Luz scanned their surroundings—his breathing heavy, his energy fading fast.
They couldn't escape this easily. Not with Den, Liu, and the rest of the dark army closing in.
Den turned to Matthew.
"Where's Hook?" he asked, his tone calm but demanding.
Matthew adjusted his glasses, already monitoring Hook's location.
"He's fighting... Kael."
---
Meanwhile
Hook's hands glowed as he charged his telekinesis, hurling waves of debris, metal, and sharpened weapons at both Kael and Chan.
But then—
Kael stood.
His Susanoo erupted behind him once again, only this time it burned with intense fire aura, hotter than ever. Its claws grew longer and sharper, crackling with flame.
SLASH—CLANG—BOOM—
Kael's Susanoo slashed and shattered every projectile in their path, each strike booming like thunder.
But Kael's body was reaching its limit.
He spat blood onto the cracked ground, barely standing.
"Escape, kid… SAVE YOURSELF!" he roared.
Chan looked at him, wide-eyed, but obeyed. He turned and ran, heading toward Munfa and Aris in the distance.
Kael's eyes locked onto Hook.
And then he charged.
A barrage of flaming claw strikes from his Susanoo rained down on Hook—dozens of them, fast and relentless.
"Tch—!" Hook gritted his teeth, barely dodging each attack.
He flipped, rolled, and used his telekinesis to deflect parts of the assault—but it wasn't enough.
Then Kael's eyes narrowed.
The fire within burned brighter—his rage, his grief, his revenge.
With a roar, Kael kicked Hook square in the chest, sending him flying through two trees.
---
Back to Den and Matthew
Den smirked, watching the chaos from afar.
"Do it, Matthew," he ordered.
"He's ready."
Matthew nodded.
Luz and the others didn't understand what they meant.
---
Kael's body trembled, steam rising from his skin. The Ultimate Susanoo—now blazing like a sun—was burning his flesh. But he didn't care.
He lifted his hand, gathering all his remaining power.
The Susanoo mirrored him.
Together, they formed a massive fireball, spiraling with light and destruction.
"DIE!" Kael roared.
He launched the fireball straight at Hook.
Hook raised both hands—only for his left arm to be completely blown off, torn by the force of the impact.
"AAAAAGH!!"
Smoke and fire consumed the forest. Kael collapsed to one knee, exhausted. His Susanoo shattered into burning particles.
He stood again, limping toward Hook, katana drawn.
Hook was helpless. Bleeding. Panicking.
"N-No… Kael, I beg you… don't! You can still join us. We can destroy Luz together! No… PLEASE!"
Kael's eyes were hollow.
He raised the katana.
But then—
"BOOM!"
A giant hammer slammed into Kael, sending him crashing through trees and boulders, flying across the battlefield.
Kael's eyes widened in disbelief.
Through the smoke, a massive muscular man walked into view.
"I… can't be…" Kael muttered.
"Victor…?"
Victor said nothing. His gaze was cold.
Kael couldn't move. Couldn't fight. Not anymore.
Victor approached, grabbed him by the throat, and kicked him hard into a nearby river.
Kael crashed into the water, barely conscious.
As he sank, flashes of memory flooded his mind—
His mother. His father. His village. His best friend… Munfa.
"I failed them…"
Splash.
He sank into the cold water.
Victor turned back to Hook, helping him up.
Hook, now with only one arm, gritted his teeth in pain.
"Don't worry," Victor muttered.
"Matthew will fix you up."
Together, they vanished back toward the dark fortress.
---
Back with Luz and the Escape
Luz was still too weak. His breathing was short. He couldn't think of a way out.
Suddenly, a wave of fire exploded near them, covering the area in smoke.
"Chan…" Aris said, surprised.
Luz's eyes widened.
This was their chance.
"kid—ignite everything!" Luz ordered.
Chan didn't hesitate.
He unleashed a wide spread of flames, burning the fortress and confusing the enemy with smoke and chaos.
Luz activated his teleportation, grabbing Jed, Aris, Munfa, and Chan.
"This is all I can manage… hold on!"
With a bright flash, they disappeared—
Reappearing deep in the forest, far from the battlefield.
Luz collapsed to his knees.
The others surrounded him, helping him stay up.
The escape was successful… but barely.
Kael was gone.
Victor had arrived.
And Hook, though wounded, survived.
But Luz now knew one thing for certain—
This war was far from over.