rippled outward, splitting the ground beneath their feet and sending debris flying in all directions. Katsuki didn't even flinch, standing firm as the oni recoiled from the devastating clash.

Lila glanced down at Hikari, her protective instincts overriding the chaos around them. She knelt beside her, her bubblegum-pink hair cascading over her shoulders as her bright azure eyes locked onto Hikari's face. The softness in her gaze stood in sharp contrast to the chaos around them.

Lila: "Hey, Hikari, are you okay?" Her voice was calm but tinged with concern as she placed a gentle hand on Hikari's shoulder.

Hikari's breath caught in her throat. Even in the heat of battle, with adrenaline surging and fear clawing at her, she couldn't ignore the warmth radiating from Lila's touch or how close she was. Butterflies churned in her stomach, and her face grew warm.

Hikari: "Uh, mhm. I'm… okay~" she managed, her voice awkward and her smile lopsided.

Lila tilted her head slightly, clearly unconvinced but too focused to argue.

Lila: "You've used up a lot of aura already. You're still new at this, Hikari. You need more time to train before you can fully control your psychic powers."

As the oni staggered back from the initial clash, it growled low, retreating a few steps. But Katsuki wasn't about to let it escape.

In a flash, Katsuki launched himself forward, his acceleration instantaneous, leaving a distorted ripple in the air behind him. From a dead stop, he hit speeds of over 300 mph, his movements so fast they were almost invisible to the naked eye.

He drove his fist toward the oni with unrelenting force, his knuckles wreathed in Yokai energy. The oni barely managed to twist out of the way, the blow grazing it with enough power to crack the ground beneath its feet. But before it could recover or steady itself, Katsuki twisted mid-air with flawless precision. He lashed out with a devastating kick, energy roaring around his leg like a tidal wave.

The oni had no time to react. The kick connected with brutal efficiency, crashing into its torso with a sickening crack. The force hurled the oni backward like a cannonball, sending it careening into a nearby wall, which crumbled on impact.

Katsuki landed smoothly, his glowing aura flaring as he stood tall. His angular shades gleamed, the jagged lines of his Turbo Form pulsing like veins of raw power, And a shadowy jaw mask on his lower face, revealing multiple rows of jagged teeth. He didn't even glance at the wreckage; his focus remained unyielding, his presence dominating the battlefield.

Katsuki: "You're not going anywhere." His voice was calm but carried an edge that sent shivers down Hikari's spine.

The oni hauled itself to its feet, its hulking form looming menacingly over the trio. Its crimson eyes burned with fury, its muscles tensing as it cracked its knuckles with an ominous pop. The air around it seemed to grow heavier with the stench of sulfur and raw aggression. It snorted, steam billowing from its nostrils like a raging bull about to charge.

Oni: "You damn exorcist… I. Will. Kill. You. Humans!" Its guttural voice echoed through the ruins, dripping with hatred.

Before the oni could make good on its threat, Katsuki sprang into action. In a flash, he was gone—a streak of black and purple tearing through the air. His movements were so quick they generated bursts of wind, scattering debris across the battlefield.

He began circling the oni at blinding speed, the ground beneath him cracking under the sheer force of his acceleration. At 400 miles per hour, Katsuki moved with such fluidity that his path became a glowing ring of purple and black energy encasing the oni. The creature roared, swinging its massive arms in frustration, trying to track Katsuki's movements, but it was too slow. Each swipe of its claws hit nothing but air.

Meanwhile, Lila straightened up from where she had been checking on Hikari. Her bright azure eyes hardened with determination as she raised her hands. A radiant pink glow enveloped her fingertips, condensing into orbs of psychic energy. She hurled the blasts toward the oni, each one streaking through the air like a comet.

Lila: "You're not getting the upper hand this time!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.

The oni snarled, now forced to defend itself on two fronts. It blocked one of Lila's energy blasts with its forearm, the impact sending it stumbling slightly, while it flailed at the blur that was Katsuki.

But Katsuki was far from done. He grinned under his shadowy mask, his jagged aura streaking like flames as he cranked up his speed. From 400 mph, he pushed into hypervelocity, reaching Mach 2 in an instant. His movements became almost impossible to follow, his form dissolving into streaks of neon light that darted around the oni like a living storm.

He struck from every angle, his attacks precise and unrelenting. A punch to the side, a kick to the back of the knee, a quick jab to the ribs—each hit landed with bone-shattering force, each one disorienting the oni further. Every strike created small shockwaves, rippling out and rattling the already crumbling walls of the abandoned hospital.

Katsuki: "What's wrong? Too slow, big guy?" he taunted, his voice full of confidence as he zipped behind the oni and delivered a sharp kick to the back of its head, sending it lurching forward. "Keep up, why don't you?"

The oni roared in frustration, spinning wildly in an attempt to swat him away. But Katsuki effortlessly dodged each attack, seeming to vanish and reappear in a different spot with every second. His footwork was erratic and unpredictable, almost playful—like a predator toying with its prey.

