The rogue wiped the blood from his lip, his eyes gleaming with something feral. Rain rolled down his face, sizzling against the heated aura pulsing off his body.
"Name's Kairo Renjin," he spat, igniting his fists with searing orange flame. "And I'm not just some rogue—I'm the fire that'll burn the old order down."
Riku slid a foot back into stance, his voice calm and steady."Nice monologue. Too bad it ends here."
Kairo dashed forward, leaving a trail of scorched pavement as he threw a rapid flurry of punches. Each one left bursts of heat that warped the air around them. Riku dodged cleanly, deflecting with sharp parries, his movements fluid like water weaving through fire.
The alley lit up with the clash of Essence. Kairo's flames spiraled into a vortex—but Riku vanished mid-spin and reappeared behind him, slamming a knee into his back that cracked the air. Kairo stumbled, snarling, launching a wave of inferno at the wall behind him.
"You're fast," Kairo muttered, catching his breath, "but speed alone won't win this."
"You're right," Riku said, eyes narrowing."That's why I've got more than that."
A clone split from Riku's form, charging Kairo head-on while the real Riku soared upward from a jump. The clone grabbed Kairo's arm and twisted it just as Riku dropped down with a thunderous kick to his chest, launching him through two concrete walls and into a shipping container.
Smoke rose. Silence followed.
Riku walked toward the crumpled figure. Kairo groaned, trying to stand but slumped forward, defeated.
"You're strong," Kairo muttered, barely conscious."Stronger than they said."
Riku didn't answer right away. He looked back to make sure the mother and child were safe—both peeking from behind cover, wide-eyed.
Then he glanced down."One down."
He turned his back as his phone buzzed.
4 more rogue S-Ranks active.