The battlefield had become a storm of pure chaos—torn earth, scattered trees, echoes of combat ringing through the broken air.
Zero, now something far beyond human, stood motionless in the heart of it all. His hair had turned snow-white. His eyes, once burning red, were now pitch black with crimson pupils that pulsed like dying stars.
Akumo muttered from a distance, "He's not the same… Zero's changed. What happened to him?"
Zero took one step.
The ground didn't react—it dissolved.
Necros jolted. "How… How did he reach the same level of speed as me?!"
In a flash, Necros hurled Sumi aside and charged straight at Zero.
But Zero was gone—appeared directly behind him.
- Necros used a gravitational field to crush the terrain under them, forcing Zero to sink.
- Zero activated soul compression, countering it with spatial displacement, stepping outside the reach.
- Necros summoned black whips from his good arm, wrapping them around trees and launching spike bursts.
- Zero responded with elemental blast-laced daggers, slicing through the bindings like cloth.
- They exchanged over 120 rapid strikes—fists, soul magic, gravity distortions—none gaining a clear edge.
Necros finally hooked Zero's leg mid-air and slammed him into the cliff. The shockwave cracked boulders.
Zero fell, gasping. Blood dripped.
---
Necros dropped to one knee, exhausted. "You kept your promise, kid… you really entertained me. Even though you're an eighth generation... damn."
Suddenly, Kael's body crashed into the battlefield like a meteor, hurled by Jack. He lay unconscious, bleeding.
Jack landed nearby, stumbling slightly.
Necros laughed. "You look so pathetic, Jack."
Jack groaned. "At least I wasn't fighting with kids."
Necros: "You're truly the worst."
Jack: "Thanks, I try."
Necros: "So what now? What do we do with them?"
Jack and Necros turned toward Akumo and Edward—who had just stood up.
Akumo looked to Ruka and Sumi. "You two—take care of General Kael and Zero. We'll handle these two."
Jack grinned. "Kids these days are way too arrogant."
Deep inside Zero's subconscious, time stood still.
The monster inside him stood smug. "So you lost, huh?"
Zero replied, "You mean we."
Monster: "You're just a pathetic loser."
Zero noticed something in the corner—a shadow figure curled up. He walked closer.
There sat a crying young Zero, knees to his chest.
"Nobody loves me… not even my parents…"
Zero knelt down and hugged him. "You're not alone. I know exactly how you feel."
Monster: "Awww, look—two losers sharing tears."
Then the shadows trembled.
A figure appeared—tall, armored, radiating golden light.
Everyone froze. Even the monster.
Zero blinked. "What is this? Is this the afterlife? At my end, I only see myself… I guess I never had anyone…"
The knight removed his helmet. "I'm you. From the future. If you choose the right path."
He hugged the monster gently. "I'll miss you."
He looked at Kid Zero. "You don't have to cry anymore. You can be strong… if you and him fight together."
Then he turned to the real Zero. "The only path forward—is together."
He walked away, carrying Kid Zero.
Zero turned to the monster. "I'm not giving you my power anymore."
Monster said nothing.
Then the sky darkened.
A sinister figure emerged—dark aura pouring from every inch of him.
Zero fell instantly to one knee. The monster bled from its mouth and eyes.
Demon: "How are you, Zero? Look like you're going to die."
Zero couldn't speak.
Demon: "Make a deal. Permanent. Until death."
Zero stayed silent.
Demon: "Do you know why everyone hates you? Because you're useless. You can't save anyone. Me? Everyone hates me because I'm strong. I'm the Great Demon Lord Emperor."
"With my power, you can save everyone. In return—I take one thing. Your soul."
The monster stepped forward, trying to speak—but the demon's gaze silenced him. Blood poured from the monster.
Suddenly, the monster morphed into Zero himself.
Zero cried. "I made up a fantasy… that this monster inside me did all the wrong things. But in truth—it was me. Born from guilt."
"I just wanted to believe I wasn't broken."
Demon grinned. "Take the offer. Save your friends. Or die."
Zero: "I'd rather die."
Demon, with a cruel smile: "Why not? Are you sure?" 😈
---
⚠️ The Awakening
A terrifying aura exploded from the battlefield.
Akumo and Edward were preparing to face Jack and Necros—but stopped.
Zero stood up.
His entire eyes were black. Crimson pupils glowing.
Sumi ran to him, joyful.
"Zero, you're back!"
Instead—he punched her in the face.
She screamed, flying into rubble.
Akumo: "Are you insane?!"
Zero turned to Ruka, preparing to strike.
Jack and Necros jumped in, attacking simultaneously.
Necros: "Normally I hate fighting 2-on-1… but this feels like fight or die!"
He grabbed Zero from behind. Jack launched a direct punch.
But Zero caught Jack's wrist with his foot, turned, and threw him into Necros.
Edward stepped forward. Akumo blocked him. "You walk into that—you die."
Jack recovered and charged. Zero dodged, then slammed him into the ground with one hand.
Necros attacked. Zero parried and crushed him.
Necros: "There's no time to feel anything… except fear."
Jack and Necros regrouped—trying to trap Zero with trees.
Zero blocked Jack's move, flipped him into Necros' gravity pulse.
Jack: "You bastard!"
The pulse exploded—but Zero used the trees to launch himself mid-air.
He broke three trees with his feet—jumping from one to another—using them as weaponized pillars.
Edward: "He's not Zero anymore. We need to stop him."
Akumo and Edward attacked—both were defeated in seconds.
Sumi watched in horror as everyone—Jack, Necros, Kael, Akumo, Edward, Ruka—lay defeated.
"Is there no one… who can stop this?"
Then Kael stood, battered but breathing.
Zero turned. They locked eyes.
Kael whispered, "Ethereal Conflux: Thousand Eyes."
Sumi gasped. "No way…"
Kael's eyes glowed. Every possibility, every decision point—laid bare.
Kael lunged.
Zero dodged.
Kael thought, "My ability lets me see the soul's intention—before the body moves. But this guy… he's so fast, I only see his soul's after-image…"
Kael struck again.
Zero countered.
Then—Kael was buried underground.
Jack woke up. "Necros… go get popcorn."
Necros: "This fight is crazy."
Jack:"Kael is crazy. "Wait" "Kael's learning…"
Necros: "Learning? Against that monster"
Jack: "The stronger the opponent—the faster you grow. Kael knows he'll lose… but he's growing."
Necros: "Is he mad? Is he trying to become a monster too?"
Suddenly—a figure walked across the battlefield.
Katana. Calm eyes. Dark cloak.
Jack and Necros turned.
"Ryū?!"
Ryū: "I didn't expect you two to lose."
He glanced around. "Thought it was over. Guess not."
He looked at Zero.
"Bad timing, I suppose. But no choice—I'll fight."
Without unsheathing his katana, he waved his hand.
Ten trees collapsed.
Zero charged.
Ryū dodged. He drew his katana.
"Can you handle it?"
Jack whispered: "Ryū doesn't like fighting. Doesn't draw his blade. If it's out—he's serious."
Zero paused.
Ryū lunged—fast.
Zero dodged. They exchanged blows.
Eventually—Zero collapsed.
Ryū stood with one arm broken.
"What happened to him…?"
He turned. "Stand up, you two. Let's go."
Then—a royal carriage arrived.
Door opened.
Lord Emperor stepped out.
Jack, Necros, Ryū froze.
Eyes wide.
The battlefield went quiet.
The true war had only just begun.