The attacks didn't stop.
From every direction—
water struck.
Sharp. Fast. Endless.
I blocked what I could.
Dodged what I couldn't.
But it wasn't enough.
Cuts opened across my body.
Blood ran down my arms.
My breathing grew heavy.
I'm… not going to last like this…
Then—
CRASH.
Something broke from above.
The formation trembled.
A monster dropped in.
For a moment—
everything froze.
Yamato's focus shifted instantly.
From me…
to it.
I understood.
The stronger the formation from inside—
the weaker it is from the outside.
And now—
there was a problem.
He couldn't seal it.
The prison maze was gone.
He couldn't let it escape.
Hesitation.
Just for a second.
That was enough.
I stepped forward.
Calm.
The monster roared—
and charged.
I swung.
One punch.
Silence.
It didn't fall.
It didn't struggle.
It was gone.
Like it never existed.
I slowly looked at my fist.
Blood dripped from it.
Then I licked it off.
And turned to Yamato.
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But I saw it.
Fear.
How…? his eyes said it for him.
How can a human kill a monster?
I didn't answer.
I moved.
A kick—
straight to his face.
He hit the ground hard.
The water formation flickered.
Weakening.
He stood up again—
but I could see it.
He was exhausted.
Most of his destructive energy… gone.
Now—
he could only fight physically.
I stepped forward.
That was my world.
Close combat.
For the next few seconds—
everything blurred.
Punch.
Block.
Strike.
Counter.
Fists clashed.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Every hit echoed.
Every move mattered.
He was strong.
But tired.
I wasn't.
I saw the opening.
I moved in—
and delivered a final kick.
He crashed to the ground.
Hard.
Silence.
He didn't get up.
I stood over him.
Breathing slowly.
This was it.
I clenched my fist.
On the ground—
Yamato stared up at me.
This is it… he thought.
This is where I die.
And for a moment—
everything went still.