Dust swirled through the air. The ruined village trembled faintly, and the battlefield fell into an unnatural silence.
Heroes and villains alike stared at Zata, who still hovered above them. His aura of destruction pressed down on every movement they made.
But Arou was different.
He stood firm, despite his heavy breathing.
His eyes were locked on Emi.
She was no longer by his side.
Her head… gone. Her body lay lifeless on the ground.
Nova, Shion, Akari, and Shi stood frozen. Shock and fear paralyzed them. Even Airi and Lumina looked pale, realizing the overwhelming power Zata had just displayed.
But Arou…
Rage and grief burned within him.
His grip tightened around his sword. His eyes glowed with fury.
"Emi…!" he shouted, his voice trembling with pain. "I'll make you pay! I won't let this stand!"
Zata looked at him calmly, as if reading every emotion.
"I only used 0.001% of my power," he said softly. "Merely to minimize the damage. Imagine what would happen… if I used it all."
Arou swallowed hard.
Every movement from Zata was too fast. Too precise.
And yet—
His anger pushed him forward.
Nova grabbed Arou's arm, trying to steady him. "Arou… focus. Don't let your emotions control you."
Shion remained at a distance, sniper ready—but even his eyes showed tension.
Arou took a deep breath.
He looked at his allies—barely able to move from shock.
Then at Zata… who simply waited.
"If I can't avenge Emi…" Arou said, voice steady but shaking, "then I'll fight until my last breath. I won't run!"
The dust rose again. The ruins trembled.
Everyone understood now—
This was no longer just a battle of strength or strategy.
This was about facing destruction… and loss.
And the only path left…
Was to fight.
---
"Everyone… attack together!" Arou shouted.
His voice shook—but it carried resolve.
Nova, Shion, Akari, Shi, Airi, and Lumina moved at once.
Zata watched from above, a faint smile on his face.
His aura intensified.
The ground beneath them began to crack.
Arou dashed forward, his blade cutting through the air toward Zata's left side.
Nova followed, blocking a wave of incoming energy.
Shion fired, his shot aimed precisely at Zata's leg.
Akari and Shi struck from the right and behind.
Airi and Lumina unleashed waves of energy, redirecting Zata's attacks—creating an opening.
For a moment—
They worked as one.
Zata smiled.
With a single motion of his hand—
A shockwave exploded outward.
Everyone was thrown back.
Dust scattered. Ruins were lifted and hurled across the battlefield.
"Well done… your teamwork," Zata's voice echoed. "But you are still far too weak."
Arou glared at him, fury burning. "I don't care how strong you are! I'll fight to the very end!"
He charged again—faster this time.
His blade surged with energy, combining with Nova's remaining power.
Akari and Shi attacked in sync, forcing Zata to divide his attention.
Airi and Lumina held the line, protecting the others from devastating counterattacks.
Slowly—
They began to realize something.
Together…
They could pressure him.
Zata let out a low laugh.
"Just a little more… and you begin to understand. Interesting."
Arou's eyes burned.
"If this is only a fraction of your power… I still won't back down!"
Zata's smile widened.
The air tightened.
The real fight—
Was just beginning.
---
Then—
Zata moved.
With a single strike against the ground—
Everything shattered.
The force exploded outward.
Shi tried to block with her scythe—
She was destroyed instantly.
Shion and Nova followed—
Gone before they could even react.
Arou collapsed, his legs shattered.
Pain burned through every part of his body.
But his eyes—
Never left Zata.
"This… is only 0.01%…?" he whispered, breath shaking.
Airi staggered, her body covered in wounds—but she remained standing.
"We… still have to fight," she said hoarsely.
Akari looked down at her broken leg.
Her body trembled—but instinct kept her moving.
"I… can't give up," she muttered.
Now—
Only three remained.
Arou.
Airi.
Akari.
Everyone else was gone.
Zata stood untouched.
"I am still holding back," he said coldly. "And you are already broken."
Arou clenched his teeth.
"You won't win that easily!" he roared.
Airi steadied herself, eyes focused.
"We stand together… the three of us. We can still do something."
Zata smiled faintly.
The battle had entered a far deadlier phase.
---
Suddenly—
Power erupted from within Arou.
A surge of rage.
A boost born from grief.
His energy exploded outward, strengthening his blade, sharpening his speed and reflexes.
His body trembled under the strain—
But his mind stayed locked on the fight.
Airi raised her sword.
"We strike together. This is our only chance."
Akari moved, despite her broken leg.
Her movements were sharp, controlled—pure instinct.
She kicked debris toward Zata, forcing him to shift slightly.
That was enough.
Arou moved.
His blade blurred—
Each strike carried rage, power, and intent.
Energy waves crashed toward Zata.
Zata lifted a hand.
The energy twisted—redirected.
The impact weakened.
"You're getting bolder… but still too weak," he said coldly.
Airi attacked from the side.
Akari pressed from another angle.
Their attacks synchronized—
Forcing pressure onto Zata like never before.
Zata raised his hand.
A vortex of energy formed.
The ground shattered.
The air screamed.
But Arou—
Still pushed forward.
"This… is only the beginning," Zata said.
His aura grew denser.
Something worse was coming.
---
"Keep attacking! No hesitation!" Arou shouted.
Airi advanced despite her wounds.
"We can match him—focus!"
Akari moved swiftly, distracting, reducing pressure.
"Stay in sync! No openings!"
The battlefield erupted.
Energy waves struck from all directions.
The ground split beneath them.
But their teamwork—
Was working.
Slowly.
Barely.
They were pushing him.
Zata watched.
"Interesting… you've begun to coordinate."
His aura intensified.
"Don't let your guard down."
The most dangerous phase—
Was approaching.
---
Time passed.
Too long.
Arou, Airi, and Akari continued fighting—
But their bodies were breaking.
Their wounds worsened.
Their breathing grew unstable.
Their energy nearly gone.
Arou stared at Zata, still burning with anger—
But barely standing.
"We… can't stop now…"
Airi blocked another attack.
"Just a little longer…"
Akari kept moving—
Even as pain consumed her.
Then—
Zata stopped.
He looked at them.
Cold.
Calm.
"Pathetic."
Before they could react—
He disappeared.
No explosion.
No sound.
Just… gone.
Arou stared at the empty space.
His body trembled.
"He… left?"
Airi lowered her head, catching her breath.
"We're alive… but don't relax. This isn't over."
Akari sat down briefly, clutching her leg.
Her dark blue eyes still burned with resolve.
"We need to prepare… he could return anytime."
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Ruins. Dust. Destruction.
All that remained—
Was proof of Zata's power.
And one terrifying truth:
This battle…
Was far from over.