Dimensional Watch DXD

The walls of MBI echoed with blaring alarms and panicked voices. Sirens wailed in rhythmic bursts as red lights flashed across each floor, bathing the halls in a pulsing crimson hue. The once-pristine corporate tower now looked more like a battlefield than a place of business.

"Another flight of stairs," Issei huffed, Boosted Gear pushing the railing. "How many damn floors does this place have!?"

"Seventy." Matsu's voice echoed through the Dimensional Watch. "And you're only halfway there. Enjoy the cardio, lover boy~!"

"Ugh," Issei groaned. "Why didn't we take the elevator again?"

"Because you specifically said it'd be a trap," Uzume grinned, her veil flaring as she flicked it outward and disarmed an incoming security officer mid-sprint. "You were right—but now we get the scenic route."

The group moved in sync. Uzume darted ahead like a dancer, her veil whipping through the air, wrapping around rifles and dragging them away from stunned guards. She moved with elegance and precision, a deadly ribbon flowing through chaos.

Issei, slightly behind her, used the Boosted Gear defensively as bullets ricocheted off the enchanted gauntlet with every calculated deflection.

A shout came from behind them.

"GET OUT OF OUR WAY!"

Yashima charged, massive hammer slamming into a steel wall, shattering it into scrap like it was paper. Dust and sparks exploded in her wake, her fierce amber eyes locked forward.

She twirled her hammer once and brought it down hard, creating a hole through an office partition. "This way's faster."

Issei winced at the damage. "That's... technically not wrong."

Employees scattered like ants, some ducking under desks, others screaming and rushing for emergency exits.

"This is insane!" One screamed as the group stormed through. "Call the higher-ups! Call anyone!"

From the other side, another guard raised his weapon—but froze as the temperature dropped suddenly.

"Ehh?" he gasped, just before thick shards erupted from the floor, encasing his legs.

Akitsu walked calmly behind the group, her long white kimono swaying as frost crawled from her bare feet. Her gaze was impassive, almost bored, as she raised a single hand—another blast of cold shooting down the hallway and freezing a wave of reinforcements in place.

"They won't move." She said softly.

"Good." Uzume exhaled, flinging her veil and catching another guard around the waist. "We'll save the real fight for the top."

Issei took a deep breath as they regrouped in front of the next stairwell. Sweat trailed down his neck, his heart pounding not just from the exertion, but from the growing anticipation. 'We're getting closer.'

"I swear," he muttered, tightening his fist inside the Boosted Gear, "I'm not leaving until I punch his face."

Yashima touched his shoulder. "We're with you."

Uzume gave him a grin. "All the way."

Akitsu didn't speak, but she stepped forward, placing herself slightly ahead of Issei—silent, resolute.

Another hallway. Another wave of guards charging.

"INTRUDERS! OPEN FIRE!"

Yashima slammed her hammer down to block the hallway.

Akitsu raised her hand. A sweeping wave of frost engulfed the floor, making the guards slip and fall before their bullets could reach them.

Issei charged through the chaos, slamming into the last few with calculated strikes—his punches precise enough to knock down his opponents with the help of Sherri.

The guards fell one by one.

The 40th floor finally went silent.

For a moment, only the heavy breathing of the group echoed off the walls.

They stood in the wreckage of overturned desks, shattered windows, frozen tiles, and cracked walls. Papers fluttered through the air like snow.

"Next floor," Issei said, eyes fierce.

As they stepped into the stairwell again, Matsu's voice returned, half-panting through the comms. "I've unlocked most of the floors—but someone's counter-hacking me now. Be careful."

Uzume cracked her knuckles. "Let them try."

And with that, the group ascended again—ready for whatever was waiting above.

—-----------------------------

MBI Headquarters, 45nd Floor

Smoke and dust choked the air as crumbled debris littered the steel-tiled hallway. Fluorescent lights flickered overhead. Issei's heartbeat thundered in his ears. Every floor they passed was a warzone—more guards, more resistance—but they were getting closer.

Then—two shadows dropped from above, landing with heavy thuds that echoed through the hall.

BOOM. Metal creaked. 

The smoke parted and standing there, illuminated by the flickering lights, were Sekirei No. 104, Haihane, with her signature steel claws glinting dangerously, and Sekirei No. 105, Benitsubasa, cracking her knuckles with a wild, toothy grin on her face.

Benitsubasa scoffed as she stepped forward, slamming her fists together. "So these are the losers makin' all the noise?"

Haihane lazily rolled her neck, metallic claws flexing. "They don't look like much. Let's crush them and be done with it."

