The wind blew heavily through the broken forest, carrying dust and tension across the ruined battlefield.
Across from Ozaki stood Kaku.
His eyes remained fixed on him, sharp enough to feel like blades. His fists were clenched, his body leaning slightly forward, ready to attack at any moment.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Kaku moved.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he shot forward with explosive speed, his fist already pulled back for a strike.
Ozaki's calm eyes followed every movement.
Even exhausted.
Even wounded.
He saw everything.
As Kaku entered striking range, Ozaki stepped back and swung his scythe.
PRRAK!
The curved blade sliced through Kaku's shirt and dug into his ribs. Black blood sprayed across the ground as the hook-like edge lodged itself inside.
Kaku's eyes narrowed.
Not from pain.
Not from fear.
His approach simply changed.
He pushed himself off the blade and retreated several steps. Almost immediately, the wound began closing. Flesh stitched itself together while skin reformed over the injury until it looked as though he had never been wounded at all.
Straightening his posture, Kaku grinned.
"That was me being casual," Ozaki said, tightening his grip on the scythe.
Kaku smirked.
"Then let's stop being casual."
Dark Ink surged through his body.
"Case Form. Form One... Legman."
The Ink flowed downward and wrapped around both legs like living armor. Muscles expanded. Veins bulged beneath the dark coating. A pulse of power erupted outward, cracking the ground beneath him.
Then he vanished.
POOF!
Kaku appeared directly in front of Ozaki.
A knee shot toward his chest.
CLANG!
Ozaki intercepted it with the blade of his scythe.
Ink splattered from the impact.
In the same motion, Kaku twisted his body and launched another kick toward Ozaki's side. Ozaki spun the scythe and blocked again.
Kaku grinned.
BAM!
His fist slammed into Ozaki's face.
Ozaki's head snapped sideways before he skidded backward across the dirt.
"You're toying with me," Kaku muttered.
Ozaki smiled.
"Maybe."
The battle intensified immediately.
Kaku's enhanced legs became a blur as kick after kick rained down. Every strike carried enough force to shatter stone, yet Ozaki met each one with precise movements of his scythe.
He moved like flowing water.
No wasted motion.
No panic.
Only skill.
Then Kaku suddenly stopped.
Ink surged into his fist.
The surrounding air trembled.
His grin disappeared.
This attack was different.
He launched forward.
Ozaki reacted instantly and raised his scythe.
CRACK!
The punch smashed through the weapon.
The force continued straight through the broken shaft and slammed into Ozaki's chest.
BOOOOM!
Ozaki flew backward and crashed into a massive boulder. Stone exploded around him as his back struck first, followed by his head.
Blood streamed down his forehead.
The broken scythe slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground.
Ozaki dropped to one knee.
His fingers touched the wound on his forehead.
Blood stained them.
The injury wasn't healing properly.
His eyes narrowed.
Rujer's earlier touch to the headband had damaged that area more than he thought.
"Why isn't it healing?"
In the distance, Chella's heart dropped.
"MASTER OZAKI!"
Without hesitation, she charged forward.
Golden light erupted around her body.
"God Form. Form One... Bronze Golem."
Rock burst from the earth and wrapped around her body. Layer after layer of stone armor formed over her frame until she stood taller, heavier, and far stronger than before.
Kaku had already moved.
His next strike was aimed directly at Ozaki.
Chella arrived first.
BOOOOM!
The collision unleashed a shockwave that blasted dust across the battlefield. Cracks spread beneath her feet as she blocked the attack.
Kaku raised an eyebrow.
"Hiding behind children now, Ozaki?"
Chella didn't answer.
Instead, she grabbed Kaku's arm and hurled him away.
He landed smoothly, but she was already there.
THUD!
Her fist slammed into his stomach.
Black blood spilled from Kaku's mouth as he staggered backward into a nearby tree.
For a moment, his grin faded.
Then it returned.
"Not bad."
Dark Ink suddenly rushed toward him.
"Case Form. Form Two... Shadow Arm."
The remnants of the Ink that had once covered Ichiha surged across the battlefield and wrapped around both of Kaku's arms.
They expanded rapidly.
Twisting.
Growing.
Thickening.
Until each arm was three times its original size.
Dark veins pulsed beneath the surface.
The pressure alone bent nearby trees.
"Let's see you block this."
He lunged toward Chella.
Both enlarged fists rose into the air.
Chella planted her feet and crossed her arms into an X-shaped guard.
Her heart pounded.
Then the battlefield grew cold.
The change was immediate.
The wind slowed.
The drifting dust seemed to freeze in place.
Even the sounds of the battlefield felt distant.
Everyone felt it.
Kaku.
Chella.
Yamato.
Lumei.
Sora.
A familiar voice echoed through the cold air.
"I am weak, but I must fight him."
The temperature dropped even further.
"Sharpen my senses once again."
Silver mist drifted across the battlefield.
Kaku's grin slowly faded.
"Since I have not yet returned to my prime."
Silence followed.
Then a pale blue blur appeared before Chella.
"Silver Ozaki — Pact One... Scythe of Execution."
Ozaki stood there.
Blood still ran down his forehead.
Bruises covered his face.
Yet he smiled.
A newly formed scythe rested in his hand, its blade glowing with pale silver light while ash-like particles drifted around him.
His aura felt different.
Heavier.
Older.
More dangerous.
Before anyone could react, he vanished.
SLASH!
The scythe carved diagonally across Kaku's body.
For a brief second, nothing happened.
Then Kaku was launched through the forest.
Trees exploded apart as his body tore through them. The ground split beneath his path while debris filled the air.
Ozaki glanced back toward Chella and gave a small nod.
Then he vanished again.
Chasing Kaku deeper into the forest.
The battlefield fell silent.
Sora rushed to Chella's side.
"Are you okay?"
Chella nodded.
"Yeah. But that guy is stronger than Nent."
Nearby, Lumei crouched beside Ichiha's while Yamato stared toward the forest.
His expression remained serious.
"We may have to step in."
The others looked at him.
"If Master Ozaki's four minutes run out..."
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
Far beyond the trees, another explosion echoed through the forest.
The battle wasn't over.
It had only moved.