The countdown continued.
00:01:00
Only one minute remained before the ancient gate inside Shanghai would fully open.
And then—
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
The emergency alarms of the World Martial Arts Organization exploded throughout the headquarters.
---
World Martial Arts Organization — Emergency Command Room
The Ten Super Generals stood around the main tactical screen.
On the screen was Shanghai.
And surrounding the city were multiple massive spiritual barriers.
General Ryuken Arashi narrowed his eyes.
"So they actually did it…"
General Mei Lin folded her arms.
"The ritual has begun."
General Viktor Dragunov slammed his fist against the table.
"Then we don't have time to sit here!"
Ayaka Shirogane looked at the tactical map.
"There are ten barrier-control points."
Hassan Rahman immediately understood.
"Which means nine of us need to intercept the Mask Men controlling those barriers."
Marcus Vale looked toward the center of the map.
"And the remaining one?"
Silence.
Everyone looked at the final location.
The center of Shanghai.
Where Kaito Jin stood.
Sora Hayashi quietly smiled.
"So one of us gets the pleasure of fighting the leader."
Daichi Kurogane tightened his grip on his wooden staff.
"This will not be a pleasure."
Jian Long finally spoke.
"Then decide quickly."
Ryuken stepped forward.
"Move."
The room erupted into motion.
---
Shanghai — Above the City
The sky had changed.
Massive spaceships hovered above the clouds.
Behind them stood countless alien soldiers.
And at the very center—
The Alien Queen watched the ancient gate.
Only one minute remained.
She smiled.
"Finally…"
Her eyes glowed.
"My plan is finally becoming reality."
She slowly raised her hand.
"Ten years ago, that pathetic human ruined everything."
Her expression darkened.
"I had to kill him."
She paused.
"And his wife."
Her smile disappeared.
"I even tried to kill their child."
A memory flashed through her mind.
A young child.
A furious old man.
A battle that had nearly cost her everything.
"The old man arrived before I could finish it."
The Alien Queen clicked her tongue.
"That old man nearly killed me."
Behind her, Kaito Jin suddenly tilted his head.
"My Lady…"
The Alien Queen looked back.
"Yes?"
Kaito spoke casually.
"I think I killed that old man."
Silence.
The Alien Queen stared at him.
"…What?"
Kaito scratched the back of his mask.
"The old man you're talking about."
"You killed him?"
"Yep."
The Alien Queen stared at him for several seconds.
Then—
She slowly walked toward a corner.
She crouched down.
"My life is meaningless…"
One of the alien generals looked at her.
"My Lady?"
"I've lived for thousands of years…"
She covered her face.
"And this guy killed the old man while awakening his Spiritual Beast…"
Kaito raised a finger.
"To be fair, he was really strong."
The Alien Queen slowly stood.
"Whatever."
Her expression suddenly became cold.
"At least the ritual is succeeding."
She turned toward her army.
"Everyone."
The alien generals immediately stood straight.
"Attack."
---
The Heroes Arrive
A powerful gust swept across the battlefield.
Five figures appeared in the distance.
Renge Akihana.
Leo.
Chen Wei.
Lily.
Yuna.
Behind them came the World Martial Arts Organization's elite forces.
The Ten Super Generals moved forward.
Ryuken looked at Leo.
"Thank you for coming."
Leo shrugged.
"I'm one of the strongest fifty martial artists in the world."
He cracked his knuckles.
"So protecting the world is kind of my job."
Chen Wei looked around.
"So… which one of you is coming with us?"
Ryuken pointed toward the city.
"Only one of us can accompany you."
Leo blinked.
"Only one?"
"Yes."
"That seems unnecessarily dramatic."
Yuna sighed.
"Everything in this world is unnecessarily dramatic."
Lily nodded.
"Especially him."
She pointed at Leo.
"Hey!"
Renge laughed.
"Let's just move."
Suddenly—
BOOM!
Nine flashes of light appeared across Shanghai.
