Hikaru and Carlos teleported to the Thunder Center in Russia, appearing suddenly in front of Ojjisan. The old sorcerer's eyes widened in shock.
"How did you two get here?" he asked, stepping forward.
Hikaru, still catching his breath, replied, "I don't know… I was fighting Yoru, and suddenly, I awakened this new power."
Ojjisan nodded but hesitated for a moment before saying, "Hikaru… there's something you need to know. Tatsuya is dead."
The words hit Hikaru like a bolt of lightning. His heart sank, and for a moment, everything around him faded into silence. He clenched his fists, struggling to process the loss. He wanted to ask how it happened, but the pain was too fresh. Instead, he remained silent, his mind filled with memories of his fallen friend.
Meanwhile, at the Water Center in Big Bear Lake, California, Kiyoshi and Kenji continued their intense training under Aqua, the Head of the Water Center. Kiyoshi had just mastered the ability to combine water with strength magic, enhancing his attacks significantly.
Suddenly, a deep, guttural roar echoed through the air. A massive three-headed dog emerged from the shadows, its red eyes glowing with fury. Its roar was so powerful that it caused an intense shockwave, instantly damaging Kiyoshi's ears. He winced in pain, struggling to regain his balance.
Without hesitation, Kiyoshi activated a speed spell and charged at the beast, channeling his newly learned technique. He gathered a sphere of dense water, infused it with strength magic, and struck the creature's chest with immense force, causing it to stagger backward.
Aqua narrowed his eyes as he recognized the beast. "Cerberus… the guardian of the underworld," he muttered.
Kiyoshi, still catching his breath, asked, "You mean the Cerberus from Greek mythology?"
Aqua nodded. "This is no myth. It's real, and it's extremely dangerous."
Without wasting another second, Aqua summoned a fire beam, launching it at Cerberus. But to their horror, the attack had no effect. "Damn it… it's immune to both fire and water."
Kenji quickly pulled out a sword from his belt and tossed it to Aqua. "We'll have to take it down the old-fashioned way!"
Kiyoshi, despite his injuries, gritted his teeth and charged again. He activated Bulk Strike, his fists glowing with sheer power, and delivered a devastating blow that sent Cerberus tumbling into the lake.
Aqua seized the opportunity, raising his hands. The water beneath Cerberus churned violently before rising into a massive tsunami. With a flick of his wrist, Aqua sent the towering wave crashing down on the beast.
Kenji, using his water magic, prevented the tsunami from spreading to the nearby city. As the waves receded, Cerberus struggled to get up, its strength fading. Aqua handed the sword to Kiyoshi. "End this."
With a powerful leap, Kiyoshi descended upon the weakened Cerberus, slashing through one of its heads. The beast let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing lifelessly.
They barely had time to catch their breath before a new threat emerged. The impact of the tsunami had disturbed something deep within the lake. A massive, serpentine creature rose from the water, its scales shimmering under the moonlight. It let out a deafening roar, spewing fire from its mouth.
Aqua's eyes widened in disbelief. "Leviathan…"
Kiyoshi tightened his grip on his sword. "Great. Just great."
Aqua and Kiyoshi both lunged at the sea monster, slashing at its thick hide. But Leviathan remained unfazed. It let out another burst of flames, aiming directly at Kiyoshi. Just before the fire could consume him, Kenji rushed in and created a massive water barrier, deflecting the attack.
Kiyoshi took advantage of the opening and delivered a powerful Bulk Strike to Leviathan's jaw, momentarily stunning it. The beast let out a pained screech before retreating beneath the waves.
Aqua, still on edge, exhaled slowly. "That was too close."
Back in the Dark Center, far away from the battle, a different story was unfolding.
Yoru, the former Head of the Dark Center, once lived a life of pain and suffering. As a child, he was treated as nothing more than a tool—a slave. He was forced to obey, beaten down, and ridiculed. The world never showed him kindness.
But one entity did.
A dark spirit named Legion reached out to Yoru in his moments of despair. Unlike the others, Legion offered him power, respect, and vengeance. Yoru, desperate for a way out, accepted. Over time, his heart darkened, and he pledged himself to the shadows.
Now, with Yoru dead at Hikaru's hands, Legion was enraged. The dark spirit would not let this go unanswered.
In the depths of the void, Legion summoned an ancient and terrifying force—Asmodeus, the embodiment of pure destruction.
"Find him," Legion commanded. "Kill Hikaru."
A sinister smile spread across Asmodeus's face.