Shougo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he slowly rose from the shattered ground. His eyes remained fixed on Kronos, whose calm expression hadn't changed despite the combined assault from Reikosha Academy.
"...Yaki."
Darkness flames erupted around his right arm.
"...Yami."
Darkness followed, swallowing the golden flames until both energies fused into a violent black-and-gold aura. The air distorted around his fist as immense pressure spread across the battlefield.
Without another word, Shougo vanished.
BOOM!
His fist crashed toward Kronos with enough force to shake the ruined academy grounds.
For the first time, Kronos raised an arm to block.
The collision shattered the stone beneath them, sending cracks racing across the courtyard.
Shougo didn't stop.
Another punch.
Another kick.
Another strike wrapped in Yaki and Yami.
Every impact shook the academy.
The students watched in amazement.
"Sensei's pushing him back!"
"Keep going!"
Then...
Kronos smiled.
"...Interesting."
Before Shougo could throw another punch—
Kronos disappeared.
Shougo's eyes widened.
"...Where—"
A calm voice echoed behind him.
"Too slow."
Shougo couldn't even turn around.
BOOOOOOM!!
Kronos's fist slammed into his back.
The impact blasted Shougo across the battlefield like a cannonball. He tore through dozens of massive trees before crashing deep into the academy forest, leaving a long trail of destruction behind him.
Silence filled the battlefield.
Kairo's eyes widened.
"...Sensei!"
Without hesitation, he rushed forward.
Kimimaru stepped ahead, gripping his Zweihander with both hands. His gaze became razor-sharp as his spiritual energy condensed around the enormous blade.
"...astral trapping."
Invisible spiritual chains spread toward Kronos, attempting to bind his soul itself.
For a brief moment...
Kronos looked directly at Kimimaru.
"...A soul-sealing technique."
"...Impressive."
Then he vanished.
Kimimaru's pupils shrank.
"...Impossible."
A sharp purple light flashed behind him.
THUK!
A glowing blade of condensed temporal energy pierced through his side before disappearing just as quickly.
Kimimaru staggered forward.
Blood poured from his mouth.
His Zweihander slipped from his hands as he dropped to one knee.
Tyouro's eyes widened in horror.
"...No way..."
"...Maru just got knocked down?!"
Rage exploded from his body.
Blue flames erupted around both fists as spiritual energy gathered like a violent storm.
"You'll pay for that!"
He thrust both hands forward.
"...Wave Emission!"
A gigantic beam of compressed energy roared across the battlefield, tearing apart everything in its path. Trees vanished. The ground split open. The remaining academy walls shook violently beneath its pressure.
Kronos simply watched it approach.
"...This is actually becoming interesting."
He smiled.
One step.
That was all.
His figure disappeared.
The beam struck nothing.
It continued far beyond the academy, carving a massive scar across the distant mountains before finally exploding against the horizon.
Kairo clenched his fists.
Dark energy gathered around his arm before fading away once more.
"...Damn it!"
"What the hell is wrong with my Yami?!"
He gritted his teeth in frustration.
"It won't respond..."
He looked back toward Kronos.
The man calmly walked through the battlefield as though he were taking an evening stroll.
Broken buildings surrounded him.
Injured students filled the academy.
Yet his expression remained completely indifferent.
"...Well..."
"...I'm actually here to have a little fun."
His eyes slowly wandered across the crowd.
"...Although I was originally searching for Mr. Fushi."
The words alone made the battlefield fall silent.
No one answered.
Even the bravest students felt an icy chill crawl down their spines.
Reji finally stepped forward, spinning his weapon onto his shoulder.
"...Hey, old man."
"If you're looking for Mr. Fushi, you've come at the wrong time."
He pointed toward the shattered academy.
"And who do you think you are?"
"You destroyed our favorite home."
Kronos looked at him without emotion.
"...That's unfortunate."
"...But since he's not here..."
A faint smile appeared.
"...I'll simply enjoy myself."
He slowly raised one hand.
"...Shall we continue?"
Kairo swallowed hard.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
His grip tightened around the Black Spartan until his knuckles turned white.
"...If that's the case..."
"...Then why are you fighting us? What do you want for us?!"
Kronos's smile became colder.
"...Want?"
"I want nothing."
"And that..."
He pointed toward the gathered students.
"...Is exactly what all of you are before me."
"...Nothing."
The words struck harder than any attack.
"You students never stood a chance."
"I knew that from the moment I arrived."
"No one here..."
"...can defeat me."
Before anyone could respond—
A black blur shot across the battlefield.
Teacher Tine Marles.
Unlike before, she didn't waste time gathering energy.
Darkness instantly wrapped around her arm.
"...Dark Force Attack."
She appeared directly before Kronos.
Her hand pierced through his chest.
THUK!
Everything froze.
A fist-sized hole opened through Kronos's lung.
Even Kronos looked down in surprise.
"...What..."
"...is this?"
Kairo's eyes lit up.
"NOW!"
Reji slammed both hands onto the ground.
"...Tsuyoi Chikara!"
Dozens of spiritual chains erupted upward, wrapping around Kronos from every direction before locking tightly around his arms and legs.
Oko appeared beside Kairo.
"You've got one chance!"
Kairo nodded.
He gripped the Black Spartan with both hands.
The spear ignited with black spiritual energy.
At the same time—
Oko unleashed a blinding barrage.
"...Million Fists!"
Thousands of punches crashed into Kronos from every direction, each strike shaking the shattered academy and forcing him deeper into the broken earth.
For the first time...
Kronos's expression changed.
"...The hell...?"
His breathing became noticeably heavier beneath the relentless assault.
Yura descended from above.
Her fist glowed with condensed spiritual energy.
"...Move!"
BOOOOOOM!!
Her punch slammed Kronos into the ground, creating a gigantic crater that swallowed the surrounding buildings.
Tyouro immediately followed.
"...Wave Emission!"
Another beam erupted into the crater.
Dracula flashed through the battlefield like blue lightning, striking Kronos repeatedly before disappearing again.
Aoi rushed in without hesitation, driving a powerful punch toward the center of the impact.
The battlefield disappeared beneath countless explosions.
Far away...
Shougo slowly stood, holding his injured side.
He watched the combined assault with narrowed eyes.
"...Did they..."
"...actually bring him down?"
Beside him, Judas stared silently at the destroyed academy before looking back toward the smoking crater.
"...We'll know..."
"...when the smoke clears."