"Hurting Kayosha is a big mistake."
Ryūsei's voice was quiet.
Far too quiet for the battlefield around him.
The ruined streets of the replica Kingdom of Ryūgū were still shrouded in the aftermath of Sandā's devastating attack. Smoke drifted between the damaged buildings, while fragments of stone and broken glass continued to fall from the surrounding structures.
The lingering energy from the Lightning Dragon attack crackled faintly across the shattered ground.
Ryūsei stood several meters away from Sandā, his silver hair shifting gently in the wind created by the previous explosion. Dust clung to his clothes, and several small tears marked the fabric from the battles he had fought elsewhere in the arena.
Yet none of that seemed to matter to him.
His entire attention was focused on the person in his arms.
Kayosha.
She was unconscious.
Her breathing was weak, and her body was exhausted from enduring countless Lightning Dragon attacks. Her clothes were torn and stained with dust, while faint traces of water continued to flow across her skin.
Her healing ability was still active.
Even unconscious, her body was desperately trying to repair the damage that had been inflicted upon her.
Ryūsei's expression softened for the briefest moment.
He carefully lowered her to the ground.
He made sure her head was supported and that she was positioned away from the worst of the debris.
His movements were gentle.
Almost unnaturally gentle when compared to the expression slowly forming across his face.
Once he was certain Kayosha was safe, Ryūsei slowly stood.
His eyes lifted.
They locked directly onto Sandā.
"I hope you know what's coming, Sandā."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The battlefield seemed to hold its breath.
Then Sandā laughed.
It was a mocking, arrogant laugh that echoed through the ruined street.
"Well, well. Looks like the F-Rank Loser is finally starting to fight back."
Sandā raised his Lightning Dragon sword slightly.
A crooked smile spread across his face as blue-white electricity crawled along the blade.
"Are you mad because your little girlfriend got hurt?"
His gaze shifted toward Kayosha.
"For an Elementalist of her caliber, how is she so weak?"
Ryūsei's expression didn't change.
But something inside him had already snapped.
He glanced toward Kasai and Sora.
"Kasai... Sora..."
Both of them looked at him.
Ryūsei slowly clenched his fist.
"I'll take them on."
His voice remained calm.
"You can both... rest now."
He looked directly at the two of them.
"I can handle them on my own."
Sora's eyes widened.
"Are you crazy or something?!"
She immediately stepped forward.
"Let us help! This isn't only your fight—"
Before she could finish, Kasai reached out and grabbed her arm.
Sora turned toward him.
"Kasai...?"
Kasai didn't answer immediately.
His eyes remained fixed on Ryūsei.
There was something different about him.
Something Kasai had never seen before.
Ryūsei wasn't shouting.
He wasn't screaming.
He wasn't even visibly trembling with rage.
His breathing was steady.
His posture was relaxed.
His voice was calm.
That was precisely what made Kasai uneasy.
"If Ryūsei says he can handle it," Kasai said quietly, "then let's trust him."
Sora frowned.
"But—"
"Besides..."
Kasai tightened his grip slightly before releasing her arm.
"There's something off about Ryūsei."
His eyes remained fixed on the young Dragon Sage.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Sora looked back toward Ryūsei.
For a moment, she wanted to argue.
She wanted to stay.
She wanted to help him protect Kayosha.
But then she noticed his eyes.
There was no fear in them.
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Only a cold determination that seemed completely different from the boy she had known.
Sora slowly lowered her weapon.
"Okay."
She and Kasai began backing away from the battlefield.
Neither of them took their eyes off Ryūsei until they had created enough distance between themselves and the others.
Ryūsei remained standing alone.
Across from him were five opponents.
Sandā.
Ishi.
Venom.
Melody.
And Gēti.
Five Elementalists.
Five different abilities.
And Ryūsei stood against all of them without moving an inch.
Ishi crossed his arms.
"You've got some arrogance, thinking you can take all of us on by yourself."
Venom sighed.
"Ryūsei Ryūgū. An F-Rank Elementalist."
He looked completely uninterested.
"What a bother. It's a waste of mana dealing with him."
Melody glanced at Venom.
"Looks like someone's scared."
Venom's expression immediately darkened.
"Scared?!"
He scoffed.
"It's just a bother dealing with someone weak like him."
Venom turned toward Ishi.
