The battlefield had become a blazing inferno.
The army of Mekira continued its assault, but the soldiers of Nexus held their ground. More than that they were pushing forward, driving the invaders back meter by meter. Yet in the heart of the war, an unspoken rule had imposed itself on everyone.
Never go near the clash between Ryu and Sorento.
Every exchange between the two monsters made the earth tremble. With each impact, the ground cracked, the air vibrated, and soldiers on both sides shared the same instinct: run.
— Stay away from Sorento and Ryu! a Nexus soldier screamed.
— Same for you guys! a Mekira soldier shouted back.
Sorento, in his gigantic energy form, gathered another massive sphere, pure, blinding light and hurled it straight at Ryu.
Ryu dodged effortlessly.
He pressed his palms together, took a breath, and spoke calmly:
— Level 3 Mantra… Paragon.
He slammed both hands into the ground.
The earth split open across dozens of meters before collapsing violently beneath Sorento. A vast chasm opened, swallowing the giant of light into the darkness.
— Did… King Ryu win? a Nexus soldier whispered.
Ryu stood upright.
Silence fell, heavy, unreal.
But he knew… it wouldn't last.
Seconds later, the ground trembled again. Ryu locked his eyes on the fractured surface, already prepared. An explosion erupted beneath his feet. He leapt aside, then again, narrowly avoiding several energy spheres bursting from the ground.
Finally, he launched himself into the air to better anticipate the attack.
Too late.
The energy giant burst from the earth, Sorento inside, charging straight at him like a living comet.
— You can't escape in the air, Ryu! Sorento roared.
The colossal fist rose, ready to finish him.
But Ryu… smirked.
A mysterious smile. Almost insolent.
Now.
Sorento noticed it.
He's smiling? What is he—
Everything turned white.
A violent flash.
And a dull sound, as if the world itself had slammed into his skull.
What's happening…? I feel… dizzy? But how—
A second flash.
Stronger.
The dull sound became deafening.
This time, Sorento was completely stunned, unable to move. His technique collapsed. The giant vanished, and Sorento crashed into the ground with a dry, brutal impact.
He tried to stand… but remained on his knees, his body refusing to obey.
Ryu landed calmly a few meters in front of him.
— Still conscious? he said. I'll admit it, you're a real monster. But this time… it's over.
Ryu dropped to one knee, his fingers forming a precise sequence of hand signs before he began another incantation:
— Abyssal world, spread your sorrow… World of light, share your wisdom. Starburst, shine with a thousand flames… Darkness of this world, erase the skies…
— Damn it… Sorento muttered. Another mantra… I need to move… now…
He never got the chance.
Five inscriptions, like incantation circles, lit up around him. Positioned at equal intervals, they projected a red energy prison, forming a perfect hexagon.
Sorento's eyes widened.
When did he have time to draw those marks…? And what did he do to knock me out like that?
A voice, sharp as a blade, answered before he could even breathe.
— Immortal flame, consume your prey. Infinite light, bring down your law.
— LEVEL 2 MANTRA: HELL PENTAGRAM!!!!!
Everything beneath Sorento lit up.
Then hell erupted.
A massive explosion detonated inside the prison. The impact was so violent the hexagon shattered instantly, unleashing a monstrous shockwave that swept across the island like a wave of annihilation.
Everything within two hundred meters was erased.
Soldiers, ships, debris, ripped apart, hurled away, pulverized.
The entire island shook.
Far away, near the city…
Darius felt the vibrations down to his bones.
— Looks like we're nearing the climax, he said, gazing toward the coast.
— What are you doing here, Darius? a voice asked.
Jack stood there.
— Well, it's a war. Did you forget the nickname people gave me?
The real question is why someone like you is here.
Jack remained silent.
Darius tilted his head slightly.
— How about joining me, Jack?
— What are you plotting? Jack replied.
Darius swept his gaze across the horizon.
— Look around you, Jack. This world is growing fragile. Isru. Mekira. Danafort.
Three great powers maintaining global balance thanks to their champions: Ryu, Sorento, and Gabriel.
But there are beings who pose a true threat to that balance, so dangerous they can bring chaos by themselves.
He paused, his tone growing heavier.
— The Calamities. Kolio has finally escaped Guatera. Two calamities are present here, while two champions are fighting to the death.
Do you understand what that means? The world is about to change.
Who will prevail? The one who wants to change the world… the one who wants to destroy it… or the one who wants to preserve it?
Suddenly, a man appeared before Darius, wearing a long black coat adorned with star-shaped patterns.
— Commander. We found them.
— Perfect. Take them and let's go back.
— Yes, sir!
The man vanished at once.
Darius turned his head toward the battlefield again, as if he had sensed something. Jack did the same.
— Well… I honestly didn't expect this either, Darius said.
It's time to leave. Looks like this war is coming to an end.
He gave a brief smile.
— I don't know if we'll meet again, Jack, but it was a pleasure meeting you whatever your goals may be.
