Azar's body lay sprawled on the ruined floor of the theater.
His vision black. His limbs refused to move. A strange weightlessness settled over him as he sank into a darkness deeper than sleep.
I lost...
The silence grew unbearable.
What is this place? Am I falling? Is this hell?
He tried to scream, but no sound came.
I thought I killed him. I thought I won... but I walked right into his trap.
A faint sound echoed through the void—thump… thump…
Wait... my heart… it's still beating?
Azar's fingers twitched.
I'm still alive.
That realization lit a spark deep inside him—a flame refusing to die.
Then I still have time. Time to finish this.
Memories flickered like fireflies in the void.
Zanden's voice, during one of their sparring sessions before rescuing Misa
"You're holding back...something new,''
Another moment—Kaji's serious eyes after the training they did
"You're hiding something…"
Azar clenched his fists. "Not yet… I can't die here… not until I end it."
"Heh... Looks like you were both right."
A grin spread across his face, defiant even in the dark.
"Let her rip."
Outside the Theater
Flames crackled in the distance. Smoke rose high, and the theater behind them trembled with heat.
Misa stood still, her voice shaking with fury.
"You'll pay for what you did to Azar…"
Vel Draven gave her a casual glance, then smirked.
"Oh really?"
He took a step forward, the fire's glow flickering in his eyes.
"Then show me what you've got."
BOOM!
The ground trembled. A massive explosion burst from the center of the theater. Fire erupted into the sky like a blazing pillar.
Vel Draven spun around, eyes narrowing.
"What the hell is that?"
Zanden's breath caught.
"That bastard… It's Azar!"
Misa's eyes widened.
"He's alive!?"
"No way," Vel Draven muttered. "I stabbed him. He was done."
Ryju stepped forward, arms crossed.
"You stab him through the heart?"
Vel Draven hesitated. "…No."
Ryju gave a sharp grin.
"Then sorry, but you're not killing him like that."
Vel Draven's eyes twitched.
"No… Impossible…"
From the blazing inferno, a lone silhouette emerged.
Kenshiro's voice was low and reverent.
"That's… Azar."
The figure stepped out of the flames—half of his body engulfed in fire, blazing like a demon from legend. His eyes glowed crimson, locked on Vel Draven.
"This is my new form," Azar said calmly. "My trump card. Half-Hell State."
Vel Draven staggered a step back.
"What the hell...?"
Azar walked toward him, silent and steady. The others watched in stunned silence.
"Azar…" Ryju whispered.
"What kind of form is that…?" Misa murmured.
Azar raised a flaming hand, voice cold.
"Don't interfere. Vel Draven is mine."
Misa blinked. "What…?"
Vel Draven gritted his teeth, struggling to understand.
"How the hell are you alive…?"
Azar didn't answer. He walked until they stood face-to-face.
Vel Draven scoffed, trying to sound unfazed.
"You die, come back, and now you think you're tough?"
Azar remained silent.
"What? You can't talk now?"
Suddenly, Azar's hand shot out, gripping Vel Draven's throat.
"Schhh! Put… me down!" Vel Draven gasped, legs kicking.
Azar's eyes narrowed.
"I wonder… Who told you to leave that theater?"
Vel Draven's brow furrowed. "What?"
With a single motion, Azar hurled him across the field—straight back into the burning theater.
Azar! You okay!?" Jett shouted.
Azar rolled his shoulders, flames licking his skin like loyal pets.
"Oh, I'm better than ever."
He dashed in.
Inside the Theater
Vel Draven was just getting up when Azar crashed into him, punching him through the wall and into the golden area.
"Get up," Azar said.
Vel Draven tried to rise. Another punch to the gut. Then a kick that slammed him into a slot machine.
Damn it… Vel Draven thought. He wasn't this strong before…
"Flame Laser!"
A sharp line of fire roared from Azar's hand, cutting through the air. Vel Draven jumped, dodging it narrowly. He summoned two bone spears with jagged spikes and charged.
Slash. Thrust. Jab.
Azar slipped around every strike, weaving like fire in the wind.
"This the best you've got?"
Vel Draven growled. "Oh really, Mr. Cocky!?"
Six long bone spikes burst from his back. He launched himself again.
Azar's feet barely touched the floor. His body flowed with the rhythm of battle.
Why can't I land a hit!? What is this power…?
"Alright. Enough," Azar said coldly.
He unleashed a massive burst of fire from his mouth, blasting Vel Draven back.
Vel Draven hit the ground hard, wheezing.
Smoke clouded the air.
"Hell Slice!"
Azar burst through the smoke. Vel Draven ducked, countering with a bone-pierced punch. It hit Azar's hand—but Azar gripped his wrist tightly.
Then, with a grin, he grabbed Vel Draven's face and burned it.
Vel Draven staggered back, a burn mark scarring his cheek.
"That scar suits you," Azar said with a grin.
"Shut up!"
Vel Draven's hand morphed into a massive bone claw and slammed down. Azar dodged.
