Ryu's eyes opened slowly.
The first thing he saw was broken sky above fractured concrete.
The second thing he saw was Takeru sitting on a fallen beam like nothing had happened.
Ryu sat up.
"…How am I alive?"
Takeru answered without turning.
"…Reverse Cursed Technique."
Ryu let out a short breath, half laugh, half disbelief.
"…Of course it is."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"…I lose a beam clash and still get patched up. That's humiliating."
Takeru finally glanced over.
"…You were useful."
Ryu squinted slightly.
"…That supposed to make me feel better?"
A pause.
"…No."
Ryu laughed.
"…Fair."
They sat in silence for a moment.
The battlefield around them was quiet now—scorched, unstable, but no longer actively collapsing.
Ryu leaned back slightly on his hands.
"…So what now?"
Takeru tilted his head slightly.
"…Continuation of objectives."
Ryu smirked.
"…Vague."
Takeru nodded.
"…Intentional."
Another pause.
Then Takeru spoke again.
"…I do have a question."
Ryu glanced over.
"…Shoot."
Takeru's expression stayed neutral.
"…Can you give me your points?"
A beat of silence.
Then—
Ryu stared at him.
"…You wake me up after I almost die…"
"…and the first thing you ask is money?"
Takeru didn't blink.
"…Yes."
Ryu burst out laughing.
Properly this time.
"…HAHA—man, you're something else."
He wiped his face.
"…Greedy kid."
Takeru corrected calmly.
"…Efficient resource allocation."
Ryu pointed at him.
"…That's just greed with better vocabulary."
Takeru paused.
"…Acknowledged."
Ryu exhaled, still amused.
Then looked up at the sky.
"…Fine."
A pause.
"…But I'm not doing it for free."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Expected."
Ryu sat forward.
"…We make a deal."
Takeru listened.
Ryu's grin returned.
"…Alliance."
A pause.
"…Temporary or otherwise, I don't care."
"…You've got strength. I've got experience. That's already a dessert pairing."
Takeru tilted his head slightly.
"…Accepted."
Ryu blinked.
"…No negotiation?"
"…Unnecessary."
Ryu laughed again.
"…You really are greedy AND lazy."
Takeru responded immediately.
"…Efficient."
They stood together now.
Not enemies.
Not friends.
Something in-between.
Ryu stretched slightly.
"…Alright then."
He cracked his neck.
"…Let's go collect your points, greedy kid."
Takeru nodded.
"…Agreed."
And just like that—
the battlefield shifted again.
Not into chaos.
Not into collapse.
But into an alliance built on mutual benefit, competition…
and pure, unapologetic greed.