Uzume immediately stepped in front of Issei, veil forming around her like a coiled snake. Yashima followed, slamming the head of her warhammer on the ground, her eyes full of focused fire. Akitsu calmly stepped beside them, ice swirling faintly around her hands.

Issei's eyes narrowed. 

But before Issei could take another step forward, Yashima placed her hand on his chest, holding him back.

"Issei," she said, firm yet kind. "Go. You can't keep wasting time. You and Uzume have to reach Fuji."

Akitsu stepped forward as well, emotionless eyes fixed ahead. "We will hold them off. This is our fight."

Issei looked between the two of them, hesitation clouding his judgment. "But—"

"No but, Ashikabi-sama." Yashima smiled softly, her grip tightening. "You've done so much for us. Let us protect your path forward." 

Akitsu said nothing, but she stepped ahead without fear. Ice was already forming beneath her bare feet, the air turning bitterly cold.

Uzume nodded and placed a hand on Issei's shoulder. "Come on, I've got you." She said, and without waiting for permission. She scooped Issei up bridal style.

"Wha—Hey! Not like this!" Issei shouted, arms flailing, face redder than a traffic light.

"Now, now. This brings back memories to when we first met." Uzume grinned, tightening her hold.

Yashima smirked slightly before jumping and raising her hammer overhead and smashing it into the ceiling with a loud CRACK! The ceiling split open, chunks of concrete falling around them.

Uzume leapt into the air, her veil coiling beneath her to propel them upward like a spring.

Issei could only watch, looking down one last time as Akitsu and Yashima turned to face the Disciplinary Squad.

Aa Uzume and Ieesi left. Benitsubasa cracked her neck, a manic grin stretching across her face. "Think you're gonna hold us off, huh?"

Yashima readied her hammer to attack. "We don't think—we know."

Ice bloomed beneath Akitsu's feet as her power surged. "You won't lay a hand on our Ashikabi."

Haihane lunged first, claws outstretched. "Let's dance."

—--------------------------------------------

46th Floor

Uzume landed lightly with Issei still in her arms, the tiles cracking beneath her weight.

Issei was breathless. "I swear, you're enjoying this too much."

Uzume winked. "Well, it's not every day I get to carry my man like a prince~"

Issei exhaled with a blush and looked behind them toward the hole in the floor. "They'll be okay… right?"

Uzume's face grew serious, and she gently set him down. "They will. They're fighting for you. So let's make it worth it."

Issei nodded, balling his fists. 'For Akistu's sake. I'll make sure Fuji answers for what he did.' Issei then looked to the ceiling. "There's no point in stealth anymore. Let's keep breaking the ceiling and continue heading to the next floor faster." 

Uzume nodded and both soon used their weapons to break into the next floor.

—--------------------

45th Floor

Sparks rained from broken light fixtures as the standoff ignited into a full-scale battle.

Yashima surged forward, warhammer in hand, shouting with every ounce of power and conviction she could muster. Her eyes locked on Benitsubasa, who grinned.

"LET'S SEE IF THAT STICK CAN BEAT MY FISTS!" Benitsubasa bellowed, surging forward.

CLANG!

The hammer met knuckles mid-swing in a brutal collision. The floor cracked beneath them. Yashima was pushed back slightly, but stood firm. Her arms trembled—not from fear, but from the force of the impact.

Benitsubasa's eyes sparkled with unfiltered excitement. "Not bad for a hammer-waving newbie."

Yashima gritted her teeth. "You're not hurting my Ashikabi!"

The hammer came down again, this time from above. Benitsubasa narrowly sidestepped it, punching low toward Yashima's ribs. Yashima twisted, the punch grazing her side, but she caught the momentum and pivoted—slamming the head of her hammer toward Benitsubasa's stomach.

Meanwhile—

Akitsu stood calmly amidst the chaos, her eyes locked onto Haihane, who darted around like a feral animal. Her metal claws sliced through the air, gleaming with deadly precision.

"Stop running," Akitsu whispered, lifting her hand.

Frost spread beneath her bare feet, racing toward Haihane in long veins of ice, trying to catch her with every step. But Haihane was already gone—flipping from a wall to the side of a broken desk, then vaulting over a support beam.

"I'm not some dummy you can trap with pretty snowflakes," Haihane laughed.

CLANG!

Her claws scraped against a hastily erected ice wall, the blow sparking as she rebounded with a snarl. Akitsu had seen it coming channeling the freezing winds around her.

She raised her other hand, whispering again.

"Freeze."

The temperature plummeted.

Haihane's breath misted in the air. Her motions slowed ever so slightly—enough for Akitsu to raise a wall just as Haihane leapt again, causing the assassin-like Sekirei to smash into it and rebound with a yelp.

