The battlefield had become almost unrecognizable.
The ancient gate still stood above the ruined heart of Shanghai, surrounded by shattered stone, smoke, and the remnants of the barrier.
And on top of that enormous gate—
Renge Akihana stood silently.
Across from him was his older brother.
Renji Akihana.
The horned Mask Man.
The bearer of the Eye of Laliguras and the Eye of Lotus.
Neither brother moved.
Then Renge took one final step forward.
BOOM!
His fist struck Renji.
Renji was thrown backward.
He caught himself against the stone frame of the ancient gate, but his breathing had become heavy.
Renge stood several meters away.
His expression was filled with exhaustion.
But he was still standing.
Renji slowly looked at his younger brother.
Then—
he smiled.
Renji:
"I'm happy for you…"
Renge's eyes widened slightly.
Renji:
"You actually became this strong."
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Renji:
"But I'm not going to die from a pathetic defeat like this."
His eyes suddenly opened wider.
Both the Eye of Laliguras and Eye of Lotus began glowing.
The atmosphere changed.
The black aura surrounding Renji expanded across the entire sky.
Renge immediately took a defensive stance.
Renge:
"What are you doing?"
Renji raised one hand.
Renji:
"I'm showing you…"
The black aura behind him began forming an enormous silhouette.
First came the horns.
Then the head.
Then the gigantic wings.
Finally—
a colossal dragon-shaped guardian emerged from the darkness.
Its body was covered in black spiritual energy, with glowing crimson markings running across its scales.
The creature's enormous eyes opened.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!
The roar shook the entire ancient gate.
Renge stared upward.
Renge:
"That isn't a Spiritual Beast…"
Renji smiled.
Renji:
"Correct."
He looked at his younger brother.
Renji:
"The Akihana clan had another secret."
The gigantic entity spread its wings.
Renji:
"We called it the Black Dragon Astral Sovereign."
The dragon's aura exploded.
BOOOOOOM!
Clouds scattered across the sky.
Renge tightened his fists.
Renge:
"So you were hiding this too…"
Renji's smile faded.
Renji:
"I've been hiding many things."
He raised his hand.
The Black Dragon Astral Sovereign moved with him.
Renge immediately charged.
BOOM!
The brothers collided again.
Flower petals exploded through the air.
Black energy crashed against them.
Renge moved left.
Renji countered.
Renge ducked.
A black energy blade passed above his head.
He spun and struck Renji.
Renji blocked.
The enormous dragon behind him roared.
Renge was pushed backward.
He slid across the stone surface.
Then—
he stopped.
His eyes became calm.
Renge:
"Brother…"
Renji looked at him.
Renge:
"I won't let you destroy everything."
Renge's flower energy erupted around his body.
Renge:
"Even if you're my brother."
He charged again.
---
The Last Clash
BOOM!
BAM!
CRASH!
Their attacks became faster.
Flower petals filled the sky.
Black energy tore through the clouds.
The ancient gate trembled beneath them.
Renji's Eye of Lotus attempted to manipulate Renge's perception.
But Renge's eyes sharpened.
He saw through it.
Renge:
"I've learned how to see through your tricks."
Renji smiled.
Renji:
"Then I'll simply fight you without them."
They disappeared.
A second later—
BOOOOOOM!
Both appeared on opposite sides of the gate.
Renge's breathing became heavier.
Renji lowered his head.
Then Renge appeared directly in front of him.
Renge:
"This ends now."
A massive flower-shaped energy gathered around his arm.
Renji raised his hand.
The Black Dragon Astral Sovereign roared behind him.
Both brothers attacked.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
A massive explosion swallowed the top of the ancient gate.
For several seconds—
nothing could be seen.
Then the smoke slowly cleared.
Renge was standing.
Renji was on his knees.
The Black Dragon Astral Sovereign flickered behind him.
Renji looked at Renge.
There was no anger in his eyes anymore.
Only exhaustion.
Renji:
"So…"
He gave a faint smile.
Renji:
"You really did surpass me."
Renge's eyes trembled.
Renji looked toward the sky.
Rain began falling.
One drop.
Then another.
Soon—
the entire battlefield was covered in rain.
Renji's body began losing strength.
Renji:
"I guess…"
He closed his eyes.
Renji:
"…this is where my path ends."
Renge stood silently in front of him.
His older brother's final moments belonged to him.
Not the Alien Queen.
Not the Mask Men.
Not the world.
His little brother.
Renji's final smile disappeared beneath the rain.
And the Black Dragon Astral Sovereign slowly vanished with him.
Renge lowered his head.
The rain continued falling.
---
The Gate Opens
But the battle wasn't over.
Not even close.
On another part of the battlefield—
Kaito Jin stood alone on top of the enormous ancient gate.
Completely calm.
His black coat moved in the wind.
Below him, people were running through the ruined streets.
Above him, the sky was filled with alien forces.
Kaito looked toward the ancient gate.
The enormous seal covering its center began cracking.
CRACK.
He smiled.
Kaito Jin:
"Ten years…"
Another crack appeared.
CRACK!
Kaito Jin:
"Ten years since the last time this happened."
The entire gate shook.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The ancient gate finally opened.
A gigantic black claw emerged from the darkness beyond it.
Then another.
The enormous head of a Black Dragon emerged from the other side.
Its size was beyond anything the people below had imagined.
Buildings looked tiny beside it.
The creature slowly forced its way through the ancient gate.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!
The shockwave swept across Shanghai.
People fled.
Buildings shook.
Debris fell through the streets.
Fire spread across the ruined battlefield.
Kaito remained standing above everything.
Then he rose into the air.
Black energy surrounded him.