As Katsuki continued his relentless barrage, Lila provided support from a distance. Her psychic energy blasts struck with surgical precision, targeting the oni's exposed weak points whenever Katsuki forced it to lower its guard.

The combined assault was relentless. Katsuki's overwhelming speed and Lila's ranged precision forced the oni into a defensive spiral. Its roars grew weaker, its movements more sluggish. Cracks formed along its thick skin, revealing patches of molten-red flesh beneath.

Katsuki pushed himself even faster, his body becoming a blur of motion. At Mach 2.5, the air around him crackled with static energy, his presence warping the atmosphere like a sonic boom ready to erupt. He landed a flurry of punches and kicks at such speed that they seemed to strike simultaneously, each impact resonating like thunder.

The oni stumbled, its towering form swaying under the onslaught. Katsuki skidded to a halt in front of it, the glow of his aura casting eerie shadows across the battlefield. His jagged, angular shades reflected the oni's battered state as he tilted his head with a cocky smirk.

Katsuki: "What's the matter? Thought you were gonna 'kill us humans'? You're starting to look a little winded there."

The oni growled low, its pride wounded, but its body betrayed its exhaustion. Katsuki flexed his fingers, readying for the next strike, his entire frame still radiating untamed energy, ready to finish what they'd started.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Nami strode confidently toward the Kagutsuchi, a sly smirk curling on her lips. Her knuckles cracked audibly as she flexed her fingers, and with a sharp tilt of her head, she stretched her neck, exuding a dangerous calm. Crimson energy swirled around her body, flickering like flames as it pulsed with her aura's intensity.

Nami: "You supernatural freaks never learn, do you?" Her tone was teasing, almost playful, as she planted a hand on her hip. "You really don't know who you're messing with~."

The Kagutsuchi's fiery gaze locked onto her, his massive frame tensing with disdain. He snarled, his deep, gravelly voice echoing through the shattered walls of the abandoned hospital.

Kagutsuchi: "Yeah, I'm messing with a bunch of children."

Nami chuckled, her smirk growing wider. Her crimson aura flared brighter as if mocking his insult.

Nami: "Oh, no, no, no. You've got it wrong. See, my partner over there~" She gestured lazily toward the dimly lit window where Katsuki could barely be seen, his silhouette flickering like a phantom. "You may not realize it, but you're staring down the Yokai Hybrid of War."

The Kagutsuchi froze mid-step, his expression twisting from cocky to horrified. His glowing eyes widened, and his hulking body began to tremble.

Kagutsuchi: "No… you're lying…"

The weight of her words seemed to crush him as if even the name of Katsuki carried a supernatural dread.

Nami tilted her head with mock innocence, her voice dripping with amusement. "Am I~? Why don't you take a look for yourself?"

The Kagutsuchi closed his eyes, his fiery aura flaring as he used clairvoyance. What he saw sent a jolt of terror through him. It was true—the Yokai Hybrid of War was here. Katsuki was tearing through his oni foot soldier with such speed and ferocity it didn't even have time to scream.

The Kagutsuchi snarled in frustration, snapping back to the present. "Damn you…" He raised his hands, flames coiling around them before erupting into a massive beam of fire aimed directly at Nami.

Nami's crimson aura pulsed as she extended both hands, summoning two glowing whips crackling with raw energy. The whips coiled and lashed through the air like living serpents, their spiked ends glowing with an intense heat that rivaled the Kagutsuchi's flames.

"I don't have much aura left… I have to finish this fast." Nami thought to herself.

The Kagutsuchi unleashed a barrage of fireballs, each one roaring toward her like meteors. Nami swung her whips with precision, smashing through the fireballs in bursts of light and smoke. The energy crackled in the air as she deflected each attack, her movements fluid and calculated.

With a flick of her wrist, she lashed one of the whips forward at tremendous speed. The air screamed as the whip cracked, a shockwave rippling outward. The Kagutsuchi dashed backward, trying to evade, but the force of the whip's strike sent a concussive blast his way, slamming into his chest and sending him hurtling through a crumbling wall.

The Kagutsuchi growled as he staggered to his feet, flames leaking from his mouth with every labored breath.

Kagutsuchi: "Damn you, exorcist… You're always meddling in other people's business. Why don't you stick to your own?"

Nami narrowed her eyes, her voice low and sharp. "I don't have time for your bullshit."

She swung her whip down with deadly intent, the energy crackling and roaring as it cut through the air toward him.

The Kagutsuchi barely managed to lower his head, dodging the brunt of the attack. But he wasn't finished yet. His flames surged as he raised both hands and fired a concentrated beam of fire straight at Nami's midsection.

The searing heat struck true. Nami screamed in pain as the beam collided with her gut, sending her stumbling backward. Her aura flickered like a dying flame as she dropped to one knee, clutching at the scorched section of her abdomen.

The Kagutsuchi grinned wickedly, emboldened by the sight of her pain.

Kagutsuchi: "Not so tough now, are you, exorcist?"

But Nami gritted her teeth, the glow of her aura reigniting as her determination blazed brighter than her pain. Nami wasn't finished yet.