CHAPTER 71: THE FALL OF THE BRIDGE
The night over San Juan was split open by the roar of a god.
The Rainbow Bridge, once a symbol of peace and unity, now trembled under the pressure of chaos. The skies bled crimson; the air itself bent beneath the clashing of impossible auras.
At the center of it all stood Kuzak, his body radiating a demonic brilliance.
His three stripes burned like molten fire on his shoulders, his dreadlocks whipping in the raging wind, and his monstrous club—The Titan's Spine—rested casually against his shoulder. His grin was pure madness, his crimson eyes flickering with the hunger of a man who had seen death and returned to spit in its face.
Around him, the heroes of San Juan gathered—their clothes tattered, their faces hardened.
Moro, his aura faintly blue and pulsing.
Kiro, the Lion of Dawn, clutching his ribs yet still standing tall.
Yaya, battered but alive, crouched like a predator with her cheetah eyes blazing.
Kaya, her water energy rippling like a living tide.
Wolf Hunter, silent and ready, his claws emanating faint spectral wolves that prowled around him.
And Herbet, though bloodied, stood firm beside them, his mechanical arm humming with divine frequency.
The storm above echoed their tension.
Kuzak looked around and laughed, his voice shaking the heavens.
"So… this is what stands before me now?" he said, his grin widening. "Children of weak flames and fading courage?"
"Watch your mouth," Kiro snapped, stepping forward, golden lion energy wrapping around him. "You might've been a tyrant once—but your time ended when JJ's fire burned you to ash!"
Kuzak's laughter deepened. "Ah yes, JJ. The man who burned me… the man who thought he could erase me. His son's here too, isn't he?"
His blood-red eyes darted toward Moro. "Come, boy. Show me what your father's legacy amounts to."
Moro's fists clenched. His pulse raced. JJ's name carried a thousand memories—his father's strength, his sacrifice, his words echoing before he vanished:
> "True power isn't about destruction, Moro. It's about control."
But control was impossible now. The air was filled with dread and fury.
Kiro stepped up beside him. "We take him together."
Yaya wiped blood from her lip and smirked. "Count me in. That monster's not walking away from this."
The ground exploded beneath their feet as they lunged forward.
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Kuzak met them head-on.
The bridge shook violently, the air shimmering from their sheer speed. Yaya blurred forward, vanishing and reappearing behind Kuzak with a flurry of cheetah-speed strikes. Her fists glowed with crimson aura as she struck his ribs, knees, and neck in rapid succession—each hit cracking the sound barrier.
But Kuzak didn't even flinch.
He grinned, then swung his club with terrifying speed. The weapon whistled like a sonic boom—BANG!
Yaya blocked with both arms but the impact launched her across the bridge, crashing through several pillars.
"YAYA!" Kaya cried, unleashing a massive water spiral toward Kuzak.
The tyrant simply smashed through it, vaporizing the entire torrent with a single roar of his aura.
Kiro's lion energy burst forth, gold flames merging into a massive astral lion.
He charged at Kuzak, slamming his sword into the tyrant's club.
The shockwave was apocalyptic.
Lightning streaked downward. The Rainbow Bridge cracked under the force, its colors distorting like oil in water.
"Too slow, Kiro!" Kuzak barked, swinging again.
Kiro barely dodged, sparks bursting as the club grazed his armor.
Moro appeared beside him, his fists glowing with the bluish hue of Matrix energy—the same energy JJ once used.
He struck Kuzak across the chest—then another to the jaw.
The world flashed white.
Kuzak staggered back slightly, rubbing his face. "Hah… that sting… that was his power, wasn't it?"
Moro didn't answer—he dashed again, moving faster, his aura flaring higher than ever. The blue light intensified, wrapping him like plasma. He could feel something burning inside—his father's power, his mother's will, and his own resolve all merging.
"I'm not my father," Moro said coldly, "but I'll finish what he started."
Kuzak's grin widened into a full snarl. "Then die trying!"
The two collided.
Their fists met midair—BOOOOM!
The bridge nearly split in half. Waves of energy rippled out, knocking Kaya, Herbet, and even Kiro off their feet. The sky turned black with thunderous energy.
Yaya reappeared behind Kuzak, her aura blazing like a comet, delivering a full-force kick to his back. He stumbled forward—and Moro delivered an uppercut that blasted Kuzak upward into the storm.
"Now, Kiro!" Moro shouted.
The lion warrior roared, his golden aura forming into a massive beam that shot toward Kuzak.
It hit—
A colossal explosion of gold and blue light tore the clouds apart.
For a moment, there was silence. The world seemed still.
Then—a dark chuckle.
Kuzak dropped from the sky, steam rising off his body, his grin sharper than ever. "That's more like it… Now, let me show you what real power feels like."
He slammed his club into the bridge.
Reality rippled.
The bridge began to crumble, its rainbow colors fading into darkness. The heroes stumbled as the terrain around them warped.
Moro struggled to stand, panting. "He's warping space—"
"Stay together!" Kiro shouted.
But before they could regroup, Kuzak vanished—then appeared in front of Kiro, driving his fist into his gut. Blood splattered. Kiro crashed into the rubble, coughing violently.
"MORO!!" Kaya screamed.
Moro leapt toward Kuzak, blue aura blazing—only for the tyrant to catch his punch midair.
Kuzak's face was cold now.
"Jara's son, huh? Then die like your father almost did."
He flung Moro across the bridge like a ragdoll. The impact shattered the very end of the structure.
Kuzak lifted his club, pointing it toward the city. "You all have forgotten who built this place… and who ruled it with fire. I'll take it back—stone by stone."
Then, as if mocking the heavens, he raised his arms—and his Aura expanded, tearing through the skyline, splitting clouds, and shaking all of San Juan.
Revo and Pisya watched from the edge of the bridge, their expressions half awe, half fear.
Pisya whispered, "He's… stronger than before."
Revo's smile was faint but confident. "Good. That means the real game has begun."
Below, in the ruins, Moro slowly stood up—blood trickling from his forehead, his hands shaking—but his blue aura refused to fade.
He looked up at the tyrant towering over them and whispered,
> "You may have ruled San Juan once… but not again. I'll stop you, no matter what."
And as thunder struck again—the battle for San Juan truly began.
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