Another claw.
"Round two."
Azar fired a flame arrow. Vel Draven swatted it aside.
They clashed again—Azar flipped, landed in Vel Draven's hand, and jumped out. He reeled back.
"Full-Fire Hell's Punch!"
He struck the bone hand. The shockwave sent Vel Draven flying.
"Damn. That bone's hard to crack…"
Vel Draven stood, panting.
"You're seriously annoying…"
Azar stood tall, half his body blazing like a torch.
"I'm going to kill you now!" Vel Draven yelled.
Dozens of bone spikes fired. Azar dodged, but a few pierced his skin.
Too many, Azar thought.
He ducked behind a pool table.
"Oh, don't hide now!" Vel Draven mocked.
I need to catch him off guard… Fire bullets. That might work…
Vel Draven approached.
"Where are you!?"
Azar sprang up, kicked the pool table, and launched a blast—nailing Vel Draven in the arm.
"Got you," Azar grinned.
Vel Draven glared. "Time to upgrade."
Bones grew around his body—forming jagged, skeletal armor.
"What the hell…?" Azar muttered.
"Round three."
They clashed once more. Azar was sliced by an elbow, stabbed when he kicked. He backed off, panting.
I can't touch him directly. I need…
Vel Draven charged.
Azar jumped, spun, and fired a flame burst mid-air. It hit Vel Draven's back.
"Damn it! How!?"
"Found your blind spot," Azar said calmly.
Vel Draven dove down. Azar dodged, fired again—flames blasting into his gut.
"WHY ARE YOU SO COMPLICATED!?"
Vel Draven attacked wildly. Azar ducked and thrust a flaming hand toward his face—but Vel Draven barely moved back in time.
Got him! Vel Draven thought, ready to strike.
But Azar burst upward—flames erupting from his feet.
"What!?" Vel Draven gasped.
Azar appeared in the air above him, palm pointed straight down.
"Dodge this."
BOOM!
The final blast struck Vel Draven directly in the face—sending him flying back into the burning theater.
The flames around the theater still crackled, but Azar was already moving.
Step by step, he walked toward the smoldering building. Inside, Vel Draven groaned, pushing himself to his feet and touching the scorched skin on his face.
"Why won't you just die…?" he hissed.
Azar entered through the broken frame of the door, embers swirling behind him like fireflies.
"Because I made a promise," Azar said. "To save my friend… and defeat you. If I don't—then I'll have no rival left."
Vel Draven sneered. "You're doing all this… for a friend? For a rival?"
Azar's eyes burned brighter.
"You bet."
Only five minutes left… he thought. This form only lasts twenty-five. I need to finish this now.
Vel Draven stood tall.
"Would you die to protect that friend?"
Azar didn't hesitate. "Yes. If that's what it takes."
Vel Draven's eyes narrowed. "Then so be it."
The floor rumbled.
Bones burst from the ground.
They spiraled upward, lifting Vel Draven into the air. A colossal structure of bone formed around him—fusing together to shape a giant human skeleton with glowing red eyes.
Even from a distance, the others could see it towering into the night sky.
Ryju stared, stunned. "What the hell…?"
Misa's heart pounded. "Is that… Vel Draven?"
From a hill overlooking the scene, Zanden watched silently.
Azar... remember our promise. Defeat him.
Kenshiro whistled. "Well… at least we have a front-row view. Should we help?"
Zanden shook his head. "No. Just sit back... and enjoy the show."
Misa turned to him, uncertain. "You sure?"
Zanden nodded. "Yep."
Azar stared up at the skeletal colossus. Vel Draven stood at its core, encased in a ribcage of bone and hatred.
"What the hell is this…?" Azar muttered. "I've gotta end this in five minutes."
The giant skeleton moved.
BOOM!
It brought its foot down. Azar shot into the air, flames bursting beneath him.
"Infernal Fist!"
He lunged at its head, but the skeleton swatted him like a fly—slamming him through the ground and into the golden area.
Vel Draven's voice echoed from above.
"Try beating this."
Azar groaned, getting to his feet.
"Time to end this… and go home."
He blasted upward, circled behind the skeleton, and launched a fire burst at its back. It turned, swinging a massive hand—Azar dodged and fired a fireball from the front.
Direct hit.
But the skeleton didn't flinch.
Azar gritted his teeth.
Damn… Does this thing even take damage? Wait... that's it. I've been aiming at the skeleton. But Vel Draven's in the center…
I need to hit him directly.
He flew around, scanning for an opening.
Come on… There's gotta be a way in!
The skeleton swung wildly, chasing Azar's movements.
Meanwhile, a Few Miles Away
Zanden squinted into the distance. "I wonder what Azar's doing…"
Kenshiro crossed his arms. "Looks like he's trying to find an opening."
Misa raised a brow. "How do you even know that?"
"I just know," Kenshiro replied casually.
Back in battle, Azar continued to fly around, launching random fire bursts to disguise his true goal.
