Vengeance Incarnate

"Clang"

"Clang"

"Clang"

"Clang"

Two swords met amidst the countless strikes that were dished out by Zein and Hoshinomiya. Their swords became locked in a battle as each party was struggling for supremacy. 

"Physical buff" 

The spellcaster uttered now giving Hoshinomiya a slight edge which allowed to push off Zein who rightened himself in mid air and dug his sword into the ground in order to support himself. Hoshinomiya saw the small moment that the sword was dug in the ground as an opportunity to counter attack hence he leapt at Zein with his sword aiming for Zein's eye. Zein saw the sword just in time for him to bend out of the way causing the sword to breeze past him. Zein kicked Hoshinomiya away rom him allowing him to regain his bearings and pluck the sword out of the ground and rush at Hoshinomiya with it. He then proceeded to connect swords with Hoshinomiya who was getting more enraged as the battle raged on.

[This guy feels familiar ]

Hoshinomiya was so deep in thought that he did not notice the sword that was about to decapitate him. Hoshinomiya regained his bearings and slashed downwards his sword meeting his competitors sword hence effectively parrying it. Hoshinomiya elbowed Zein in the gut causing him to be thrown back quite a distance from where Hoshinomiya was standing. Zein threw two daggers in midair in a slightly off trajectory manner causing Hoshinomiya to easily parry them.

[Those daggers were off trajectory for a person of his caliber] Hoshinomiya thought.

Hoshinomiya saw something that chilled him to the core as under the hood of the cloak he saw something resembling a smirk from the man. Hoshinomiya realized that he wasn't the intended target but instead through his action of parrying the daggers. The daggers were now on course for the spellcaster who was at a distance. 

"Lee get down!!" Hoshinomiya shouted in order to warn his comrade.

Lee was 'late' to hear the warning and just when he was about to knock at death's door Hoshinomiya intercepted the blades and was able to parry one of them and the other one struck his shoulder. Hoshinomiya grimaced in pain causing his visage to slightly contort in a weird manner. Lee saw what happened and thanked Hoshinomiya while he started healing him with his magic. When Hoshinomiya stood up to go to battle he did not see the condescending smirk that was donned on Lee's face. Hoshinomiya slashed vertically downwards causing Zein to evade the attack but that attack was a feint that led into a punch in the abdomen causing Zein to wince in pain as he was thrown back. 

"I have to admit this is a bit interesting," Zein said in his muffled deep baritone voice which reverberated in the empty streets.

"How so?" Hoshinomiya asked his curiosity getting the better of him.

"The fact that you were able to keep up with me while I'm not trying is an impressive feat on its own," Zein said while standing up.

"Do you say this out of confidence or it is out of sheer ignorance and arrogance?" Hoshinomiya while maintaining his skeptical hawk like gaze on Zein's movement.

"I say it out of experience and reality," Zein said while taking a battle stance that made him slightly bend his knees in a 90 degree angle.

Zein launched at Hoshinomiya with Hoshinomiya being barely able to track his movements so as to evade on time. Hoshinomiya thought he had evaded the first attack only for a follow up to meet his head in a sickening crunch.

[So fast I cant keep up with him] Hoshinomiya thought.

"So fast I can't keep up with him that's what you are current thinking. Isn't it squad leader?" Zein's said mockingly.

"You dare mock me commoner know your place," Hoshinomiya said while his face contorting into something twisted because of the rage.

Hoshinomiya started to release his full aura and it started causing a slightly harsh green colored wind to overflow in the street they were currently standing at. Zein did not make a move as he maintained his same exact position. Hoshinomiya's body and sword became laced with wind mana. Hoshinomiya run forward going as fast as if he was teleporting and made a vertical slash downwards sending a wind blade which caused Zein to duck in order to dodge it.

"Cyclone speed"

Hoshinomiya uttered the name of his technique causing him to go at the same speed as Zein earlier on. He dished out numerous sword strikes that were aimed at putting Zein out of commission But Zein dodged all the attacks with the gracefulness of a ballerina dancer. Hoshinomiya went faster in the hopes of catching Zein off-guard and delivering a blow that would decapitate him causing the unbalanced scales of victory to tip in his favor. Hoshinomiya saw the opening and tried to attack Zein from his blind spot causing him to internally smirk at how faster than expected the chance has presented itself. When he was about to deliver the blow he failed to see the smirk Zein has on his face. 

