Cross Worlds (Hiatus)

Chapter 29-1: "Boys' Battle Against a Monster"

Hiroshi lets out another hellish roar, dozens of spikes sticking out of his aura and extending towards the three boys. Kenji quickly puts up his shield to defend Riku and Yujita. "I'll focus on defense, just charge ahead! I can keep you guys guarded for five minutes, and then I'll be out like a light, so let's finish this fast, yeah?!"

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Riku becomes encased in light, white flames and electricity gathering around his feet, and he blasts himself towards Hiroshi at light speed. Yujita doesn't fall behind, his body becoming encased in his shroud aura and he becomes a shadow to dash in Hiroshi's direction as well. The monster's glowing red eyes look in opposite directions, following Riku and Yujita's movements. Once locked onto the two of them, the monster sprouts two arms suddenly, both extending in Riku and Yujita's direction.

Riku ducks, avoiding the arm, but he can see it quickly bend to continue chasing after him. "So that's how we're playing? Alright then." Riku smirks as he flies toward the monster head again.

Even though Yujita is in the ground, he knows if the aura comes in contact with his, it'll most likely erase his magic, so he avoids it. As the hand slams into the ground, multiple parts of the arm begin to bulge. "Oh fuck..." Yujita mutters and moves as fast as his magic will allow him, zig-zagging on the ground as several spikes stretch out from the arm in a line to try and stab into Yujita's shadowy form.

"Hey bastard, you should focus on one thing at a time!" Riku shouts as he slams his feet into Hiroshi's aura, bending it inward, but not having enough force to touch Hiroshi's body. "The hell..? It's almost solid, and touching it isn't negating my magic..." Riku snaps back to attention as he recalls the arm behind him, jumping out of the way. Unfortunately, the arm doesn't dent the monstrous head as he had hoped, but simply connects with the aura like some kind of plug. "Yujita, we need a lot of force to break through this aura! Don't worry about touching it, it won't nullify your ability!"

"So we just need a lot of force?" Yujita flies across the ground and shoots out of it as he returns to his natural state. "How's this then?!" Yujita swings his shadow encased katana, firing off a shadow slash into the monster-shaped aura around Hiroshi. Just as he hoped, it not only causes Hiroshi to grind back somewhat, but it also leaves a cut across his chest to make a perfect "X" with Riku's earlier slash. "I got him!"

"Yujita, back away!" Riku rushes over, and Yujita realizes in that instant how dangerous it is to be close to this thing for too long. He tries to return to his shadow form, but the out of control Hiroshi is faster. Spikes stretch out of the monster head like before and pierce Yujita's skin, making him grit his teeth in slight pain, but he quickly pales as he feels his magic energy being sapped away.

"Yujita!" Kenji dashes forward, cracking the ground beneath his feet and flying into the air. He reaches the ceiling between Hiroshi and Yujita instantly, kicking off of it and slamming his shield into Hiroshi's aura, breaking through it to free Yujita. Riku rushes over to catch Yujita before he falls over, grabbing Kenji right after and jumping back a few feet.

"Are you alright, Yujita?!" Riku asks, not taking his eyes off the monster head.

"I-I'm fine, but don't let that thing touch you... It'll sap away your magic energy..!" Yujita trembles a bit, but smacks both of his cheeks to calm himself down.

After healing Yujita's wounds quickly, Riku crouches just a bit. "I'd like to see him try to touch me. I'm gonna grab his attention, then you two slam into it at the same time when you see an opening. Understand?" Kenji and Yujita nod, mentally preparing themselves as Riku's image disappears in front of them.

In the blink of an eye, Riku is right in front of Hiroshi, shooting him with fire, lightning, and every other destructive element he can think of. "What's the matter Hiroshi?! I thought you said you were stronger than a kid?!" Riku shouts, quickly flying upward as Hiroshi roars once more. Hundreds of spikes stretch out of the monster head shaped aura, all aiming to stab Riku as he flies back and forth around the beast, shooting it with lightning, fire, and/or plasma whenever he gets a chance.