Oh… and one last thing.
His expression turned cold.
— I suggest you don't stand in my way.
He turned his back on Jack… and walked straight toward Tenma.
Stopping beside him, he leaned down and whispered into his ear, his voice low and intimate.
— No one was killed. I avoid unnecessary deaths as much as possible.
And of course, I had no intention of harming your friend, or taking his jewel.
Tenma trembled, lost, unable to process what he had just lived through.
Darius continued:
— I can feel it… your ideals are the same as mine. Your potential is immense.
There's a country near Isru called Redou. Go to the city of Anger and look for a man named Tomoya.
Tell him the commander sent you to retrieve his bag of fish.
You'll find me there, and I'll explain my plan to you clearly.
And then Darius disappeared.
Tenma remained frozen, disoriented, breathless.
Moments later…
Jack stepped forward.
Seeing him, Tenma gathered what little strength he had left and stood in front of Ikku, still unconscious, like a human shield.
Jack stopped immediately.
— Don't worry, kid. I don't mean you any harm.
— Then why are you here? Tenma replied cautiously.
— I wasn't far… and I heard that Sorento might arrive here, along with Darius.
— What does that have to do with you?
Jack looked at him calmly.
— You heard him, didn't you? This world may be destroyed… or changed.
I want to preserve it.
That said, I don't have much time.
Another voice spoke from the side.
— You're here for Ikku, aren't you?
Kenny had gotten back on his feet. He moved with difficulty, but his gaze was steady.
Jack looked at him.
— You're a friend of Ikku's?
— That's right. He told me about you. He respects you a lot… and he wants to know why you're public enemy number one.
Silence fell.
Then Jack answered simply:
— If he really wants to know… then he'll have to come find me.
Jack placed his hand on Ikku's back. His arm glowed. A light briefly enveloped Ikku's body then vanished.
— I have to go, Jack said. You'll be getting more visitors soon.
Give Ikku my regards.
And he left.
Tenma and Kenny collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
— What… just happened? Tenma murmured.
— I think that was way too much information for me, Kenny replied weakly.
Back at the coast
Ryu stood tall, a massive cloud of dust obscuring the battlefield.
Soldiers who had been swept away by the blast slowly rose, stunned.
— That old man's even crazier than I thought… a Nexus soldier muttered.
Ryu dropped to one knee, clearly exhausted by his last attack.
When the dust finally settled, Sorento could be seen lying on the ground unconscious… or so it seemed.
— Damn… well done, kid, Ryu muttered. That attack should've obliterated you.
But you still managed to protect yourself somehow.
Sorento moved.
He slowly pushed himself up. His body was covered in wounds and burns, his clothes reduced to rags. He struggled to stay on his feet.
— I didn't think you'd get back up, Ryu said.
— I… I figured it out… Sorento gasped. It was… teleportation.
— So you managed to see it? Ryu asked.
Sorento clenched his teeth.
— Just like the first time… when I tried to finish Dôma. My energy sphere vanished.
But this is different from Zeno.
You… you can create dimensional portals.
Earlier, what stunned me was an uppercut to the chin… followed by a hook.
That's how you drew those incantation circles without even moving.
Ryu stared at him, genuinely impressed.
— I'll admit it, you really impress me, kid. If you hadn't been so reckless, you would've become a legend in a few years.
But… it ends here.
Sorento snapped.
— HOW DARE YOU!
His aura erupted.
— I AM SORENTO! THE STRONGEST FIGHTER OF MEKIRA! NO ! OF THE ENTIRE WORLD!
— I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THIS INSULT! YOU'LL REGRET EVER CHALLENGING ME!!!!!!
Sorento screamed in rage.
His spiritual energy poured out like a flood, so powerful it pushed Ryu back a few centimeters.
The light giant reappeared.
It raised its hands.
And this time, it created an energy sphere even larger than before.
So massive that the giant itself looked small beside it.
Ryu went pale.
— Damn… how can he still have this much energy?
If he fires that… the entire island will be destroyed…
I have no choice… I'll have to—
Sorento roared:
— I AM A SONKA! MY ENERGY IS LIMITLESS! DISAPPEAR YOU AND THIS ISLAND!!!!!!
The next instant, a calm, unfamiliar voice echoed across the battlefield.
— Calm down, Sorento. That is not worthy of your rank.
Every soldier turned toward the newcomer.
Their faces froze.
They understood immediately who it was.
— YOU?! Sorento spat.
Ryu, on the other hand, exhaled in relief.
— Well, well… looks like he decided to show up.
In his laboratory, Hypsen watched the scene with keen interest.
— Well now… how will this end?
A soldier beside him swallowed.
— Who is that…?
Hypsen smiled.
— They call him "the one who holds the absolute trust of his people."
He is also the third champion.
The warrior king of Danafort…
Gabriel.
For the first time, the three champions were gathered in the same place.
And no one knew how this meeting would end.