The wind over the broken battlefield shifted again—like reality itself had been reminded it still had rules to follow.
Takeru stood beside Ryu, their temporary alliance still fresh in the air between them.
Yuta remained nearby, watching quietly.
Uro hovered at a distance, still cautious, still recovering her balance after everything that had happened.
Then—
a small winged skull-shaped shikigami popped into existence in front of Takeru.
Bright.
Cheerful.
Unbothered by the destruction around it.
"Kogane reporting!"
It spun in the air.
"…239 points added to player Takeru!"
Takeru blinked once.
"…Confirmed."
Kogane tilted slightly.
"…Would you like to make a new rule?"
Takeru shook his head.
"…Nah. Not yet, bud."
Kogane immediately perked up.
"…Okay!"
A beat.
Then it leaned closer, almost excited.
"…Oh! One more thing!"
Everyone's attention shifted slightly.
Even Ryu raised an eyebrow.
Kogane continued brightly:
"…Sendai Colony is now defeated! You will be teleported to Tokyo Colony 2!"
Yuta frowned slightly.
"…That fast?"
Uro clicked her tongue.
"…Convenient."
Kogane ignored them and kept going.
"…Kenji Hakari and Kirara Hoshi are waiting for your arrival!"
Ryu cracked his neck.
"…More fighters?"
Takeru nodded slightly.
"…Expected."
Then Kogane tilted its head.
"…Bring Ryu, Uro, and Yuta?"
A brief pause.
All three looked at Takeru.
Takeru didn't hesitate.
"…Yes. All of them."
Ryu smirked.
"…We're being collected now, huh?"
Yuta exhaled softly.
"…Guess that settles it."
Uro crossed her arms.
"…I'm not refusing, but I'm not agreeing either."
Kogane spun once happily.
"…Okay!"
The air began to distort around them.
Space folding.
Rules executing.
Teleportation initiating.
Ryu looked at Takeru briefly.
"…Hey."
Takeru glanced back.
"…Yes."
Ryu grinned.
"…Don't get boring in the next place."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Unlikely."
The light surged.
And in an instant—
Sendai was gone.
Tokyo Colony 2 awaited.