The island was silent.
The ocean moved slowly beneath the dark sky.
The Devil Horns had gathered around Junyu, still recovering from the battle.
Then—
Salim's eyes suddenly widened.
His breathing stopped.
"U.S…"
Everyone turned toward him.
Salim's voice became tense.
"It's U.S."
A strange pressure spread across the island.
"ATTACK!"
Ikiro immediately moved.
Blue flames erupted around his body, illuminating the darkness as he charged forward.
But—
BOOM!
In an instant, Ikiro was thrown across the island.
He crashed into the ground and rolled several meters before stopping.
"IKIro!"
Junyu suddenly stood.
"STOP!"
Everyone froze.
Junyu's body trembled.
"I can do this."
His knees gave way.
He fell to the ground.
His breathing became heavier.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
His fingers dug into the earth.
His nails began stretching into claws.
Something inside him was changing.
Then—
a voice echoed inside his mind.
"When will you grow…"
Junyu froze.
"…if you are always being protected?"
A laugh echoed through his thoughts.
The Unknown Soul.
U.S.
Junyu clenched his teeth.
"Leave me alone."
The voice laughed again.
"Can't do that, honey."
Junyu's body suddenly jolted.
His appearance began changing.
His movements became wild.
He launched himself across the island, jumping from rock to rock as though he couldn't control his own body.
"DON'T HELP ME!"
The Devil Horns watched helplessly.
"JUNYU!"
Junyu leapt—
and fell directly into the ocean.
SPLASH!
The waves swallowed him.
Under the surface, his voice echoed through the water.
"AHHH! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
U.S. answered calmly.
"People are dying."
Junyu struggled beneath the waves.
"And look at you…"
The voice became colder.
"…just chilling on a distant island."
Junyu's eyes widened.
U.S. continued.
"I am planting myself inside you."
Darkness surrounded Junyu.
"Like a tree."
The voice echoed from every direction.
"Once that tree grows…"
Junyu's body shook.
"…it will take over you."
A pause.
"And you will sleep forever."
Junyu's eyes widened.
"This process will take place in five days."
Junyu screamed.
His body became engulfed in strange energy.
"AH!"
The pressure became overwhelming.
For a moment, his transformed appearance seemed to consume him completely.
Then—
everything stopped.
The darkness disappeared.
Junyu returned to his original form.
His body floated motionless in the water.
Unconscious.
THE NEXT MORNING
Junyu's eyes slowly opened.
A ceiling.
A bed.
The familiar voices of his crew.
He looked around.
Salim was sitting beside him.
Ton stood near the door.
Ikiro and the others were gathered behind them.
Salim immediately leaned forward.
"Junyu…"
Junyu slowly sat up.
"What happened?"
Salim's voice was quiet.
"What is happening to you?"
Junyu looked at his hands.
He remained silent for a moment.
Then—
"I'm fine, guys."
But nobody believed him.
Junyu looked toward the window.
The ocean was visible in the distance.
"I just don't have time."
His voice became quieter.
"I'm going to be dead in five days."
Everyone froze.
Junyu looked down.
"I have a wish."
He swallowed.
"I want to save everything."
His eyes began watering.
"I want to do something good for the world."
Salim's heart broke.
This wasn't the Junyu he knew.
The boy who once dreamed of becoming the ruler of the entire world—
the boy who laughed without fear—
the boy who believed nothing was impossible—
was sitting in front of him, struggling to understand what was happening to himself.
Junyu slowly lay back down.
His exhaustion took over.
Within moments—
he fell asleep.
Salim looked at the others.
They left the room quietly.
Outside, the Devil Horns gathered.
Salim looked at everyone.
"Junyu used to be energetic."
He paused.
"He used to be active."
Another pause.
"Happy."
"Positive."
Salim lowered his head.
"But now…"
His voice cracked slightly.
"He's in despair."
"Fear."
"Anger."
"And he doesn't even know who he is anymore."
Nobody spoke.
Ton finally asked:
"We know."
He looked toward the room.
"But what can we do?"
Salim raised his head.
"Remind him who he is."
Everyone looked at him.
"He is Lacod Junyu."
"The captain of the Devil Horns."
Salim's eyes hardened.
"He has to see who he is."
"He has to remember himself."
THE NEXT MORNING
The sun slowly rose over the ocean.
Hours had passed.
Junyu sat alone beside the sea.
He hadn't moved.
He simply stared at the horizon.
The waves came and went.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Then—
THUD!
Ton pushed Junyu from behind.
Junyu fell onto the sand.
"JUNYU!"
Junyu looked up.
"What the fuck, man?"
Ton stared down at him.
"WHO ARE YOU?"
Junyu's expression changed.
"Ton… what?"
Ton stepped closer.
"Remember who you are, Junyu!"
Junyu remained silent.
Ton's fists tightened.
"I WANT MY CAPTAIN BACK!"
His voice echoed across the beach.
"I WANT OUR LEADER!"
Ton pointed at him.
"LACOD JUNYU!"
Junyu looked away.
Ton continued.
"NOT THIS VERSION OF YOU!"
"You want to save everyone around you?"
Ton's voice became fierce.
"THEN FIRST SAVE YOURSELF!"
Junyu's eyes trembled.
Ton shouted the words that hit him hardest.
"SON OF DARMEN!"
Junyu's expression collapsed.
"A FAILURE!"
Ton turned away.
"I don't respect you."
He looked back.
"Not this Junyu."
Then Ton walked away.
Junyu remained on the ground.
Silence.
His hands slowly clenched into fists.
He stared at the sand.
His eyes began watering.
His voice was barely audible.
"I lost…"
A tear fell.
"I'm a fucking loser."
He punched the ground.
"I failed everyone who believed in me."
Another punch.
His voice broke.
"I failed everyone…"
Then—
someone grabbed him.
Salim.
He pulled Junyu into a hug.
Junyu froze.
Salim spoke quietly.
"No."
Junyu looked at him.
"You didn't."
Salim tightened his arms around him.
"We did."
Junyu's eyes widened.
One by one—
the Devil Horns appeared behind Salim.
Ikiro.
Ton.
Michael.
Katsa.
Everyone.
Salim looked directly at Junyu.
"We lost."
Ikiro stepped forward.
"We lost."
Ton lowered his head.
"We lost."
Katsa's eyes softened.
"We lost."
One after another—
they stood beside their captain.
"It's not you."
Salim smiled faintly.
"It's us."
Junyu stared at them.
Salim continued.
"And we take this as a team."
Nobody moved.
"Nobody is at fault."
Katsa nodded.
"Nobody carries this alone."
Ton looked at Junyu.
"Remember who you are."
Salim's voice grew stronger.
"You are our captain."
The entire Devil Horns stepped forward.
And together—
they shouted:
"WHO WILL RULE THE ENTIRE WORLD AND SAVE IT?!"
Silence.
Junyu stared at them.
His tears remained on his face.
Then—
his lips slowly curled upward.
A laugh escaped him.
Small at first.
Then louder.
For the first time in days—
Junyu smiled.
He stood.
He looked at every member of his crew.
His eyes were still tired.
His body was still broken.
The five-day countdown was still there.
U.S. was still inside him.
Bloodveil was still waiting.
But now—
he remembered.
He placed his hand against his chest.
And smiled.
"I am…"
The Devil Horns watched him.
Junyu's eyes sharpened.
"LACOD JUNYU."
He raised his head.
"THE CAPTAIN OF THE DEVIL HORNS."
The ocean roared behind him.
And for the first time since the Black Meeting—
the Devil Horns stood together again.