"Hey, Ishi. You can take him on if you want. I'm not even going to argue that you went first."
Ishi stared at him.
"Venom?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Is that even you? Normally, you'd be arguing that you want to go first."
Venom simply shrugged.
"If you don't want him, I'll take him all to myself."
Ishi looked toward Sandā.
"Is that okay with you?"
Sandā grinned.
"Go knock your socks off."
He pointed toward Ryūsei.
"But if you lose this fight against Ryūsei..."
Sandā's grin widened.
"You'll buy me all the food I want until I'm satisfied."
Ishi laughed.
"Agreed."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Though I won't lose to this F-Rank Loser."
Ishi stepped forward.
The broken stone beneath his boots shifted as he settled himself into a proper combat stance.
"Now then, Ryūsei..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Shall we start?"
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Ishi's entire body became tense as he focused every ounce of his attention on Ryūsei.
Ryūsei didn't move.
He simply watched.
His arms remained relaxed at his sides.
His breathing was slow.
His expression gave away nothing.
Inside Ishi's mind, several possibilities raced through his thoughts.
His guard is completely open.
Ishi narrowed his eyes.
He's not even guarding himself.
Ryūsei's arms hung loosely beside his body.
It's almost like he wants me to attack him.
Ishi's instincts screamed that something was wrong.
Maybe it's a trap.
His eyes sharpened.
No matter.
Ishi slammed his foot against the ground.
"Earth Dragon: Imperial Invader!"
The ground beneath Ryūsei violently erupted.
A tremendous rumble shook the street.
Massive stone soldiers rose from beneath the earth one after another, their bodies formed from thick layers of stone and rock. Their enormous feet shattered the already damaged pavement as they emerged.
Within seconds, Ryūsei was surrounded.
The stone soldiers raised their weapons.
Their enormous bodies blocked every possible escape route.
Ryūsei slowly looked around.
There were enemies in every direction.
Ishi watched carefully.
Then Ryūsei raised his right hand.
"Meteor Dragon Photon Fist."
A tremendous amount of Meteor Dragon energy gathered around his fist.
White light wrapped around his hand.
The brilliance was so intense that it illuminated the surrounding ruins.
Ishi's eyes widened slightly.
"What—?"
Ryūsei suddenly drove his fist into the ground.
BOOOOOOM!
The earth exploded beneath him.
The force of the punch shattered the stone surface and created a massive crater.
A violent shockwave spread outward from Ryūsei's position.
The surrounding stone soldiers were struck by the force and staggered backward.
Several were thrown off balance completely.
Dust erupted into the air.
Ishi's expression changed.
"What the...?"
He stared through the cloud of dust.
Inside his mind, his thoughts became increasingly serious.
What was that?
His eyes followed Ryūsei through the dust.
His Elemental Art...
Ishi swallowed.
It's crazy.
Before he could process what had happened, the dust suddenly split apart.
Ryūsei vanished.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade."
A brilliant white blade of Meteor Dragon energy materialized in his hand.
The weapon glowed intensely, its edge shining like a fragment of a star.
The instant Ryūsei's fingers closed around the weapon, he launched himself forward.
Ishi's eyes widened.
He's fast!
Ryūsei appeared directly in front of him.
The Photon Blade swung downward.
Ishi immediately reacted.
"Earth Dragon Imperial Defender!"
The ground erupted again.
Stone soldiers appeared around Ishi, forming a defensive wall between them.
For an instant, it looked as though the enormous stone formation would be enough to stop Ryūsei.
Then—
SHING!
The Photon Blade sliced through the first soldier.
Then the second.
Then the third.
The massive stone bodies split apart almost effortlessly.
Fragments of rock scattered across the battlefield.
Ishi's jaw dropped.
"What the?!"
Ryūsei stepped through the destroyed formation.
His expression remained calm.
His right fist began glowing once again.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Fist!"
Ishi's instincts screamed.
"Earth Dragon: Imperial Gauntlet!"
Earth Dragon energy rapidly gathered around both of Ishi's arms.
Massive stone gauntlets formed over his fists.
They were thick enough to withstand enormous physical attacks.
Ishi planted his feet.
I'll stop him here!
Ryūsei swung.
Ishi met him head-on.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The two attacks collided.
A tremendous shockwave exploded between them.
The force ripped through the street, sending dust and fragments of stone flying outward.
