Morning broke over Antarctica, sunlight reflecting across the endless fields of snow. The freezing wind roared through the icy land, yet Zata stood firm. From afar, he straightened his posture and spread his massive wings, dark energy radiating from them.
With one powerful thrust, Zata soared into the sky, his wings slicing through the cold morning air. Beneath him stretched endless glaciers and frozen seas, while the pale aurora danced across the heavens.
He stared at a holographic map marking the location of Xthalax's base—the king of aliens.
"Antarctica… the final place before this plan truly begins," Zata muttered.
The energy flowing through his wings propelled him rapidly across the ice and snowstorms. Zata was preparing himself—not for battle, but to seek advice from Xthalax, a wise being who knew the secrets of the deadliest creatures in the galaxy.
Inside Xthalax's base, the giant glowing being was already waiting. His massive eyes stared at Zata with respect.
His body pulsed with layers of purple energy, silently showing that Xthalax acknowledged Zata's arrival.
Zata landed firmly before him, slowly folding his wings.
"Xthalax… I came to ask for advice," Zata said calmly but firmly.
Xthalax slightly lowered his enormous body as a sign of respect.
"Zata… your presence here is an honor to us. Tell me, what do you require?" His voice echoed coldly through the chamber, yet it carried genuine respect.
Zata looked directly at the alien king.
"I want to create a powerful creature. I want your advice about its name, its abilities, and its weaknesses."
Xthalax nodded slowly.
"How about creating something like the Kraken?"
Zata looked confused.
"Haa? What's that?"
Xthalax explained,
"The Kraken is a gigantic squid known for being extremely dangerous."
Zata frowned.
"A squid? Giant? Why are you recommending human food?"
Xthalax gave a faint smile.
"No. Krakens are incredibly powerful creatures. I assure you, humans would never be able to eat one."
Zata nodded thoughtfully.
"I see… any other ideas?"
Xthalax continued,
"What about Samael?"
Zata immediately rejected the idea.
"No. He's too weak. If I sneeze, he'd probably collapse."
Xthalax laughed softly.
"Hahaha… Lord Zata truly is terrifying."
Before Zata could respond, a voice suddenly came from behind.
"Lord Zata…"
Zata turned around and saw Priscilla approaching.
"Oh, Priscilla. Why did you come all the way here?"
Priscilla looked serious.
"I saw the person who killed Slenderman… suddenly kill their own companion."
Zata nodded casually.
"Oh… Hikari, huh? So?"
Priscilla asked anxiously,
"Is Slenderman alright?"
Zata burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha… As long as Slenderman manages to kill his opponent, he will revive himself."
Not long after, Slenderman emerged from the darkness. Soon afterward, Leviathan appeared as well, swimming rapidly through the air before arriving beside Zata.
Zata looked slightly surprised, though still calm.
"Wow… why did all of you come here?"
Slenderman stepped forward.
"Lord Zata, I want to ask something."
Zata nodded.
"Yes, go ahead."
Slenderman asked,
"Where are Samurai-X and the Plague Doctor?"
Zata smiled.
"Oh… they're perfectly fine, hahaha."
Priscilla frowned.
"Eh? Weren't they killed during the third game?"
Zata smirked.
"As usual, I merely erased their existence and replaced them with clones."
Suddenly, Lucifer appeared.
"Heh… why are you here too?" Zata asked.
Lucifer smiled.
"Lord Zata, when will it be my turn to play?"
Zata stared at him coldly.
"Hmm… probably during the sixth game."
Priscilla looked curious.
"What kind of game are you planning this time?"
Zata smiled faintly.
"Most likely… one versus one."
Everyone present was shocked: Leviathan, Xthalax, Lucifer, Slenderman, and Priscilla.
"1 vs 1? Seriously?" they asked at the same time.
Zata confirmed calmly.
"Yes. I will only include eleven beings."
Priscilla asked again,
"Who are they?"
Zata spoke each name calmly, yet every word carried overwhelming power.
"Leviathan, Lucifer, Samurai-X, Belial, Omega-X, Vulcan, Slenderman, Satan, Priscilla, Setsuna… and me."
Leviathan widened his eyes.
"Eh… wait! You're participating too?"
Zata nodded.
"Yes. I want to join."
Lucifer tilted his head curiously.
"And who exactly do you want to fight?"
Zata smiled faintly.
"Perhaps… the strongest human."
Lucifer asked again,
"Can the human be chosen?"
Zata shook his head.
"No. I'll randomize it instead. Hahaha."
Leviathan frowned.
"Interesting… but how could a human possibly fight me when I rule the ocean?"
Zata laughed loudly.
"Relax… maybe there's a human capable of surviving underwater. Hahahahaha!"
Meanwhile, on a bright holiday morning, Hikari's heart still felt heavy. The battle against the monsters from a few days ago continued haunting her thoughts. Her body remained exhausted, yet she forced herself to move forward.
Arou walked beside her carefully, making sure she would not overexert herself. Lumina, Haru, and Tomo followed behind, occasionally joking around to ease the lingering tension.
They headed toward the park near the school. The fresh air helped lessen the fear and pressure left behind by the previous battle. Hikari stared at the blue sky and took a slow breath.
"After everything that happened… it feels strange being able to walk around peacefully," Hikari murmured.
Lumina smiled softly.
"Yeah… but don't think too much about it. Today's a holiday. We should at least try to rest."
Haru and Tomo remained alert, remembering how powerful their enemies had been.
"We still need to stay prepared," Haru said, "but enjoying the morning air isn't bad either."
Arou looked at Hikari gently.
"Hikari… I'm glad you're still standing strong. Don't push yourself too hard."