Back on the other side—

Benitsubasa's fists were a blur. She struck with rapid, crushing force, landing blow after blow against Yashima's hammer or narrowly missing her body. But Yashima held firm—every time she was knocked back, she retaliated with another swing.

"You're too soft, hammer-girl!" Benitsubasa snarled, blood trailing from a cut on her cheek. "You can't beat someone like me just by being stubborn!"

Yashima's chest heaved. Her body was bruised, arms aching—but her gaze never wavered.

"I'm not fighting for pride. I'm fighting for my Ashikabi."

And with that, she slammed her hammer down—this time hitting the floor. The resulting shockwave cracked the ground beneath Benitsubasa's feet, throwing her off-balance just long enough—

CRACK!

The side of the hammer caught Benitsubasa's shoulder, sending her crashing into a pile of steel crates.

Haihane screamed. "Benitsubasa!"

She rushed to her partner, only for a wave of frost to bloom beneath her, trapping her feet for a split second too long. Akitsu appeared from the side, a frigid mist surrounding her, voice as calm as death.

"You won't get past us."

Haihane clawed at the ice, breaking free with a growl—but Akitsu had already formed a new wall behind her, boxing her in.

Benitsubasa rose, wiping blood from her mouth, glaring at Yashima.

"We're not done," she growled.

Yashima lifted her hammer. "Then come again."

—------------

53rd Floor

The broken remnants of walls and ceiling from their forced shortcut had barely settled when Uzume and Issei landed on the next floor. Dust clouded the air, the acrid tang of scorched wiring and shattered tile filling their lungs.

Issei grunted, rolling to his feet as Uzume stood beside him, veil already unspooling in her hands.

A figure stepped from the smoke.

Clad in a long black coat that flowed into the air without wind, her presence alone made the air still. Her silver hair cascaded like moonlight down her back, and her crimson eyes gleamed with barely restrained madness.

Karasuba. Sekirei No. 04. The Black Sekirei. 

"Looks like I finally get to kill the so-called 'irregular' Ashikabi I've heard so much about," Karasuba purred, one hand lazily resting on the hilt of her curved blade. Her smile was sharp. "You're cute. I can see why you've got so many girls hanging off you."

Uzume's arms immediately flared to life with her cloth, pulling Issei back. "Karasuba?! Damn it… this is bad. Really bad."

Issei narrowed his eyes. He didn't need an introduction. Even without the rumors, even without her deadly aura pressing down like a vice—his instincts screamed danger. A woman who loved battle. Who thrived on bloodshed.

"I'm guessing you're not here to talk." He muttered.

Karasuba's laugh was cold. "Oh no. I'm here to kill you. Let's see if the boy who stormed MBI has what it takes to survive."

And then she moved.

One moment she was standing still. The next—

CLANG!

Uzume barely intercepted the strike, her veil catching the gleam of Karasuba's blade mid-air. The force sent her skidding backward, her feet digging trenches in the tile.

Boost!

Issei leapt back, gauntlet rising just in time to block a second swing aimed at his side. The blade met the Boosted Gear, the clash ringing like a bell across the corridor.

"She's too fast!" Uzume shouted, voice tight with strain.

(You need more power, partner. She's on a whole other level.) Ddraig warned, his voice serious.

"Damn it!" Issei hissed under his breath, bracing for another attack. The timer hadn't hit yet for the second Boost.

Karasuba didn't wait. She came again—a blur of black and red eyes—her sword dancing with precise, deadly grace.

SLASH—!

Dodge—!

SLICE—!

Uzume and Issei worked in tandem—barely. Her veil lashed out to redirect strikes while Issei moved to shield them both from her more vicious arcs.

But even together, they couldn't keep up.

"You call this a fight?" Karasuba asked sweetly, swinging with effortless cruelty. "You're too slow. Too soft."

Her blade sliced through one of Uzume's cloths, sending it fluttering.

Uzume flinched. "She's playing with us!"

"Then we need to stop being fun!" Issei growled, focusing everything into movement, not offense. He knew it. They weren't winning this—not like this.

Boost!

(One more boost, partner. You just need time to survive until then.)

Karasuba closed the distance again, forcing Issei to raise the Boosted Gear just in time to block another downward strike—but the sheer force sent him to one knee.

"Tell me," Karasuba said, her voice close to his ear. "How would you like to die? Quickly or very slowly."

"Sorry," Issei grunted, twisting away, "I'm not into older women who flirt with murder."

Uzume leapt in with a retaliatory strike—her veil sweeping to bind—but Karasuba stepped aside, slicing clean through the threads again.

Their movements grew more desperate.

They were being hunted.

