Chương 31: Chapter 31: Flames of Protection
The room was pure chaos. Assassins moved like shadows, their blades flashing as they attacked with precision. Reiji and Chuuya fought side by side, blocking and striking, their movements synchronized in the heat of battle. Tom stayed close to Reiji, his face pale but determined, doing his best to stay out of harm's way.
Reiji parried a strike aimed at Tom with a flare of his Dying Will Flame, just as a faint click echoed through the air—a sound so quiet it barely registered.
Boom!
The deafening explosion tore through the building, shaking the floor violently. The ceiling groaned under the strain, cracks spidering through the walls, threatening to collapse.
The assassins froze, their attacks halted mid-strike as they turned toward the source of the explosion. Even the cold, calculating killers looked subtly surprised. Their eyes narrowed, and their grips on their weapons tightened, but no one moved. Reiji exchanged a look with Chuuya, whose brow furrowed in confusion.
"What the hell was that?" Chuuya muttered, irritation lacing his voice as he adjusted his stance, still ready to strike.
Reiji's heart raced. The explosion had come from outside, the shockwaves reverberating through the ground beneath their feet. His instincts flared, and he immediately moved to shield Tom, raising his flaming gloves to form a protective barrier. The Dying Will Flame burned bright orange around them, flickering as he braced for another shockwave.
Then it hit him—something was changing.
As the rumbling continued, a calm voice echoed in his mind. It didn't belong to anyone in the room. It felt ancient, wise, carrying the weight of a truth he hadn't yet grasped.
"Sky Flames are those of harmony. In order to adopt all, you must learn all."
Reiji blinked, the voice settling into his thoughts like a missing piece of a puzzle. His flames flickered as his mind raced, images flashing through his head—not of the Vongola Guardians, but of what their flames represented. He saw it all—the ferocious Storm Flame, tearing through enemies like a violent tempest; the soothing Rain Flame, quelling conflict with its calm presence; the elusive Mist Flame, masking reality with illusions; the revitalizing Sun Flame, fueling life with boundless energy.
And then—lightning.
The indomitable Lightning Flame surged in his thoughts—a shield, the ultimate defense, absorbing and nullifying damage, standing as the protector of all it touched. The image consumed his mind, a protector standing firm amidst chaos, untouchable.
Reiji's flames shifted. The bright orange glow of the Sky Flame began to change, morphing into a vivid green, sparking with energy. His eyes widened as the crackling electricity surged through his hands. The feeling was strange yet familiar, like a distant memory being awakened for the first time.
Chuuya noticed the change, raising an eyebrow. "What's this now, Reiji?"
Reiji didn't respond, still processing the transformation. Another explosion rocked the building, debris falling from the ceiling. Instinctively, Reiji raised his hands higher, letting the green lightning flare. The Lightning Flame spread, forming a crackling dome around them, protecting them from the collapsing ceiling and the force of the blasts.
The assassins paused, their silent precision faltering as they eyed the green flames warily. It was unlike anything they had expected.
"Lightning…" Reiji murmured, his voice barely audible, even to himself. The power coursing through him felt different, foreign but somehow right. He pushed the green lightning outward, strengthening the protective dome and expanding it to cover Tom and Chuuya completely.
Chuuya let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "Didn't know you had that in you."
"Neither did I," Reiji replied, his voice strained as he maintained the barrier. The explosions continued, but the green lightning held firm, crackling and sparking as it absorbed the shockwaves, deflecting the falling debris.
Outside the Ruined Building
Shizuo sprinted through the empty streets, his breath coming in short, furious bursts. The moment he'd heard the explosions, his mind had gone blank with fear—for Tom. The thought of his closest ally trapped inside the crumbling building consumed him.
As he approached, thick black smoke billowed from the ruins, obscuring everything. The building was barely standing, its facade shattered, windows blown out, and walls collapsing under the pressure.
