"The evil ki has been destroyed," confirmed Ryu.
Mikasa dropped from above, her swords dripping with the black smoke-like ichor of the Operator. She pulled down the scarf that was covering her mouth. "With that inconvenience now removed, what do we do about the ring? After all, Ryu and I were our own team. And we know either the unicorn or the small Titan has it."
"I'm an elf," muttered Holly under her breath. "And not a particularly small one either."
"If we join together, you'll get the benefits of us holding the ring," noted Twilight.
Ryu was puzzled. "But if it really works like that, why wouldn't everyone group around the ring?"
"No one with it would let anyone else near it. It was all part of the Master's plan," whispered Katniss, casting a wayward eye towards that odd-looking little horse. The other warriors nodded in agreement.
Twilight lifted a hoof. "Since we seem to have overcome this pitfall, I suggest we confirm our mutual GHUUUH," she gasped, Katniss' fingers gripped tightly around her throat. The girl slammed the unicorn into a nearby tree, prying ever closer to her face. Holly and Mikasa drew their weapons.
Katniss paid no mind to them. "Where. Is. It?" she growled maniacally.
"Put her down!" Instructed Holly, aiming her Neutrino. "I have it."
"No, you don't, hehehe," cackled the girl. "The precious, it tells me where it is. You don't have it, see?"
"I'll end this," hissed Mikasa, rushing forward. Holly extended a leg, tripping her.
"No, you won't. We'll work this out."
Twilight was beginning to turn a darker shade of purple, gasping something about friendship. Mikasa was about to turn her swords on the 'elf' (she was fairly certain it was a Titan, despite what it said), and Ryu was desperately trying desperately to inform the group about-
A two-fingered strike ripped through the air and planted itself firmly on the back of Katniss' head. Paralyzed, her grip on the unicorn faltered, causing the pony to collapse onto the ground, struggling to catch her breath.
"Who the hell are you supposed to be?" said Mikasa, lifting a sword toward the man who stood behind Katniss. His arm was still extended out, his two fingers holding Katniss aloft with ease.
"Do you know why she is infatuated with the ring?" The words were drawn out slowly, the baritone carrying over the rustling of the forest foliage.
Twilight struggled to her hooves. "Yes. It senses her power."
"The Battle Aura. Touki. If the ring cannot sense it, it cannot draw anyone to itself."
Katniss crumpled to the ground, flipping herself back onto her feet to face her assailant. The man's torn blue jacket was stained with blood. His eyes locked onto hers, and he drew his hands back into a fluid fighting stance.
"You?" she snarled. "I killed you."
"I see you are unaware of the Transmigration of Souls technique. You may be able to injure my physical body, but as long as my soul is not present within it, I can recover from nearly any attack."
"I don't give a damn," Katniss screamed, swinging a fist towards the man's chin. She saw him visibly frown and narrow his eyebrows. Almost instantly, uncountable strikes connected with Katniss' body, the man's fists flying so rapidly that they almost left an afterimage. Katniss' light frame was lifted into the air by a cushion of punches- and almost as quickly as the barrage began, the man's hands were once again still and at the ready. The girl fell with a dull thud, slowly rising again.
"You idiot, you're supposed to hurt people when you punch them."
The man almost smiled.
"You'll be feeling different about that in a few seconds."
"I don't think so," she growled, leaping at the man again. Then, as if on cue, she fell short of her attack, writhing on the ground in pain.
"What in Frond's name did you do to her?" Demanded Holly, now leveling her weapon on the newcomer. Though she wasn't very sure it would do much good…
"The art of Hokuto Shinken specializes in manipulation of all of the body's pressure points. If one learns to strike the right ones in the right order, any of their body's functions can be altered, stopped, or destroyed."
Holly scratched her head.
"Have we met before?"
"Yes, in the previous battle. My team gave our token to yours. I am Kenshiro."
Katniss rolled on the ground, still moaning.
"To answer your question," Kenshiro continued, "I have forcibly shrouded her aura. Incidentally, this is the same principle on which the ring's own power works, which explains the difficulty I had in fighting her before."
Holly looked down at Katniss, who was groaning softly now.
"So she should be… 'cured'?"
"Yes."
Holly holstered her Neutrino and motioned for Mikasa to stow her weapons as well.
"Thank you, Kenshiro. We could use your help," the elf said, extending her hand in friendship.
"I'm afraid I must decline. Transmigration of Souls saved my life, but I cannot fight and recover. My work here is done. I am glad I could help your troubled friend."
With that, Kenshiro turned and walked away. Holly noticed that the man staggered after every third or fourth step. He soon disappeared among the endless sea of tree trunks.
"Wow," said Ryu. "I heard the other warriors talking about Kenshiro, talking about the power of his Hokuto Shinken. I thought they were exaggerating… but that does seem quite potent. I must try and fight him some time."
The elf knelt down by Katniss.
"Are you… okay?"
"I think… I feel all right now. For a while, everything was dark… and painful."
Holly waved Twilight forward.
"Un-charm it. Just do it."
"Easy for you to say," groaned Twilight, and the ring appeared on a chain around her neck. Holly slipped it off, and held it in front of the girl. Katniss simply stared up at it blankly.
"I don't hear it… calling… anymore," she whispered.
"Well, then!" shouted Holly triumphantly, tossing the ring back toward Twilight. "The band's back together!"
But for how long? Thought Katniss.