"Uzume!" Issei called. "Hold her back! Just buy me time!" Issei crouched low, eyes locked onto his opponent.

Uzume didn't argue. She surged forward, veil whipping in wide arcs to force Karasuba to block or dodge. The seconds ticked.

Karasuba's gaze flicked toward him, intrigued. "Oh? Now this might be fun."

Uzume grit her teeth. "Don't you dare go easy on us."

Karasuba grinned. "Wasn't planning to."

Boost! 

The third surge hit him like a thunderclap.

Power roared through his veins, the red gauntlet glowing brighter.

The third Boost echoed through Issei's body like a war drum. It surged in his limbs, burning hot beneath his skin. His grip tightened around the Boosted Gear, and his breath came slow, controlled.

Across from him, Karasuba's smirk deepened.

"Oh? You feel different now," she purred, lifting her blade in a lazy arc. "Something more dangerous. How exciting."

Issei's expression darkened—not with arrogance, but with focus. "I'm not here to excite you," he said, standing tall. "I'm here to punch that bastard in the face."

Behind him, Uzume stumbled back, breathing heavily. Her veil was frayed, several slashes torn through its fabric. She wrapped the various cuts on her body with the torn cloths, her eyes fixed on her Ashikabi as she extended the shortened veil.

"You got your boost, Issei?" She asked, panting.

Issei nodded, slowly raising his gauntlet as a faint shimmer of red energy began to flicker around him.

"Good." Uzume smiled weakly. "Then let's show her what we've got."

Karasuba tilted her head. "Oh? Together? Now that's adorable."

Then she vanished.

Again. That impossible speed. But this time, Issei was ready.

"Uzume—now!"

Uzume's veil struck upward just in time, catching Karasuba mid-strike—but the force still blasted Uzume back against a broken wall.

Issei was already moving.

Karasuba's blade whistled toward him, a deadly crescent.

He ducked.

Spun.

And countered with a devastating right hook, empowered by three full boosts.

CRACK—!

His fist connected with Karasuba's side. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through the corridor. The ground cracked beneath her feet. She slid backward, digging her boots into the floor, a wild laugh leaving her lips.

"Oh, that's more like it! It almost reminds me of her!"

Issei's chest heaved, not knowing who she's talking about. 'Damn, even with the boost, she barely flinched. She's built different.'

Karasuba straightened, brushing a smear of blood from the corner of her mouth.

"I haven't had a blow like that in years." She said, not even caring that a worthless human shouldn't be able to fight back, her eyes simply gleaming in excitement. "You might be more fun than I thought."

Uzume rejoined him, clutching her side but grinning. "You made her bleed. That's a win."

"Let's try not die before we can celebrate it." Issei replied, grimacing.

Karasuba's next move came like a storm. Blade flashing, feet sliding, movements so sharp they tore the air itself. But this time, Issei moved with her—not just reacting, but anticipating.

Left. Block.

Right. Duck.

A kick came low—he jumped.

And with every evasion, Uzume struck from the side, her veil dancing like silver flame.

"I see now…" Karasuba whispered between strikes, her voice feverish. "This bond. This synchronization. Does it make you strong?"

"Damn right," Issei growled. "My girls aren't just fighters. They're my heart."

Karasuba's smile twisted as this boy reminds her more of her only friend. "Then let me test how deep your love runs."

She leapt, sword high.

Uzume struck with her veil—Karasuba sliced through it—but it was a trap.

Issei met her midair with a boosted uppercut straight to her stomach.

BOOM—!

The impact sent her crashing into the far wall, cratering the steel and tile.

Dust filled the air.

For a moment, there was silence.

Issei and Uzume panted side-by-side, bruised, exhausted, but still standing.

And then—

A laugh. Low. Chilling.

Karasuba pushed herself free from the crater, blood trailing down her lip, her coat shredded at the edges.

"Exquisite."

Issei's fists were clenched, his breath steadying. He could feel another Boost coming. But instead the gauntlet started to shine and change. 

 'Ddraig?' Issei thought, his brow furrowing.

(Yes, partner. The time has come.)

Issei blinked. 'Time for what?'

(Your Sacred Gear has unlocked its second function—Transfer. You can now take the Boosts you've built up and give it to an ally.)

Issei's eyes widened. 'I can give my boosts… to Uzume?'

(Indeed partner. Transfer your accumulated might, and your Sekirei's strength will soar.)

Issei looked to Uzume, who stood beside him—breathing hard, veil torn, but eyes sharp and fierce.

"Uzume!" he called, his voice rising above the crumbling noise around them.

She looked at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

"I'm going to give you my Boosts!" He said. As he brought his hand to Uzume.

She blinked. "You can do that?!"

