(Happy Lunar New Year's Eve, everyone!)
(Many thanks to Saint Beard Young Master for the 1888 reward! And to Silent. Wordless, Wing of the Phantom, Silver Sparkle 7, One Rider, Ten Thousand Strong, Nine Stars Linked in a Line, Yan Ai Ai, and Small Delusion for their rewards!)
"Boom—!"
A deafening explosion sent a dense cloud of dust rising from a corner of the forest, spreading into the sky.
Within the dust cloud, two figures suddenly retreated, opening up some distance between them as they faced each other.
Before long, the thick dust hanging in the air gradually dispersed, exposing the scene beneath the sunlight.
A closer look revealed a crater between the two figures confronting each other.
It had been stomped out when Noah and Sakamaki Izayoi landed on the ground one after the other.
That was right.
Stomped out by their feet.
Both Noah and Sakamaki Izayoi had fallen at speeds shocking enough to leave such a scene upon impact.
Looking at Noah across from him, Sakamaki Izayoi pushed aside the headphones on his head and let them hang around his neck before flashing Noah a grin.
"How did it feel to land at Third Cosmic Velocity?"
"If I had to give an impression, I'd say it was surprising." Noah brushed the dust from his body and met Sakamaki Izayoi's gaze.
"Now, can you tell me why you stopped me?"
"Come on, don't be so cold." Sakamaki Izayoi flexed his hand slightly, the smile on his face unchanged.
"It's not every day I run into such an interesting opponent. How could I not let off some steam?"
"Let off steam?" Noah raised a brow.
"So you stopped me just so I could help you blow off steam?"
"What do you think?" Sakamaki Izayoi laughed heartily.
"Isn't it fun?"