"By using your blood," Rocky said.
Ron felt sick—not fear, not anger.
Responsibility.
"What?" Ron said sharply. "How did they get my blood?"
"Think back to the first time you opened your eyes," Rocky said. "How did it feel?"
Ron exhaled slowly. "Like going to sleep at night and waking up the next morning… except I woke up in another world. That's what it felt like. Then I found out I'd been asleep for eight hundred years."
"Were you wounded?" Rocky asked.
"Yes. Locki's brother took me to the hospital."
Rocky nodded. "Then it's likely your blood from those wounds was left in the coffin. According to my information, Foster located it—and preserved your blood."
Ron clenched his fist. "Yeah. That's why Bruce warned me."
"There's more," Rocky said, locking eyes with him. "They used your blood in experiments—subjects like S‑72. They also used it to contact beings from the Forbidden Region of the universe."
Ron's voice hardened. "So the power he's using… it isn't really his."
"No," Rocky said. "He was already dead. But in his final moments, your blood awakened. His original ability was time-related—and even that came from your blood. This time, the blood took control."
The ground began to tremble.
S‑72 stood up.
Ron and Rocky turned toward him.
"Any ideas on how we finish this?" Ron asked.
"I have one," Rocky said. "But I need you to buy me some time."
"How much?"
"Five seconds."
Before Ron could respond, Rocky vanished—using his superspeed to rush past S‑72.
"Why are you running—?" Ron shouted.
Too late.
A brutal force slammed into the back of his head, driving him into the ground. S‑72 stood over him.
"You're using my own power against me?" S‑72 sneered. "How ungrateful."
Ron thrust out his hand. Lightning surged forward, crashing into S‑72. His body began to crack and burn.
Then—
A massive surge of ki roared in from behind S‑72.
Rocky.
He poured everything into a single fist—this was the strike that would decide everything.
Ron reinforced him with lightning.
And then—
Rocky punched.
Reality shattered.
The sky fractured like glass, and S‑72's body exploded into nothingness.
Ron and Rocky crashed down onto the land of Hero Town.
Ron lay on his back, breathing hard. "Finally… we won."
"Yeah," Rocky said quietly. "We won."
He stood. "I have to go. I'm wanted here. If someone sees me with you, it'll cause trouble for you. You're the only one who can save Hero Town now—end Foster's reign from the shadows."
He smiled faintly. "Take care, my friend."
In a blink, Rocky vanished.
Ron stared at the sky. "We won…"
A voice answered, "You got lucky."
Ron looked up. Yardy hovered above him.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked.
"S‑72 was using the power within your blood," Yardy said. "But his body couldn't handle it. That's why the Lightning Punch damaged him—and why his speed slowed. He was already dead. That level of power demands a perfect vessel."
Ron shook his head. "That's not what I meant. We won because of Rocky's last punch."
Yardy folded his arms. "Even without it, the result would've been the same. The moment you slammed him into the ground, his body began collapsing. And as for Rocky—he ran across an infinite-sized dimension to land that blow."
Ron sighed. "Why are you here?"
"Our King wishes to speak with you," Yardy replied. "After you recover."
"Fine. I'll meet him then."
Yardy dissolved into air and dust.
Ron forced himself up and warped to the hospital.
After the examination, the doctor shook his head—then smiled faintly. "Your injuries are severe… but you're healing remarkably fast. One day of rest. You'll be fine."
Ron nodded and was shown to a room. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the ceiling.
I wonder how Carter is doing, he thought.
Elsewhere
In a chamber carved from shadow, nine chairs surrounded a long table. A faint blue ring hummed at its center. Letters rose from it like smoke:
S‑72 IS DEAD.
Murmurs erupted.
Someone slammed the table. "That worthless experiment didn't even secure the USB."
"His opponent was Ron," another said calmly. "The source of the blood that empowered him. No surprise he lost."
"We should study that blood further," a voice suggested.
"It will benefit us."
The man at the head remained silent. His eyes—once brown—glowed an unnatural green.
A woman snapped, "Bruce is alive. Ron took the USB. Carter is still breathing."
"I recommend sending multiple experiments," another said. "Together, they'll kill Ron."
"I agree."
The leader finally spoke. "Before DA returns—eliminate Ron."
In the courthouse
"Your Honor," the lawyer pleaded, "Carter was framed. How could a man murder his own family? Everyone who knows him stands as witness to his character."
The gavel struck. "Carter is innocent. Case dismissed. You are not to leave the city."
As the courtroom emptied, one man remained. He made a call.
"The lawyer did well," he said. "What are the orders?"
"Kill him," the voice replied. "Stage it. Pin it on Carter."
"Why not eliminate Carter directly—like Bruce?"
"You can't. Let the law do the work. And Bruce—now Jake Jacobs—find everything."
That night, Hero Town News announced the judge's death.
Minutes later, the lawyer was dead.
Then more names followed.
Bruce watched the broadcast, eyes bloodshot.
He didn't blink.