The Will of Fire

39...Heated Situations

*Senzu Forest, South*
Squad One and Squad Three continued to walk through the large forest known as Senzu Forest. They trotted the south region of the forest, and began to grow worrisome of the missing four warriors that were with them prior to now. Toneri, Saiaka, Ganryu and Honda. Directly in front, leading the the group was Hwan's tiger, Mi-Na, and Kizumi's black cat, Mayonaka, still using their technique with their tails to sense enemies within the area. Hana and Maxi were next to Mi-Na and Mayonaka as well. Sniffing along the ground and sticking their noses in the air to gain smell of any enemies. Directly behind them were Hanzo and Mai, captains of Squad One and Three. Jared, Rashaad, Luisa and Soho walked behind them. The rest of the squad was behind them as well. Luisa grew a bit impatient, and was hoping Maxi would smell something pretty soon. The group had been walking for while now, and even with the brief break they had, they were all still growing tiresome of just walking.
"Starting to believe we're in the wrong side of the forest." Said Hanabi, a member of Squad Three.
"I agree. This is starting to seem pointless." Said Soho of Squad One.
"Quiet" said Hanzo. "I know it seems a little pointless but its far from that. We can be ambushed with a sneak attack at any given moment. That's why we have Hana, Maxi, Mi-Na and Mayonaka using their hugh sense of smell and sensing to stay alert. This is war you all. Should never be taken lightly."
Suddenly, the group was told to stop.
"Wait just one minute." Said Rashaad.
He had stopped walking and bent down, looking at the ground.
"We can't wait, we have to stay on guard." Mai said to him.
Rashaad stuck one finger up to signal Mai to wait a minute. He held something in his hand that he picked up from the ground, and was staring in complete shock. Soho took a look at what Rashaad was staring at in his hand.
"Sand?" Soho asked sarcastically.
"This is not just any grain of sand " Rashaad said with a serious tone.
Jared and Luisa started to look at the sand now too, trying to see if they could tell a difference.
"I can't believe this" Rashaad said. "Its Naija. It's a sign from Naija. She isn't far, we must hurry!"
"Naija? Your wife? You sure? That could be your own sand, right?" Luisa asked.
Rashaad quickly shook his head no.
"This is ni ordinary sand. If you look closely, it sparkles" Rashaad said. "Naija is a Power Warrior, just like us. She is of the Sunakinesis Class belonging to the Earth Types just like me. However, her sand is infused with diamonds. Something unique and specific to her. No one else has this sand. We must go, hurry and find her."
"He seems pretty sure, Mai." Hanzo said, looking at Mai.
Mai nodded her head. She didn't want to get sidetracked, but she understood and saw the look on Rashaad's face. He had been so determined to find Naija, and this was the first clue that was found of her. Rashaad was full of anxiety, now knowing for sure that his wife is indeed still alive.
"I have an idea." Luisa said. "Maxi. Hana. Come over here."
Hana and Maxi obeyed and walked over to Luisa.
"Rashaad, let them smell the sand. That way, they can keep her scent and can lead us to her." Luisa said.
Rashaad kneeled and let Hana and Maxi sniff the sand in his hand from Naija.
"Good thinking, Luisa. I hadn't even thought of that myself." Mai said.
"Well Mai Sensei, you did train me. Looks like I gained your quick wits and intelligence too." Luisa said, smiling.
Maxi and Hana barked, and scurried back to the front of the group.
"We follow them at once! Mi-Na and Mayonaka, keep using your tails to sense enemies if they get near!" Hanzo ordered.
Mi-Na and Mayonaka walked alongside Hana and Maxi, swaying their tails in the air.
"I told you man, we'd find her" Jared said gripping Rashaad's shoulder. "We'll find her now for sure. Hana and Maxi's noses never fail."
For the first time, Rashaad cracked a smile.
"I am just thanking the heavens now" He said. "Sweetheart. I'm coming for you."