As he brought his hand to Uzume. "Found out just now. Let's test it!"

Uzume was quick to grab his hand.

Transfer!

A fiery crimson aura surged from his hand, enveloping Uzume in a blinding light. Her body trembled as the energy poured into her, wrapping around her like a divine blessing and then in surprise her wings that could only be brought out from affection, sprung out glowing and turn red.

Uzume's eyes glowed, her body humming with raw, unfiltered power. "Holy crap…" She whispered, her voice in awe. "This… this feels amazing."

Karasuba's grin faltered for the first time, her eyes narrowing.

Uzume stepped forward, her veil growing and extending, snapping in the air like a banner of war.

"You like fighting strong opponents, right?" she said with a wild grin. "Well—"

She vanished in a flash.

Karasuba barely blocked the first strike. Uzume's speed had skyrocketed. The veil wrapped around Karasuba's blade, twisted, and pulled, forcing the feared Sekirei to leap back.

But Uzume was already on her.

Strike after strike rained down. Every swing of her veil was like a hammer, slamming with enough force to dent steel. Karasuba was driven back, gritting her teeth, blood flicking from her mouth after a heavy kick caught her ribs.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Uzume hissed, her eyes wild with the rush of power.

Karasuba laughed—breathless, as she didn't know how the weak bird turned so strong, but still she smiled. "Every. Second."

Issei stood in the background, watching in awe. 'Damn… she's amazing.'

Even boosted, Uzume's skill shone through. Her movements were fluid, strategic. She didn't just have power—she knew how to use it.

But Karasuba wasn't going down.

Even bruised and bloodied, she fought with the intensity of a berserker and the precision of a master swordswoman.

Veil met blade. 

Uzume grunted, blocking another slash, sweat pouring down her face. "She just won't quit…"

Issei stepped forward, worried. "Uzume—!"

She turned to him, eyes fierce but kind.

"I'll hold her here." she said. "You need to go."

"What?! I'm not leaving you behind!"

"I'll be fine. With the power you've given me. I know it will be enough to protect me." Uzume's gaze flicked to Karasuba. "I'll buy time. You find Fuji."

Issei hesitated, every fiber of him screaming to stay.

But her eyes held his, calm and determined.

"…You'll catch up?" he asked, voice tight.

She smirked. "Yup. I want a proper date after this. Don't you dare forget."

He grit his teeth, nodded once, and turned toward the stairwell.

Karasuba didn't stop him. She watched silently as the boy vanished up the stairs.

Uzume cracked her neck. "Now it's just you and me."

Karasuba raised her sword. "I was hoping you'd say that."

—----------------------------

Floor 67

The metal stairs groaned beneath Issei's rapid ascent, each level marked by signs of battle—scorch marks, cracked floors, flickering emergency lights. Sweat trailed down his face as his legs pumped upward reinforced by his magic, the Boosted Gear vanished after expending its last transfer. His breath shallow, heart pounding—but he didn't have a moment to rest.

The door burst open in front of him with a crash of broken hinges and wild energy.

Out came a blur of motion—a fist flying directly toward his face.

"Whoa—!" Issei ducked, the punch missing him by inches and slamming into the wall behind. The wall exploded, concrete and plaster bursting like paper mache.

Standing in front of him was a young woman with brown eyes and hair, dressed in a short pink miko outfit, and red gloves on her fists.

"Why is there an intruder?!" She shouted, already winding up for another strike.

Before he could even raise his hands, three more girls emerged behind her—each of them different in appearance but brimming with the unmistakable aura of a Sekirei.

"Oh crap," Issei muttered, stepping back. "This must be the floor Matsu said she cracked open…"

The four Sekirei circled him, their expressions wary and aggressive. One had silver hair with a katana on her hip, another with twin ponytails already manifesting flames between her fingers. Masubi, the first one who struck, cracked her knuckles.

"He must be an enemy."

"I just got done fighting someone called Karasuba and now this?!" Issei yelped, rolling out of the way of another strike.

Masubi lunged at him again, throwing punches that cracked the air. Issei ducked, dodged, and weaved, not retaliating—not wanting to hurt them.

'These girls… they're really dangerous.' Issei thought, barely managing to somersault out of reach from a flame blast. 'These must be the ones that haven't been Winged yet—Matsu must've forced open the chambers to distract MBI.'

He darted behind a support pillar, panting. "HEY!" he called, raising his hands out of cover. "Stop! I'm not your enemy!"

"You broke in, didn't you?" Masubi yelled, punching a piece of broken metal like it was cardboard.

"Well, yeah," Issei admitted, "but I'm not here to hurt any of you! I'm here to find someone—someone who hurt one of your own!"

