Jed stood tall, his sword gripped tightly, his breath steady despite the overwhelming odds.
He and the chained Luz were now surrounded by Den, Liu, Matthew, and the entire dark army.
Den smirked.
"Nice death wish, Jed."
Jed didn't flinch. "I'm not here to die. I'm here to save Luz."
---
Meanwhile
Munfa and Kael stood face to face.
The wind howled between them.
"Dark. Light. You're both fools," Kael muttered. "Your childish war destroyed Aetheris. The innocent died because of you. I'll kill both sides… and bring peace the only way this world understands."
Suddenly—
WHISTLING BLADES.
Multiple kunai sliced through the air.
Kael's Susanoo formed instantly, slashing through all of them.
But then—
Hook appeared. Alive.
"You fool, Kael!" Hook's voice echoed with venom.
"You really thought you could kill me that easily?"
Kael's eyes widened in genuine shock.
"You should be dead…"
Munfa, wounded, took the chance to retreat behind cover.
Hook floated in the air, telekinesis crackling around him.
"Let's finish this properly."
Hook lifted rocks, debris, even broken weapons, flinging them at Kael with terrifying speed.
Kael's Susanoo clashed with everything, slashing left and right—
But then—
SLAM!
A glue clone landed on him from above, exploding on contact.
Kael's Susanoo flickered—he was caught.
Hook grinned, then closed his eyes and reached into Kael's mind.
Dark memories flooded in.
His mother's scream. His father's final words. The fire. The blood.
Kael grabbed his head, falling to his knees.
The glue began to melt off him—but his strength was fading.
Hook hovered above him, arms crossed, grinning.
"Come on, Kael… Rise and show me your strength. Or are you just a broken boy?"
---
Back at the Fortress
Den stepped forward, raising his boot—then SLAMMED it into Jed's chest.
Jed's blade blocked it just in time, but the force launched him backward, crashing against the wall.
Liu inhaled sharply—then released a massive flame breath at Jed.
BOOM!
Jed rolled to the side, barely dodging the blast.
Smoke surrounded him—he coughed, burned—but he stood.
"If I go down… it won't be without taking someone like you with me."
He locked eyes on Matthew.
"I'll end your brain first."
Matthew, ever calm, stepped back, but Den was faster.
With a wave of his arm, he sent a blast of dark aura, searing into Jed's shoulder.
"AGH—!"
Jed fell to one knee, clutching his burned shoulder.
Luz watched helplessly, teeth clenched.
"Stop…! Don't hurt him!"
Den turned to Luz with a cold smirk.
"Then give me your power."
Luz looked away. "Never."
Two battles. Two broken warriors.
Kael on his knees.
Jed bleeding, surrounded.
The world was tipping into darkness—
And its last defenders were struggling to stand.