Ikku froze for a moment when he heard those words.
It took him a few seconds to truly grasp the gravity of the situation he was in.
A Calamity…
The word echoed in his mind like a sentence already pronounced.
— A Calamity? Tenma repeated, frowning. So this guy is insanely dangerous…
— Then what do we do? Yumé asked, his voice tense.
Kenny clenched his fists, staring straight at the man standing before them.
— Our only chance is to warn King Ryu. Can you feel that prana? We don't stand a single chance.
Darius looked at them in silence. His gaze was completely emotionless, as if they were nothing more than insignificant obstacles.
— King Ryu? Darius repeated calmly. Sorry, kids… but I can't let you do that. It's better if I neutralize you now. Don't worry, I won't kill you.
He took a slow step forward.
Instinctively, they all assumed fighting stances, fully realizing the magnitude of the threat approaching them. The air grew heavy. Everything went silent.
Then a single shout shattered the stillness.
— TURBO!!
Ikku's aura erupted violently, unleashing a powerful gust of wind that forced even his allies to stagger backward.
— What are you doing, Ikku?! Kenny shouted in panic.
— Kenny! Ikku replied without hesitation. We don't have a choice! You heard him! We have to give it everything we've got right now! One of us has to warn King Ryu while the rest hold Darius off!
— I'll go, Nina said immediately.
— I'll cover you, Carla added as she unleashed her chains, which spread around her like living weapons.
— Thanks, Carla, Ikku said. Tenma, Kenny, Yumé, stay with me.
— I'm counting on you, Fenrir, Tenma said as he prepared himself.
— Yeah! Fenrir answered firmly.
Ikku didn't waste a second. He lunged straight at Darius and threw a full-powered punch.
But what happened next shocked everyone.
Darius stopped the blow… with one hand.
The impact pushed him back only a few centimeters. For him, it was effortless.
H-How did he do that? Ikku thought in disbelief. Even Kolio couldn't pull that off… Should I activate Deus Turbo? No, not yet!
Ikku leaped from rooftop to rooftop, trying to distract Darius. He attacked from behind
Too slow.
Darius countered instantly, driving a brutal elbow straight into Ikku's stomach.
The blow was devastating.
Ikku lost consciousness immediately and collapsed to the ground.
His friends stood frozen in shock.
— Ikku used his Brand… Yumé muttered.
— This guy's a monster, Kenny added.
— Nina, hurry! Tenma shouted. Go warn Ryu! Fenrir, your turn!
Nina sprinted toward the coast while Fenrir activated his powers to heal Ikku from a distance.
But Darius had vanished.
In the next instant, he reappeared right beside Nina.
— Sorry, kid, Darius said calmly. I can't let you do that.
He raised his hand to knock her out
A blade cut through the air.
Darius stepped back slightly. Tenma had intervened just in time, having managed to track his movements.
— Not bad at all, kid, Darius said with interest.
Tenma charged forward without hesitation. A fierce clash erupted between them, blades colliding at high speed.
Tenma managed to keep up… but he was slowly being overwhelmed.
His swordsmanship is even better than Master Zeno's, Tenma thought. I can't let him get past me!
— Go, Nina! Kenny shouted as he ran toward Tenma.
Nina took advantage of the opening and resumed her escape. Kenny joined the fight, followed by Yumé. Ikku, now back on his feet, forced himself into the battle as well.
But it made no difference.
No matter how many of them fought together, Darius was still in control.
He knocked out Kenny, then Yumé with ease. He tried to do the same to Ikku, but Ikku managed to block, same for Tenma.
Darius observed the two young fighters with a hint of admiration.
They're talented… he thought. Especially the one with the dual blades. His level is rising as we fight. That kid is a true prodigy.
— Ikku, Tenma said. I have to activate my Brand. We both need to be at full power if we want to hold him back.
— You're right, Ikku replied, bracing himself.
This time, Darius made the first move and rushed toward them.
Ikku stepped in front of Tenma to intercept him
But Darius slipped past both of them and appeared in front of Fenrir.
— Better take care of you first.
— Damn it! Fenrir! Tenma shouted, sprinting toward him.
Darius raised his hand to knock Fenrir out—
Carla's chains wrapped tightly around his arm.
— I won't let you! she yelled.
Darius grabbed the chain firmly.
— Level 5 Mantra… Electra.
A violent surge of electricity coursed through the chain and struck Carla directly. She collapsed to the ground, motionless.
— Carla! Ikku shouted as he charged at Darius.
Another clash erupted between them. Ikku fought desperately, but Darius always came out on top. Using the opening, he knocked Fenrir unconscious as well.
Ikku was taking more and more hits.
The finishing blow was coming—
But Tenma intervened at the last second.
— Hm? Darius said. What happened to your eyes?
Tenma didn't answer. He attacked again with renewed intensity.
This time, the fight was evenly matched.
Ikku dropped to one knee, watching in disbelief.
Tenma… his strength keeps growing. It's like his potential has no limit.
The exchanges intensified. Darius attempted a vertical slash, but Tenma pivoted, dodged, and struck Darius's wrist with his elbow.
The sword fell.
Tenma moved in for a counterattack—
But Darius mirrored his move, striking both of Tenma's wrists in quick succession.
Tenma dropped his weapon as well.
Now it was pure hand-to-hand combat. Fists colliding, blow for blow.
Tenma kept pace… but his stamina was fading.
Then, in a desperate move, he grabbed Darius tightly and signaled Ikku.
— I get it! Ikku shouted. Nice one, Tenma! TURBO!
Ikku charged forward.
Darius couldn't move.
Kenny, barely conscious, tried to stand, but failed. Lying on the ground, he watched Ikku rush in.
— Nice work, guys… he muttered. That one's gonna hurt…
But what he saw next froze him in shock.
The punch landed.
But it didn't hit Darius.
It hit Tenma.
Tenma was violently slammed into the ground, his Brand deactivating instantly. The impact was brutal. He didn't lose consciousness, but his body refused to move.
— Ik… Ikku… Tenma whispered, dazed. Wh… why…?
Ikku looked down at him, his expression cold.
— There you go, he said calmly. Problem solved.