Hikari lowered her head briefly before looking back at him.
"Thank you, Dad…" she replied quietly.
They continued walking together, chatting lightly and sharing faint smiles, though the tension from the recent battles still lingered in the atmosphere. Later that afternoon, they planned to stop by the cafeteria, buy snacks, and sit together while enjoying the peaceful city view—remaining cautious, yet trying to relax.
Later that morning, Hikari walked alongside Arou, Lumina, Haru, and Tomo toward a small restaurant near the school.
Arou opened the restaurant door for everyone.
"Come in. Today, it's my treat," he said warmly.
Hikari smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Dad," she replied softly.
They chose a table near the window overlooking the street and began looking through the menu.
"Wow, there are so many good choices here," Lumina said with a smile.
Haru and Tomo nodded before ordering their favorite meals. Arou made sure Hikari was comfortable beside him.
Not long after, the food arrived. The delicious aroma filled the table, making everyone smile. Arou began eating calmly, occasionally glancing at Hikari.
"Today, let's just enjoy ourselves," Arou said.
Hikari nodded and slowly sipped her drink, feeling warmth from her father's care. Lumina, Haru, and Tomo joked around, making the atmosphere light and pleasant.
They enjoyed their breakfast together, laughing softly from time to time while talking about simple things. For a while, Hikari felt comfortable enough to forget the outside world and simply enjoy the moment with her friends.
After finishing breakfast, they stepped outside. The cool morning air brushed against their faces, making their steps feel lighter.
"Today's actually pretty nice," Lumina said with a smile. "It feels good to relax for once."
Haru nodded.
"Yeah. Walking around and chatting like this feels refreshing."
Tomo glanced at Hikari.
"You look calmer now."
Hikari smiled faintly while occasionally glancing at Arou walking beside her.
"Yeah… a little better," she replied softly.
In the distance, they noticed Arthur approaching them.
"Hey, did you all just come from the restaurant?" Arthur greeted them cheerfully.
Arou smiled back.
"Yeah, we just finished eating. Want to join us?"
Arthur grinned.
"Sure, if you don't mind."
They continued walking together, joking and chatting about everyday things: the food they ordered, the morning scenery, and small plans for the holiday. The warm atmosphere helped Hikari feel more at ease, allowing her to enjoy time with her friends without rushing.
As evening approached, the sun slowly descended, painting the sky orange. Hikari, Arou, Lumina, Haru, Tomo, and Arthur sat together on a bench near the restaurant.
Hikari sat in the middle, occasionally looking at the flowers blooming near the edge of the park. Arou sat beside her and gently patted her shoulder encouragingly.
Lumina sat nearby, looking around the park while taking a deep breath.
"It feels nice just sitting here for a while," she said.
Haru and Tomo sat on another bench close by, occasionally joking around. Arthur stayed nearby as well so he could continue chatting with everyone.
They spent the afternoon talking about simple things: favorite foods, vacation plans, and funny stories from school. Hikari occasionally glanced at Arou before lowering her gaze again, trying to calm herself.
The peaceful atmosphere made Hikari feel slightly relieved. Sitting there with her friends gave her space to breathe and enjoy the quiet moment, even though traces of sadness still lingered inside her heart.
The warm afternoon breeze continued blowing gently through the park.
Lumina laughed softly while pointing at a bird perched on the fence.
"Today feels surprisingly normal," she said.
Haru smiled.
"Yeah… it feels peaceful."
Suddenly, Hikari glanced at the sky. A faint shadow moved rapidly above the trees. She frowned slightly.
"Eh… what was that?" she murmured.
Arou looked in the same direction but saw nothing.
"It was probably just a bird or a cloud shadow, Hikari. Don't worry too much," he reassured her.
Tomo looked at Hikari cautiously.
"If something feels strange, we can stay alert while remaining here."
Arthur gently patted Hikari's shoulder.
"You're not alone. Relax, we're all here."
Hikari took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Even though the strange shadow worried her, the warmth of her friends made her feel safe again. She smiled faintly and continued chatting with them.
The evening wind kept blowing while they sat together on the park bench, enjoying the calm before nightfall. Something still felt unusual, but for now, they could still enjoy the peaceful afternoon together.
Then suddenly—
A figure appeared in the middle of the park before Hikari and the others.
The figure smiled calmly.
"Hello," he said.
Arthur narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"You… you're a monster, aren't you?"
Zata smiled slightly.
"You could say that. Hehehe."
Without hesitation, Arthur summoned his giant axe while Arou gripped both of his swords tightly. They prepared to attack.
The moment Arou slashed toward Zata's neck, the sword suddenly reversed direction—cutting into Arou's own neck instead.
Arthur swung his giant axe toward Zata's body, but the impact suddenly reflected back onto Arthur himself.
Lumina, Hikari, Haru, and Tomo froze in shock.
Hikari stared with wide eyes, her voice trembling.
"This… this is a dream, right?" she whispered.
"Dad… did I lose Dad?"
The atmosphere in the park instantly turned heavy. A freezing aura spread from Zata's calm smile, making everyone feel as though unimaginable danger stood before them.
Zata looked quietly at Hikari and the others before casually throwing a single punch.
At first glance, it seemed light.
But the energy inside it was monstrous.
Using only 0.3% of his power, the strike shattered everything around him. The earth trembled violently, planets across the solar system shook, and the overwhelming force even created miniature black holes nearby.
Hikari, Lumina, Tomo, and Haru had no time to react.
In an instant, they were erased by the catastrophic wave of destruction.
Silence filled everything afterward.
That single punch alone revealed how horrifying Zata's true power was—
even at merely 0.3%.