GAH—!"
Yuumo, who had been watching from behind the stairwell entrance, gasped in horror.
"HIKARU!!"
She dashed forward—but Hikaru thrust his hand out, stopping her in her tracks without even looking.
His legs trembled. Blood dripped down his chin. His vision blurred—but his glare stayed fixed on Juxo as he forced himself to stand.
He staggered once.
Twice.
Then straightened.
Hikaru stood on shaking legs, blood sliding down his arms and jaw. Every breath was a razor in his lungs—but his eyes never lost focus. He glared through the pain like it was nothing more than background noise.
Juxo rested the longblade across his shoulders, grinning like a wolf that caught the scent of fresh kill.
"Well damn," he laughed, "usually they stop moving after the first swing."
Yuumo grit her teeth from the sidelines, fists balled. "If you kill him, I'm dropping you in the ocean, I swear to—"
Juxo didn't even look at her.
His eyes were locked on Hikaru.
And then—he escalated.
A surge of water burst from beneath his feet, spiraling upward around him. It didn't just swirl—it formed a shape. A spined, translucent dorsal fin erupted behind him, stretching twice his height. The edges glittered like ice shards, refracting moonlight. His pupils narrowed even more, turning a predatory shade—almost glowing.
The deck groaned beneath the shifting pressure.
"Let's kick it up," Juxo hissed, voice deepening with something inhuman. "I'm done warming up."
He swung his blade—a massive wave of water erupted outward, teeth forming along its surface like a hydra-shaped tsunami.
"Dorsal Breaker!"
The wave surged toward Hikaru with carnivorous force—
And Hikaru moved.
Not back—not away—but forward.
With his free hand, he reached into a hidden strap inside his coat and pulled out a single arrow unlike the others. Its shaft was a muted black, lined with faint inscriptions, the tip shaped more like a spearhead.
Juxo narrowed his eyes. "The hell is that?"
Hikaru spoke through clenched teeth.
"Something I was saving for Kazami…"
He drew the arrow back, every tendon in his arm flexing despite the blood loss.
"But you're getting it instead."
The air around him shifted—not wind—pressure. A distortion, as if the space around the arrow rippled.
Juxo's grin faded just a fraction. His instincts screamed.
"Shoot it," he taunted anyway. "See if I don't rip your head off before it—"
Hikaru fired.
THWIP—
But the arrow didn't fly forward.
It disappeared.
For one split second, Juxo blinked—then sensed something above him.
He looked up.
The arrow had reformed midair, dozens of feet above, and multiplied—seven arrows now hovered around the original, all pointed down at him in a spiral.
Hikaru exhaled once, eyes cold.
"Falling Convergence."
FWOOOSH—!
The arrows plummeted, swirling in a helical pattern—each one leaving behind a trail of compressed force that carved into the air. The water-wave Juxo had sent towering forward collided with the incoming barrage—
BOOOOMMM—!!!
An explosion of wind, water, and shattered force ripped across the deck. The entire ship rattled from the shock, waves below kicking up into violent whitecaps.
Yuumo shielded her head, eyes wide. The hooded figure at the entrance stood unfazed, cloak rippling from the blast.
As the mist and steam cleared, the deck was scarred—boards cracked and splintered, railing blown out in sections.
Juxo stood at the center of the wreckage, steam rising off his soaked form. One sleeve was shredded, and a long cut ran across his shoulder, dripping.
Juxo rolled his neck once, bones cracking like gravel under pressure. The cut on his shoulder still bled, but the grin eating his face said he barely noticed.
"Wanna know the difference between us, archer?" he said, voice low and feral. "You're fighting. I'm hunting."
He launched forward.
Not with a shout. Not with a warning.
Just pure speed.
Hikaru barely had time to react.
Juxo's longblade came down in a vertical swing with enough force to split a lifeboat in half. Hikaru sidestepped and fired an arrow point-blank—
Juxo caught it with his teeth.
SNAP.
He spat the broken shaft aside.
Hikaru's eyes narrowed. He drew three more arrows and loosed them in a fan spread—Juxo knocked one aside with his elbow, tilted his head to dodge another, and kicked the third back at Hikaru like a bullet.
The arrow whistled past Hikaru's cheek, slicing skin.
Juxo closed in.
Hikaru jumped back to create space, but Juxo was already following, water coiling around his blade like a serpent.
"RUN FASTER!"
SLASH—!!
Hikaru brought his bow up just in time to block the strike. The impact rattled his bones, nearly knocking the weapon out of his hands.
Before he could regain footing, Juxo twisted and slashed again.
CRASH—!!
A violent kick broke through Hikaru's guard, sending him tumbling across the deck. He slid, boots carving a path in the ruined boards, barely catching himself on one knee.
He raised the bow again—but his hand was trembling.
Juxo walked toward him, dragging the longblade along the ground with a metallic scrape.
"You know what sucks about ranged fighters?"
He vanished.
Hikaru's eyes widened—too late.
Juxo appeared behind him in a burst of rapid footwork, his heel crashing into Hikaru's back and launching him forward.
"Once I close the gap—?"
Hikaru hit the deck, rolling.
