"Surrender. You're outmatched."
Moyasu's voice echoed like a verdict.
"Even if you have Divine Protection… you won't beat me."
Ryusei's body trembled as he forced himself upright.
Every muscle burned.
Every breath hurt.
But his eyes—
Remained unbroken.
"…Why would I give up…"
He steadied himself.
"…Why would I surrender to someone who already did?"
Silence.
"You gave up on everything," Ryusei continued, his voice low but cutting.
"Your friends. Your duty."
His grip tightened on the Photon Blade.
"…Your teacher."
"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME!!!"
The explosion of rage came with a spell.
"Ash Dragon: Scorch Eagle!!"
A swarm of ash-formed eagles screamed through the air—
Then detonated.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The battlefield erupted in layered explosions.
Ryusei was thrown violently into a wall, debris collapsing over him.
For a moment—
Stillness.
Then—
A hand pushed through the rubble.
"It's true…"
Ryusei stood again.
"…I don't know everything…"
His breathing was rough.
Unstable.
"But I know one thing."
He looked straight at Moyasu.
"…Would Arashi be proud of what you've become?"
"…Don't."
Moyasu's voice dropped.
Dangerously quiet.
"…Don't speak about him."
He moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade."
Light surged into Ryusei's hand.
Moyasu's fist came crashing toward his face—
Ryusei dodged.
Countered.
SLASH—
And—
BOOM!!
The explosion sent him flying again.
"…Again…" Ryusei muttered as he skidded across the ground.
His clothes were torn.
Burned.
"…There has to be a limit…"
He stood.
Charged again.
Strike—
Explosion.
Again.
And again.
Each attempt—
The same result.
"You don't know when to give up, do you?" Moyasu said coldly.
Ryusei smirked faintly.
"And you don't know when to shut up."
He lunged again.
Another strike—
Another explosion—
But this time—
Before being blown away—
Ryusei threw his blade.
Moyasu's eyes widened.
He moved.
Dodged.
Barely.
The blade passed his face—
Missing.
Silence.
"…Why did he dodge that…" Ryusei muttered.
Moyasu's expression darkened.
"…Did he… figure it out…?"
Ryusei stood slowly.
"…I see…"
Light gathered again.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blades."
Two blades formed—
One in each hand.
He charged.
Attacked—
Explosion—
But again—
He threw both blades.
Moyasu stepped back.
Dodged.
Both.
That was enough.
Ryusei's eyes sharpened.
"I knew it."
"There's a limit to your ability."
Moyasu didn't respond.
But his silence—
Confirmed everything.
"Your Ash Cloak…" Ryusei continued.
"It triggers once."
"Then it needs time to recover."
"That's why you dodged."
"…Sharp," Moyasu admitted.
"But it doesn't change anything."
"You still take damage."
"You still lose."
Ryusei fell silent.
Then—
"…It's ironic."
He raised his hand.
"…I have the perfect spell for this."
"Bluff," Moyasu replied.
"I'll just dodge again."
Ryusei smiled faintly.
"…Try."
"Meteor Dragon: Sword Dance."
Eight blades appeared.
Floating.
Radiant.
Alive.
Moyasu's expression changed instantly.
"…Deno. Misaku."
"Take the girl. Leave."
"What?!"
"We're not abandoning you!"
"DO IT."
His voice cut through them.
"…This spell…"
He stared at the floating blades.
"…is the perfect counter to mine."
Silence fell.
"…Understood…" they said reluctantly.
They grabbed Mizumi—
And ran.
But—
Four blades split off instantly.
Chasing them.
"Dammit!!!" Deno shouted.
"Wind Art: Aerial Cut!!"
"Metal Axe!!"
They fought desperately—
Trying to survive.
Meanwhile—
Ryusei moved.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade!!"
He charged.
Four blades struck first—
Triggering the explosion—
BOOM!!
And in that instant—
He closed the distance.
"Ash Dragon: Scorch Blade!!"
Moyasu summoned his weapon—
And blocked.
Steel and light collided.
For the first time—
Moyasu was on the defensive.
Behind them—
Chaos.
Mizumi ran.
Free.
But slow.
Too slow.
"Not getting away!!!"
Deno roared.
"Flame Cannon!!"