"Accel" 

 Hoshinomiya heard as he brought down the sword only to cut an after image. Zein accelerated his speed to the point he was only leaving afterimages. Despair and confusion started to settle in Hoshinomiya's heart causing him to be uneasy causing his eyes to dart in every direction as he tries to anticipate the direction of the attack. Zein appeared in mid air he brought down the sword with enough force to make Hoshinomiya's feet get slightly buried in the ground as they struggled for supremacy. Hoshinomiya delivered a punch only to find out that he hit an afterimage.

"As you can see we are on two different planes of existence you cannot win against me," Zein said while increasing his speed in order to prove his point.

"Enough of your nonsense commoner you shall be groveling at my feet like the gravel you are," Hoshinomiya said while taking up a stance to release his spell.

"I don't usually use this spell but to day is a special occasion," 

Hoshinomiya said all this while building up a large amount of manner that if released would be catastrophic to A normal person or even a slightly seasoned combatant but unluckily for him Zein was far from normal.

"Buzzcut Saw"

A large saw like structure that was gaining a lot of speed formed and went forward at a high speed causing a slight ripple effect to take place in the air. Zein calmly and looking unconcerned lifted his arm just when the spell was about to make contact and brought it down while uttering a word that Hoshinomiya had heard many times.

"Reflect"

Hoshinomiya saw his spell come back larger and move faster than before causing him to jump out of the way barely in time as he knew the capabilities of his own spell. Hoshinomiya looked at the small trough that his spell created as it fizzled out of existence and was left in shock. Hoshinomiya felt the cold edge of a blade settle on his neck but he could not do anything against it as his sword was disintegrating because of the large release of mana.

"Surrender," Zein said coldly.

"I surrender," Hoshinomiya said after being able to see the face of who had bested him in combat.

Numerous claps resounded in the area as Lee stepped into the clearing. Hoshinomiya wondered what was happening only for Lee to hold out his hand and cause Hoshinomiya's body to be levitated as a purple aura indicating both the mana and lifeforce traveled to Lee's palm. Before the process of extraction finished Zein rushed at him with intent to separate his head from his shoulders. Only for him to cut an afterimage as Lee prioritized saving himself over the extraction process.

"What do you think you are doing to your comrade?" Zein asked in a deadly calm.

"Obviously taking his power and life as he lost," Lee said as an arrogant smirk adorned his face.

Zein became angry and was about to rush forward only for some roots to sprout from the ground and take a hold of his leg.

"I'll take my leave as its still to early for you to join the playing field cloaked guy or should I say ex commander," Lee said as he teleported away his words causing Zein's eyes to momentarily widen.

"I should have known," Zein said as he rubbed his head tiredly.

Zein cut the roots in one fluid motion and went to check up on Hoshinomiya.

"Commander is that you?" Hoshinomiya questioned as he had lost his sight as an effect of the extraction.

"Commander I'm sorry. All this time I've been in the wrong all I ever wanted to do is to live up to your legacy and become a noble knight as you trained me but I have failed and strayed from our path of justice," Hoshinomiya said with a shaky voice as teardrops fell from his eyes.

"You are forgiven," Zein said while taking ahold of one of Hoshinomiya's hands to convey the sincerity.

"That's a relief," Hoshinomiya said as he cracked a small smile.

"Commander come closer I have new of utmost importance to tell you," Hoshinomiya said while beckoning Zein to bring his ear close to his mouth.

He whispered a few word that caused Zein's eyes to widen in shock only for them to harden in resolve. Hoshinomiya's arm went limp and his chest still Zein checked his pulse stood up after confirming the finality of the life of Hoshinomiya. Zein clasped together his hands and gave small prayer to the departed soul of Hoshinomiya.

"May he find peace in the after life," Zein said in somber tone.

The knocked out soldiers who woke up to see the scene before them bowed their heads and removed their helmets as a sign of respect for the dead. They took their fallen comrade with them so as to give him a proper sending off as they were not willing to risk a confrontation with the man before them.