Ishigori's laughter echoed like a deadly bell through the crumbling streets of Tokyo. His strength was overwhelming—each strike sent Maki flying backward, crashing through fifteen walls like they were paper. Dust and debris filled the air, choking the space with destruction.
Maki groaned, struggling to push herself up, her body battered but her will unbroken.
Yuta's eyes burned with fury. The calm, collected exterior shattered as he clenched his fists, veins pulsing with cursed energy. He stepped forward, voice sharp like a blade slicing through the chaos.
"What's so funny about this?" Yuta growled, voice dripping with rage.
Ishigori smirked, unfazed. "You think this is a joke? I'm just getting started."
But Yuta wasn't listening anymore.
With a roar that shook the ruined cityscape, Yuta unleashed his new Ryoiki Tenkai — the Phantom Spiral. It wasn't the familiar Rika, but a fierce manifestation of his own spirit: swirling tendrils of spectral energy coiled around him like a tempest, restricting Ishigori's movements while amplifying Yuta's power.
The air crackled as Yuta lunged, each strike sharper and faster than before. Ishigori tried to counter, but the Phantom Spiral tightened its grip, sapping his strength and leaving him vulnerable.
A final, thunderous blow from Yuta sent Ishigori crashing down, defeated.
Points flashed before their eyes—100 points each for Yuta and Maki.
Panting but victorious, Yuta's glare didn't waver.
"This fight isn't over yet," he said quietly, "but you just lost."
Maki stood beside him, battered but proud. Together, they had turned the tide.