A massive blast surged toward her.
Ryusei saw it.
"…This is bad…"
He gritted his teeth.
"I need to act—"
"Your opponent is me."
Moyasu attacked again.
Relentless.
Ryusei's eyes flickered.
"…Then I'll end this fast."
He moved his blades.
Four struck Moyasu—
Triggering another explosion.
And in that instant—
He made his decision.
"…I have no choice."
The black ring pulsed.
Light surged.
Space itself seemed to tremble.
Ryusei vanished.
For a split second—
The battlefield froze.
Then—
He reappeared.
Between Mizumi—
And the incoming flames.
His blade raised.
His body shaking.
"Meteor Dragon… Impact."
The underground bunker trembled violently.
The moment Ryūsei hurled his Photon Blade, the air itself seemed to split with a sharp cry of light. The radiant sword spun through the ash-filled atmosphere, cutting a glowing arc across the battlefield.
Moyasu didn't even flinch.
With a slight tilt of his head, he stepped aside.
The blade missed him completely.
Behind him—
A blast of ash-fire roared forward.
Mizūmi stood frozen, her body trembling, her breath caught in her throat. The incoming flames reflected in her eyes as the world around her slowed to a crawl.
So this is… the end…
She closed her eyes.
But then—
A flash of white.
A piercing sound.
And pain.
A floating blade of light had appeared in front of the fireblast—
—and stabbed directly into her leg.
Her eyes snapped open.
"W-What…?!"
From afar, Misaku and Deno both stared in absolute disbelief.
What is he doing?!
Why did he attack the person he was trying to save?!
Their thoughts aligned perfectly, shock written across their faces.
But Ryūsei—
Ryūsei's eyes remained sharp.
Focused.
Unwavering.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Switch."
The words fell quietly from his lips.
In an instant—
His body vanished.
A distortion of light rippled through space—
—and he reappeared beside the thrown blade.
Right in front of Moyasu.
Moyasu's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
Too late.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Fist."
Light gathered violently into Ryūsei's right hand, compressing into a blinding core.
Then—
BOOM!
His fist slammed into Moyasu's face.
The impact created a massive shockwave that shattered the ground beneath them, sending debris flying in every direction.
But Ryūsei didn't stop.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Switch!!"
Another flash.
Another shift.
In that single instant—
Moyasu and Mizūmi switched places.
The fireblast—
The one meant for Mizūmi—
—struck Moyasu directly.
A violent explosion erupted, engulfing him in ash and flame.
"Moyasu!!!"
Deno and Misaku screamed in unison.
Their voices cracked with disbelief.
Their leader—
The invincible Moyasu—
had just been hit by his own attack.
Ryūsei didn't look back.
He rushed forward, catching Mizūmi mid-air as she collapsed.
Without hesitation, he carried her in a bridal position, his movements swift despite the pain tearing through his body.
They disappeared into one of the abandoned rooms nearby.
The chaos outside faded slightly—
but the tension remained.
Inside the dimly lit room, Ryūsei gently placed Mizūmi down.
Without wasting a second, he reached for the blade embedded in her leg.
"I'm very sorry for stabbing your leg," he said, his voice filled with guilt.
"But it was the only way for me to use my spell."
He carefully pulled the blade out.
Mizūmi flinched—but didn't scream.
"Your wounds will feel like they're burning," Ryūsei added softly. "So just hold on a little longer."
She looked at him, her eyes filled with confusion and fear.
"It's… fine," she whispered weakly. "It doesn't hurt that much…"
"…Can you remove the handcuffs? I can heal myself…"
Ryūsei nodded immediately.
A flick of his hand—
Seven floating blades appeared.
With precise control, he shattered the restraints binding her wrists.
"I'm Ryūsei Ryūgū," he said, offering a reassuring smile.
"I was sent here by your father."
Her eyes widened.
"My dad—how is he?! Is he okay?!"
Ryūsei smiled again.
"He's safe. He's at the hospital."
Relief washed over her face.
Tears formed at the corners of her eyes.
"…Thank you…"
But Ryūsei was already standing.
The remaining blades hovered behind him, humming with quiet energy.
"Stay here and hide," he said gently.
"I'll be back once it's over."
Before she could respond—
He vanished.
