On the rooftop of a nearby high-rise, several reporters stood with wind whipping against their coats, clinging to their equipment as cameras zoomed in on the battlefield below. Smoke drifted into the sky. The ground trembled from the distant clash of powers, and in the background, faint flashes of light pierced through the thickening clouds.
"As you can see…" a female reporter spoke into the mic, her voice shaky but composed, "…most of the civilians in Odaiba have been evacuated, but due to the panic, some are still trapped in nearby areas. The current situation is beyond anything we've ever faced. Kido Ryuto, one of Japan's top SSS-rank Evolvers, appears seriously injured." Her eyes flicked toward the battlefield. "No backup has arrived yet. And we still have no idea about the motives or origins of these two hostile Evolvers."
A rumble echoed across the city, causing the camera to shake briefly. The reporter steadied herself, her hands trembling now. "All we can do is pray… that Ryuto wins. If he doesn't—"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Every news channel across Japan—and even international outlets—broadcasted the battle live. The footage was chaotic: smoke clouds, shockwaves, broken ground, and distant glimpses of Ryuto's bloodstained figure.
In homes, shops, hospitals, and even shelters, people stared at the screens in silence. Some were biting their nails. Others were frozen, eyes wide with dread. Mothers held their children tighter. Fathers locked doors. Teenagers who had once idolized Evolvers for their strength now watched with growing horror. This wasn't some flashy hero fight—it was survival of the world.
In a dimly lit restaurant, an old man sat by the counter, his eyes glued to the TV. The static hum of electricity buzzed above him, the only other sound besides the news.
"It doesn't matter if he wins or not…" he muttered, shaking his head. "He's not coming. Not this time. You can feel it in the air. That peace that man give us. It's come to an end. That Era of survival is back."
Someone behind him—a woman holding her phone, hands shaking—whispered, "Do you really think… that 'he' is gone? That he's really never coming back?"
The old man took a slow sip of his tea, not answering. But his silence said everything.
In different parts of the world—Korea, Russia, India, even the U.S.—people were tuning in. Social media was exploding with livestreams, hashtags like #PrayForRyuto, #WhereIsHe trending globally.
The sky over Japan was no longer blue—it was black. The clouds churned like a storm was about to devour the country. Lightning cracked in the distance, almost as if the world itself was holding its breath.
And on that broken battlefield, with the whole world watching, the fate of peace balanced on the blade of a single wounded man's sword.
----
[Paris]
"Daniel… why did you send them after Ryuto?" David asked coldly in Spanish. He sat behind his desk, eyes fixed on the live news broadcast as he turned slightly to glance at Daniel.
"It's not my doing, sir," Daniel replied calmly, though his voice held a trace of unease. "I only sent six Evolvers after Shun's wife—the one you gave me details on. I had nothing to do with this situation."
David stared at him for a moment, then slowly leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. "So… someone else, huh," he muttered.
Daniel hesitated, eyes still on the screen. "But sir… what would they gain from this? They didn't harm civilians. They're just targeting Ryuto. Then why is the news treating this like it's the end of the world?"
David didn't move. He just spoke quietly, "You see, Daniel… whoever's behind this has a very specific goal—to prove to the world that he's really gone. That he's not going to show up again."
"But sir… you said it yourself—it's been ten years. He hasn't returned. Isn't it safe to assume he is gone?" Daniel asked gently.
"You're right," David whispered. "But think back to when I asked you to send Evolvers to Japan. You hesitated, didn't you?"
Daniel looked down, his voice soft, almost ashamed. "That's not—"
"No need to be embarrassed," David cut in, still calm. "It's normal to fear that man… even now. And you know what? That fear—that single thread—is what's kept this world in balance for a decade."
He opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling above. "But the moment this fight started, and he didn't come… that thread snapped. The illusion broke. The fear that held this world together is disappearing fast."
He paused for a breath, then added quietly, "Cancel the mission to Japan. We don't need to interfere anymore. From now on, we focus on protecting ourselves... because a new era is beginning."
Daniel simply nodded, silent.
-----
[Russia]
In a dimly lit living room, the glow of the television flickered across the walls. A man sat comfortably on a leather armchair, a glass of red wine swirling in his hand. It was Maxim.
The news played on screen, showing chaotic live footage of the ongoing battle. Explosions echoed through the speakers. Ryuto's name flashed across the lower banner.
Maxim took a slow sip, eyes locked on the screen.
"Don't die yet, Ryuto… I still have a score to settle with you," he muttered calmly, almost like a promise.
His phone buzzed again—and again. Dozens of missed calls, flashing notifications. But he didn't even glance at it.
His focus was elsewhere. On the battlefield. On the man he wanted to face one day again—not broken, not bleeding, but at full strength.
He took another sip, letting the tension on screen reflect in his quiet, unblinking stare.
----
[Japan]
Inside a crowded internet café, nearly every screen was tuned in to the live broadcast of the ongoing battle. The atmosphere was thick with tension—faces frozen, eyes wide, whispers filling the air.
Except for two grown men sitting in the corner, completely unfazed.
"Shun, what the hell are you doing? Give me that gun—I saw it first!" Jin snapped, furiously clicking his mouse.
Shun didn't even look at him. "Pick it up first next time, dumbass. It's mine now. Screw you," he shot back, equally focused on the game.
Their avatars clashed on screen, hitting each other in-game as the two men bickered like kids, completely ignoring the doomsday-like coverage playing all around them.
Someone nearby muttered, "Are those guys even aware the world peace might end today...?"
[Chapter 19 end]