Snow exploded beneath Ryo's feet as he and Kira clashed again.
Stage 2 pulsed through Ryo's veins — controlled, sharp, efficient. No flashy aura. No visible force. Just impact.
Kira slid back across the frozen ground, boots carving lines in the snow. His breath came out in white bursts.
This guy… Kira thought, narrowing his eyes. He doesn't look like he has powers. But I can see his damik. So why can't I see or sense his attacks?
Every strike came without warning.
No build-up.
No energy signature.
Just pain.
"This is irritating…" Kira muttered.
Ryo suddenly vanished from his line of sight.
A second later—
GRAB.
Ryo seized Kira by the collar and yanked him forward.
BOOM.
His fist slammed into Kira's jaw, sending him flying across the snowy woods. Trees cracked as Kira's body tore through them before skidding violently across the ice.
Ryo stood still, breathing heavier now.
Inside his mind, his damik spoke calmly.
"Kid… you're at your limit. If you want to live, you need to retreat."
Ryo wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
"No," he whispered.
His fists clenched.
"I can't. I want those slaves to be free."
The snow shifted.
Kira burst forward from the trees and spun into a kick aimed straight at Ryo's head.
Ryo ducked just in time — the kick slicing through the air above him.
Kira landed and growled, "Why do you even care? Huh?! Why do you want them free so bad?!"
Ryo's eyes darkened.
"I know what it's like… to be used."
For a split second, something changed in the air.
Ryo's damik chuckled.
"Heh… this is getting interesting. Alright, kid. I'll give you a little more power."
The ground trembled.
A deep pressure exploded outward.
Stage 3.
The snow around Ryo lifted into the air. Trees bent inward. Even the frozen water beneath the ground cracked and rose in spirals.
Kira dropped to one knee instantly.
"What… is this…?!" he gasped.
Everything useful — trees, snow, broken branches, frozen water — began pulling toward Ryo's clenched fist like the world itself was being dragged into it.
The air distorted.
The forest screamed.
Ryo stepped forward.
Then he vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Kira — fist drawn back.
"FOR THEM!"
He threw the punch.
At the last possible second—
Kira disappeared.
Ryo's fist smashed into the earth.
The impact erased the ground.
Snow, trees, and frozen soil detonated into the sky. A massive crater swallowed everything where Kira had stood.
Silence followed.
Ryo slowly turned.
Standing atop a distant snowbank was the masked figure… Kira draped over his shoulder, barely conscious.
The masked figure stared at Ryo through hollow eye slits.
No emotion.
No fear.
Just observation.
Ryo tried to move—
But Stage 3 began tearing at his body.
The masked figure tilted his head slightly… almost impressed.
Then—
They vanished.
Gone.
The snow settled.
The forest was ruined.
Ryo stood alone in the crater, trembling.
Stage 3 faded.
His knees buckled.
And he collapsed into the snow.