### **Chapter 89:
Title: The Lockers' Sanctuary
The chapter continues with Rajesh and Sakamoto moving swiftly through the dark, labyrinthine streets of the Holy City. The air was thick with tension, the faint hum of distant chatter and the occasional *CLANG* of metal echoing through the underground world. Sakamoto glanced at Rajesh, his voice breaking the silence. "Who was that back there? That… headless guy?"
Rajesh's expression darkened as he closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, his gaze steady. "That's Headless," he said, his voice low and grave. "A legendary swordsman. He's ranked at Warlord level according to back then —a beast in his own league. I've fought him in ancient times, and trust me, he's no joke. We need to get to the Lockers. Now."
Sakamoto nodded, his heart pounding as they pressed forward. The city was alive with activity, traders and criminals alike moving through the shadows. Some glanced at Sakamoto, their eyes lingering on his face as they whispered among themselves. Newspapers with his face plastered on the front page were clutched in their hands, but no one dared approach. Rajesh's presence was enough to keep them at bay.
As they moved deeper into the city, a towering building loomed ahead, its structure imposing even in the dim light. A small, unassuming gate stood at its base, almost comically out of place compared to the grandeur of the building itself. Rajesh stopped, turning to Sakamoto. "This is the Lockers' base," he said.
Sakamoto's eyes widened. "This massive building is underground? How is that even possible?"
Rajesh ignored the question, instead calling out, "Jayesh!" His voice echoed through the empty space, but there was no response. Sakamoto frowned. "Isn't it stupid calling his name from here? Why don't we just go inside?"
Rajesh shook his head. "The Lockers are a different kind of people. They don't appreciate uninvited guests." As he spoke, a faint ripple of energy surged from behind them. Sakamoto didn't notice it, but Rajesh's instincts kicked in. In one fluid motion, he unsheathed his sword and swung it with a powerful *WHOOSH*. The blade collided with an invisible force, the impact sending a shockwave through the air. Rajesh lifted his sword, redirecting the blast upward, where it exploded with a deafening *BOOM*.
From the shadows, Headless emerged, his headless horse trailing behind him. The creature's wings flapped with a rhythmic *WHOOSH*, their edges sharp and gleaming like diamonds. Rajesh hissed through his teeth. "I guess I have no choice but to fight him. Buy us enough time to escape."
Sakamoto's voice was filled with guilt. "I'm sorry. I'm putting you through something you're not supposed to go through."
Rajesh shook his head, his tone firm. "Don't worry about that. Bartoni and Mujin sending you here was the right call. I was a mentor to Ichabod. I taught him almost everything he knew before the World War."
Sakamoto's eyes widened in shock. "You… you trained Ichabod?"
Before Rajesh could respond, Headless placed a hand on his horse. The creature's wings straightened, their edges hardening into razor-sharp blades that gleamed like diamonds. Rajesh's voice was urgent. "Whatever you do, don't get hit by those."
Headless's horse reared back, its wings releasing a barrage of feathers that shot forward with a sharp *SWISH*. The feathers moved with deadly precision, cutting through the air like bullets. Rajesh stepped forward, his sword glowing with a faint light. "Twin Blade: Moonlight Slash!" he shouted, unleashing a flurry of slashes that collided with the feathers. The resulting explosion sent a shockwave through the area, dust and smoke billowing outward with a loud *KABOOM*.
From within the smoke, five more feathers shot forward, their speed and power overwhelming. Sakamoto leaped in front of Rajesh, swinging his axe in a wide arc. He managed to deflect the first feather, sending it flying with a *CLANG*, but the second one shattered his axe on impact. The broken pieces scattered as the feather continued its trajectory, aiming straight for Sakamoto.
Rajesh acted quickly, his body shifting as his hand transformed into a flaming phoenix wing, its blue flames burning brightly. He stretched it out, blocking the feathers. As soon as they touched the flames, they disintegrated into ash with a faint *HISS*. Rajesh's voice was strained as he muttered, "Phoenix Flame: Blue Flame Shot." From his mouth, a massive bullet of blue fire erupted, shooting toward Headless with a roaring *WHOOSH*.
Headless unsheathed his twin blades, crossing them in front of him to block the attack. The force of the flame sent him flying backward, crashing into a wall with a thunderous *CRASH*. Rajesh's form returned to normal, his breathing heavy as he steadied himself.
From behind them, footsteps approached. Two figures emerged from the Lockers' base, both cloaked in red from head to toe. Jayesh and Dinesh. Their presence was calm but commanding. "Rajesh," Jayesh said, his voice tinged with concern. "You know you can't be using your powers right now. You're still not healed."
Rajesh nodded, his voice weary. "I know. But I had to protect this kid."
Before anyone could say more, Headless emerged from the rubble, his blades gleaming as he swung them forward. A massive beam of energy surged toward them, the ground splitting apart with a deafening *CRACK*. Jayesh and Dinesh stepped forward, their voices in unison. "Shen Block: 50 Layers Wall!"
A series of Shen-infused walls materialized in front of them, each one glowing faintly as the beam collided with them. The first wall shattered with a *CRASH*, followed by the second, the third, and so on. The beam broke through thirty layers before finally dissipating. Jayesh grabbed Sakamoto, while Dinesh grabbed Rajesh, and in an instant, they vanished with a faint *POP*.
The remaining walls crumbled as the beam struck, but the group was already gone. Headless stood amidst the destruction, his expression unreadable. He sheathed his blades and mounted his horse, the creature's wings beating with a rhythmic *WHOOSH* as they moved forward.
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Meanwhile, Jayesh, Dinesh, Rajesh, and Sakamoto reappeared on a floating island in a different realm from the usual,the air crisp and serene. Rajesh sighed, his voice filled with awe and frustration. "He's a Warlord, after all. That counter from you both—Saint-ranked hunters—couldn't stop him. I knew he was strong, but to be this powerful at this point in time… it's wild."
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