Back in the battlefield—
Moyasu lay within the crater, smoke rising from his body.
"…What the hell just happened…?"
His voice was low.
Unstable.
Then—
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Switch."
A voice echoed above him.
Moyasu's eyes shot upward.
Ryūsei descended from above.
Seven blades shot downward—
Pinning Moyasu's clothes to the ground.
Restraining him.
For the first time—
Moyasu couldn't move.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Fist."
Light surged again.
Ryūsei's fist descended.
CRASH!!!
The ground caved in further.
The shockwave spread like a violent storm.
"Moyasu!!!"
"Boss!!!"
Deno and Misaku shouted, their voices filled with panic.
But then—
An explosion erupted from within the crater.
Ryūsei was blown backward.
Deno smirked.
"He had me worried… but now he's serious."
From within the smoke—
Moyasu stood.
Slowly.
Calmly.
But his aura—
It had changed.
"I must praise you… Ryūsei Ryūgū."
His voice carried weight now.
Danger.
"It's been a long time… since I've been pushed this far."
Ash began to fall from above.
Thicker.
Darker.
He raised his hand.
"Dragon Sage Secret Art…"
The entire bunker trembled.
"Ash Apocalypse."
The air turned toxic.
Explosive.
Unstable.
Every breath became a risk.
Every movement—
A potential death.
Ryūsei tightened his grip on his blade.
He charged.
Their swords collided again—
But this time—
Explosions erupted with every contact.
Ryūsei was thrown back repeatedly.
His body slammed against the ground again and again.
"Moyasu!!!"
A voice rang out.
Ryūsei turned—
"Mizūmi…?!"
She was bound again.
Hanging.
Helpless.
Rage surged through him.
"What the hell did you do?!"
Moyasu smirked.
"This is my base."
Ash gathered again—
Forming eagles.
They shot toward her.
Ryūsei ran.
Faster than ever before.
He threw his blade—
Cutting her free.
He caught her mid-air—
But explosions rained down.
They crashed through a wall.
Both of them bleeding.
Barely conscious.
"Mizūmi…!"
She collapsed.
Silent.
Still.
Something inside Ryūsei broke.
"…Mizūmi…"
Moyasu approached slowly.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
"It seems… she won't survive."
Ryūsei's body trembled.
"I… have to save her…"
He stood—
Only to be kicked down again.
"Let me through!!!"
"Save?" Moyasu muttered.
His voice changed.
Heavy.
Bitter.
"Can you save someone… from an enemy you can't defeat?"
Silence.
Then—
"You're supposed to protect people… aren't you?"
Each word struck deeper than any attack.
Ryūsei clenched his fists.
"I don't know your pain!"
"But would Arashi want this?!"
Moyasu froze.
"…Don't say his name…"
"Would he want this?!" Ryūsei shouted.
"Would he want to see you like this?!"
Silence fell.
For a brief moment—
Moyasu saw him.
Not Ryūsei—
But Arashi.
Smiling.
Calling him back.
"…Master…"
Tears fell.
But they burned away instantly.
"…Don't… compare yourself to him."
His voice cracked.
Then hardened.
"I will not stop."
Ash gathered violently.
"Ash Dragon: Scorch Leviathan."
A massive dragon-shaped blast surged forward.
Destroying everything.
Ryūsei didn't move.
He smiled.
"…Grandfather… forgive me…"
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade."
Light ignited.
"Dragon Sage Secret Art: Collision Slash."
He ran forward.
Straight into the blast.
Cutting through it.
Step by step.
Closer—
Closer—
Until—
"Moyasu!!!"
The blade struck.
Silence.
The ash cleared.
Moyasu stood still.
A clean slash across his chest.
He looked at Ryūsei—
But saw someone else.
"…Arashi…"
A smile formed.
"…Ryūsei Ryūgū… you remind me… of him…"
His body collapsed.
Unconscious.
Defeated.
Silence filled the battlefield.
Deno dropped to his knees.
"…No way…"
Misaku fell onto his back.
"…We surrender…"
Chains clattered.
Voices echoed as authorities arrived.
But Ryūsei—
Ryūsei simply stood there.
"…It's over…"
His body gave in.
He collapsed.
Smiling.
As darkness took him—
At last.