In the last episode, we saw how Ekai and the others finally arrived at Yuporaha and reached the gates where the legendary weapon was said to exist.
Present Time
Dark clouds covered the sky above Yuporaha.
Cold wind moved through the giant ruins while Akaio and the others continued trying to open the massive frozen gate.
"Push harder!" Akaio shouted.
"We're trying!" the others replied.
Suddenly…
A strange dark presence appeared behind them.
The air became heavy.
Everyone slowly turned around in fear.
Toyomi had arrived.
But he was not alone.
Behind him stood a shadow-like creature with glowing red eyes and massive tails moving in the darkness.
Toyomi smiled.
"You idiots," he said. "Why are you all trying to open that door?"
Everyone stayed silent.
Toyomi continued,
"Inside that gate is not a weapon."
His voice became darker.
"A sealed evil god sleeps there. If that door opens… this world will be destroyed."
Akaio shouted back,
"Stop lying!"
Toyomi laughed.
"You still don't understand anything."
Then Toyomi raised his hand toward the sky.
"Come forth… 70th Tail."
The shadows exploded around the battlefield.
A terrifying pressure covered the entire area.
A giant beast slowly appeared from the darkness.
Its eyes glowed like blood.
Its body was covered in black flames.
"The 70th Tail has arrived," Toyomi said proudly. "Now all of you will die."
Everyone stepped back in fear.
But suddenly…
The 70th Tail stopped moving.
It looked directly at Ekai.
Then, to everyone's shock…
The monster slowly bowed its head and sat down respectfully before him.
Silence.
Toyomi's eyes widened.
"What…?"
Akaio looked confused.
"Why is it showing respect to Ekai?!"
Ekai only smiled.
In the next second—
BOOM!
Ekai rushed toward Toyomi at unbelievable speed and kicked him across the battlefield.
Toyomi blocked the attack with both hands but was pushed backward violently.
Toyomi stared at Ekai in shock.
"Who… are you really?"
Ekai said nothing.
Toyomi growled angrily and suddenly grabbed Ekai by the neck, throwing him into a wall.
CRASH!
The wall shattered instantly.
Toyomi rushed forward, kicking Ekai into the ground before punching him over and over again without stopping.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The ground cracked apart.
Everyone watched in horror.
Akaio shouted,
"EKAI!"
One of the others whispered,
"He's going to die…"
Dust covered the battlefield.
Then suddenly—
A hand grabbed Toyomi's fist.
Toyomi froze.
Ekai slowly stood up.
His eyes looked cold and emotionless.
"You talk too much," Ekai said quietly.
In one instant, Ekai kicked Toyomi high into the air.
Before Toyomi could react—
BOOM!
Ekai appeared above him and slammed him into the ground with another kick.
The entire battlefield shook violently.
Toyomi coughed blood.
But Ekai didn't stop.
He grabbed Toyomi and punched him directly in the face again and again.
Toyomi was now badly injured.
Breathing heavily, Toyomi suddenly released all his tails.
Dark energy exploded everywhere.
One by one, the tails entered the body of the 70th Tail.
Toyomi looked at the creature and said,
"You can go now…"
The 70th Tail disappeared into the shadows.
Then Ekai turned toward Akaio.
"Akaio," he said calmly, "open the door fast."
Toyomi suddenly screamed,
"NO!"
But before he could continue—
Ekai grabbed him and threw him into a wall again before stomping him into the ground.
"Stay down," Ekai said coldly.
Then Ekai looked back at Akaio.
"My friend… open the door. If Toyomi gains his true power, we will lose."
Akaio hesitated for a moment.
But then he nodded.
"Everyone! Open it together!"
All of them pushed with everything they had.
The giant frozen gate slowly began to open.
RRRRRMMMMMM…
Cold air exploded outward from inside.
Everyone stared in shock.
Deep inside the chamber…
A man was sitting frozen within giant ice.
Toyomi slowly laughed.
"You fools…"
"There was never a weapon here."
His smile became terrifying.
"Now the world will finally be destroyed."
Akaio looked confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Toyomi pointed at Ekai.
"You think Ekai is your friend?"
"He was never your friend."
Akaio stepped back.
"What…?"
But before Toyomi could finish—
CRACK!
Ekai crushed Toyomi's head instantly.
Blood covered the ground.
Everyone froze in fear.
Akaio looked at Ekai nervously.
"Ekai… where's the weapon?"
Ekai smiled softly.
"Wait here. I'll bring it."
Akaio slowly nodded.
"Okay…"
Then suddenly—
Ekai stabbed himself.
Everyone screamed in horror.
"EKAI!!"
Dark energy exploded from his body.
The sky instantly turned black.
Thunder roared loudly.
Rain started falling heavily across Yuporaha.
Ekai's body slowly disappeared into darkness.
Then…
CRACK…
The giant ice inside the chamber began breaking apart.
CRACK!
CRACK!
Finally—
BOOOOM!
The ice shattered completely.
The man inside slowly opened his eyes and stepped forward.
Long black hair moved with the wind.
His presence alone made everyone unable to breathe.
The man smiled.
"Thank you," he said calmly.
"Because of all of you… I am finally free."
Akaio stared at him in confusion.
"Who… who are you?"
The man looked directly at him.
"My name…"
"…is Ekai Yoronagi."
Everyone's eyes widened in horror.
Akaio shook his head.
"No… you're lying."
"Ekai isn't evil!"
The man laughed quietly.
"Oh really?"
Then he pointed toward the place where Ekai had disappeared.
"How many Ekai do you think exist?"
Akaio couldn't speak.
The others slowly stepped back in fear.
Ekai looked at all of them coldly.
"You were useful to me. That is all."
Akaio shouted angrily,
"Why are you doing this?!"
Ekai's eyes became emotionless.
"I never cared about any of you."
"I waited from the very beginning for this moment."
Then suddenly—
Ekai raised his hand.
Dark energy pierced through Hikamo's body instantly.
"HIKAMO!" Akaio screamed.
Hikamo fell to the ground lifelessly.
Ekai then grabbed Akaio and threw him high into the air before smashing him violently into the ground.
BOOOOOOM!
Akaio coughed blood and could barely move.
Rain continued falling heavily.
Ekai slowly walked toward them.
"You should have never opened that door."
Suddenly…
A new voice echoed from the darkness.
"Ooo… so you finally returned, Ekai."
Everyone looked toward the shadows.
A mysterious man slowly stepped forward.
His eyes glowed brightly in the darkness.
Ekai stopped walking.
For the first time, his smile disappeared.
The man stepped forward completely.
"Long time no see…"
"…Shikamo."