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"How's the situation?" Azril asked, having teleported to a safe distance. Of the nearly seventy Flügel who remained (after some returned to HQ from being drained of power), all were watching the explosion with serious expressions.
Elsewhere, Jibril, Juzuki, and Jubee had joined forces to defend against the aftershock, their eyes fixed on the blast center.
BOOOOM—!!
Another thunderous roar erupted—so loud it shook the air. Then, from within the explosion, an aura emerged that even made Azril's heart tremble.
Flügel weren't afraid of death. In fact, dying in battle was considered an honor. But even so, Azril and the others couldn't help but feel a primal fear deep in their bones.
Because that presence was just that terrifying.
"There's no way he's this strong," one of the Flügel said in a low voice.
"Don't forget—he did beat the Dragon Sage. This level of power is normal for him," Azril replied, steadying her emotions.
"That's Master! His dragon aura's getting even stronger…" Jibril stared into the blast, her eyes glowing with obsession.
Juzuki and Jubee said nothing. They just kept watching the center of the storm.
WHOOOOSH—!! Suddenly, a cyclone of power tore through the sky, scattering the energy storm around it and blasting the air clear.
The gale was so intense that Jibril had to strengthen her defenses, but even then, she refused to look away.
Then, through the fading smoke and light, a figure emerged—and what a sight it was.
He was clad in blazing red armor, sleek and sharp, with crimson dragon wings unfurled behind him, wrapped in glowing red energy. On top of that, a second layer of green flames danced around his body, giving him an otherworldly appearance.
"What the…?!" Azril's eyes went wide. Her mind was reeling. This kind of power—she'd never seen it before. She had assumed he was part of the dragonkin, but now she wasn't so sure. And yet... the aura was unmistakably dragon-like.
"A new form… as expected of Master. Amazing." Jibril's face was full of admiration and infatuation.
"This isn't much weaker than when he fought the Dragon Sage," Juzuki said, shocked. "He just keeps pulling out trump cards. You never know where his limits are."
"Riku…" Jubee whispered, her eyes full of swirling emotion.
"Well then… let's begin Round Two, Flügel."Riku's voice cut through the sky, his gaze locked onto Azril. His presence grew even more intense.
He was now in Balance Breaker mode with the Boosted Gear, plus the Eight Gates technique—specifically the third gate.
Though the power coursing through him made his body ache, he could still handle it fairly comfortably. This confirmed that the Eight Gates and Balance Breaker could be used together—as long as your body could survive it.
"Damn it… Attack!!" Azril's face darkened as she shouted.
She launched the first strike—a massive spear of fire and energy that ripped through space, flying straight at Riku.
Right after, the other Flügel all went crazy, hurling their skills at him like there was no tomorrow. Some even ignored Juzuki's group entirely.
CRACK—!!
But Riku just grinned, then blasted forward like a red and green missile, tearing through their spells like they were paper.
Weaker magic shattered the moment he touched them. Stronger attacks? He just punched them apart—reduced them to particles.
The next second, he appeared right in front of a Flügel.
WHAM—!! He threw a single punch. The force twisted space itself—teleportation was useless.
SPLAT—!! That Flügel didn't even have time to react. Her eyes widened as the fist filled her vision—then she exploded into a cloud of blood.
"You bastard! Desperate Formation!!" Azril screamed, her eyes flashing with bloodlust.
At the same time, she channeled all her power. In the blink of an eye, a massive pitch-black energy lance appeared in her hands—Divine Strike.
Then she teleported right behind Riku, trying to land a point-blank hit.
SSHHHH—!!But that kind of trick didn't faze Riku at all. Maybe Azril was on par with the dragonkin, but to this version of Riku? She was nothing.
In her eyes, Riku casually grabbed the tip of the Divine Strike—barehanded.
The sound of energy grinding against itself screeched through the air, but the weapon didn't budge. It couldn't even pierce his palm.
"So weak. Kind of disappointing, honestly. Is that really all you've got?" Riku said flatly, not even looking at her.
"Heh… maybe you're strong, but you've got one big weakness." Azril gritted her teeth, still locked in a power struggle.
"Oh?" Riku raised an eyebrow, amused.
"You're arrogant. I figured that out from the way you fight. That's why… you'll die here!" she sneered.
Then—BOOM!
The Divine Strike exploded right in front of him.
Even though she'd prepared her defenses, the blast still tore Azril apart. She was thrown backward, coughing blood, her body covered in burns and injuries.
But she didn't cry out in pain. Instead, her strange-colored eyes gleamed with triumph.
"Now! Hit him with everything you've got!!"
At the same time—no one knew exactly when—over fifty Flügel had gathered all their power into a single one of their own.
The sheer amount of energy was so overwhelming that her wings had literally burst apart. Blood gushed from her body—it was a horrifying sight.
She was clearly in agony, but even more than pain, her face showed madness—pure, focused killing intent.
In her raised hand, a gigantic black spear began to form.
This was a Divine Strike forged from the combined power of fifty-one Flügel. Even the Dragon Sage would have to take that seriously!
Right after that, the Winged One hurled the massive Heavenly Strike straight at Riku.
The sheer pressure of the power crushed the space around it. Wherever the Heavenly Strike passed, spatial cracks tore open, and fragments of space flew everywhere.
And in the area it was aiming for, using spatial abilities to escape was nearly impossible.
"Arrogant? You're really one to dream. I just wanted to test my own limits and give you guys a shot on purpose," Riku replied coldly, completely unfazed by the incoming massive strike, his body glowing with blue and crimson energy.
Zzzzzzzzzzt—!!
As he finished speaking, Riku suddenly raised his hand. On the gemstone embedded in his gauntlet, a terrifying surge of energy gathered.
Then, a crimson energy cannon, wrapped in swirling blue vortexes, blasted out from Riku's hand and slammed hard into the giant Heavenly Strike!
In an instant, the entire sky shattered!
"....."