Moments later, they finally reached the City of Lie.
Seraphine Voss muttered, eyes narrowing, "Draven Kael… do you really think… he's the only person in this world?"
Yura and Kozuki Toya arrived after sprinting through streets littered with rubble and debris, their breaths ragged, hearts pounding.
Somewhere in the city
Suddenly, the sealing box exploded, bursting outward with blinding energy. Blood and shards of metal and stone rained down. From the wreckage, Kael Draven emerged, vital force flowing endlessly around his body like a living storm.
He raised his head, voice calm yet deadly. "Do you really think that would be enough to seal me?"
Yura finally spotted him, collapse imminent from exhaustion. "Sir… Draven!" he gasped.
Kael's lips curved into a small, reassuring smile as he observed Yura struggling to stay upright. "You've endured so much… don't worry. I am here now."
Seraphine Voss turned, standing alongside Ren Takeda, their eyes glowing with hatred. "Just die already, Kael Draven," she hissed.
Kael tilted his head, his gaze sharp and composed. "So… what happened?"
Yura managed to whisper through labored breaths, "Neraxis… he's found his 11th Hex Fruit."
At that moment, Neraxis landed from the sky, the impact shaking the ruined streets, sending debris flying in every direction. The sound of concrete and steel shattering echoed like thunder. He muttered, eyes cold and void of mercy, "Draven Kael… I expected you'd be free sooner."
Kael stepped forward, energy radiating off him in waves, making the air shimmer with heat and pressure. "Yeah," he said confidently, "I'm the strongest, after all."
And there, in the devastated city, the strongest of today's era met the undefeated devil of 2000 years.
The whole world held its breath.