The two opponents stare intensely at each other.
Noa remains in guard, ready to react to the slightest movement.
Opposite him, Tomaru shows no aggression.
Silence settles in, heavy.
As if time itself is hesitating between attack and observation.
Noa analyzes every detail without lowering his stance.
Tomaru, on his side, remains motionless, detached, almost absent.
His gaze is empty, yet stable.
A light wind crosses the area, moving the grass.
Yet between them, the air feels denser.
As if compressed by tension.
Noa slightly tightens his grip on his weapon.
Tomaru still does not move.
— Before we start… I would like to know your name.
Noa, surprised, immediately strengthens his guard.
— I don't see why I should tell you. And what would you use it for?
Tomaru tilts his head slightly…
Then simply repeats his request.
Unease settles in.
— What's his problem… why does he want my name? Does it have something to do with his technique…?
Noa hesitates.
Then decides to break this unnecessary tension.
— My name is Noa Hyperion.
Tomaru barely reacts.
As if that information has no value.
— So you are part of the Hyperion family… the one that controls the Eastern Empire. Interesting.
Noa is starting to lose patience.
— Can we get to the fight? This is getting boring.
Tomaru gently rubs the ring on his finger.
The sun almost completely disappears on the horizon.
Stars slowly begin to appear.
— I have one last question, Noa Hyperion.
He raises his eyes.
His green aura activates slightly.
His pupils shine like crystal.
— What is your goal?
Noa looks confused.
— What does that have to do with anything right now?
Tomaru insists calmly.
Noa does not answer immediately.
Not because he cannot…
but because he does not consider it necessary.
— No way I'm telling you anything.
Silence falls again.
Long.
Heavy.
Tomaru stares at him for a moment…
then slowly lowers his head.
— I see.
Without warning—
a wave of energy violently strikes Noa's left side.
He is thrown several meters away.
He barely manages to recover.
— What was that attack?!
Tomaru looks at him, still empty.
— A monster without emotion does not deserve to live. That seems obvious to me.
Far away, in the ruins
Émilia bursts out of the dust cloud at high speed.
Behind her, an unstable black mass pursues her.
Fluid. Alive.
Shadow spikes are launched.
She pivots.
Her scythe intercepts most of the attacks.
— What is this thing again…?
The mass emerges from the ground.
Spikes try to surround her.
Émilia runs on the walls, dodging fluidly while buildings collapse around her.
— They're really annoying…
Fast footsteps.
A presence.
A silhouette appears.
A girl with pink hair and yellow eyes.
She attacks.
Impact.
Émilia blocks with her scythe—
but is violently thrown against a wall.
She tries to regain footing.
The black mass charges again.
Without hesitation, Émilia destroys the wall behind her to escape.
Her scythe scrapes the ground.
Her position becomes critical.
— Two against one… that's not very fair.
The pink-haired girl appears on the debris.
A sadistic smile.
Tamida Ariel.
— Still conscious? You should've pretended… it would have saved you a lot of suffering, princess.
In the air—
The black mass gathers.
It forms a gigantic sphere, filled with violet cracks.
At the top—
a man.
Long black hair.
Empty gaze.
Gas mask.
Power Paro.
— Apparently elves aren't known for endurance… and you're proving it perfectly, princess Émilia.
From the debris, Émilia observes.
A slight worry appears.
— So… are we done for…?
Ariel appears behind her.
Silent.
Émilia attacks immediately—
but her strike is dodged.
A laugh.
A precise hit.
She is thrown out of the building.
No time to breathe—
Ariel is already on her.
A brutal kick.
Émilia crashes to the ground.
Power follows up.
The black mass slams into the area.
Silence.
Then—
Émilia reappears in the air.
Her scythe ready to cut.
Power dodges.
But his mask is slashed.
He falls.
Émilia continues.
Without stopping.
But the black matter reforms.
Blocks.
They separate.
Émilia is out of breath.
Power observes his cracked mask.
Calm.
— This is getting interesting…
From Hajime's side
Blows chain at insane speed inside the cave.
Hajime and Guy fight relentlessly.
Spear against flames.
Every attack is blocked, deflected, returned.
Guy accelerates.
Again.
Again.
Hajime counters, plants his spear, pivots and throws a huge rock.
— Come on! You can do better than that!
Guy shouts, excited.
Hajime growls.
Their movements become unpredictable.
Violent.
They bounce off the walls.
Guy launches a massive fireball.
Explosion.
Ice melts instantly.
— Sorry! I melted your terrain!
Hajime rushes.
Direct strike.
Blocked.
Guy dodges with agility.
Counterattacks.
Hajime is thrown into the debris.
— Stop talking… and fight, bastard!
Observation room
Team Z.X members watch the fights via a holographic screen.
Projection of Harman's technique.
The room is dark.
Atela covers her mouth.
— This is really going badly…
Drago lies on the floor, fascinated.
— THIS IS SO COOL! THEY'RE AMAZING!
Kobra sighs.
— Do you realize they're in trouble?
Drago doesn't listen.
Harman watches calmly.
— It is true that the situation is complicated…
Atela turns sharply.
— And you? What are you doing here?
Harman adjusts his hat.
— I felt lonely… so I got used to watching matches with the participants. And since the other matches are over…
A slight smile.
— I thought I could stay with you.
He is lying.
Marie clings to Atela.
— Do you think they'll make it?
— Of course…
Atela keeps her eyes fixed on the fights.
Her expression hardens.
Next chapter: The green will