"So many! How are we supposed to deal with all of them?!"
Yukimura Rin watched the miniature puppets swirling through the sky, and her heart sank. Her voice was filled with gravity.
Kawaki Aoba's gaze sharpened, but he showed no sign of panic. His hands flashed through seals, and flames instantly spread from his palms, forming a scorching wall of fire around him.
"Fire Release: Fire Wall!"
A blazing crimson wall of fire instantly took shape, and searing heat spread through the air. The miniature puppets that approached were carbonized the instant they touched the flames, dropping to the ground.
"It works! Fire can restrain these puppets!"
A glimmer lit up in Kawaki Aoba's eyes, and he immediately shouted, "Rin, Inoue Tsukasa, get closer to me! Fire Release can burn the puppets—we can hold the line for now!"
Yukimura Rin immediately pushed off the ground and rushed toward Kawaki Aoba, using Wind Release ninjutsu to sweep away the puppets closing in on her.
"Wind Release: Wind Barrier!"
A cyan curtain of wind unfolded instantly, knocking away all the incoming miniature puppets. It perfectly complemented Aoba's wall of fire, forming a defensive barrier of interwoven wind and flame.
Inoue Tsukasa followed closely behind, swiftly retreating inside the barrier. He raised his hands and formed seals, causing several Earth Release walls to rise from the ground and further reinforce their defense.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"
Three layers of defense stacked atop one another, temporarily blocking every puppet's assault. The puppets filled the sky as they circled and shrieked beyond the barrier, unable to break through even an inch.
As Shouya watched the three coordinate so seamlessly, the mockery on his face gradually faded, replaced by cold seriousness. He slowly raised a hand and rubbed the lightning-glowing short blade in his grasp, his