The sea began to calm.
On the cruise ship's deck, the cursed sand rippled like a dying tide before fading back into the water. The ship groaned from the sudden shift, rocking sharply before stabilizing on the waves.
Ren and Yuumo returned to the others, their expressions clouded. Ren's voice was clipped, frustration leaking through.
"We've searched everywhere. He's not here."
Yuumo brushed a lock of hair from her face, her eyes narrowing as though she sensed something no one else could.
Perched on the guardrail, Neko's tail flicked lazily. The cat's golden eyes gleamed, his grin sharp and knowing. "He's inside that pyramid."
Everyone froze.
Mai blinked, stunned by the cat's voice. "Wait… did that thing just—?"
Before she could finish, Shoto's aunt drew in a breath of shock, but Ryuki and Ren acted fast, grabbing her by the arms and dragging her away, muttering hurried words to keep her calm.
Yuumo's gaze stayed locked on the pyramid, her hands curling into fists. Her lips parted, but she didn't speak. Yumiko also stared at the pyramid worried that her boyfriend could've already been dead
Hikaru, standing apart from the others, narrowed his eyes at the distant structure. His rival was there. His rival was fighting. His rival was possibly dying. His hand twitched at his side, tightening into a fist.
"Don't die in there, Shoto… That's supposed to be my job."
Beneath the pyramid, the tomb raged with chaos.
Stone walls cracked, ancient carvings splintered, and centuries-old dust rained from the ceiling as the ground quaked with every strike. It felt as though the dead themselves stirred, restless under the violence.
Shoto staggered, bruised and bloodied, every nerve screaming. His chest heaved, but his eyes burned with stubborn defiance, sharper than pain, darker than fear.
The Pharaoh loomed over him, golden staff raised high. His laughter echoed, a sound both regal and monstrous. The bandages wrapping his decayed body writhed like vipers, hungry for flesh.
"You are finished, boy! The desert swallows all things—even kings!"
The floor erupted, massive fists of sand lunging upward in a brutal barrage. Each strike shattered stone, flinging debris like daggers through the air.
One caught Shoto in the ribs, sending him crashing against the wall. Dust exploded around him, but he rolled, forcing himself to his feet. His boots dug into the ground, and with a burst of speed, he lunged back into the fray.
His fist slammed into the Pharaoh's decayed face. Bone cracked, and for a heartbeat, the chamber rang with silence before the mummy retaliated with equal fury. Their clash shook the tomb, a battle of willpower as much as strength.
Bandages lashed at him, hissing through the air. Shoto tilted his head just in time, but not without cost—a crimson cut streaked across his cheek.
Snarling, the Pharaoh drove his golden staff into the ground. The chamber writhed. From beneath, cursed sand surged, taking the form of endless spikes that spiraled toward Shoto. They slashed at his arms and chest, gouging blood, shredding flesh.
Yet Shoto advanced, step by step, his determination unshaken.
He slammed a foot down, grounding himself. His aura pulsed violently, crimson energy flooding into his blade. Veins along his arm glowed with light as shadows rippled across the chamber, drawn toward the sword like moths to flame.
The weapon trembled in his grasp, alive, resonant, demanding blood.
Shoto's voice dropped low, steady and final.
"X-Saber."
The blade slashed twice, carving twin crimson arcs that burned into the air, forming an "X." Then he thrust forward, piercing the center with a decisive strike.
The world detonated.
A wave of dark light exploded outward, obliterating the Pharaoh's sand and hurling him upward. His scream echoed, sharp with fury and disbelief. He smashed through the pyramid's ceiling, crashing toward the coffin at the chamber's heart.
"No… no! This was meant to be my victory—!"
The coffin stirred, pulling him in as though destiny itself had spoken. Its lid slammed shut with a final thunderclap. His cries were silenced. The Pharaoh was sealed.
Shoto fell to his knees, the black scales across his face fading into nothing. His sword dimmed, its terrible resonance gone. With a final exhale, he collapsed, unconscious, as the pyramid gave way, stones tumbling, collapsing into ruin.
On the cruise ship, the cursed sand in the pool boiled, then erupted violently. Shoto's battered body was spat out, rolling limply onto the deck. He didn't move.
Inside the lounge, Tetsuya leaned against the glass, watching with sharp eyes. His grin widened slightly.
"Sounds like you had your fun, lucky bastard."