Windows shattered.
The remaining debris on the road was blown away.
Ishi gritted his teeth.
For a brief moment, the two of them remained locked against one another.
Then Ishi's eyes widened.
What...?!
The force behind Ryūsei's fist was overwhelming.
His stone gauntlet began cracking.
Ishi's feet slid backward.
He desperately pushed against the ground.
But it wasn't enough.
BOOM!
Ishi was launched through the air.
His body crashed into the side of a nearby building.
CRASH!
The entire structure shook from the impact.
Dust poured from the damaged wall.
Sandā's grin slowly disappeared.
"Well, well, well."
He watched Ishi struggle to recover.
"What do we have here?"
His eyes narrowed with interest.
"Things might actually get interesting."
Gēti folded his arms.
"Looks like Ishi's getting his butt kicked."
Melody stared at Ryūsei.
Her expression had become noticeably more serious.
"I must admit... I'm surprised by his strength so far."
Ishi slowly pushed himself away from the building.
His arms were trembling.
The Earth Dragon Gauntlets covering his fists had several cracks running across their surface.
He looked down at them.
What was that?
His breathing became heavier.
His punches...
Ishi looked toward Ryūsei.
They're much heavier than Shōgeki's.
The realization sent a chill through him.
Shōgeki's Shock Pulse was infamous for increasing the destructive force of his physical attacks by storing the damage he received.
Yet Ryūsei's punch had sent Ishi flying just as easily.
Ishi gritted his teeth.
"What kind of power...?"
Before he could finish—
Ryūsei suddenly appeared directly in front of him.
Ishi's eyes widened.
Damn it!
He's fast as well!
Ryūsei pulled his right fist backward.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Fist!"
Ishi barely had time to raise his arms.
BOOM!
The punch struck him squarely.
The force sent him flying high into the sky.
"GAAAAAH!"
Ishi's body spun through the air.
Ryūsei immediately followed.
"Meteor Dragon: Impact!"
A barrage of Meteor Dragon energy erupted toward Ishi.
Countless beams of brilliant white energy tore through the sky, leaving glowing trails behind them as they pursued Ishi's airborne body.
Ishi desperately raised his arms.
But the barrage struck him one attack after another.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOOOOOOM!
Each explosion sent another wave of energy through the sky.
Ishi's body was battered from every direction.
The sky itself seemed to tremble beneath the continuous assault.
Then the final blast struck.
A massive explosion swallowed Ishi completely.
For several seconds, nothing could be seen except smoke and blazing particles of Meteor Dragon energy.
Then—
Ishi came crashing back down.
BOOM!
He landed several meters away from Sandā, rolling across the broken street before finally coming to a stop.
Sandā looked down at him.
"Care to treat me later?"
Ishi slowly lifted his head.
"In your dreams."
He coughed and forced himself upright.
"I was shocked, that's all."
He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
Then he looked toward Ryūsei.
"Who knew that F-Rank Loser would be this powerful?"
Sandā's expression became more serious.
"He's certainly gotten more powerful since the last time we saw him."
Sandā stepped forward.
His Lightning Dragon sword crackled in his hand.
"Step aside."
His eyes locked onto Ryūsei.
"It's now my turn."
Sandā raised his sword.
"It's now you versus me, F-Rank Loser."
Ryūsei tightened his grip.
"Bring it on, Sandā!"
Lightning exploded around Sandā's body.
Blue-white electricity surged across his arms and traveled into the blade.
"Lightning Dragon: Thunderstorm Blade!"
A sword made entirely from Lightning Dragon energy formed in his hand.
Ryūsei answered immediately.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade!"
His own blade appeared in his hand.
The two Elementalists charged.
Neither slowed down.
Neither hesitated.
Their blades collided.
BOOOOOOM!
A tremendous shockwave erupted from the point of impact.
The surrounding buildings shook violently.
Loose stones were thrown into the air.
The pressure from the collision forced even the other Elementalists to brace themselves.
Ishi stumbled backward.
"What's going on?!"
Melody raised an arm to shield herself from the violent pressure.
"These two..."
Her eyes widened.
"They're on a completely different level than us."
Ryūsei pushed forward.
His Photon Blade pressed against Sandā's Lightning Dragon sword.
Lightning and Meteor Dragon energy clashed between them.
