Dreadclaw was barely standing. His body was covered in blood and wounds, his breath was rough and heavy. The attacks from Arashi had damaged him a lot—those thunderous blows and brutal kicks left him struggling to stay on his feet. Dreadclaw's eyes widened in shock as he watched Arashi's body go limp. His mouth opened slightly, disbelief was flashing across his scarred face. For a moment, he froze—unable to process what he was seeing.
And then, with a heavy thud, Arashi collapsed onto the ground, unconscious. Dust rose around him, the air was trembling with the remnants of his power.
The townspeople gasped as Arashi's body hit the ground. For a heartbeat, some of them took a step forward, desperate to rush to his side. But then their eyes shifted — Dreadclaw was still stood on the street, his shadow was stretching over everyone like a predator who was watching its prey.
The air froze. No one dared to move closer. Fear gripped their legs like chains. Mothers clutched their children tighter, men clenched their fists but didn't take any other step. One voice broke the silence, trembling: "We… we can't move even a inch now. He's still there."
Another, whispering, almost ashamed: "If we move now… we'll all be killed."
The people stayed rooted where they were, watching helplessly as Arashi lay motionless.
Izumi was on the ground, her own wounds were still throbbing, but she barely noticed them. Bento's head rested on her lap, his face was pale, blood was soaking through his clothes. With her trembling hands, she tore a strip of fabric from her sleeve and pressed it firmly against his wound. The cloth darkened almost instantly, but she held it in place with all her strength. "Don't you dare die on me, Bento..." she muttered under her breath, her voice was a mix of anger and desperation. Her eyes burned, not with tears, but with stubborn determination. Even in her state, even while the world around them was trembling with thunder and fear, Izumi refused to let him go.
Two small kids suddenly broke free from the crowd. Their mother cried out, reaching for them—"Don't go there!" But they didn't listen. Ignoring her desperate voice, they ran forward and planted themselves in front of Arashi's unconscious body. With trembling legs but with blazing eyes, they spread their arms wide as if to shield him."If you want to hurt Brother," one shouted, "you'll have to go through us first!" The crowd gasped. Then, without hesitation, Yuri stepped out with them. She moved to stand protectively in front of Arashi as well, side by side with the kids. Her voice was steady, sharp with resolve."Me too."
But Dreadclaw didn't reply to any of them. He was lost in his own thoughts. "What happened…? If he had stood even for a few seconds longer, he might have killed me. What kind of power does he hold? I've never seen anything like this. I've never faced an opponent that strong… he's something else. I don't want to kill him when he's unconscious like this. I want to fight him again."
Suddenly, Dreadclaw threw his head back and laughed—loud, wild, almost manic. The sound echoed through the broken streets. It was sharp and terrifying. His dangerous smile stretched wide, brimming with excitement, and the townspeople shuddered, some instinctively stepping back in fear at the raw madness in his laugh. Finally, his grin settled, and he muttered aloud, "You were too strong, kid. Don't disappoint me in the future — I'll be waiting for our next fight. "Then his eyes slid toward the silent townspeople. His tone turned sharp, almost mocking. "You people are lucky. If it wasn't for him, you'd all be dead." With that, Dreadclaw turned his back on them, walking away with heavy, deliberate steps, leaving only the silence and fear in his wake.
After Dreadclaw was gone, the townspeople finally rushed forward. Some cried out in relief, others shouted for help as they gathered around Arashi and Bento. Hands reached out to lift their battered bodies, while Yuri and Izumi guided them with urgency. Together, they carried both toward the hospital, the crowd moving as one to protect the two who had just saved their town.
The scene shifts to Dreadclaw's ship.
He sat shirtless in the dim cabin, fresh bandages wrapped tight across his chest and arms. His body ached with every breath, but a grin lingered on his face. From the shadows, a calm, heavy voice spoke—one he clearly knew.
"So… you failed." Dreadclaw chuckled low, wincing at the pain of his wound.."Failed? Hah… call it a warm-up. The kid was stronger than I thought." The voice didn't waver. "No excuses. Your next mission is already waiting." Dreadclaw's grin widened. It was sharp and dangerous."Heh… fine. But I'll fight that brat again. Don't get in my way." The voice faded, leaving only the creak of the ship and the distant crash of waves.