"—you're finished."
Juxo appeared above him, blade raised high.
Hikaru spun and blocked with the bow out of reflex—
CRRRRRK—!!
The metal frame of the bow cracked.
Juxo didn't pause.
He brought the longblade down again with a sadistic roar.
SHATTER—!!
The bow splintered apart in Hikaru's grip, pieces of reinforced black metal clattering across the deck.
"Shit!-"
Yuumo screamed from the side, "HIKARU!!"
Juxo stepped back, letting the broken remains fall from Hikaru's hands. Blood dripped from the archer's fingers, fresh cuts lining his arms.
Hikaru stared at the ruined weapon in stunned silence.
His primary lifeline—gone.
Hikaru stared far towards his bag, quickly running straight towards it, juxo raised up his weapon slowly.
Meanwhile — Inside the Guest Room
The room lights were low, a faint hum of the ship's engines rumbling through the floor. Shoto lay motionless on the bed, wrapped in bandages and resting against clean sheets. His breathing was shallow, but stable.
Yumiko hadn't left his side. She sat on the edge of the bed, fingers still laced around his hand like she was afraid he'd disappear if she let go.
Mai wiped Shoto's forehead with a damp cloth, frowning in worry every time he flinched in his sleep.
Ren stood against the wall, arms crossed, gaze flicking between the room and the door. He could hear distant thuds from the deck above.
Ryuji sat in a chair near the corner. He was still being glared at for punching Shoto earlier, and every time Mai glanced his way, he coughed and looked in the opposite direction from Shoto's auntie.
Yuumo's absence suddenly felt noticed.
Ren muttered, "She should've been back by now."
Neko flicked his tail lazily from the foot of the bed. "Knowing her she's probably playing at the arcade to pass the time."
Mai looked up sharply, sighing softly. "Can somebody get her and bring her back?"
Neko yawned. "Either that or She's probably with Hikaru somewhere you know, arguing."
Ren straightened. "I'll check it out."
Ryuki stood too. "I'll come—"
"No," Ren said quickly, pointing at him without looking. "You've already done enough damage today. Sit."
Ryuji slumped back down with a defeated sigh.
As Ren moved toward the door, Neko's ears twitched.
He stared toward the hallway.
"…Someone else is coming."
The atmosphere shifted.
The air in Shoto's room shifted.
Silence had settled only a moment ago, but an invisible pressure began to squeeze the space as Ryuji stood up from his chair. His fists clenched, expression unreadable.
The door opened with a soft click.
A figure stepped inside.
Zan-Xi — tall, composed, and sharp-eyed — closed the door behind him without a word. His hair was pulled back neatly, and his presence radiated a chilling calm that instantly seized everyone's attention.
"Hello, Aunt Mai."
His voice was smooth, unhurried.
Mai froze mid-motion. The damp cloth in her hand paused above Shoto's forehead. Her eyes, normally soft and warm, hardened with something caught between disbelief and quiet fury.
Yumiko tensed beside the bed, fingers tightening around Shoto's hand until her knuckles turned white.
Neko, perched lazily near the footboard, didn't move except for the flick of his tail. His golden eyes narrowed.
"Zan-Xi…" he drawled, his tone dry. "You couldn't wait three more months, huh?"
Zan-Xi gave a light chuckle as he walked deeper into the room. His steps were unhurried, controlled. He moved toward the chair Ryuji had only just abandoned and rested his hand on its back before sitting down with unsettling composure.
"How many years has it been, Cat?" he mused, eyes wandering the room as if reminiscing. "Five? Eight?"
Ryuji cut him off sharply. "We don't care about your damn memory lane — tell us why the hell you're here!"
Zan-Xi only smiled.
He lifted a finger and pointed upward, toward the ceiling — toward the upper deck.
"My battle with Shoto — along with Hina's and X-78's — starts in three months. But Ren, Hikaru, Yuumo?"
His smile widened just a fraction.
"For them… it might as well start now."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Ren didn't hesitate. His body moved before anyone could speak — the door flew open as he sprinted into the hallway and up the stairs.
Ryuji hesitated — only a beat — then rushed after him.
Zan-Xi folded his arms and closed his eyes, leaning back into the chair with eerie tranquility.
"And now," he murmured, "we wait."
Yumiko stared anxiously at the door. Neko's ears twitched. Mai's grip on the cloth finally began to tremble.
The tension coiled tighter.
The violent crash of impact echoed across the ship.
Hikaru skidded backward, boots scraping against the shredded boards of the deck. His lungs burned. His fingers dug into his side, still bleeding from earlier wounds.
Juxo's laughter tore through the night, manic and delighted.
"COME ON, ARCHER! DON'T TELL ME THAT WAS YOUR BEST!"
Hikaru didn't answer. His breath came out in shallow bursts, and sweat mixed with blood along his jaw. His bow — the one he'd relied on — lay shattered across the deck.
He lunged toward his side-slung gear bag, fingers diving inside with growing desperation.
Come on… come on—
Behind him, Juxo swung his massive crystal-forged longblade in a vicious arc.
