-

The battlefield was silent for only a moment before Capitano's power erupted like a violent storm. The crimson aura around him pulsed, sending shockwaves through the ground. His presence alone felt suffocating, as if he was warping the very air around them.

Yoshika barely had time to brace before Capitano vanished from sight-only to reappear in front of her in an instant. His sword came down like an executioner's blade.

She blocked just in time.

The impact forced her to one knee, the sheer force rattling her bones. Capitano's strength was monstrous. His blows weren't just powerful; they were relentless, precise, and calculated. He wasn't just overwhelming-he was testing her.

"Your resilience is admirable," Capitano said, his voice calm despite the chaos around them. "But it won't be enough."

Yoshika's grip on her spear tightened. Blood dripped down her arm from the strain, but she refused to falter.

"I'm not done yet."

She shifted her stance, summoning all her strength into a single counterattack. Her spear glowed with an intense golden-pink light as she lunged forward, aiming straight for Capitano's heart.

The attack connected-

Or so she thought.

Capitano caught her spear mid-thrust with one hand.

Yoshika's eyes widened.

Then, with terrifying ease, he twisted her weapon, forcing her off balance. Before she could react, his free hand slammed into her chest, sending her crashing into the rubble.

Furina gasped. "Yoshika!"

She moved to run forward, but Arlecchino's arm shot out once again, stopping her.

"This isn't over," Arlecchino said firmly, her red X pupils locked onto Capitano.

For the first time, Capitano turned his gaze toward her.

"You," he acknowledged. "The Knave."

Arlecchino's expression remained unreadable, but there was a shift in the air between them. As the 4th Harbinger, she wasn't just another soldier-she was a force to be reckoned with.

And Capitano knew it.

"Are you here to fight me as well?" he asked.

Arlecchino smirked slightly. "I don't waste my energy on pointless battles." She glanced toward Yoshika, who was already pushing herself up from the rubble. "Besides, she's not done yet."

Yoshika wiped the blood from her mouth, her dark pink eyes burning with determination.

Capitano had power, but so did she.

And she wasn't going to lose.

Not today.

Not ever.

---
𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝗌𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝖺𝗌𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 "𝗐𝗁𝗒 𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝖺𝗉𝗂𝗍𝖺𝗇𝗈 𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖺𝖼𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖸𝗈𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗄𝖺?" 𝖶𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗅𝗅 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗇 𝖿𝗎𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌!:3