*Senzu Forest, North*
There was silence in the night air. Only sounds heard was the heavy panting of the warriors. Ganryu and Honda had battled with Goldee and Léon, as Toneri and Saiaka stayed back, keeping a close eye on Wu Zhang.
"These two are tough." Ganryu said, trying to catch his breath.
"If you two wouldn't have jumped in front of me when I charged at them, you wouldn't even be hurt right now!" Saiaka scolded.
Ganryu and Honda were bleeding. Slides and cuts were on their arms and face, clothing torn.
"We thought Wu Zhang would strike...we wanted to protect you, Saiaka." Honda said.
"We had no clue that snake skin and fish face would jump in." Said Ganryu.
Léon and Goldee snarled at the Japanese warriors.
"Our claws have sunk into you enough, don't you think?" Léon hissed.
"You shut your mouth! We will not succumb!" Honda exclaimed.
In an instant, Honda rushed at Goldee. Goldee quickly knocked Honda back with a punch to the face, knocking him out completely.
"Honda!" Ganryu shouted.
Ganryu clutched his giant sword and dashed towards Goldee. Léon quickly stepped in front of Ganryu, blocking Goldee.
"Bad move." Léon hissed at Ganryu.
Ganryu's eyes grew wide, as he realized he could not slow down and he ran right into an attack. Léon grabbed Ganryu's head at the last second, and slammed him down face first. Ganryu was now knocked out as well.
"Shit! They've taken down Ganryu and Honda! They aren't even the least bit of exhausted either!" Saiaka said in desperation.
"Looks like we have to take them down along with Wu Zhang." Said Toneri.
Saiaka gulped, looking at her three enemies across from her and Toneri.
"You three think you can take us down like that? You're sadly mistaken!" She shouted.
"Foolish human girl" Goldee said. "You Japanese sure have an ego that is unmatched. However, false bravado does not suit you."
"False bravado? I'll show you false bravado!" Saiaka shouted back.
She quickly spun and combusted into a flame, disappearing instantly. Léon, Goldee and Wu Zhang were on complete standby. She quickly appeared behind Goldee and Léon.
"Take this!" She shouted.
Saiaka drew her arm back and delivered a massive punch to the back of Goldee's head, then one to the spine of Léon. They both went flying forward, hitting the ground hard. They were now knocked out too.
"Direct hit." Saiaka said, smirking.
"Ah. A Fire Type of the Mystic Class, I see." Wu Zhang said.
"Duh, pretty boy." Saiaka snapped back.
Toneri dashed and stood next to Saiaka.
"That was great, Saiaka. Next time though, let's attack together." he said sarcastically.
"Please, I had no time to wait. They were talking way too much smack" Saiaka said cracking her knuckles. "Now, they're out of the picture for a while. Let's focus on this guy."
Toneri nodded and got in a fighting stance, as did Saiaka.
"Come now. Give me your best shot." Wu Zhang casually said to them both.
Without hesitation, Toneri started throwing a volleyball of fireballs from different angles. Saiaka caught on immediately and knew what she had to do.
"He's using the Sudden Shower Flame attack to distract him. I have to find an opening and hit him at the right time!" She thought to herself, running towards Wu Zhang.
The fireballs began to close in on Wu Zhang as Saiaka neared him. She drew her fist back and ignited it to a flame.
"Your done for chump!" Saiaka shouted.
In the blink of an eye, Wu Zhang spun and sent a barrage of swords out, slicing through the fireballs and dispersing them.
"What the hell!" Toneri said in complete shock.
This threw Saiaka off guard.
"Oh no!" Saiaka thought to herself, eyes widened.
With quick reflexes, Wu Zhang stopped Saiaka dead in her tracks by planting his foot directly into her chest. Saiaka flew back as the flame that covered her fist had burned out. Toneri caught Saiaka, stopping her from hitting the ground or a tree that she was headed towards.
"You alright?" Toneri asked her.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Saiaka replied, standing back to her feet.
Toneri and Saiaka had noticed the many swords stuck in the ground.
"He stopped the fireballs with the swords. Sliced them with accuracy. How can someone do that when they flew at him at so many different angles? I've never seen anything like that before." Toneri said with much conviction.
"I told you before, Toneri" Saiaka said. "He's the best swordsman there is to date. This won't be easy going up against him. We have to figure out how to get close to him. First, we have to get past the hundreds of swords he has."
Wu Zhang stood a distance away from the two Japanese warriors, staring with a stone face.
"Is that all?" He asked. "Two Fire Types. A Pyromancer and a Mysticmancer. Both sad and pathetic. Lacking any structure in their attacks. You two are weak."
"Saiaka." Toneri said, grabbing Saiaka's wrist.
Saiaka looked down at her wrist and noticed the grip he had.
"Do not make a haste decision based off of his words. He's trying to break us down mentally. Make us do things without thinking. We have to think and strategize how to get close to him." Toneri explained.
Saiaka was seconds away from charging at Wu Zhang without thinking. She was grateful that Toneri stopped her when he did.
"I don't know how we're going to be able to communicate while fighting. We need to execute attacks together that he won't know about before we do them. Therefore, can you follow my lead?" Toneri whispered.
"Your lead? Why do I have to follow your lead, what about mine? Ugh, you're just as annoying as you were in highschool!" Saiaka complained, whispering back.
Wu Zhang began to grow impatient.
"Can you not complain right now, Saiaka? We have to work together. Just follow my lead. Got it?" Toneri asked.
Saiaka nodded her head without saying a word.
"Enough of this waiting. It's time you two Japanese peasants die." Said Wu Zhang.
Wu Zhang reached inside of his garb and pulled out two 13-inch iron swords. He held them at each side.
"Ready?" Toneri asked Saiaka.
"Ready." Saiaka responded.
Quickly, Toneri dashed at Wu Zhang. Wu Zhang didn't move a muscle.
"Look at him. He thinks I'm going to hit him head on" Toneri said to himself. "He has no idea what I have in store for him!"
Inches away from Wu Zhang, Toneri flipped through the air. Wu Zhang's eyes cut to the sky, following Toneri as he flipped over his head. Suddenly Wu Zhang felt a grip around his waist.
"Gotcha!"
It was Saiaka, and she had him held tight with her arms around his waist from behind. She quickly tossed Wu Zhang through the air and up towards Toneri.
"Now's my chance!" Toneri said to himself.
In an instant, Toneri used a Power Attack very common to Pyromancers. Flame Breath. The stream of fire spewed out of Toneri's mouth at full force, slamming into Wu Zhang.
"Alright! Direct hit!" Saiaka shouted, making a fist in excitement.
The flame ceased, but Toneri was shocked by a surprise.
"How the hell are you still undamaged?" Toneri shouted.
While beginning to descend in air, Wu Zhang was in front of Toneri, unharmed by Flame Breath. Saiaka quickly began to shoot a barrage of fireballs from her hand.

