Time passed, although to Yumiko it felt as though only a handful of minutes had slipped by. The violent descent from space had blurred together into a nightmare of fire, unbearable pressure, and deafening alarms that still echoed inside her head. The evacuation pod screamed through Earth's atmosphere like a burning meteor, wrapped in a blazing cocoon of orange flames as layers of superheated air peeled away from its metal frame. Every warning light inside the cramped cockpit flashed crimson while the entire vessel shook violently, threatening to come apart before it ever reached the surface. Then, with one final deafening impact, the pod crashed into an untouched forest, tearing through ancient trees like a cannonball before gouging a massive trench through the earth. Dirt, shattered stone, and splintered timber erupted into the air as the battered vessel finally ground to a halt beneath a cloud of smoke and steam.
The hatch burst open with an explosive hiss.
Yumiko stumbled out into the cool morning air, nearly collapsing as her boots sank into the damp forest soil. Her heart pounded violently inside her chest while she desperately looked in every direction, hoping to catch even the smallest glimpse of the person she had been searching for since everything fell apart. Towering trees surrounded her on every side, their thick branches swallowing the sunlight and casting long shadows across the scorched clearing. Smoke drifted upward from the pod behind her, filling the air with the scent of burning metal and scorched earth.
"Shoto!" she shouted, her voice echoing desperately through the forest. "Shoto!"
Only silence answered her.
The trees swallowed her cries as though the forest itself refused to reveal where he had gone.
Yumiko lowered her head, clenching both fists until her nails dug painfully into her palms. Frustration, fear, and guilt twisted together inside her chest, making it difficult to breathe. "I should've gotten off that thing," she whispered bitterly. "I should've stayed… I should've fought him."
Before she could sink any further into those thoughts, something shot past her so quickly that the surrounding air exploded into a powerful gust of wind. Her instincts forced her to look up just in time to catch the outline of a wide-brimmed cowboy hat disappearing between the trees.
Kyoya.
His figure vanished almost instantly, moving so effortlessly that it seemed as though the forest itself opened paths for him.
Only a few seconds later, another explosion echoed throughout the woods.
This one sounded different.
Lightning.
A brilliant blue bolt streaked between the trees before Ren Tashiki burst into the clearing, moving so quickly that electricity continued dancing across the ground several seconds after he stopped. His boots dug trenches into the dirt as he skidded to a halt beside the smoking pod, his sharp blue eyes immediately locking onto Yumiko's battered appearance. Dirt covered her clothes, small cuts lined her arms, and exhaustion was written plainly across her face.
"W-What the hell happened to you?" Ren asked, genuine concern replacing his usual calm expression.
Yumiko forced herself to take a steady breath before shaking her head. "It's… a really long story." She glanced toward the direction Kyoya had escaped before looking back at Ren. "Why are you chasing that cowboy?"
Ren clicked his tongue in annoyance, lightning crackling softly around his shoulders as his gaze remained fixed on the forest.
"That idiot showed up out of nowhere," he replied. "He knocked me, Ryuji, and Yuumo down in a matter of seconds, called it a game of tag, and then ran away laughing." His jaw tightened. "So now we're returning the favor."
Before either of them could say anything else, heavy footsteps thundered toward the clearing.
"Don't tell me you already lost hi—"
Ryuji burst through a wall of bushes before abruptly stopping in his tracks.
"…Huh?"
His eyes widened the instant he recognized the girl standing beside the damaged pod.
"…Sis?"
Without another thought, he hurried over, looking between Yumiko and the smoking spacecraft with complete disbelief written across his face.
"What is that thing?" he asked, pointing at the battered pod. "Why is there space junk in the middle of the forest?"
Yumiko rubbed her forehead with a tired sigh.
"I told Ren already… it's a long story."
Before anyone had time to ask another question, another figure descended from above.
Yuumo landed gracefully beside the group, barely pausing long enough to pat Ren firmly on the shoulder before immediately looking toward the direction Kyoya had fled.
"Ren!" she shouted urgently. "Ryuji! Move! We can't let him get away!"
Electricity immediately surged around Ren's body as he gave Yumiko a quick nod.
"See you later, Yumiko!"
Ryuji flashed his sister a reassuring smile before turning around.
"Stay here! We'll catch up with you later!"
Within seconds the three of them disappeared into the dense forest, leaving only the fading sounds of their footsteps behind.
Yumiko watched until they were completely out of sight.
Only then did the tension finally leave her body.
She slowly climbed onto the scorched hull of the evacuation pod before lowering herself onto the warm metal. Her shoulders sagged beneath the overwhelming weight of everything that had happened, and for the first time all morning, she allowed herself to simply sit in silence while smoke drifted lazily into the brightening sky.
Meanwhile, Kyoya sprinted effortlessly through the endless forest, weaving between enormous tree trunks with the casual confidence of someone taking an afternoon stroll instead of escaping multiple pursuers. His long coat fluttered behind him while his trademark cowboy hat remained perfectly balanced atop his head despite his impossible speed. A lazy grin stretched across his face as his golden eyes wandered from one side of the forest to the other.
"Man," he muttered with a chuckle. "This place just keeps going."