One by one, the Mask Men appeared at the nine barrier-control points.
And opposite each of them—
A Super General appeared.
Nine battles.
Nine locations.
One battlefield.
---
The Ten Mask Men vs. The Ten Generals
Ryuken Arashi landed in front of one Mask Man.
He looked at the mysterious figure.
"Why are you doing this?"
The Mask Man slowly raised his head.
"Because the world decided we were monsters."
Ryuken's eyes narrowed.
"Then prove you're better than the people who hurt you."
The Mask Man stepped forward.
"Gladly."
BOOM!
Their fists collided.
---
At another barrier—
Mei Lin faced one of the Mask Men.
"You were once a World Martial Arts General."
The masked fighter remained silent.
Mei Lin took a fighting stance.
"You abandoned everything."
The Mask Man answered:
"They abandoned me first."
CRACK!
Their fists collided.
---
Viktor Dragunov faced another.
The Mask Man rushed forward.
Viktor blocked the first punch.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Viktor grinned.
"Not bad."
The Mask Man's eyes narrowed behind his mask.
"You haven't seen anything yet."
They disappeared simultaneously.
BOOM!
A shockwave ripped across the street.
---
Ayaka Shirogane exchanged blows with another Mask Man.
Hassan Rahman battled another.
Marcus Vale battled another.
Sora Hayashi battled another.
Elena Voss battled another.
Daichi Kurogane faced the final barrier guardian.
Every battlefield was different.
But one thing remained the same.
Neither side had activated their Spiritual Beast.
Not yet.
They were fighting purely through—
Martial Arts.
Strength.
Speed.
Technique.
Experience.
And hatred.
---
Somewhere Above Shanghai
One of the Super Generals suddenly looked toward the sky.
He had been fighting with nothing but raw physical strength.
Yet he was smiling.
"Leo…"
He glanced toward the direction where the five heroes had disappeared.
"I hope you're doing alright."
His opponent attacked.
He blocked it with one hand.
"You don't have a Spiritual Beast."
His eyes became serious.
"Your strength comes only from your body."
He smiled.
"That's why I'm worried."
---
Meanwhile…
Leo, Renge, Chen Wei, Lily and Yuna continued moving through the city.
Chen Wei looked around.
"So… does anyone know where we're actually going?"
Leo pointed forward.
"No idea."
Lily stared at him.
"YOU'RE THE LEADER!"
Leo shrugged.
"I never said I was a good leader."
Yuna sighed.
"I knew this was going to happen."
Renge laughed.
"Don't worry. We'll figure it out."
Chen Wei suddenly stopped.
"…Guys."
Everyone stopped.
The atmosphere changed.
A massive shadow covered the street.
Leo slowly looked upward.
Hundreds—
No.
Thousands of alien soldiers filled the sky.
Behind them stood five Alien Generals.
Their pressure alone shook the buildings around them.
Lily's expression became serious.
"So they were waiting for us."
One of the Super Generals stepped forward.
"You five continue."
Leo looked at him.
"And you?"
The General cracked his neck.
"I'll handle these five."
The five Alien Generals simultaneously stepped forward.
Their Spiritual Energy erupted.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire battlefield shook.
Leo smiled.
"Alright."
Renge adjusted his stance.
"Looks like the real fight is finally starting."
Chen Wei raised his weapon.
Lily's eyes sharpened.
Yuna quietly prepared her power.
And far above them—
The ancient gate continued opening.
00:00:10
Nine barriers were active.
Ten battles had begun.
The Alien Army was moving.
The five Alien Generals were ready.
And somewhere at the heart of Shanghai—
Kaito Jin stood before the ancient gate.
The final ten seconds began.
10…
9…
8…
The world held its breath.
7…
6…
Kaito slowly raised his hand.
5…
His black aura began spreading across the sky.
4…
The ancient gate trembled.
3…
His voice echoed across Shanghai.
"Let the second nightmare begin."
2…
1…
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The ancient gate began to open.