The man who had grabbed Niski's wrist released his grip, his eyes blazing with anger. "Niski, I told you to never use this technique. It's forbidden," he said, his voice firm but controlled.
Niski's face twisted into a scowl, his eyes flashing with defiance. "Brother, what are you doing here? You've ruined my fun," he spat, his tone dripping with disrespect.
Crinix stood frozen, still reeling from his near-death experience. He stared at Niski and the man who had saved him, his eyes wide with shock. The man's face was a mirror image of Niski's, with the same piercing blue eyes and chiseled features. However, his right eye was a milky white, with two scars etched into the skin, giving the impression that it was blind.
The man's hair was a wild tangle of blue spikes, and a lightning bolt earring glinted in his left ear. He wore a Grim Hunter uniform, but it was unlike any Crinix had seen before. The sleeves were a deep crimson, and on the back, a massive skull emblem glared out. That was a Squad Captain's uniform.
The man's expression was stern, his eyes flashing with anger as he glared at Niski. "Niski, I told you to never use that killer technique. You could have killed him," he said, his voice low and menacing.
Niski's face twisted into a sneer, his eyes glinting with malice. "Huh, who cares? Weaklings like him deserve to die," he spat, his tone dripping with contempt.
The man's face darkened, his eyes blazing with fury. "Niski, that's rude. Apologize to him right now," he growled, his voice commanding.
Niski's eyes flashed with defiance, and for a moment, Crinix thought he saw a glimmer of fear in his eyes. But then, Niski's face twisted into a scowl, and he snarled, "Brother, next time, if you interfere, I'll kill you."
The man's face went white with rage, but he controlled himself, his voice icy calm. "Niski, don't you dare walk away while I'm talking to you. You're doing laundry for a month as punishment!"
But Niski was already gone, storming off with a fierce scowl on his face. His brother watched him go, his eyes blazing with anger and concern.
Crinix was still trembling, his heart racing with fear. He couldn't believe how close he had come to death. Niski's brother turned to him, his expression softening into a gentle smile.
He knelt down before Crinix, his eyes filled with kindness. "Please forgive my little brother. He has no control over his anger," he said, his voice humble and sincere.
Crinix stared at him in surprise, touched by the man's kindness. "It wasn't much of a big deal," he said, trying to downplay the incident.
The man's smile grew wider, his eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you for understanding. I'll make sure Niski doesn't bother you again," he said, his voice filled with conviction.
And with that, he stood up, his movements fluid and gracious. He bowed to Crinix, his eyes never leaving his face. "My name is Kinski, by the way. I'm Niski's brother," he said, his voice warm and friendly.
Crinix smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "I'm Crinix," he said, his voice still shaking slightly.
Kinski's smile grew wider, his eyes shining with kindness. "It's nice to meet you, Crinix. I'll make sure to keep an eye on Niski from now on," he said, his voice filled with reassurance.
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Crinix to wonder about the complex and intriguing dynamics between Kinski and Niski.
Crinix's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his body wracked with pain. The injuries he had sustained during the fight with Niski were starting to take their toll, and he could feel his strength ebbing away.
Takahishi rushed to his side, his face etched with concern. "Crinix, are you okay? I'm so sorry I couldn't do anything to stop that Niski psychopath," he exclaimed, his voice trembling with worry.
Crinix forced a smile onto his face, trying to hide the pain that was threatening to overwhelm him. "It's nothing, I'm fine," he lied, his voice weak but cheerful. "Just help me get up."
Takahishi's eyes narrowed, his gaze searching Crinix's face for any sign of weakness. But Crinix's mask of bravado held firm, and Takahishi nodded, grasping Crinix's outstretched hand.
As Takahishi pulled him to his feet, Crinix's legs wobbled beneath him, and he stumbled, his weight crashing onto Takahishi's shoulder. Takahishi grunted, his knees buckling slightly under the sudden impact, but he managed to keep his footing, wrapping a supportive arm around Crinix's waist.
"Hey, easy does it, Crinix," Takahishi said, his voice soft with concern. "You're not exactly in one piece, you know."
Crinix chuckled, a weak, pain-filled sound. "Yeah, I know. Just get me out of here, okay?"
Takahishi nodded, his eyes scanning the surrounding area, making sure they were clear of any further danger. As they started walking, Crinix's arm wrapped around Takahishi's neck, his grip tightening as he leaned heavily onto his friend.
Takahishi's face twisted into a worried frown. "Crinix, maybe we should get you to the infirmary or something. You're really hurt."
Crinix shook his head, his eyes closing as a wave of pain washed over him. "No...no infirmary. Just get me back to the dorms. I'll be fine."
Takahishi's eyes lingered on Crinix's face, searching for any sign of deception. But Crinix's expression remained resolute, and Takahishi nodded, his arm tightening around Crinix's waist as he supported his injured friend.
As they walked, the silence between them was filled with the sound of Crinix's labored breathing and the creaking of Takahishi's joints as he bore the weight of his injured friend. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the ground.