Far away from Reikosha Academy, the Citadel continued to collapse.
Entire streets had been erased from existence. Buildings disappeared without leaving rubble behind, and the sky was filled with fragments of white energy that distorted everything around them.
In the middle of the destruction stood Yoshiro.
His clothes were torn, his hair was disheveled, and white energy constantly leaked from his body. His eyes no longer carried the excitement they once had.
There was nothing human about his expression anymore.
Only emptiness.
Judas stood several meters away, breathing heavily. Her restoration ability had already been pushed to its limits after repeatedly repairing herself and her students.
Reji held his weapon tightly.
Seiyan remained farther behind them, preparing another long-range attack.
Dracula stood beside them, electricity crackling around his body.
Yoshiro slowly looked at all four of them.
"...You're still here?"
Reji gritted his teeth.
"We're not letting you destroy this place."
Yoshiro tilted his head.
"Destroy?"
A strange smile appeared.
"I'm not destroying anything."
He raised his hand.
"I'm removing it."
He snapped his fingers.
The ground beneath Reji disappeared.
Reji immediately jumped backward, barely avoiding the erasure.
"He's faster!"
Seiyan fired.
BOOM!
A powerful energy blast traveled directly toward Yoshiro.
Yoshiro didn't dodge.
He simply raised one finger.
The attack disappeared before reaching him.
Seiyan's eyes widened.
"...He erased it."
Dracula suddenly vanished.
In an instant, he appeared behind Yoshiro, moving at his highest speed.
His fist was already inches from Yoshiro's head.
But Yoshiro turned.
Their eyes met.
"Too slow."
Dracula's expression changed.
Yoshiro grabbed his arm.
The white energy immediately spread across Dracula's body.
Dracula tore himself away before the erasure could completely consume him, but his arm was already badly damaged.
He landed several meters away.
Judas rushed forward.
"Dracula!"
"I'm fine!"
Yoshiro laughed.
"No..."
His eyes slowly turned toward Judas.
"You're not."
He disappeared.
Judas barely reacted before Yoshiro appeared directly in front of her.
She raised her hand.
Her restoration ability activated immediately.
Yoshiro reached toward her.
Judas' arm disappeared.
It returned.
He erased it again.
It returned.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Judas' breathing became heavier.
Yoshiro smiled.
"How many times can you restore yourself?"
Judas stared at him.
"As many times as I need to."
"Then I'll simply keep erasing you."
Yoshiro raised his other hand.
A massive wave of white energy erupted.
Judas was thrown backward.
Reji rushed forward.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
His attack struck Yoshiro directly.
For a moment, Yoshiro disappeared beneath the explosion.
Reji breathed heavily.
"...Got him?"
The smoke cleared.
Yoshiro stood there.
Completely unharmed.
His smile widened.
"Again."
Reji's eyes widened.
Yoshiro suddenly appeared in front of him.
BOOM!
Reji was sent crashing through the wall of a nearby building.
"REJI!"
Seiyan immediately fired another barrage.
Yoshiro waved his hand.
Every attack vanished.
Dracula rushed forward again.
This time, he moved so quickly that the Citadel seemed frozen around him.
He struck Yoshiro from the side.
Then behind.
Then above.
Then below.
Dozens of attacks landed within seconds.
Yoshiro's body was pushed backward.
Dracula finally stopped.
"...Did I actually—"
Yoshiro slowly lifted his head.
He was smiling.
"That was impressive."
Dracula's eyes widened.
"But..."
Yoshiro's white energy erupted.
"...I'm not the same person you fought before."
The entire Citadel shook.
White energy covered Yoshiro's body like a monstrous aura.
His presence became so overwhelming that even Dracula instinctively stepped backward.
Judas stared at him.
"His power..."
Seiyan swallowed.
"It's still increasing."
Reji slowly pulled himself from the destroyed building.
Yoshiro looked toward them.
"I spent so long trying to bring Akira back."
His expression became twisted.
"And now that I finally have the power to reach her..."
He clenched his fist.
"...you keep standing in my way."
White energy gathered around his hand.
"I don't care who you are anymore."
He looked at Judas.
"Restorer."
Then Reji.
"Chain user."
Then Seiyan.
"Long-range fighter."
Finally, Dracula.
"Vampire."
Yoshiro smiled.
"You're all just obstacles."
He opened his hand.
The entire street behind them vanished.
Not exploded.
Not destroyed.
Simply erased.
Judas' eyes widened.
"...Everyone..."
Yoshiro stepped forward.
"Run."
They stared at him.
"Because if you stay..."
His smile disappeared.
"...I'll erase everything."
The four warriors prepared themselves.
None of them knew how they were going to win.
But none of them were willing to surrender.
Yoshiro raised his hand.
The Citadel trembled.
And the monster of Absolute Erasure...
Finally began his true rampage.