Dracula disappeared once again, his movements surpassing even the speed of light. Every punch carried enough force to shake the Citadel, and every collision sent shockwaves across the city. Crimson lightning covered the battlefield while Yoshiro was forced to defend instead of attack for the first time. Yet despite Dracula's overwhelming speed, Yoshiro continued smiling. His body regenerated almost instantly, every broken bone and torn muscle restoring itself before the next strike could land.
"You've become stronger," Yoshiro admitted after blocking another barrage of attacks. "Your grief turned into power... but power without purpose is still incomplete."
Dracula didn't answer.
His fists only moved faster.
BOOOOM!!
Yoshiro crashed through another building before landing on the remains of a collapsed tower. Before Dracula could continue his assault, countless chains burst from beneath the streets.
"Now!" Reji shouted.
The enchanted chains wrapped around Yoshiro's arms, legs, and waist, anchoring him to the ruined buildings surrounding him. The chains glowed with powerful spiritual energy, tightening with every second.
Seiyan appeared on the rooftop of a shattered cathedral.
He slowly closed his eyes.
"...One chance."
His spiritual energy gathered into a single slash powerful enough to split the air itself. He waited patiently, trusting Reji to hold Yoshiro in place.
Judas stepped forward.
The glowing silver markings across her arms spread farther than before, reaching her shoulders and neck. Her expression remained calm despite the exhaustion on her face.
"Everyone... stay back."
Reji frowned.
"Sensei?"
She slowly raised both hands.
The ruined streets began glowing.
Collapsed buildings started rebuilding themselves.
Broken walls rose back into place.
Even the shattered ground beneath their feet slowly returned to its original form.
The entire battlefield...
Was being restored.
Dracula stopped moving for a moment, watching in disbelief.
Yoshiro's smile disappeared.
"...You're restoring..."
"...the city itself?"
Judas nodded.
"My restoration doesn't only heal people."
"It remembers."
"It remembers what this world used to be."
Silver light spread across the Citadel like a peaceful ocean. Every destroyed structure slowly returned, undoing the damage Yoshiro had caused.
For the first time...
Yoshiro looked genuinely disturbed.
"If you keep restoring..."
"...then everything I've erased becomes meaningless."
His eyes darkened.
"No."
"I won't allow that."
A terrifying amount of white energy erupted from his body.
The chains wrapped around him began disappearing one after another.
Reji gritted his teeth.
"He's breaking free!"
"SEIYAN!"
"I know."
Seiyan opened his eyes.
In a single motion, he unleashed his strongest slash.
A massive crescent of spiritual energy cut across the battlefield and struck Yoshiro directly.
BOOOOOOM!!
Smoke swallowed the entire street.
For a brief moment...
No one could see anything.
Then—
A white hand emerged from the smoke.
Yoshiro stepped out.
Bleeding.
His clothes were torn.
A deep wound stretched across his chest.
But...
He was still walking.
He slowly turned toward Judas.
Not Dracula.
Not Reji.
Not Seiyan.
Only Judas.
"I've figured it out."
He smiled.
"As long as you're alive..."
"...this world will continue resisting me."
His spiritual pressure suddenly exploded.
The sky itself turned white.
Dracula instantly realized what was happening.
"Sensei!!"
Yoshiro disappeared.
This time...
He ignored every attack.
Dracula's fist missed.
Reji's chains couldn't catch him.
Seiyan's blade struck only empty air.
His target had already changed.
Judas calmly stood her ground.
She knew...
He was coming for her.
...
Far away.
Back at Reikosha Academy.
The campus had finally grown quiet after the battle against Goro. Teachers and students worked together to treat the injured while healers rushed from one building to another.
Shougo stood near the academy gates, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon.
Beside him stood Griffin.
Teacher Tine.
Kairo.
Yura.
Kimimaru.
Tyouro.
None of them spoke.
A strange pressure slowly descended from the heavens.
The wind suddenly stopped.
The birds disappeared.
Even the clouds above the academy began moving away as though making room for something.
Griffin slowly adjusted his hat.
"...She's here."
Everyone looked up.
High above the academy...
A lone woman floated silently in the sky.
Long silver hair danced in the wind.
Her crimson eyes overlooked the entire academy without emotion.
Resting on her shoulder was a massive black-and-silver weapon...
The Aether Reaper.
No one knew her name.
No one knew why she had come.
But every teacher present...
Immediately understood one thing.
A far greater threat...
Had finally arrived.