Amidst the swirling energy emanating from the Second Founder, Saruto was overwhelmed by his own power and pondered how to counter such immense force. Suddenly, the Founder raised his head and stared at Saruto. In a flash, he grabbed Saruto's face and slammed him to the ground, leaving two craters. As Saruto lay in the craters, the Founder raised his arm, gathered the energy, and unleashed it in his direction. Saruto sensed the incoming energy and tried to get up quickly to avoid it, only to find the Founder above him. The Founder pulled him out of the craters, grabbed his neck, and lifted him to absorb the energy aimed at him. Saruto tried to escape, but it struck him, causing an explosion that shook the Founder's world.
We see Saruto still clutching the Founder's neck, his armor half-broken, as the Founder throws him to the ground. Saruto struggles to his feet, his body swaying, unable to stand due to the damage he has sustained.
The Founder approached him and said, "It's impossible for me to let you fall in these plains, especially since you've begun to amuse me." He placed his hand on Saruto and gave him some of his own power so he could continue fighting. Saruto rose and thought to himself, "I let my guard down, and that's what caused my injury. If he hadn't given me his energy, I would have lost him by now." Saruto's anger flared, and the energy of darkness began to swirl around him, reshaping his shattered shield.
Preparing to attack the Founder, Saruto moved behind him, aiming for his neck. But the Founder anticipated the attack, grabbed Saruto's leg, and slammed him to the ground several times before spinning him around and throwing him away. Saruto, flying through the air, regained control and landed. He began to increase his energy, saying, "If I don't evolve too, I'll never defeat him." Darkness began to envelop his shield as he unleashed his power. His shield evolved to the second level, but it was incomplete. He swiftly lunged at the Founder, raising his fist. Their fists clashed, and Saruto didn't stop at a single strike, but landed several while the Founder merely parried. Noticing that his shield was draining energy due to its incompleteness, Saruto retreated to deliver his final attack. The Founder notices this and decides to launch his final attack.
All their energy is concentrated in a single strike that could determine the fate of the battle. Just as their attacks are about to clash, something strange happens:
Time suddenly stops.
Saruto finds himself in a dark, gloomy world, surrounded by silence and black clouds. His voice rises as he cries out,
"Where am I?"
Suddenly, the First Founder appears before him, shrouded in a veil of darkness, radiating an unparalleled presence.
Despite the breathtaking sight, Saruto cannot help but fall to his knees, overwhelmed by the immense power of the energy surrounding him.
The First Founder smiles and says in a deep, majestic voice,
"Hello, Saruto... I have been waiting for you for a long time."