Chapter 124 - 114 - Reunion and Separation
"Mila…?" Taika gasped, staring down her senior. Shouri's first Resonator. The one who should have been accompanying him. The one who was meant to be his. The one who changed him down to a rhythmic level.
There was a familiar feeling being in the presence of this cat girl. Not a good one. Taika shook her head, but her rhythm quickly quelled her desire to flee.
Instead, Taika saw Mila for what she was: a threat, an obstacle for her to eliminate. She went to step forward, however, she was beaten to the punch.
Rebecca stood confidently in front of Shouri. "Sho. Don't zone out, " she told him. Her heels sparked wildly. She wasn't prepping to ignite her flames, no, she was struggling to keep them tame.
"Don't hold back." Rebecca maintained her glare focused on Lyle. "I am your sword and I refuse to break, so swing me at him already, " the vixen growled.
"Idiot! A mere fox doesn't stand a chance against a Feroce!" Lyle boasted, raising his tuner. "I'll show you who the third-rate Maestro is!"
At that moment there were sounds of battle arising in the various levels of the colosseum. Shouri figured they must be still after Emily for what she saw on Luna and this was their last-ditch effort at getting her. The practical mind in him said to do his job; to restrain Mila with all three of his Resonators and take Lyle out himself. But... there was a louder, more selfish voice in his head.
Put him in his place.
Destroy him as a Maestro.
Show him Rebecca's true potential.
Prove how worthless he really is.
Lyle was just a distraction - they were looking for Emily after all. He could afford to go all out here. Rebecca wanted this chance as well; he watched her bounce on her toes, her eyes completely focused on their adversaries. The boy smirked, his decision made. "We gotta end this quick Rebecca," Shouri advised his fire Resonator.
"Of course." Rebecca grinned toothily.
Mila was unamused, bringing up her fists, ready to scrap.
"Taika, Pacifica – we'll keep Mila and Lyle distracted. Focus on getting Liza away from him," Shouri quietly told his other two Resonators.
"But-!" they tried to protest, but Shouri silenced them with a gesture of his hand.
"Please. Trust me and Rebecca."
"Fine," Taika gave in.
"You better not lose to him," Pacifica said with an uneasy pout.
Shouri nodded, his eyes never leaving Mila's form. The scars coating her body, the state of her dress. She was wearing the same tattered blue shirt from her childhood. It was much too small for her adult frame, but even her new clothing was in a similar state of disrepair. Just what had she gone through in these eight long years?
"First let's set the stage! Grave Rischio, Feroce!" Lyle declared the first spell. Rather than casting the spell towards Rebecca, Mila held out her hands and spread the sinister caltrops in either direction, filling the walkways with the Feroce-infused spikes, effectively trapping the combatants in an arena of their own.
"Good," Shouri muttered under his breath. He didn't want other people getting involved with this. It was a blessing in disguise really.
Raising Rebecca's tuner, Shouri never let his vision leave Mila's visage. His heart hurt having to do this, but in the same respect she was right in front of him. He could save her this time. He had the power!
"The battle has reached the final stage, but we still can't predict the outcome of this battle!" boomed from the loudspeaker overhead.
"Famiglio Incendio, Rubato!" Shouri declared.
"Scottare, Legato!" Lyle countered.
Rebecca began to summon a pack of rhythm beasts but, was instantly countered by the Fire-Water Ossia whipping across the battlefield. Rebecca herself dodged the steam blast however, her summons did not fare so well and were wiped out in the crossfire.
Landing firmly on the ground, Rebecca glared at the opposing cat, who was more than happy to return the glower.
Without a word, Rebecca charged Mila, clearing the distance between them in an instant. As soon as she was in range, the fire fox unleashed a flurry of kicks. Mila responded in kind, her wrists igniting with flames of her own.
Hand met foot as the two fire Resonators exchanged blows. Every kick aimed carried the weight of technique and perfection, while the blocks and punches were that of raw willpower, being forged through numerous confrontations without regard for how the technique was molded.
Shouri studied how the cat was fighting. It was just as he suspected, and he didn't need to say a word to Rebecca – they were on the same wave-length. She increased the intensity of her attacks, and Mila was forced to respond in kind, lest she lose ground.
That's when Lyle suddenly cried out, "Get away from her!"
Mila ducked under a kick, and blasted herself away from Rebecca, who attempted to punish her position with an axe kick. Thanks to Mila's timely retreat, Rebecca only sliced through a whole lot of air.
"Tch," Mila spat to the side, smothering her wrist flames.
Several flame foxes remained on standby, having suddenly popped into existence during the exchange of blows.
It was clear allowing Rebecca to get close was not only dangerous, but deadly. Though they were matched in spellcraft, Lyle had one advantage to press his contemporary did not.
"Grave Cinesi, Feroce!" he called out.
With a wave of Mila's hand, a wave of sinister energy assailed Rebecca, instantly causing her vision to blur. The fox stumbled, finding it difficult to maintain her combat-ready stance. With the loss in concentration, the flame foxes evaporated into thin air.
"Fuck," Shouri cursed, having shot a concerned glance at his tuner.