The gun was pointed on Emi's forehead. She clenched her jaw and fists, every part of her body was showing that she wouldn't give up. Dreadclaw's finger poised over the trigger, slow and deliberate, ready to end it all.
But then—he froze. A monstrous presence, huge and terrifying, sliced through the tension. His eyes widened in shock.
"What… what is this power?" he muttered.
Suddenly, a voice rang out. It was sharp and clear.
"Oi… stop!"
The voice pierced like lightning. Dreadclaw's eyes shifted toward the source of the voice.
Through the shattered doorway, Arashi and Bento came charging, their feet was pounding against the floor. Their hearts were blazing with determination. Dust was kicking up around them as they closed the distance.
Emi's chest surged with a mix of hope and fury. The nightmare wasn't over yet — but a person arrived whom they can rely on.
Dreadclaw's smile widened as the air thickened. "So this is it… this is gonna be so much fun."
The bar door burst open. Arashi and Bento stumbled inside, gasping for air. Their chest were heaving from the run.
Bento froze, eyes wide, mumbling under his breath.
"Uh… this is… bad. Very bad. Too bad… waaah!"
He stumbled backward, almost tripping over, and reflexively grabbed Arashi's shoulder, shaking with fear.
"Okay… okay… just… just don't look at me… don't—don't—ugh!"
Arashi's gaze locked on Izumi.
"Izumi! Are you okay?" His voice was cracking with anger and worry.
Izumi forced a weak smile through the pain. "Y-Yes… I'm fine."
Arashi's fists trembled. His voice bellowed, shaking the air in the bar.
"How dare you… hurt these people! How dare you mess with the people of this town!"
Dreadclaw tilted his head, amusement was flashing in his eyes. A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Oooh… so that's it. You're fired up, huh? Calm down, boy or you'll burn out too fast."
On the ground, Emi was struggling to move. Her body was screaming in pain, every breath of her was sharp. She couldn't stand—not after taking that many hits.
Arashi stepped forward, fury was blazing inside him. His hand twitched. He was ready to strike.
But then—"Arashi, no!" Izumi's cry rang out. It was desperate and trembling. "He's… too strong…"
But Arashi didn't react. He didn't even say a word. His eyes just locked on Dreadclaw.
And then Arashi moved forward. His fists started to swing in a storm of rage. His knuckles slammed into Dreadclaw's chest, one blow after another. Each strike echoed through the bar like a war drum.
But the captain didn't even flinch. His grin widened.
"Pathetic," Dreadclaw sneered, brushing the dust from his coat as if Arashi's blows were nothing more than wind to him.
While Arashi was fighting against Dreadclaw, Bento dramatically crawled out of the chaos, clutching his side and making exaggerated faces as if he were on the death's door. Somehow, through all the noise, he managed to sneak and stumbled his way over to Izumi.
"Why are you lying on the ground like that?" he asked, as if she were just relaxing instead of injured.
Yuri snapped at him, furious. "What do you think, you fool?!"
Bento just grinned stupidly, flashing a thumbs-up. "He-he-he!"
Izumi rolled her eyes, too exhausted to even argue with his nonsense.
Then Bento's gaze caught on the red mark in Izumi's cheek. His smile faltered for a second, and then he leaned closer. "Whoa… that scar… it's ruining your pretty face," he muttered, half-joking but strangely sincere.
Izumi blinked at him, caught off guard, before turning her head away with a faint scoff.
Without another word, Bento dug into his backpack. His hands moved quickly, pulling out a small bottle and clean bandages. "Hold still for some moment," he murmured. Then, he started to treat the scar on Izumi's face.
Izumi expected him to be fumble, but instead of being fumble. She noticed, his touch was careful, almost gentle. He worked with surprising steadiness, dabbing medicine and wrapping the bandage in place.
"…You've done this before, right." Izumi said, while watching him.
Bento chuckled softly, not meeting her eyes. "Maybe. Or maybe I just don't like seeing people hurt."
Dreadclaw staggered—just enough to make Arashi's heart skip a beat.
Then Dreadclaw's eyes narrowed, a cruel smile curling across his face.
