Kato charged at Arou, unleashing a rapid flurry of punches. Arou blocked every strike with effortless precision, calmly reading Kato's movements.
When Kato threw a heavy right hook, Arou intercepted it and countered instantly; one sharp blow to Kato's chest, followed by another to his face. The impact sent Kato stumbling backward.
But Kato didn't stop.
Fire burned in his eyes as he surged forward again, launching yet another assault. Kato's strikes came fast and relentless, but Arou was impenetrable; blocking every blow and answering with ruthless precision.
He swung his right fist again. Arou knocked it aside and drove a crushing punch straight into his chest.
Before Kato could even catch his breath, Arou's left hand snapped into his face, the impact sending him skidding across the ground.
Kato scrambled back to his feet, frustration mingling with resolve.
Kato: (to himself) He's insanely strong. Even with my God Eye, I haven't landed a single hit. So he was holding back during training? Damn it! I can't stop now. If I give up, everything everyone has done for me, it'll all be for nothing. I have to fight. I have to find a way out of this!
Memories of his friends flashed through Kato's mind, igniting his resolve. He surged forward again, unleashing a wild combination of punches and kicks.
Arou didn't flinch.
Calm and composed, he deflected every strike with effortless precision. Each counter he threw landed with crushing force, slamming Kato to the ground again and again.
But Kato refused to stay down.
Arou: (sighs) This isn't going anywhere. You've realized by now, haven't you? I was holding back during our training. Even with your God Eye, you can't beat me.
Kato: (shouting) SHUT UP!!!
Fueled by rage, Kato lunged with a high kick aimed at Arou's head. Arou blocked it effortlessly. Kato followed with a left hook, only for Arou to counter with another precise punch, snapping Kato's head to the side.
Kato retaliated with a desperate right hook that Arou dodged, grabbing Kato's hood and sweeping his legs out from under him. Before Kato could recover, Arou delivered a kick to his face, sending him reeling.
Kato staggered back and Arou didn't give him a second to recover.
He pressed the advantage, unleashing a brutal barrage of punches, each one too fast and too precise for Kato to counter in time. Blow after blow crashed into him, driving him back.
Then something went wrong.
Kato's God Eye began to flicker; blinking like a failing light. His emotions were spiraling, and the connection he needed to maintain it was slipping.
Seeing it, Arou's lips curled into a knowing smile.
Arou: [BLACK: SHADOW FRAGMENTATION]
Two clones emerged from Arou's shadow, grabbing Kato's arms and restraining him. The real Arou stepped forward, delivering a brutal sequence of blows that left Kato dazed.
His head swam, a sensation eerily reminiscent of the night he was taken by the Kaimi Daja. As Arou dismissed his clones, they dissolved back into his shadow, and Kato collapsed to the ground, his God Eye deactivated completely.
Kato: (to himself) Damn it… I have to get up… I can't let it end here…
He tried to rise, but his body refused to obey. Looking up, he saw Arou towering over him, his victory assured.
Arou: I didn't want it to come to this. You forced my hand, Kato. And where has that gotten you? Since you can't move, taking you back to the hideout will be a lot easier.
Arou activated his technique again.
Arou: [BLACK: SHADOW FRAGMENTATION]
Two clones reappeared, moving to lift Kato's limp body. But then…
The roof of the abandoned house exploded inward.
Kayomi burst through it and landed between Arou and the clones with crushing force. In a blur of motion, he tore through them, shattering each clone before they could even lay a hand on Kato.
The threat was gone in seconds.
Both Arou and Kato stood frozen, stunned by Kayomi's sudden, overwhelming arrival.
Arou: (to himself) He took out my clones in an instant? But why is he here?
Kayomi: Are you okay Kato?
Kato: Yeah… I'm fine.
Kayomi: (to himself) They were already fighting before I found them. Kato's badly hurt. I didn't believe it when Dana told me this, but after seeing that… (to Arou) What's the meaning of this, Arou!?
Arou: So you figured it out. Saves me the trouble of explaining again. How did you find us?
Kayomi: Kinara's technique allows her to teleport people. Even after she teleports people her energy will still linger on the person she teleports for a while. The same thing happened to you and I tracked her energy on you to this place.
Arou: For real? Maybe I shouldn't have let Kinara teleport us.
Kayomi: How long have you been with the Kaimi Daja?
Arou: Hmm… about a year now. But why does that matter?
Kayomi: Why are you doing this? Ervin took you in, cared for you. We all shared the same dream to change the world. What changed? Why did you join them?
Arou: I still want to change the world, but not the way you all do. Every single one of you has the same mindset. The same goals. The same methods. And it's all because Ervin told you that's how it should be. I got sick of it. I wanted to chase something different… but there was no one who could understand me. No one who would even try.Except the Kaimi Daja. So I chose them. And I'll do whatever it takes to make our vision become reality.
Kayomi: Your goals are hurting people. Don't you—
Arou chuckled.
Arou: See? This is why I hated all of you. It's always the same speeches and the same questions. There's nothing unique about any of you because you all can't think for yourselves.
His voice suddenly turned cold.
Arou: But… I'm done. I'm not part of your group anymore. So, treat me as your enemy.