In the last chapter, we saw the shocking truth.
Ekai revealed that he had been using Akaio and the others from the very beginning to obtain his true form. After his return, he attacked everyone and revealed his true identity. Just as all hope seemed lost, a mysterious man appeared from the shadows.
Present Time
The rain continued to fall heavily.
Thunder roared across the dark sky.
Akaio struggled to stand while staring at the mysterious man.
The man slowly stepped forward.
His face was hidden beneath a floating red cloth that moved with the wind.
No one could see his expression.
The battlefield became silent.
Then Ekai's eyes widened slightly.
"...Shikamo."
For the first time since his return, Ekai looked surprised.
"Long time no see," Ekai said.
But Shikamo did not answer.
He simply stared at Ekai.
Seconds passed.
Then—
BOOM!
Shikamo suddenly disappeared.
The ground beneath his feet exploded.
Before anyone could react, Shikamo appeared in front of Ekai and kicked him across the battlefield.
CRASH!
Ekai smashed through several giant stone pillars.
The force of the attack shook the entire area.
Everyone stared in shock.
"He sent Ekai flying!" one of them shouted.
But Shikamo wasn't finished.
In an instant he appeared beside Ekai again.
Punch!
Punch!
Punch!
A storm of attacks crashed into Ekai's face.
The sound of each impact echoed through Yuporaha.
Ekai was pushed back continuously.
Then Shikamo suddenly stopped.
He formed a strange symbol with his hands.
Ancient markings appeared in the air.
Golden light covered the battlefield.
Suddenly—
Everything changed.
Ekai found himself standing inside an enormous ancient temple.
Ancient pillars stretched toward the sky.
Strange symbols glowed on every wall.
Hundreds of monsters emerged from the darkness.
They roared and charged toward him.
Ekai looked around calmly.
"So this is your illusion technique."
The monsters attacked from every direction.
But Ekai began destroying them one after another.
Heads rolled.
Monsters fell.
The entire temple shook.
Then suddenly—
The temple vanished.
Everything shattered like glass.
CRACK!
Ekai returned to the real battlefield.
Shikamo was already waiting.
Without hesitation, he rushed forward again.
His fist shot toward Ekai's face.
But this time—
Ekai caught it.
Silence filled the battlefield.
Shikamo tried to pull back.
But he couldn't move.
Ekai slowly smiled.
"You should have stayed hidden."
Suddenly dark energy exploded around him.
Before anyone could react—
Ekai's hand pierced through Shikamo's chest.
Everyone froze.
His arm passed completely through Shikamo's body.
Blood fell onto the ground.
Shikamo looked down silently.
Ekai grabbed his heart.
Then crushed it.
CRACK.
The heart shattered.
Shikamo's body slowly fell.
The mysterious warrior was dead.
The battlefield became silent once again.
Akaio stared in disbelief.
"No..."
His hands trembled.
He slowly walked toward Ekai.
Rain continued falling.
"Why?" Akaio asked.
His voice shook with emotion.
"Why are you doing this, Ekai?"
"We trusted you."
"What did we ever do to you?"
Ekai remained silent.
Akaio could only see one thing inside his eyes.
Hatred.
Pain.
Revenge.
Ekai slowly looked toward the sky.
"You want to know why?"
Akaio nodded.
For the first time, Ekai began speaking about his past.
"Fine."
"I'll tell you."
The battlefield became quiet.
"Many years ago, I lived in a small village with my parents."
"We were poor but happy."
"My mother always smiled."
"My father always protected me."
For a brief moment, sadness appeared in Ekai's eyes.
"But there was one problem."
"Our religion was small."
"We were different."
"People hated us for it."
Akaio listened silently.
"At first they insulted us."
"Then they stopped helping us."
"They treated us like we weren't human."
Ekai clenched his fists.
"One day the villagers came to our home."
"They told us to leave."
"My father refused."
"He told them this forest belonged to no one."
"He told them we had the right to live there."
Thunder shook the sky.
Ekai's expression darkened.
"But they didn't listen."
"They attacked us."
"My parents fought to protect me."
"They stood between me and the villagers."
Ekai's voice trembled slightly.
"And then..."
"They died."
Silence.
Heavy rain continued falling.
Akaio lowered his head.
"My mother died protecting me."
"My father died protecting me."
"And for what?"
Ekai shouted.
"WHAT DID THEY DO WRONG?!"
Dark energy exploded around him.
The ground cracked apart.
"Tell me, Akaio!"
"What crime did they commit?!"
Akaio could not answer.
Ekai's eyes burned with hatred.
"Humanity taught me one thing."
"There is no justice."
"There is only power."
"So now..."
"I will destroy everything."
Before Akaio could react—
BOOM!
Ekai kicked him across the battlefield.
Akaio crashed into the ground.
Blood flowed from his mouth.
Ekai slowly walked toward him.
"I don't care who you are."
"I don't care who stands in my way."
"I will kill everyone."
Akaio tried to stand.
But Ekai's fist struck him directly.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire battlefield shook.
Akaio was left badly injured.
His body could barely move.
Everyone watched in horror.
It looked like all hope was gone.
Then suddenly—
A new voice echoed through the darkness.
"Interesting..."
Everyone turned around.
Another mysterious man stood on top of a ruined pillar.
His eyes glowed beneath a black cloak.
A small smile appeared on his face.
Even Ekai stopped walking.
The stranger looked directly at him.
"So this is the legendary Ekai Yoronagi."
The wind grew stronger.
The mysterious man stepped forward.
And for the first time...
Ekai looked serious.
To be continued...