In the deepest chamber of the underground ruin, time itself felt like it slowed.
Ryker's breath steamed from his lips, sweat mixed with blood dripping down his jaw. Across from him, Manager Taro stood still, unmoving—an immovable wall of calm, fury, and unshaken mastery.
With a roar, Ryker launched forward.
He twisted midair, landing a sharp kick directly to Taro's jaw.
Crack!
The blow connected—but Taro didn't stumble.
Instead, he grabbed Ryker's leg mid-air.
"Not fast enough," he muttered—and slammed Ryker down.
Boom!
The floor trembled as Ryker's body smashed into the stone, a cloud of dust exploding from the impact.
But he didn't stay down.
Ryker rolled, pushed up, and lunged—his fist colliding with Taro's face just as Taro's elbow dug into his ribs. They exchanged hits like warriors of old—punch for punch, kick for kick, neither yielding.
Then Ryker's eyes sparked with lightning.
He slammed his palm to the floor.
"Thunderquake."
A surge of lightning exploded beneath them, blasting outward in a shockwave. The very foundations of the underground trembled as walls cracked and lights burst.
From the far ends of the collapsing chamber, Taro raised his hand for the first time—not with defense, but with destruction.
He began to chant.
"Thy wrath of storm... awaken."
A dragon-shaped surge of lightning surged from his hand—a blinding, roaring Lightning Dragon soared through the ruins, tearing through the air like a god's wrath.
Ryker's eyes widened. He leapt left, barely dodging the full blast—but the beast crashed into the chamber wall behind him.
Everything shattered.
BOOOOOOM!
Stone crumbled. Pillars cracked. The underground ceiling began to fall.
Outside – Moments Earlier
Jasmine and the others reached the shattered door leading back underground.
"We're almost there—keep movi—"
RUMBLE.
The ground beneath their feet began to shake violently.
"Wait," Shin said, stopping. His eyes darted to the floor. "Something's wrong—"
Then it came.
A thunderous collapse. The earth opened beneath them, a wave of dust and debris exploding into the sky as the underground facility began to crumble in on itself.
"RYKER!!" Aisa screamed from the edge, watching the tunnels fall into darkness.
They all stared into the abyss, their hearts sinking.
Ryker was still down there.
Buried beneath a world collapsing.
And the battle was far from over.
The dust had not yet settled, but silence claimed the underground's ruins.
Chunks of stone and twisted steel littered the battlefield. Smoke coiled like dying spirits through the collapsed chamber.
In the center of it all—stood Manager Taro, his body battered, his clothes torn, and a thin trail of blood trickling from the corner of his lip.
But Ryker...
He lay collapsed among shattered stone and flickering sparks. Blood painted the ground beneath him—a deep, vivid red.
His body was motionless.
His lightning had vanished.
"RYKER!!" Aisa's scream cut through the silence like a blade.
From above, the team stared in disbelief.
Sol gritted his teeth, his voice trembling. "What the hell... he's still standing?"
Shin narrowed his eyes. "Manager Taro... he's not fighting anymore."
Taro, eyes calm and unreadable, slowly raised both hands into the air.
"I surrender," he said hoarsely, his voice echoing in the fractured chamber.
"Surrender...?" Shin whispered.
Jasmine didn't hesitate. "King, Hiroshi—arrest him. Now."
King clenched his fists but nodded. "With pleasure."
He and Hiroshi moved cautiously, weapons drawn as they approached the motionless warrior.
But none of that mattered to Aisa.
Her world had narrowed to one thing: Ryker.
She ran—sprinting across broken stone and fire-scorched earth, her eyes wide with tears. She dropped to her knees beside him.
"Ryker! RYKER!" she cried, shaking him.
He didn't respond.
Blood stained her hands.
His face was pale, cold sweat on his brow. His chest rose—barely.
"Aisa..." Jasmine's voice came from behind, gentle and careful.
"Don't," Aisa said, holding Ryker tightly. "Don't say anything."
She bent forward, her forehead pressing against his.
"You idiot... You said you'd win…"
Chains clicked into place.
Manager Taro stood between King and Hiroshi, his arms bound, the glint of metal around his wrists catching the last flickers of magic in the broken underground.
"You're finally arrested, bastard," King said, voice thick with rage.
Taro turned his head slightly, unimpressed. "You should learn some manners."
Hiroshi stepped forward, his tone colder than steel. "Don't worry—we have many questions for you."
Taro didn't reply. He simply walked forward, restrained, but not broken. His eyes never left the place where Ryker had fallen.
Behind them, Celica rushed to Ryker's side, kneeling next to Aisa who still held his hand tightly.
She didn't waste a second.
"His condition is critical," Celica said, already channeling her power. A soft, white glow began to surround her hands.
"Celica… use Instant Healing!" Yumi cried, desperation clinging to her voice.
"I've already started," Celica replied, her voice focused, steady. The glow intensified.
Instant Healing—a rare and powerful technique. It could heal wounds that even magic shouldn't touch, but it came at a cost. A terrible cost.
Beads of sweat poured down her face. Her breath became shallow as she poured every ounce of energy into Ryker.
Her lips trembled. "I'm done… but his condition—still critical…"
She collapse knee backward slightly, panting.
Sol moved forward quickly, his usual joking demeanor gone.
Without a word, he knelt and gently lifted Ryker's unconscious body onto his back.
"He's not dying here," Sol muttered. "Let's get him home."
Jasmine nodded. "Everyone. We're returning to the island."
Together—bruised, weary, but alive—they began their retreat.
As they emerged from the wreckage of the mansion, the first rays of dawn began to peek over the horizon.
But none of them looked up.
Their eyes were on the man who had once stood unshakable—and had now fallen for them.
The boat reached the island's edge just as the sun began to rise, casting gold across the sea like a blessing.
As the group stepped onto the familiar shores, voices echoed in the wind.
"The girls! They're safe!"
People from the island rushed forward—guards, healers, children, the elderly. Tears fell, hands were clasped, and relieved cheers spread like wildfire.
The girls who had been kidnapped—Aisa, Celica, Yumi, Akira, and the others—were surrounded by warm embraces and familiar faces.
One man stepped forward from the crowd, clad in white and gold robes, his presence calm and commanding.
"Thank you, heroes."
It was Tetsu Katamaya, leader of the island's church and respected elder.
"You've done your duty. The gods have truly blessed us today."
Sol gave a tired smile. "Yeah… we made it back."
Tetsu's eyes fell on the man being dragged behind by King and Hiroshi—Manager Taro, beaten, bound, yet strangely silent.
"We'll place him in the island jail for tonight," Jasmine said firmly.
Tetsu gave a single nod. "Use it. It's secure."
As the others helped the girls toward the healing quarters, King and Hiroshi hauled Taro across the stone path that led toward the reinforced prison beneath the old chapel tower.
"Let's go," Hiroshi muttered. "We've got more than a few things to ask you."
Taro didn't resist. He simply walked.
His expression unreadable.