"Now… it's my turn."
Dreadclaw's fist hit into Arashi's stomach like a hammer. The sound cracked through the air. Arashi's body folded, breath was exploding from his lungs. He was launched backward, crashing through the wall of the bar and smashing into the building across the street.
The townspeople gasped. Dust rained down on the streets. For a moment, it seemed impossible that he would stand again.
But slowly—shakily—Arashi rose. Blood was dripping from his mouth, his vision was getting blurred, but his body refused to give up.
"I… won't let you hurt them…"
Dreadclaw get out of the bar. He stepped on the streets.
In a burst of speed, Arashi dashed forward, his right fist lifted back, lightning in his eyes. He aimed straight for Dreadclaw's jaw.
But Dreadclaw's hand shot out, catching Arashi by the throat mid-charge. With a cruel laugh, he slammed him into the ground so hard the floor cracked beneath them.
Before Arashi could even catch his breath, a heavy boot smashed him into his ribs.
Crack!
Arashi's body flew and crashed into the wall with a brutal force. Blood drop down from his lip as he slumped, gasping for air.
Bento froze mid-step, his eyes was bulging.
"Arashi!!!" he screamed. His hands trembled so much that he couldn't even reach out.
Izumi's heart twisted. She tried to stand, but her battered body collapsed back to the floor. Tears welled in her eyes. "Stop it! Please!"
Arashi staggered back from the wall, clutching his ribs. Blood was trailing from the corner of his mouth, but his body refused to give up. Step by step, he forced his body to stand, trembling but unbroken.
Emi's eyes widened as she watched him rise again. Her chest tightened.
"That idiot… why doesn't he just stay down?" she thought, her fists digging into the floor.
But deep inside, a memory stirred—her mother's voice, soft yet firm. "No matter how many times life knocks you down, you stand again. As long as you rise, you will never lose."
Her throat ached. "He's… the same," Emi realized. Arashi's spirit and his refusal to surrender—it reminded Emi of her mother. Even in this nightmare, that same stubborn fire was blazing before her eyes.
Tears blurred her vision, but she clenched her teeth.
"Don't you dare fall, Arashi.
The villagers— who were on the streets covered their mouths in horror. Mothers shielded their children's, while old men shook their heads, while muttering,
"He's just a boy… he'll be killed…"
And through it all, Dreadclaw stood tall, a grin stretching across his scarred face.
"Kid… you're making me disappointed."
Then, with a roar, Arashi charged.
Dreadclaw's grin widened.
"You still have that much energy left? Interesting."
Arashi's fist cut through the air, aiming straight for Dreadclaw's jaw— but he tilted his head, dodging with ease.
"Too slow."
Then, Dreadclaw's fists blurred. Blow after blow crashed into Arashi's face. Each strike snapped his head back, blood was spraying across the streets.
Then, a savage hook slammed into Arashi's side, right under the ribs.
"Ghh—!" Arashi coughed violently, his body lifted off the ground before crashing down at Dreadclaw's left side. Dust rose around him as he was struggling to breathe.
Dreadclaw turned, towering over him like a shadow.
The townspeople's voices cracked through the silence.
"He's just a kid!" "Stop this!"
Among the crowd, a little boy and girl clutched each other. Their eyes were wide with terror. They were the same ones who had giggled at Arashi when he first arrived at the town.
Now their voices trembled."Brother…!"
Then, Dreadclaw's hand reached into his long coat and pulled out a strange black weapon—three long, curved blades fixed to a knuckled grip.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"No… stop!" the townspeople cried out at the same time, together. Their voices started to tremble.
Dreadclaw raised the claw high, ready to finish Arashi once and for all. Every pair of eyes widened in horror.
"Arashi!!" Izumi's scream tore through the silence.
Bento, trembling, forced himself up from the ground, his face twisted with determination.
Dreadclaw was walking slowly toward Arashi.
Then, the claw came down—but before it could strike, someone stepped in front of Arashi. The blow landed, not on Arashi, but against the body that shielded him.
Arashi's eyes shot open wide. He stared at the figure which was standing before him.