Vel Draven snarled from within the skeleton. "Throw all the weak attacks you want. Once I get my hands on you… I'll crush you."
Azar smirked.
Good. He doesn't know what I'm really doing. I just need to keep him guessing…
Vel Draven laughed. "This is going to be easy!"
Azar's expression didn't change.
...Or maybe not. Is there even an opening? Am I wasting my time?
Then, Vel Draven slammed both skeletal arms down. Azar landed on one of them.
Suddenly, the arms split apart.
"Perfect."
Azar began running up one arm. Vel Draven swung the other down to crush him—but Azar flipped mid-run and landed on the second arm.
He ran along it, fire blazing in his steps, and launched a fiery punch toward the center.
"I'm gonna get you!"
Vel Draven smirked. "Oh really?"
Suddenly, spikes erupted from the center. Azar backflipped away.
"You stand no chance!" Vel Draven roared.
Azar's eyes sharpened. Then… he saw it.
A small hole… right below the ribcage. That's it!
"There," he whispered.
He blasted off the arm, flying fast, bursting around the skeleton to avoid detection.
"You think that's going to work!?" Vel Draven shouted. "Just give up!"
But Azar had already made his move.
He hovered—right in the center of the chest—and stared into Vel Draven's eyes.
As the skeleton's massive hand came crashing down—
"Flame Laser!!"
A concentrated beam of fire shot straight through the small hole and pierced Vel Draven's lower stomach.
The bones began to crack.
Vel Draven's eyes widened.
Then—
CRACK!!
The giant skeleton collapsed.
Bones shattered and fell like hail, crashing into the burning theater as Vel Draven plummeted with them.
Azar landed just a few steps outside, panting.
A Few Miles Away
Misa's eyes widened.
"He… he took it down."
Zanden nodded slowly. "Azar… You did it."
Back at the Theater
Vel Draven lay on the floor, coughing blood.
Azar leapt back into the room and stood over him.
Vel Draven groaned. "So… that was your plan. You found an opening…"
Azar wiped the blood from his cheek.
"Yep."
"I've… lost…"
"You damn right."
Suddenly, a vision flashed before Vel Draven's eyes—his father speaking to him as a boy.
"When you're near death… you'll awaken."
"Really?"
"With your bone powers… you might even control others' bones."
"I can't wait to awaken…"
Now—on the brink of death—Vel Draven reached out in his mind.
Why haven't I awakened, Father? I'm about to die…
Azar's voice snapped him back.
"You've been defeated."
Vel Draven coughed up more blood. "I can't lie… You're the strongest opponent I've ever faced."
Azar didn't hesitate.
He punched straight through Vel Draven's stomach.
Blood splattered across the theater floor.
Father… I've failed you… I couldn't protect the auction…
Azar climbed on top of him and began punching again. And again. And again.
Outside
"I'm going to check on Azar," Misa said.
Zanden raised a hand. "That's too dangerous—"
"It's okay. If I need help, I'll shake the ground."
Rei looked at her. "You sure?"
"I'm positive."
Misa dashed toward the burning ruins.
Back at the Theater
Azar kept punching.
"Vel Draven… get up! I'm not done with you!"
Punch.
"Draven, get up!"
Punch.
"DRAVEN!!"
His knuckles were soaked in blood. His eyes wild.
"AZAR!!" Misa shouted.
"Draven! Get up!!"
"Azar!"
She ran toward him. He didn't stop.
"Vel Draven… get up!!"
"Azar!!"
Finally, she jumped down into the room, walked toward him, and shouted—
"AZAR!!"
He turned, face covered in blood and tears.
"What!?"
Misa took a breath. "Azar… he's dead."
Azar froze.
"What? No… I'm not done with him. I still need to—"
She pulled him into a hug.
"It's okay… He's gone. You did it."
"…Really?"
"Yes. Thank you…"
Azar slowly stood up.
"…Alright. Let's leave."
"Okay."
They leapt from the theater.
Burn the auction
Azar looked back.
"Wait… I've got a little juice left."
Misa blinked. "What are you going to do?"
Azar smirked.
"Set the auction on fire."
He held out his hand.
A final surge of flames erupted—BOOM!
The auction house was engulfed in flames as Azar's Half-Hell form faded.
His eyes rolled back. He collapsed.
Misa caught him just in time.
"Azar…? He's just tired… but so many cuts…"
She lifted him onto her back and carried him toward the hill.
Back With the Team
Misa arrived, breathless.
"Everyone—Vel Draven is dead. Azar defeated him."
Zanden stepped forward. "Is he okay?"
"He's fine. Just exhausted."
Ryju grinned. "Azar… you did it."
Kenshiro pointed to the plane on standby.
"There's our ride."
They boarded together, collapsing into their seats.
The pilot's voice came over the intercom.
"Welcome aboard, everyone. We're heading out now. The mission was a success. I'll report your victory to the Spiritual King. Get some rest—we'll arrive at 5 a.m. It's midnight now, so enjoy the ride."
Everyone was asleep before the wheels left the ground.