Ryūsei suddenly twisted his blade.
"Meteor Dragon: Impact!"
A barrage of Meteor Dragon energy erupted from his weapon.
White beams shot forward at point-blank range.
Sandā reacted instantly.
"Lightning Dragon: Thunderstorm Blast!"
A massive Lightning Dragon blast erupted from his sword.
The two attacks collided in midair.
BOOOOOOM!
White and blue energy exploded across the battlefield.
The shockwave swept through the ruined streets.
For a brief moment, the entire area disappeared behind the enormous explosion.
Then Ryūsei emerged from the smoke.
His Photon Blade was still in his hand.
Without hesitation, he threw it directly toward Sandā.
Sandā's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
He quickly moved aside.
The blade passed dangerously close to his face.
"Too slow!"
Sandā smirked.
But the moment the sword passed behind him, Ryūsei raised his hand.
"Meteor Dragon: Switch!"
The Photon Blade suddenly vanished.
And so did Ryūsei.
Sandā's eyes widened.
"What the—?!"
Space shifted.
Ryūsei appeared directly behind him.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Fist!"
Meteor Dragon energy exploded around Ryūsei's right hand.
He drove his fist forward.
Sandā spun around and raised both arms just in time.
BOOM!
The punch struck his guard.
Sandā blocked the attack, but the force still sent him flying backward.
He crashed into another building.
CRASH!
The wall cracked around his body.
Sandā slowly looked up.
His breathing became heavier.
"What was that...?"
He pushed himself away from the broken wall.
"How is he so fast?"
Ryūsei raised his hand.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Ray!"
A tremendous beam of Meteor Dragon energy erupted forward.
The brilliant white light illuminated the entire street.
Sandā barely managed to look up.
The beam struck him.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The explosion swallowed the building.
Dust and debris surged across the battlefield.
Venom stared at the destruction.
"Am I dreaming...?"
He looked toward Melody.
"Or is Sandā actually being overpowered by that F-Rank Loser?"
Melody didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes remained fixed on the destruction.
Even she couldn't deny what was happening.
Ryūsei was overpowering Sandā.
Shōgeki, still trapped inside Gēti's dimensional prison, narrowed his eyes.
"What is he...?"
His expression became serious.
"He's more powerful than I expected."
The smoke began to clear.
Ryūsei walked forward.
His footsteps echoed against the ruined street.
Sandā emerged from the remains of the building.
His clothes were damaged.
His breathing was ragged.
For the first time, the confidence in his expression had begun to disappear.
Before he could react—
Ryūsei vanished.
Sandā's eyes widened.
Ryūsei appeared directly in front of him.
His hand seized Sandā by the neck.
Sandā's eyes widened.
Ryūsei lifted him from the ground.
"You've got some nerve hurting my friends like that."
Sandā struggled against Ryūsei's grip.
His hands grabbed Ryūsei's wrist, but Ryūsei didn't loosen his hold.
The Meteor Dragon energy surrounding Ryūsei's body continued to glow.
His eyes burned with anger.
"You've always thought you're some big shot."
His grip tightened.
"I've had it with your attitude."
The battlefield became silent.
Even the others stopped moving.
Ryūsei's voice dropped.
"Those who harm my friends..."
Meteor Dragon energy flickered around his body.
"...are the ones I can never forgive."
Melody's expression changed.
She immediately reacted.
"Venom!"
She raised her hand.
"Melody Dragon: Harmonic Blade!"
A massive blade of Melody Dragon energy formed.
Venom simultaneously summoned his weapon.
"Venom Dragon: Poisonous Dagger!"
The two launched their attacks toward Ryūsei.
Ryūsei didn't even turn around.
His eyes remained fixed on Sandā.
"Meteor Dragon Photon Fist."
Meteor Dragon energy gathered into his right hand.
Then he punched Sandā.
BOOM!
Sandā was blasted from his grip.
His body flew directly toward Melody and Venom.
"What?!"
The three collided.
BOOM!
The impact sent all of them tumbling across the battlefield.
Ryūsei didn't give them time to recover.
He stepped forward.
"Meteor Dragon Photon Assault!"
A mysterious white aura surrounded his body.
Meteor Dragon energy flowed through his muscles, strengthening his movements and enhancing his physical abilities.
Venom pushed himself upright.
"Damn!"
He looked toward Sandā.