The girls paused, ever so slightly. They were still in fighting stances, but their eyes narrowed, curious.

Issei took the chance.

"Think about it. You're out. You're finally out of your room or whatever! You're free! Shouldn't your first instinct be to go out and find your Ashikabi? After All there's no one to stop you from finding him or her."

That got them. Masubi hesitated, frowning. The others looked at one another.

"My… Ashikabi?" She echoed.

"Yeah! That's the whole point of the Sekirei bond, right?" Issei said, still keeping his tone gentle. "Out there, beyond this building, someone's waiting for you. Someone who'll treasure you. Isn't that worth chasing more than punching some random guy in the face?!"

There was a moment of silence.

Then Masubi stepped back, her arms slowly falling to her sides. She looked at her fist, then the hole she'd made in the wall.

"He's… right." She whispered as she felt it somewhere outside was her precious Ashikabi. "We've wasted too much time…"

Suddenly, the Sekirei leapt into action—but not toward him. Masubi turned and ran toward the broken section of the wall she'd created earlier with her punch. The other girls followed without hesitation.

One after another, they leapt out the opening, disappearing into the horizon.

The corridor was left quiet once more, only the distant hum of alarms echoing down the stairwell.

Issei stood there in stunned silence, blinking as the rush of adrenaline slowly drained. "…That actually worked?" He mumbled.

(You surprised even me, partner.) Ddraig rumbled in amusement. 

"Let's keep going." Issei muttered.

He rolled his shoulders, glanced at the busted wall, then turned toward the final flight of stairs leading up.

"A few more levels," He said to himself, voice calm but burning. "Then I end this."

—---------------

45th Floor

Benitsubasa roared, fists smashing into the concrete wall as Yashima's hammer narrowly missed her again. Her enhanced physical strength and aggressive fighting style left craters and broken tiles in her wake. She was fast—blindingly so—but Yashima was learning.

"You're too slow!" Benitsubasa barked with a sneer, twisting mid-air and aiming another fist for Yashima's side.

Yashima caught the attack on the haft of her great hammer, the impact making her arms tremble. Still, she stood her ground.

'So strong,' Yashima thought through gritted teeth. 'But… I'm stronger now too.' As she reminds herself of the bond that she shares with her Ashikabi.

"GRAAAAHHHH!" Yashima bellowed, pushing forward and forcing Benitsubasa back with a mighty swing, smashing a nearby pillar and scattering dust and rubble.

Not far off, Akitsu and Haihane danced in a much colder duel.

Haihane leapt from wall to wall, her claws gleaming and glinting in the flickering emergency lights. Each swing was meant to cut deep, to tear apart.

Akitsu remained calm, ice coiling around her fingertips, forming crystalline walls and jagged spikes that deflected Haihane's vicious swipes.

"You keep hiding behind your ice, huh?" Haihane taunted, flipping midair and trying to strike from behind.

Akitsu turned calmly, her expression unreadable. "You're very stubborn."

She raised both hands and sent a wave of frost forward, the air instantly freezing. A sheet of slick ice blanketed the floor, forcing Haihane to skid and falter.

"Damn it!" Haihane hissed, slipping and losing momentum as her claws scraped the frozen ground.

Akitsu seized the moment and drove a spike of ice upward from the floor, forcing Haihane to leap back. She didn't pursue. She didn't need to.

She had bought time.

"NOW, YASHIMA!" She shouted.

Yashima, her eyes wide with understanding, lunged forward with a burst of strength, swinging her hammer in a full arc. Benitsubasa, thrown off-balance by the sudden icy terrain beneath her, couldn't dodge in time.

CRACK!

The hammer struck Benitsubasa in the stomach with a sickening impact, sending the pink-haired warrior crashing through a reinforced wall. Dust exploded outward as rubble rained down, and silence followed.

Yashima dropped to one knee, panting. Her arms ached from the effort. But a smile tugged at her lips.

"We… we did it…"

"No. Not yet," Akitsu said softly, already shifting her stance again.

Haihane emerged from the other side of the corridor, panting, a trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth. She looked toward where Benitsubasa had fallen and grimaced.

"You actually got a hit in." She growled.

Akitsu stepped forward, placing herself between Haihane and her ally. "Leave. "

Haihane clicked her tongue. "Tch. You think we're scared of you now?"

Just then, a faint tremor shook the building. Faint echoes of distant combat could be heard from above—another explosion? Another collapsed ceiling?

The tower was shaking. And the situation was quickly spiraling out of control.

Benitsubasa stumbled out of the rubble, coughing and bleeding. She looked ready to keep fighting—but Haihane raised a hand.

