The battlefield had gone still.
Dust swirled around Riku as he stepped forward, the unconscious forms of Unit Zero scattered behind him. Toru stood at a distance, tense but silent. Even he knew this wasn't his moment.
A breeze passed—then the ground trembled.
A low hum echoed from Riku's body, subtle at first... then overwhelming.
His Divine Avatar Ascended form ignited.
His grey hair rose, glowing faintly with silver streaks that danced like flame. Ethereal markings shimmered along his arms and torso, pulsing with raw energy. A soft blue aura expanded outward, not like an explosion—but like the calm pull of gravity before a star collapses into something unstoppable.
The Queen blinked once. "He changed again…"
The King scoffed. "Let him dance. You deal with him first. He's weak."
She smiled coldly. "As you wish."
She dashed forward, claws poised to rip through his chest.
But she didn't get close.
BOOM.
Riku vanished—**reappeared mid-air—**and slammed a glowing fist into her ribs.
The Queen was launched back, crashing into the base of a broken tower, the structure collapsing on impact.
Her Essence cracked the ground where she landed—but she felt the hit. Her breathing shook.
Riku landed lightly.
His eyes locked on hers, calm and unreadable.
"Your timing's sloppy," he said flatly. "And you telegraph every movement."
He flicked his wrist once, knocking dust from his coat.
"Royal, huh? You hit like a trainee."
The King growled. "No one touches my wife."
He blitzed forward, raising a molten fist wreathed in golden lava-essence—
SWING.
Riku didn't flinch.
He caught the punch one-handed.
A pulse of Essence rippled outward in a silent shockwave, flattening the trees in every direction. The King's eyes widened. His fist—stopped cold.
Riku looked up at him with a bored stare.
"Didn't I just finish warming up?"
He pushed off, flipping back gracefully and landing a few meters away, dust sliding beneath his boots.
Then he cracked his neck again.
Fwoosh.
His aura flared, a blinding blue-white inferno dancing across the ruins.
Toru, watching from afar, clenched his fists.
"He's… holding back. Still?"
The Queen crawled from the rubble, jaw tightening. The King's body rumbled like a mountain shifting.
Riku exhaled calmly.
"Try again," he muttered. "Maybe this time… don't underestimate me."