From that slash, a colossal shark made of shifting, liquid crystal erupted — fangs bared, its body twisting forward like a tidal beast given form.
The shark's maw opened with a roar of crashing surf.
Hikaru gritted his teeth and tore out a weapon just as the monster bore down—
A sword.
He pulled the blade free and spun on instinct.
The impact was instant.
BOOOOM—!!
The shark slammed into the edge of his blade, detonating in a deafening burst of water and force. A violent wave of mist and steam exploded outward, swallowing the deck in a white shroud.
Yuumo shielded her face with her arms. Her vision vanished behind the fog.
High above, the moon became a blurred halo in the haze.
And inside that wall of mist—
Hikaru's mind flickered back.
Flashback — The Junkyard Night
A dry wind howled over a field of rusted cars and shattered scrap. The moonlight spilled across heaps of broken metal like scattered bones.
Hikaru stood alone, hand wrapped around the hilt of a strange, unresponsive sword.
Neko sat atop a crushed washing machine, tail swaying lazily.
"If you want to unlock the power of your sword," the cat said, voice calm and uncaring, "you can do it now."
Hikaru glanced at him. "How?"
Neko didn't blink.
"First, resonate with it. Let it remember you as its wielder. Awaken its true form, and it will become whatever weapon suits you best."
Hikaru scoffed, "you said that already.."
He hopped down, landing lightly on a tire.
"However…"
His eyes glowed faintly.
"If you learn the sword's true name—"
A slow smile.
"That path is yours alone."
Hikaru looked down at the blade in his hands.
He whispered a single word.
"Éveiller…"
The fog split apart in a violent gust, as if something inside it had exhaled.
Juxo's eyes widened—not in fear, but in thrill.
Hikaru emerged from the swirling haze, no longer clutching the battered sword. Instead, in his hands rested something reborn—a weapon transformed.
A bow.
Forged in deep azure, polished like ocean stone, its limbs traced with glowing crimson veins that pulsed faintly beneath the surface. A misty aura clung to it, as though it had just surfaced from a drowned world. It radiated quiet, deadly intent.
Hikaru raised it, posture unwavering, eyes cold as the night sea.
Juxo blinked once.
Then his grin split wider across his face, shark-like and ravenous.
"Ohhh…" he breathed, tongue dragging along his teeth, "now we're talking."
Hikaru said nothing. But the air around him began to warp, pressure rolling outward in waves. His aura surged, rippling the fog that clung to the deck.
He drew the bowstring back with two fingers.
No arrow in hand—until one formed from nothing.
A spear of energy spiraled free, shaped from liquid force. Its body glistened with blue waterlight, but its edges burned crimson like they'd been sharpened on blood.
Across from him, Juxo was already answering.
He rammed his longblade into the deck with a violent crack. The floor shuddered. Seawater burst upward through the fissures like a geyser, swirling around the weapon as he dragged it free, resting it across his shoulder.
A monstrous torrent of water surged along the blade, taking the form of a massive shark. Its fangs were carved from crystal water, its eyes whirling with veins of red—alive with hunger.
The very ship seemed to groan.
The wind stilled, as if holding its breath.
From the stair rail, Yuumo watched with fists clenched tight. Her jaw locked as pressure thickened around her. The vibrations in the air crawled across her skin.
Juxo crouched forward, blade hanging casually at his side.
Hikaru pulled the string to its limit.
Their voices came soft, barely louder than whispers—yet they struck the air like thunder.
"Falling Convergence…"
"Falling Tides—Crystal Water Megalodon!"
And then—
They moved.
Hikaru released.
A spiraling beam of compressed energy ripped through the air, twisting with water and crimson light, screaming across the deck like a storm given shape.
Juxo swung upward in a brutal cleave, splitting the sky as a monstrous water megalodon erupted into existence. Towering, fanged, veins of bloodlight writhing across its jaw—it roared as if the ocean itself had grown teeth.
The two forces collided in the center of the deck.
BOOOOOOMMMMM—!!!!
The world went white.
A detonation of steam, water, and roaring energy split the air. The blast sheared clean through planks, ripping them loose and sending shockwaves tearing up the hull. The entire ship rattled like it had been hit by a cannon broadside.
Yuumo threw an arm over her face as the explosion's force shoved her back a step.
For a few seconds—there was only ringing.
Only white.
Only silence.
Then—footsteps.
Heavy, fast, unmistakable.
Boots pounded up the upper deck stairs just as the shockwave thinned.
Ren appeared first, the wind snapping at his jacket, eyes already scanning the destruction.
Ryuji followed, cracking his knuckles even as his jaw dropped.
"Holy hell—what the hell did we miss!?"
Through the thinning smoke, two figures came into view.
Hikaru—on one knee, bow still clutched in his hand, a trail of blood running from a cut above his brow.
Juxo—still standing, barely, his longblade fractured and dripping seawater. His chest heaved with ragged breaths and one last unhinged laugh—
—before he pitched forward and collapsed face-first to the ruined deck, unconscious.
Ren stepped forward—
But froze.
Because someone else had just arrived.
From the shadow of the stairwell, a cloaked figure emerged into the moonlight.