edelweiss - &team

39

The immortals were forced out of their dazed state when the stone walls around them started to rise again, growing taller than ever, evidence of Kyungmin's annoyance. Yixiang made a disgruntled noise of indignation, then urged, "We should split up to search." Yudai immediately followed up with, "I agree. We can cover more ground."

"And we'll be more vulnerable," Yuma noted, which received exasperated looks from everyone. "The only person who would be a tough nut for you to crack is Death," Maki pointed out.

"There's three of them to find and six of us now. It's perfect," Yixiang continued, "I can go with Maki, Yudai with Fuma and Yuma with Harua."

"Okay, okay," Fuma rubbed the back of his neck as a trail of goosebumps riddled his skin, still fixated on Minhyung's deformed body.

Yixiang was intensely studying the cards he had taken from the dead immortal, as though they would reveal the exact location of the other three at once. Harua's eyes fell to the cards he clutched, watching as the colour from the Pride card drained into grey. "That's four more to go," Yuma sighed after a quick headcount.

"So what are we waiting for?" Maki asked as he lightly bounced on his feet, "Let's go."

Yixiang worked his brilliance on the wall Kyungmin worked hard to raise, overly smug as the stone disintegrated. Yudai lovingly reminded them to stay safe, carding his fingers through his hair so vigorously it was a wonder he hasn't gone bald yet. Then he and Fuma selected a path through the maze and disappeared behind the twists and turns.

"I am not doing that," Yixiang announced, which Maki delightfully nodded along to. Yixiang picked a wall and began to create a tunnel through it, giving Yuma and Harua a curt nod before he and Maki slipped through the hole in the wall. Leaving Yuma and Harua to make their way through the maze.

Harua gestured to a path opposite of the one Fuma and Yudai took, and Yuma happily obliged.

They walked a distance silently, mostly due to how cautious and alert they were. Then, Harua finally said, "What do you plan to do about Death?" He worded it so carefully, catching the slight wince Yuma made.

"I don't know," Yuma honestly confessed. "Probably what I always do. Probably like what I did the last time." Harua nodded knowingly, "Staying at the backlines, hm?"

Yuma let out an embarrassed laugh, "Yeah but...it's my specialty. It benefits the entire team overall." He sounded so uncertain, as though he was trying to convince himself. "It's normal to be scared, you know?" Harua added on.

Before Yuma could form a reply, he suddenly perked up, sensing something, raising a hand to stop Harua. "Stay behind me, we've got company."

Indeed, as they inched forward, Harua sticking close behind Yuma, they heard the swift, urgent footsteps of someone approaching them. Harua tensed, fingers digging into the spine of his spellbook, but Yuma's shoulders sagged when he caught sight of the person.

Junwon was strolling up to them, at ease, way too confident for someone who was alone. "Ugh, seriously? Don't you have better things to do? Yuma asked.

"Bold of you to come here alone," Harua added on, "You never learn, do you?"

"Stay out of this, Harua," Junwon spat out. "Don't worry Harua," Yuma soothed, "I'll dig his other eye out and kill him before you have to lift a finger."

Rolling his eye at the threat, Junwon began to quicken his pace, dashing around in an attempt to disorientate them. "You're fast," Yuma admitted, "But you're still the same as you were the last time we fought."

Junwon came to an abrupt stop, with Yuma's hand lightly resting on his shoulder. Junwon strained but couldn't move a single muscle, only flicking his eyes to Yuma in mild horror and rage.

"You know, you really annoy me," Yuma said blankly. "Get lost," He hissed softly, and Junwon's head was torn off his neck messily. "Don't forget who I am," Yuma whispered to Junwon's still body.

Harua only managed a long whistle in awe as he snuck up to Yuma's side, peering at Junwons's body. "I didn't even have time to blink," Harua praised. Yuma wrinkled his nose, "This is both a good and bad thing. If I'm regaining my strength, Death..." Then he shook his head, "Let's keep going."

After a few beats of silence, Harua asked, "Do you think you could do that to Death...?"

Yuma's jaw clenched, then he replied, "No. I don't think so. He's...too strong."

"But so are you."

The psychic took a minute to mull over that, before saying, "Not enough. Not enough to defeat him."

an: this one is a little short bc i genuinely cannot make this portion any longer. did junwon die fast? yes, but was he also insanely inferior to yuma? also yes. there probably will be more engaging and lively fights in the next chapters, so thank you for reading up to here!