"Sandā! What's going on?!"
His voice carried a mixture of anger and disbelief.
"You said you could take on that F-Rank Loser!"
Sandā glared at him.
"You be quiet!"
He struggled to stand.
"I haven't seen—"
Ryūsei suddenly appeared directly in front of them.
Venom froze.
"What...?"
Ryūsei's fist was already moving.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Fist!"
BOOM!
The punch struck Sandā.
He was sent flying backward once again.
"GAAAAH!"
Melody immediately reacted.
"Melody Dragon: Harmonic Blast!"
A powerful blast of Melody Dragon energy shot toward Ryūsei.
Ryūsei calmly raised his hand.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade."
The Photon Blade appeared in his grip.
He swung once.
SHING!
The Melody Dragon blast was sliced cleanly in half.
The two halves of the attack passed harmlessly around Ryūsei before dissipating behind him.
Melody stared in disbelief.
"He cut my spell..."
Ryūsei didn't even look at her.
His attention had already returned to Sandā.
He walked toward him.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Each step carried him closer to the defeated Lightning Dragon Elementalist.
Sandā was lying against the remains of a building.
His breathing was ragged.
His Lightning Dragon energy had become unstable, flickering weakly around his body.
Ryūsei stopped in front of him.
The Photon Blade remained in his left hand.
Then Ryūsei grabbed Sandā by the neck again and lifted him from the ground.
Sandā's feet dangled helplessly above the shattered street.
His eyes met Ryūsei's.
For the first time since the battle began...
Sandā didn't look arrogant.
He looked exhausted.
"What..."
He struggled to speak.
"...are you... waiting for...?"
Ryūsei stared at him.
Sandā's voice became weaker.
"Just kill... me already..."
The battlefield fell silent.
Even the others watched without speaking.
Ryūsei could feel the anger burning inside his chest.
He wanted to hit him.
He wanted Sandā to understand the pain he had inflicted on Kayosha.
He wanted him to experience the same helplessness he had forced upon her.
For a moment, Ryūsei's grip tightened.
The Photon Blade in his other hand trembled slightly.
He could end it.
One strike.
One final attack.
The thought crossed his mind.
Then Ryūsei slowly lowered the Photon Blade.
His grip around Sandā's neck remained firm, but he did not attack.
"Even though I hate you so much..."
Ryūsei's voice was low.
"The point is... I just want to let my anger out."
His eyes narrowed.
"But I'm not like you."
Sandā stared at him.
Ryūsei released his grip.
Sandā dropped to the ground.
THUD.
He landed on his knees before collapsing onto the broken street.
Ryūsei stood over him.
The glow of the Meteor Dragon still surrounded his body, illuminating his silver hair and the dust-covered battlefield.
He looked down at Sandā.
"I won't become a monster just because someone else decided to act like one."
No one answered.
The words seemed to linger in the ruined city.
Kasai watched from a distance.
Sora stood beside him, her expression filled with disbelief.
Even Ishi, Venom, Melody, and Gēti remained silent.
And Shōgeki, still imprisoned by Gēti's dimensional technique, watched Ryūsei with a completely different expression than before.
They had all witnessed Ryūsei's strength.
They had seen him overpower Ishi.
They had watched him push Sandā back.
They had witnessed the frightening speed of his Meteor Dragon techniques.
But that wasn't what had silenced them.
It was what Ryūsei had done after winning.
He had every reason to unleash his anger.
He had every reason to punish Sandā.
Yet he had stopped himself.
The F-Rank Elementalist who had once been mocked for being unable to demonstrate his true potential now stood in the center of the ruined battlefield, surrounded by enemies who could no longer dismiss him so easily.
Ryūsei looked toward Kayosha.
She was still unconscious.
Still injured.
But alive.
His expression softened slightly.
Then he looked back toward Sandā.
For the first time, Sandā lowered his eyes.
The battlefield remained completely still.
Ryūsei had defeated him.
Not only through overwhelming power.
Not only through speed.
Not only through the strength of the Meteor Dragon.
He had defeated the anger inside himself.
And that was what made the name Ryūsei Ryūgū resonate throughout the battlefield.
The Meteor Dragon had awakened.
And everyone who had witnessed his fury now understood one thing.
The boy they had once called an F-Rank Loser was no longer someone they could afford to underestimate.