The air was thick with tension and the smell of freshly turned earth. Belto held the eerie doll in his right hand, a sickeningly confident smirk plastered on his face as he taunted Makoto Katsuragi.
"Give it up, you don't stand a chance against the Seven's number one assistant."
Makoto instinctively shifted back, his arms up to guard his vitals. He had no idea when Belto's Standz ability (Sutandzu Nōryoku) would strike, but he refused to show fear, a cocky grin still etched on his face. "What, you expect me to be scared of a doll?"
Belto chuckled mockingly, a sound that felt as cold as the wind. "It's clear you don't understand how Standz work, but I won't blame you. After all, you don't have one." He took a menacing step forward, his smirk widening into a sneer. "Allow me to enlighten you. My Standz ability is called Soul Transfer. And my Standz pressure (Sutandzu Atsu)? A mountain range. Impressive, right?"
Makoto tensed, his senses on high alert. Belto's gaze was fixed on him, a predatory intensity in his eyes. "Transferring a human soul into a doll takes an immense amount of Standz pressure," he continued, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper. "But…your soul is empty. You don't have a Standz. That means I can manipulate your body at will, without even using much Standz pressure."
A chilling realization washed over Makoto, the pieces clicking into place. He was not an opponent; he was a puppet. Without a second thought, he lunged, darting behind Belto and aiming a decisive blow at the back of his head. But before his fist could even connect, he felt a sharp, crushing pain shoot through his hand. Belto, without even looking, had casually pressed the doll's hand, instantly mirroring the motion and turning Makoto's hand into a grotesque, twisted mess.
The Seirei Exorcist members—Takumi Enatsu, Yana, Haruko, Rin, Miwafe—gasped in unison. Belto had effortlessly, and brutally, broken Makoto's hand. Without a backward glance, he turned to face his opponent, his eyes cold and triumphant. "You see now? You can never hope to defeat me."
He grinned and bit the doll's neck. A phantom agony erupted in Makoto's own neck as a thin stream of blood trickled down his skin. He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched against the overwhelming pain. Desperate, he lunged at Belto again, but the antagonist acted swiftly, twisting the doll's leg with a savage crack. Makoto's own leg snapped in response, sending him crashing to the ground, a pained cry escaping his lips.
Belto walked over and stomped on his fallen body, reveling in his dominance. "Just give up, Makoto!" Miwafe cried out from the sidelines. "Go with them before you get hurt even more! Not like I care or anything…"
Despite the agony, Makoto forced himself to stand, his body screaming in protest. Belto's smirk faltered for a moment, but he pressed on, twisting the doll further. Makoto's body convulsed under the relentless pain, his consciousness fading into a dark haze.
Then—
(Flashback: The Boss's Office)
Makoto stood before Raito Kisaragi, a familiar curiosity sparking in his eyes. "Hey, Boss Man. You don't contact the Seven directly, right? So who gives the go-ahead for their orders?"
Raito met his gaze before answering, a thoughtful look on his face. "Their second assistant."
"How many are there?" Makoto pressed, leaning on the desk.
"The Seven have two elite assistants—Belto and Sakura," Raito replied, a hint of caution in his voice.
Makoto's interest was piqued. "Do you know anything about their Standz?"
Raito hesitated for a long moment, the silence stretching between them. "Only Belto's. He brags about it constantly. Soul Transfer—everything he does revolves around it." He narrowed his eyes, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "Why do you want to know?"
Makoto's smirk returned. "Because there's a good chance I'll have to fight them."
Raito's expression shifted to one of genuine surprise. Then, after a heavy sigh, he leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Alright, listen closely…"
(Present Time)
Makoto's eyes snapped open, a newfound clarity shining in their depths. He gathered every ounce of his remaining strength and sprinted—not toward Belto, but around him, circling at an incredible speed. The Seirei Exorcist members watched in utter confusion.
"What's he doing?" Haruko muttered, his brow furrowed.
Only Raito understood. "He's trying to get out of Belto's range!"
The others exchanged puzzled glances. "What does that mean?" Rin asked, her voice filled with apprehension.
Raito exhaled sharply, the explanation pouring out of him. "When it comes to Standz abilities, there are three types: Manipulators, Enhancers, and Abrupt Standz. The strongest are usually Manipulators or Abrupt users. Belto is a Manipulator—his ability relies on controlling people whose souls are transferred to the doll."
"But what does that have to do with Makoto?" Takumi Enatsu pressed, his eyes darting between the circling fighter and the boss.
Raito's expression darkened. "Manipulators have one major weakness—range."
He continued, his voice urgent. "Standz pressure range determines how far a user's ability can reach. Manipulators must build up their Standz pressure to extend their range—from room-level to building-level, field-level, mountain-level, city-level, and ultimately, country-level. If their opponent escapes their range, their power weakens."
Ninda's eyes widened in realization. "So Makoto is trying to get out of Belto's range before he can stop him!"
Makoto pushed himself to the limit, his battered body barely holding together. But Belto remained unfazed, a sneer on his lips. "You think you can escape?" With a simple, deliberate motion, he crushed the rib side of the doll. Makoto's ribs cracked violently, forcing him to spit out blood as he collapsed once more.
Belto approached, smug as ever.
But Makoto smirked weakly, the pain visible on his face. "Finally… you're in my range."
Before Belto could react, Makoto hurled a small pebble with blinding speed. Belto barely dodged it, his mind racing as he realized the truth. (He almost got me!)
His eyes flicked forward—only to see Makoto already in front of him. A brutal punch slammed into Belto's left ribs, a sickening crunch echoing through the air, sending him staggering backward, coughing up blood. The Seirei Exorcist members watched in stunned silence, their disbelief mirroring their shock.
Makoto readied another strike, but Belto, still reeling from the first blow, panicked. He grabbed the doll's head, prepared to crush it—a desperate move that defied the Seven's orders to take Makoto alive.
But before he could finish—
Sakura appeared.
She materialized out of nowhere, shocking everyone into silence.
"Where did she come from?!" Takumi Enatsu exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Sakura snatched Makoto's head mid-motion, twisting it with precise force, rendering him unconscious. She turned to Belto, eyes filled with irritation. "You almost killed him."
Belto pouted like a child. "I wasn't gonna—"
Ignoring him, Sakura lifted Makoto over her shoulder and tossed him into the back of a waiting van. The Seirei Exorcist members remained frozen in disbelief.
Belto turned to them, grinning. "I see you're all confused. Let me help you out." He gestured toward Sakura. "That's Sakura, the Seven's second assistant. Her Standz makes her invisible—none of you even noticed her. That, my friends, is a powerful Abrupt Standz."
He smirked as they drove off, leaving the Seirei Exorcists stunned and helpless.