He looked down at the chaos.
Kaito Jin:
"Now…"
His voice became cold.
Kaito Jin:
"Do you understand what pain feels like?"
He spread his arms.
Kaito Jin:
"Know pain."
The Black Dragon roared behind him.
Kaito Jin:
"Accept pain."
He looked toward the ruined city.
Kaito Jin:
"This world doesn't work the way you think it does."
His voice echoed through the battlefield.
Kaito Jin:
"Whether it's power, success, or anything else…"
He closed his eyes.
Kaito Jin:
"Until people see you endure hardship, they will never understand what it took for you to reach the top."
He opened his eyes.
Kaito Jin:
"And that's why I am here."
Then—
a presence appeared behind him.
Kaito's eyes widened.
He turned.
Too late.
The Alien Queen was standing directly behind him.
Her expression was completely different from before.
Cold.
Calculating.
Kaito looked at her.
Kaito Jin:
"…My lady?"
The Alien Queen stared at him.
Alien Queen:
"You trusted me."
Kaito's expression hardened.
Kaito Jin:
"What are you doing?"
The Queen's aura exploded.
Alien Queen:
"Exactly what I planned to do from the beginning."
Her power surged toward Kaito.
Alien Queen:
"Absorb everything."
Kaito realized the truth.
Kaito Jin:
"You…"
The Queen smiled.
Alien Queen:
"I never intended to let you keep your power."
Her attack struck Kaito.
For a moment—
everything became silent.
Kaito's body lost its strength.
The Queen released him.
Kaito fell from the sky.
BOOM!
He crashed onto the ruined battlefield below.
He didn't move.
The Queen looked down.
Alien Queen:
"Sleep peacefully."
She turned toward the enormous Black Dragon.
Alien Queen:
"Your turn will come soon."
Kaito's eyes slowly closed.
From everyone's perspective—
Kaito Jin was dead.
---
The Queen's True Transformation
The Alien Queen's aura suddenly expanded.
Energy began flowing toward her.
The power she had collected from the battlefield.
The power of the fallen fighters.
The Spiritual Beast energy scattered throughout Shanghai.
And even the energy of some citizens who possessed Spiritual Beast abilities.
Everything was being drawn toward her.
Her body began transforming.
Her aura became darker.
Her presence became monstrous.
The Alien Queen had finally entered her complete Demon Form.
She looked toward the Black Dragon.
Alien Queen:
"Destroy this world."
The dragon lifted its head.
Alien Queen:
"Absorb everything."
The dragon opened its enormous jaws.
Alien Queen:
"And give all that power to me."
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!
The sound shook the entire city.
---
The Five Guardians
On the ground—
Leo, Chen Wei, Lily, Yuna, and the others finally reached a relatively safe area.
Renge was severely exhausted and was immediately taken toward the medical barrier.
A medical team arrived.
And leading them—
was Chen Wei's mother.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"Move! Get Renge inside the barrier!"
The medical team surrounded him.
A protective barrier formed around the surviving heroes.
Renge slowly opened his eyes.
He looked toward the sky.
The enormous dragon.
The transformed Alien Queen.
The ruined Shanghai skyline.
Everything looked impossibly huge.
Then—
someone appeared behind the Alien Queen.
It was the Weapon Master's Guardian.
She stood silently.
Weapon Master's Guardian:
"What is my order?"
The Alien Queen didn't even turn around.
She simply said—
Alien Queen:
"Awaken."
The Guardian's eyes opened.
A tremendous aura erupted.
Then—
Raika.
Her awakened form appeared, surrounded by overwhelming elemental energy.
Sahara.
A massive storm-like aura gathered around her.
Mizuna.
Water energy surged around her gigantic awakened form.
And the remaining Guardian arrived beside them.
The five Guardians stood together.
Their original clothing had transformed into battle attire reflecting their individual abilities and elements.
Nothing about their appearance resembled the reference image's outfits anymore.
They were no longer simply Guardians.
They had awakened into something far greater.
The battlefield trembled.
The Black Dragon turned its enormous head toward them.
The Alien Queen smiled.
Far below—
Leo, Chen Wei, Lily, and Yuna looked incredibly small compared with the colossal beings standing above them.
Renge slowly raised his head.
He stared.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then—
Renge:
"Damn…"
Lily looked at him.
Lily:
"What?"
Renge continued staring upward.
Renge:
"Too big."
Chen Wei looked up.
His expression became serious.
Chen Wei:
"…Yeah."
The camera pulled farther and farther away.
Shanghai was barely recognizable anymore.
Buildings were destroyed.
Fire covered sections of the city.
Rain fell across the battlefield.
The ancient gate stood in the distance.
The Black Dragon towered over everything.
The Alien Queen stood upon its back.
And the five awakened Guardians stood behind her.
Meanwhile—
somewhere beneath the ruins—
Kaito Jin remained motionless.
The world believed he was dead.
And the battle had only just begun.
TO BE CONTINUED…
---
Author's Note
Guys…
I am completely exhausted after writing this chapter. 😭
This battle has taken so much out of my brain because I've been trying to put so many things into it at once.
We're already at 98K views on the story!
So let's push this thing toward 1 MILLION views! 🔥
Don't forget to comment and leave a review if you're enjoying the story.
And yes…
I'm currently writing this on my old Oppo A3.
My newer Samsung phone broke because my brother's son broke it. 😂
But it's okay.
Kids are innocent, right?
Although people say:
"Children are the form of God."
For me?
That kid was looking more like the Demon King that day. 💀😂
Anyway, I'm heading out.
Enjoy all the new chapters I've dropped.
Keep reading, keep commenting, and I'll see you in the next chapter!