Riku stood amidst the wreckage of the city, his body still tingling from the battles he'd fought. Four of the five villains had already been taken down, but the final one... this one was different. Stronger. Far stronger than any of the others.
Toru Kurotaki, the S-rank Essence warrior who had always teased Riku, was on the ground, panting heavily. His once-pristine uniform was torn, and his energy reserves were almost depleted. Despite being exhausted, Toru had managed to damage the fifth villain slightly—though it was clear he had reached his limit.
The final opponent stood tall before them, an imposing figure clad in dark, shifting armor, his eyes glowing an eerie green. He wasn't just a typical villain—his presence alone seemed to warp the air around him. This man radiated pure power, and Riku could feel the overwhelming aura of danger that surrounded him.
"You… you're the last one, huh?" Riku said, his voice low but resolute. His muscles were still tense, his body already bruised and sore from the earlier fights, but he felt no fatigue. He had fought hard, but the fight was far from over.
The villain didn't respond with words—he only flexed his fingers, and the ground beneath them cracked. He wasn't interested in conversation.
Riku, however, wasn't backing down. His eyes narrowed as he analyzed the opponent. This was the perfect opponent for what he had been holding back—the true test.
"This will be a first time," Riku muttered under his breath, his body crackling with latent energy. His mind flashed back to the dream he'd had, the fight that had awakened Divine Avatar. That power—the energy—was the key to defeating this monster.
Riku glanced at Toru, who was barely able to stand, sweat pouring down his face. The man who had been so arrogant earlier was now helpless.
"You did well, Toru," Riku said, turning back to the villain. "But I'll take it from here."
Toru barely nodded, his breath ragged. "You… you better make it quick. This one's… insane."
Riku took a deep breath, his eyes flashing blue. The blue aura surrounded him once again, shimmering like a halo. His energy swirled, and for the first time, he began to consciously tap into Divine Energy—the source of that power he had been avoiding.
The villain's eyes widened in surprise, sensing the change in Riku. "What is this?" he growled, taking a step back. "You think you can challenge me with that little spark?"
But Riku didn't hesitate. Divine Avatar surged to life within him, and in a split second, the world around him seemed to slow.
Everything—every movement, every heartbeat, every breath—felt magnified. Divine Energy coursed through his veins, and in that moment, he was no longer just Riku Hayashi. He was something far more dangerous.
Riku's hand shot out, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of the villain. The air crackled as Riku's fist slammed into the villain's chest with an intensity that made the ground tremble.
Before the villain could even register what happened, Riku delivered another blow. His Divine Energy tore through the air like a lightning storm, each strike landing with surgical precision, breaking through the villain's defenses as if they were paper.
In less than three seconds, the fight was over.
The villain didn't even have a chance to fight back.
He crumpled to the ground, the last of his energy drained, his body limp from the overwhelming force. Riku stood over him, his breath calm, his body not even sweating.
Toru's eyes widened as he watched from behind, still kneeling and trying to regain his strength. "What… the hell just happened? That was... three seconds?!"
Riku, however, wasn't tired. Not even a little. In fact, he felt more energized than ever before. He turned to Toru, his aura dissipating, leaving him standing still, a cool smile on his face.
"Not bad for a first time," Riku said, his voice light.
Toru just stared at him, completely stunned. "You… you're something else, Riku. I never thought I'd see the day. A D-rank... no, an A-rank... taking down an S-rank and defeating an EX-rank in less than three seconds. Damn it."
Riku didn't respond right away. He didn't feel like boasting. He had done what was necessary, but he knew there was more to come.
The city around them was still in ruins, and while the villains were defeated, there were still questions to be answered. Who sent these enemies? Why were they targeting Essence warriors?
Riku's eyes darkened slightly, but his resolve hardened. This wasn't over.
He looked at Toru one last time. "Stay here. I'll check if the others need help."
And with that, Riku walked away, his body pulsing with the raw, untapped power of his Divine Avatar.