Ato fainted after the explosion.
Masked Man: "Tch… Because of you, I'll have to rebuild my lab. Oi, Dambol — take him to Experimental Area 1."
Dambol — a monster identical to the six-swords creature, except he had no swords. Instead, he had six arms, stitched together across his body.
Dambol: "Ok, boss."
Dambol moved to pick Ato up, but the moment he touched him, he was thrown backward as a voice echoed through the lab—
Ato: "I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP!!"
The Masked Man froze in shock.
Masked Man: "You sure are a tough one. Then take this — BOOM!"
Another explosion rocked the lab. Dust covered everything.
When it finally cleared, Ato was once again on the ground. But slowly… he began to move. He pushed himself up, shaking violently, and stood on his feet — his entire body soaked in blood.
Ato: "I told you… I will not go down."
The Masked Man trembled.
Masked Man: "Why aren't you going down?! Just DIE! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
He bombarded Ato again and again, but every time… Ato stood back up, drenched in blood, breathing heavily yet unbroken.
Masked Man: "Is he a beast or something?! I'm going to the bunker. Dambol — kill him!"
Dambol: "Ok, boss."
Dambol charged at Ato and unleashed "Heavy Punch."
The impact blasted Ato out of the lab and into a tree with a violent crash.
Dambol: "My mission is complete."
He turned around to leave… when suddenly he heard:
Ato: "Mada mada…"
Dambol spun around. Right behind him… Ato stood again.
Ato: "Black Bullet."
The attack launched Dambol through the air and back into the lab wall, breaking it apart.
Ato: "Final move… Beast Punch!"
Scene shifts to Kojo
Kojo faced the six-swords monster, breathing heavily.
Kojo: "Now it's time for my final move…"
But the truth was… he had almost no strength left.
Kojo (thinking):
"I'll use a low-energy move… even if it won't change anything. I have to try."
He took his stance.
"Hollow Dragon Strike!"
The monster countered instantly:
"Oni Rhino!"
They clashed at full force.
A moment later… blood spilled from Kojo's mouth.
Kojo: "Still… not enough huh?"
Monster: "We had a good battle, swordsman."
Kojo: "Who said it's over?"
He thought to himself:
(I swore to never use Three-Sword Style… but this time… I have no choice.)
He reached for the third sword.
Monster: "So that's why you carried three swords…"
Kojo: "Shut up. I'm only using it once."
He placed the sword in his mouth.
"Final Move… ONI-GASHI!"
Before the monster could finish speaking, it was sliced in two.
As the body collapsed, a strange, glowing soul-like energy rose from it.
Kojo: "What is that…?"
He turned:"No time, i have to reach the center
Scene switches back to Ato
Ato: "Now… Final move — Beast Punch!"
He slammed Dambol into the earth with devastating force. The ground shattered, revealing a hidden passage beneath the lab. Inside, he spotted the Masked Man running toward the bunker.
Masked Man: "H-How did you get here?!"
Ato stared at him silently.
The Masked Man pulled out his gun and fired. One bullet struck Ato in the chest. He continued firing—shot after shot—but when he finally stopped, he realized something horrifying.
Every bullet after the first had been sliced clean in half.
Standing behind Ato was a swordsman…
Ato: "I think you understand now… You've lost. So surrender."