*

the girl in this gif is not Saiaka, this is just how the animation of Saiaka firing fireballs should look*

Wu Zhang noticed five fireballs headed his way. Toneri quickly punched at Wu Zhang, but Wu Zhang swiftly dodged the punch. He quickly delivered a strong gut kick, sending Toneri out of the air and directly towards Saiaka's fireballs.
"Toneri, look out!" Saiaka shouted frantically.
Toneri couldn't avoid the fireballs, and all five hit him hard and sent him plummeting to the ground, landing in front of Saiaka.
"Toneri!?" Saiaka shouted.
Toneri winced in pain as smoke left his body as his shirt was torn by burns, exposing his skin which has light burn marks to his chest and stomach area.
"Why you!" Saiaka shouted, teleporting into a flame.
She appeared right in front of Wu Zhang, still descending out of the air. She began throwing punches, which Wu Zhang dodged effortlessly. The two landed at the same time, Saiaka still throwing punches. She quickly changed directions of her punches, and went for a gut punch. It connected with ease, stopping Wu Zhang. Saiaka drew back her fist and prepared to punch Wu Zhang in the face.
"Fool." Said Wu Zhang.
The calmness in his voice caught Saiaka off guard.
Wu Zhang dodged the punch incredibly fast by moving to the side. Saiaka stumbled forward, losing her balance from the force of her missed punch. Wu Zhang swiped downward with his sword, slashing Saiaka's back. Saiaka let out a scream before she was kicked in the back, flying forward a bit and landing on her chest and stomach. Wu Zhang began to walk toward the grounded Saiaka with his sword raised. He stood over her and was ready to drive the sword into her back, but was hit in the back of the head with a fireball. Wu Zhang looked over his shoulder. Behind him stood Toneri.
"Come on pretty boy, let's do this!" Toneri shouted.
Suddenly, Saiaka appeared next to Toneri by disappearing into a flame again.
"You alright?" Toneri asked her.
"Yeah" Saiaka responded. "Thank you. He could've killed me."
"He's incredibly fast. His reflexes are amazing. We have to focus on our defense just as much as offense." Toneri said.
"So that means only one thing" said Saiaka. "I'll attack him. I'll be the offense, while you be the defense."
"What? No. Saiaka, let me attack him." Toneri quickly said.
"No, Toneri. This is my way of repaying you for just saving my life. If you hadn't have distracted Wu Zhang when he was about to impale me with that sword, I wouldn't be here right now" Saiaka said with desolation in her voice. "Besides. I want to show him that just because I'm a girl, it doesn't mean I can't take him down. Also, I know more of his abilities than you do due to my research on him in the past, remember? I know what to expect. I'm a Mysticmancer of the Fire Types, and a Superhuman of the Strength Types. Let me do this. Not only for you, but for Ganryu, Honda and the rest of Squad One and Squad Three that are out there fighting for Japan with us."
Toneri heard Saiaka loud and clear. He was a bit weary, knowing that as Saiaka playing the offensive, she would be doing most of the work by herself. Though, he was impressed by her will to want to do most of the work on her own.
"Alright. I believe in you" Toneri said to her. "I'll stay back. I'll defend, but also do this strategically. If it gets too tough for you though, I'm jumping in."
"Alright, I got it." Saiaka said anxiously, keeping her eyes fixed on Wu Zhang.
Wu Zhang stood there calmly, both swords still clutched in his hands at his sides. Saiaka looked around, noticing the four passed out warriors. Ganryu, Honda, Goldee and Léon.
"Alright, Saiaka. This is your moment" she thought to herself. "You have to kill Wu Zhang. Do this for Ganryu and Honda. For your Squad One. For the allied Squad Three. For Japan as whole."
Saiaka took off running towards Wu Zhang, fists clenched and leaving Toneri behind...