The battle between Tarak and Hayatowas one-sided.
Hayato clashed with Tarak, but he couldn't even scratch him. Tarak dominated the field like a monster. No matter how hard Hayato tried, not a single attack landed properly.
Tarak jumped at Hayato again. Hayato barely dodged, but before he could react, another heavy blow slammed into him.
His body staggered. His mind blurred.
"What is happening?" Hayato thought, feeling helpless.
"Is it because I never trained my Cutting Slash? I always loved running. I dreamed of becoming the fastest human, not a warrior. I never wanted to be the king of Crimson Village. I never loved fighting."
Hayato gritted his teeth.
"But after that day… when my life changed... anger became my fuel. I trained, killed, and pushed myself beyond limits. My speed-boosting semi-celestial magic grew stronger every day."
"Yet now... even after all that... I can't land a single hit?"
Hayato fell to one knee, panting. Tarak slowly walked toward him with a cruel smile.
"Maybe... everything I did was for nothing..."
Then Hayato's eyes sharpened.
"No. I have one last move... the one that could kill me if I fail."
He stood up, blood dripping from his mouth.
"Even if death is certain... a warrior must fight. I have mastered my speed. I will bet it all on this — the Ultimate move: Hex."
Tarak laughed, stepping closer.
"Hey, are you thinking of running away? Go ahead. Maybe you'll live a few seconds longer."
But Hayato was already focusing. He poured all his semi-celestial magic into his legs. His body glowed faintly, winds swirling violently around him.
Taking a stance, he whispered:
"Hex: Arcane Rush!"
In an instant, Hayato vanished from sight.
Tarak's smile faded, his heart gripped by terror.
"What?!" Tarak gasped. "A being like you shouldn't be able to use Hex! No... NO!! I have to run—"
Before Tarak could move, Hayato appeared right in front of him like a phantom.
With a flash of light, Hayato severed Tarak's right arm — then his left — faster than anyone could blink.
Tarak staggered back, screaming in agony, blood gushing wildly.
Hayato, exhausted, fell to the ground. His legs gave out completely, blood streaming from his body.
He collapsed, unconscious.
Ren and Ryota rushed to the battlefield, stunned by what they saw.
Ryota ran to Hayato, checking him.
Ren, with cold eyes, approached Tarak, who was still crying in pain.
Ren grabbed Tarak by the collar.
"Tell me — do you know about the ruler? About his memory manipulation and curse power?"
Tarak, gasping, said, "You... you can't survive him... his memory manipulation will destroy you... but..."
"But what about the curse?" Ren pressed.
Tarak, confused, replied, "Curse? Are you trying to fool me? The ruler doesn't have that kind of power—"
Suddenly, Tarak's head exploded.
Ren staggered back, shocked — not by the death, but by Tarak's last words.
"Wait... if he was telling the truth... then someone else must be behind the curse... But who?"
Ren clenched his fists.
The battle had ended.
Only a few soldiers from the village remained alive. All the royal soldiers lay dead.
Ren moved toward Ryota, but angry voices rose from the survivors.
One of the soldier pointed at Hayato and shouted,
"We need to kill that criminal!"