Just as he was about to charge in, a firm hand grabbed his arm. Shizuo turned, ready to lash out, but stopped when he saw Shinya standing there, calm and composed.
"Hold on, Heiwajima," Shinya said firmly. "Charging in won't help. That explosion isn't something your strength alone can deal with."
Shizuo's eyes blazed with worry as he yanked his arm free. "Tom's in there. I'm not just going to stand around."
Shinya didn't flinch, his grip tightening. "Someone inside is protecting him."
Shizuo froze, the words making no sense at first. "What are you talking about?"
Shinya's gaze shifted toward the building, where faint green sparks flickered through the smoke. "Reiji. He's using his flames to shield them. You need to trust him."
Shizuo hesitated, his muscles still tense, ready to act. He hated standing still, especially when Tom was in danger. But as he stared at the flickering green light, the tension in his body slowly ebbed away. Shinya's calm, composed demeanor gave him pause.
"Trust him," Shinya repeated, his voice softer but steady. The rumbling started to subside, the explosions fading into silence. Slowly, the smoke began to clear.
Inside the Ruin
As the dust settled, the last of the explosions died down. The assassins, caught in the chaos, were blown back, scattered among the wreckage. Some lay unconscious, others barely standing, but the fight had been taken out of them.
Reiji stood at the center of the room, his hands outstretched, the green Lightning Flame still glowing brightly around him. The barrier held, sparking and humming as it absorbed the debris and kept them safe. Chuuya stood nearby, arms crossed, watching the display with a smirk of approval.
Tom, shaken but unharmed, glanced around in awe. "That… that was incredible."
Reiji, dripping with sweat, slowly lowered his hands. The green flames began to fade, the crackling energy dispersing into the air until only faint sparks remained. Relief washed over him, though his body trembled from the effort.
But before anyone could speak, movement in the rubble caught their attention. One of the assassins, battered and bloodied, dragged himself from beneath a pile of debris. His face was twisted with rage, a knife clutched tightly in his hand as he staggered toward Tom.
Reiji's muscles tensed. His body was exhausted, but he prepared to react. Just as the assassin raised his weapon, a gunshot rang out. The assassin collapsed, the knife slipping from his grasp, blood pooling around his lifeless body.
Reiji turned to see Shinya standing in the doorway, his gun still raised. Behind him, Shizuo stood, his gaze locked on Tom, relief clear on his face.
"Looks like we arrived just in time," Shinya said, holstering his gun.
Reiji, still catching his breath, nodded. "Yeah… just in time."
Aftermath
The explosion had left the building in ruins. Walls had crumbled, furniture lay in pieces, and the bodies of assassins littered the floor, some dead from the blasts, others from the fight. Blood and dust mixed, painting a grim scene of destruction.
Reiji, Chuuya, and Tom stood at the center of the wreckage, breathing heavily but alive.
Outside, Shinya and Shizuo surveyed the damage, the air thick with smoke. The threat had passed, and the silence was almost eerie. Shizuo's gaze remained fixed on Tom, who leaned against Reiji, shaken but unharmed.
"You were right," Shizuo muttered, his voice rough with relief. "Reiji protected him."
Shinya nodded, holstering his gun. "Told you. Sometimes strength isn't enough. You need something more."
Shizuo grunted in response, but the usual bravado was absent. There was only quiet relief.
Inside, Reiji wiped the sweat from his brow, his hands still trembling from the effort of controlling the Lightning Flame. He had done it—he had protected them. But the voice, the memory of the Decimo… it still echoed in his mind, gnawing at him. Why had his flame changed? And why now?
Chuuya clapped him on the shoulder, a rare smirk on his face. "You're full of surprises, Reiji."
Reiji gave a weak smile, glancing around at the ruins. "I didn't think I had it in me."
"You did good," Chuuya said, his voice softer, almost approving. "But we're not done yet. There's always more coming."
Reiji nodded, his gaze drifting toward the shattered window. The battle might be over, but the war was far from finished.
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