"We are falling back." she muttered, glaring at the two Sekirei in front of her. "For now."

"You sure?" Benitsubasa said, wiping blood from her lip.

"We got other problems now. This place looks like it's about to collapse."

The two turned and leapt through a broken window, disappearing out of the chaos of the tower.

Silence fell.

Yashima collapsed to her knees, gripping her hammer tightly. Her body trembled—not from fear, but from sheer adrenaline.

"…Did we really just beat them?" She whispered.

Akitsu looked to her, her expression softening just slightly. "You did well."

Yashima blinked. "You too."

For a brief moment, both girls shared a smile—battle-worn and bruised, but victorious.

Then Akitsu turned toward the stairwell, her voice quiet but firm.

"Come. We must reach Issei-sama."

Yashima nodded and rose to her feet, her resolve burning brighter than ever.

"Right. Let's go."

Together, they ascended, chasing after their Ashikabi through the war-torn halls of MBI.

—-------------------------

53rd Floor

The hallway was no longer a hallway. Rubble and shattered steel were scattered across the floor. Walls were split open, light fixtures sparked from the ceiling, and smoke curled through the air in drifting plumes. The very bones of the building groaned as two warriors clashed, neither yielding, neither backing down.

Uzume darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a horizontal arc of Karasuba's blade that shredded through a reinforced column like paper. The silver-haired Sekirei stood at the far end of the corridor, her eyes calm, steady, and void of mercy. Her black bodysuit was untouched by debris, but her blade gleamed crimson from the heat of battle.

"You're better than I expected." Karasuba said coolly, slowly raising her katana again.

Uzume crouched, her chest heaving. Her veil was torn in several places, but her grip on it remained tight, determination burning in her gaze.

"Tch. You're really something else." Uzume muttered, swinging her veil forward with a snap, slicing through the smoke like a whip. "I should've known the 'Black Sekirei' wouldn't be a pushover."

Karasuba's smile was thin. "I'm flattered. Most break before they land a second blow."

Suddenly, she was gone.

CLANG!

Uzume barely raised her veil in time, the fabric stiffening just enough to deflect the descending katana. Sparks exploded as steel met reinforced cloth, the sheer pressure of the impact buckling the floor beneath Uzume's heels. She slid backward, the soles of her shoes cutting twin trails into the ground.

Karasuba pursued without pause, slashing and striking in a flurry of movements so fast they blurred. Uzume twisted and spun, her veil dancing to intercept each blow, the air vibrating from each clash.

"Why are you fighting so hard?" Karasuba asked suddenly, mid-strike. "You're not like me. You don't enjoy this."

Uzume growled, catching the blade on her veil and locking it in place. "I don't. But I've got something to fight for."

A flicker of surprise passed over Karasuba's face.

Uzume's muscles surged as she twisted her veil, wrenching Karasuba's sword arm aside and countering with a spinning kick to the woman's ribs. The impact sent Karasuba skidding across the floor, finally forcing a grunt from her lips.

"Issei," Uzume said, voice steady and strong. "He's my Ashikabi. He's stupid and reckless and talks too much about boobs, but… he's kind. He believes in us."

Karasuba stood slowly, rolling her shoulder with a pop. Her cold gaze sharpened. "A reason, huh?"

Uzume nodded, raising her veil again, her stance firm. "And you? Why do you fight?"

Karasuba tilted her head. "Because I was made for it. I live for battle.."

She launched forward again—faster this time.

Uzume's veil lashed out like a striking serpent, but Karasuba deflected it mid-air and slid beneath, slicing at Uzume's legs. The brunette flipped backward, barely escaping the tip of the blade.

BOOM!

Karasuba's sword cleaved through a load-bearing column. The ceiling groaned above them and part of the floor collapsed, taking chunks of debris down to the levels below. Alarms screamed across the building as red warning lights strobed across the smoky chaos.

Karasuba didn't pause. "Whatever that so-called bond is makes you strong. But strength without the will to kill…" Her eyes narrowed. "Is a weakness."

Uzume's brows furrowed. "You say that like it's truth. But I don't need to kill you to win."

Another clash.

Veil and blade met once more in the center of the room, releasing a shockwave that shattered every remaining window on the floor.

Their breathing grew heavier.

Their clothes more tattered.

The fight had only been minutes long—but it felt like hours.

Blood dripped from Uzume's cheek, a shallow cut earned from a close strike. Karasuba's lip was split, her katana chipped for the first time in the battle.

"You're the first in a long time," Karasuba admitted, licking her lip, "to keep up with me this long."

Uzume's veil slithered back into her grip. Her smile was tired but fierce.