His words had barely left his mouth before a deafening clap of thunder erupted beside him.
Ren appeared out of a bolt of blue lightning, his speed carrying him directly alongside Kyoya. Without hesitating, Ren drew his Lightning Sword in one fluid motion, blue electricity exploding along the blade as he swung toward Kyoya's side.
Kyoya reacted almost lazily.
He pivoted on one foot, narrowly avoiding the blade before driving a devastating kick directly into Ren's ribs.
The impact detonated like an explosion.
Ren was launched sideways, his body bouncing violently across the forest floor before rolling through dirt and broken branches.
Kyoya barely had time to straighten himself before another roar echoed through the trees.
"KYOOOYAAAA!!"
Ryuji charged forward like an enraged bull, every punch carrying enough force to shatter stone. His fists carved through the air one after another, creating violent gusts that snapped nearby branches apart.
Kyoya smiled.
Every swing missed.
He slipped between Ryuji's attacks with graceful precision, each movement wasting not even a single ounce of unnecessary energy. At the exact moment Ryuji overextended one punch, Kyoya stepped inside his guard and calmly placed one hand against the center of his chest.
"Too predictable."
A pulse of force exploded outward.
Ryuji was blasted backward like a cannonball, crashing directly into Yuumo just as she leaped in to attack.
"Oof!"
The collision sent both of them tumbling across the forest floor in a tangled heap of limbs and dirt.
Kyoya adjusted the brim of his hat with one finger and grinned.
"Too slow."
He turned around, preparing to disappear into the trees once again.
"ULTRA SHARK BULLET!!"
The forest exploded.
A colossal shark formed entirely from violently rotating water burst from above, roaring through the air with its jaws opened impossibly wide. The attack descended toward Kyoya with enough force to flatten everything beneath it.
Kyoya's relaxed smile disappeared.
"Tch."
He leaped backward just before the watery beast slammed into the ground.
The impact created a massive explosion that sent thousands of gallons of water surging outward in every direction. Entire trees bent beneath the force of the blast while the surrounding forest disappeared behind an enormous wall of mist.
As the water slowly settled, a lone figure emerged from within the lingering spray.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with the unmistakable swagger of an old-school delinquent. Long black hair rested against his shoulders while a gigantic blade rested casually across one shoulder as though it weighed nothing. A shark-shaped tattoo curved beneath his left eye, and when he frowned, rows of razor-sharp teeth became visible.
"Damn it," the newcomer muttered with obvious disappointment. "I missed."
His eyes suddenly shifted toward a nearby tree.
"…Huh?"
Recognition flashed across his face.
"Archer boy?"
Perched on a thick branch above the battlefield, Hikaru slowly lowered his bow, equally surprised.
"…Juxo?"
He frowned.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Juxo rested his enormous blade against his shoulder before pointing directly toward Kyoya.
"That scumbag showed up at our hideout," he growled. "He wrecked the entire place… and after that, Zan-Xi disappeared."
His expression darkened.
"Everything's gone straight to hell."
Hikaru silently tightened his grip around his bow.
"…He did the exact same thing to us."
For several moments, nobody moved.
Kyoya simply stood between both groups, completely relaxed, his amused smile never leaving his face despite now being surrounded by enemies from opposing sides.
Juxo finally rested his gigantic sword across his back while never taking his eyes off the cowboy.
"Well," he muttered with obvious irritation, "since I'm apparently stuck working with you idiots for the moment…" He glanced sideways at Hikaru. "…Got any brilliant ideas on how we're supposed to catch this guy, Archer boy?"
Hikaru never looked away from Kyoya.
His breathing slowed.
His expression became perfectly calm.
"We only need one opening."
Juxo stared blankly.
"…That's your plan?"
"That's the plan."
Juxo's eye twitched violently before he threw both hands into the air.
"WHAT KIND OF HALF-ASSED PLAN IS THAT?!"
Kyoya couldn't help laughing.
"You guys are hilarious."
Without another word, he spun around and sprinted deeper into the forest once more.
He managed exactly three steps.
Then…
A metallic sound whispered through the air.
Someone landed silently in front of him.
A young woman with a short pixie haircut stood calmly in his path, dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. One hand rested lightly upon the hilt of a traditional samurai sword while her emotionless eyes stared directly into Kyoya's.
Kyoya sighed.
"…Right."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
The swordswoman moved with terrifying elegance. Her blade left its sheath in one seamless motion, producing a silver flash that cut cleanly through the air before continuing straight through the enormous tree where Hikaru had been standing. The trunk split almost effortlessly before an ominous groan echoed throughout the forest. Hikaru's confident expression instantly disappeared. "AAAAAH!" he shouted as the massive tree toppled beneath him. Branches shattered while the entire trunk crashed toward the ground, sending Hikaru tumbling helplessly through a storm of leaves, broken wood, and splintered bark until he slammed into the dirt beside Juxo.
Juxo slowly lowered his eyes toward the battered archer lying at his feet before letting out a long, disappointed sigh. After several painfully awkward seconds of silence, he folded his arms across his chest and shook his head with complete disbelief. "Yeah," he muttered dryly, "that opening idea of yours is looking real impressive right about now."