In the Last Episode...
The battle inside the Death World grew even more intense. Sikuro summoned his Guardian and pushed back countless enemies, but the battlefield changed when the mysterious commander, Hokizu, appeared. He summoned giant ice golems, an enormous ice dragon, and created a frozen throne before calmly sitting above the battlefield, watching the war unfold.
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Present Time
The frozen battlefield fell into complete silence.
Hokizu sat upon his magnificent throne of ice, his cold eyes filled with anger as he looked down at everyone standing below him.
The giant ice dragon let out a terrifying roar before diving toward Hokizu's enemies.
At the same moment, Sikuro's Guardian rushed forward to intercept it.
The two enormous creatures collided, shaking the battlefield.
Boom!
Without hesitation, Hokizu raised one hand.
Thousands of massive ice spikes burst from the frozen ground, surrounding the Guardian and trapping it inside an icy prison.
For a moment, everyone believed the battle was over.
Then...
Footsteps echoed across the battlefield.
Tap...
Tap...
Tap...
A mysterious figure slowly emerged from the drifting snow.
It was a woman.
She walked calmly through the battlefield without showing even the slightest fear.
Her eyes met Hokizu's.
"Why are you doing this?"
Hokizu laughed.
Without answering, he pointed toward her.
The ice dragon immediately charged.
The woman simply knelt and placed one hand on the frozen ground.
A deep rumbling echoed beneath everyone's feet.
Suddenly...
A gigantic stone hand burst from beneath the earth.
It grabbed the ice dragon before stopping its attack completely.
Even Hokizu's expression changed.
"...Interesting."
The woman calmly walked toward Sikuro's trapped Guardian.
She touched the frozen ground once more.
Everyone suddenly felt the earth shaking.
The ice prison shattered.
The Guardian was free once again.
Akaio's eyes sparkled.
"Ekai!"
"Did you see that?"
"She's amazing!"
Before anyone could stop him...
Akaio ran straight toward the mysterious woman.
Ekai tried to stand.
"Akaio, wait!"
But it was already too late.
Akaio stopped in front of her with a huge smile.
"Excuse me..."
"Would you like to go on a date with me?"
The woman looked at him silently.
The next second...
She sent him flying backward with a single movement.
Ekai covered his face.
"I knew that would happen..."
Meanwhile...
Hokizu created another massive blade of ice.
He rushed toward the woman at incredible speed.
She calmly stepped forward.
Their attacks collided repeatedly across the battlefield.
Ice scattered in every direction.
The woman broke his weapon.
Hokizu instantly created another.
The fight became faster and faster.
Neither side was willing to retreat.
Finally...
Hokizu landed a powerful kick that forced the woman backward.
She quickly recovered and struck back, forcing Hokizu to retreat for the first time.
He slowly smiled.
"So..."
"You really are strong."
His expression suddenly became serious.
"Enough."
He took a deep breath.
The entire battlefield began freezing.
The ground...
The air...
Even the mountains became covered in thick layers of ice.
Countless ice monsters slowly rose from the frozen earth.
The mysterious woman tried to move.
Her legs had become trapped beneath the ice.
No matter how hard she struggled...
She couldn't break free.
Hokizu slowly walked toward her.
"You are beautiful."
"Come with me."
The woman reached toward him, trying to stop his advance.
But Hokizu avoided every movement.
Just as he reached her...
A loud voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Don't touch her!"
Akaio charged forward.
He struck Hokizu with everything he had, forcing him back several steps.
Hokizu looked at him with cold eyes.
"So..."
"You call this love?"
"Weak people cannot protect those they care about."
He launched a powerful counterattack.
Akaio was thrown across the frozen battlefield.
Ekai immediately tried to help.
Sikuro stopped him.
"No."
"We can't defeat Hokizu like this."
"He's too strong."
Ekai clenched his fists.
"...Where's Ren?"
Everyone looked around.
Far behind the battlefield...
Ren stood completely still.
His eyes remained closed.
Hasikat rested quietly in his hands.
He wasn't fighting.
He was concentrating.
Trying to connect completely with the cursed blade.
Suddenly...
Dark energy burst from the sky.
A massive pillar of black power surrounded Ren.
The pressure alone sent Ekai, Sikuro, and even Hokizu backward.
Dust covered the battlefield.
No one could see anything.
The battlefield became silent.
Then...
A figure slowly stepped out from the darkness.
Golden eyes glowed through the dust.
For the very first time...
Everyone saw Ren's full appearance.
A mysterious mark stretched across the left side of his face.
One of his eyes had become completely dark.
Bandages covered both of his hands and part of his mouth.
His black hair moved gently in the cold wind.
He wore only a black hakama, black sandals, and dark socks.
Without saying a single word...
Ren slowly picked up Hasikat.
He walked toward Hokizu.
Every step carried an overwhelming presence.
Even Hokizu stopped smiling.
In an instant...
Ren disappeared.
The next moment...
He stood directly before Hokizu.
A single movement forced Hokizu backward.
Before Hokizu could recover...
Ren calmly avoided every attack with effortless precision.
The battlefield fell completely silent.
Hokizu couldn't understand what was happening.
Ren twisted away from another strike before sending Hokizu crashing across the frozen ground.
He then turned toward the frozen prisoners.
With one clean swing of Hasikat...
The ice surrounding Akaio and the mysterious woman shattered.
Both were free.
Akaio immediately rushed toward the woman.
He hugged her tightly.
She pushed him away.
"What are you doing?"
"Go back."
Akaio smiled awkwardly.
"...What's your name?"
The woman looked at him for a moment before answering.
"My name is Juki."
Akaio's face lit up.
"Juki..."
"That's a beautiful name."
"Please come with us."
"I'll make sure you're always happy."
Before Juki could answer...
A cold laugh echoed across the battlefield.
Hokizu slowly stood once again.
His eyes burned with determination.
"...I'm not finished yet."
The war...
Was far from over.
To Be Continued...