"I told you—I'm not losing. Not when Issei's still climbing this tower. Not when he's counting on me."

Karasuba's smirk returned. "Then let's see how far your resolve can take you."

They clashed again. The building shook and neither gave an inch.

—-------------------------------

Top Floor, Director's Office

Minaka Hiroto—MBI's flamboyant and erratic chairman—sat reclined in his throne-like chair, fingers tented as he watched the unfolding chaos with gleeful intrigue.

The screens flashed between live security feeds: shattered corridors, unconscious guards, melting ice barriers, and most notably, a floor that violently shook from the duel between two Sekirei—Uzume and Karasuba. Sparks danced from broken lights while emergency sirens wailed in the background.

Fuji, the disgraced tuner and former scientist, stood off to the side, pale and trembling like a man waiting for judgment.

"This… this is insane," Fuji muttered, wringing his hands. "They are tearing through everything. You have to do something, Director—stop him!"

Minaka chuckled, brushing a lock of his silvery hair behind his shoulder. "Stop him? Oh, Fuji, don't you see? This… is entertainment." He waved dramatically at the monitors. "Such passion! Such defiance! Truly worthy of center stage in the Sekirei Plan!"

Another monitor flickered, showing Uzume and Karasuba clashing in a swirl of veils and blades, the building visibly quaking from their exchange.

"Hmmm…" Minaka mused, his tone suddenly more analytical. "That one… Uzume. She shouldn't have power even close to Karasuba's level. Fascinating. I wonder what changed…?"

A sudden BOOM echoed through the floor. A moment later, the double doors of the office exploded inward, reduced to splinters and smoke.

Fuji shrieked, stumbling backward as a figure emerged from the debris cloud.

Issei Hyoudou.

Red Boosted Gear glowing on his left arm, his work uniform battered from battle, eyes blazing with fury.

He stepped forward slowly, boots crunching on the marble as the air around him thickened with pressure.

"…Finally found you," Issei growled, voice low, like a beast about to pounce.

Minaka grinned, rising theatrically from his chair, arms wide. "So! We meet at last, young warrior! I am Minaka Hiro—"

"Shut up." Issei snapped, cutting off the chairman without a second thought.

Minaka blinked, stunned. "Eh?"

"I didn't come to talk." Issei continued coldly. "I don't care who you are, what you run, or what stupid cosplay game you think this is. I'm here for one person. Which one of you is Fuji?" 

The question cut the air like a blade. Issei's glare bore into Fuji, who whimpered as if the question itself hurt.

Minaka, unusually silent, raised one hand and simply pointed at the cowering man on the floor.

"Good." Issei said, taking one slow, deliberate step forward. The ground cracked slightly beneath the weight of his foot. "He's the bastard who hurt Akitsu. The one who made her believe she was worthless."

Fuji's knees buckled. "W-Wait! I-I didn't know she'd react that way! I was just following protocol! Orders from the top!"

Issei's gaze darkened further. "And that's supposed to make it okay?"

Boost!

The Boosted Gear glowed brighter.

Minaka's smile faltered as he noticed the crimson aura flaring. "Now, now—let's not get too violent, shall we? How about we talk things out like civil—"

From the walls, hidden turrets descended, spinning and locking onto Issei. The floor glowed as a golden hard-light barrier shimmered into existence, separating him from the two men.

The turrets fired.

Bullets pinged against the Boosted Gear and bounced off harmlessly.

Issei narrowed his eyes.

With a shout, he leapt forward, slamming his gauntlet against the barrier with a thunderous CRACK. The barrier shimmered, twisted… then shattered like glass under the force of his fist.

Fuji screamed again, trying to run—but there was nowhere to go.

"Wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I-It was an accident! I'll resign! I'll leave the country! I'll—!"

Issei didn't let him finish.

He stepped forward, reeled back—and SLAM—his punch connected squarely with Fuji's face, sending him sprawling to the ground with broken teeth and blood pouring from his mouth. Causing permanent damage to his face and skull. 

"Never show your face again." Issei said, his voice eerily calm.

Fuji groaned on the floor, barely conscious, his body twitching from pain.

Issei turned, already walking toward the exit, satisfied.

"W-Wait!" Minaka called after him, looking genuinely offended. "What about me?! Aren't you going to challenge me? Confront the mastermind of the Sekirei Plan?!"

Issei glanced back with a frown. "…Who the hell are you again?"

Minaka staggered. "I… What?! I'm Minaka Hiroto—!"

"Don't care." Issei shrugged. "I came here for Akitsu. Not you. Stay out of my way, or next time, you'll be the one without teeth."

And with that, he left the wrecked office. His mind and soul were already cleared and ready to go home with his girls.