Inside the lab, veylor and karl watched a large monitor. The screen didn't show a camera feed, but rather the view through the very eyes of the Kaiju itself. What unfolded was the attack at the royal celebration—on display were Lothar, Light, and Hikari, standing against the Kaiju.
---
Outside, the three young hybrids stood frozen, their eyes wide at the creature before them.
Light muttered, his voice tight.
"He… he spoke?"
Hikari narrowed her gaze, unease running through her.
"Yeah… he's different."
---
Back inside the hall, Zuko turned urgently to the king.
"Your Majesty, we must evacuate the area before the citizens are harmed."
The king nodded firmly.
"Yes. Summon the rescue teams as well. Zuko, you'll come with me."
---
The focus shifted back to the battlefield.
The Kaiju's hollow gaze fixed squarely on Hikari.
"Draekor Hikari… let me be clear. I don't care about anyone else here. My target is only you. The explosion earlier—it was simply bait to draw you outside. If you obey me, no more lives need to be lost. But if you refuse… then I'll fight."
Light growled, stepping forward.
"Who the hell are you? What's your motive? And how can you even speak?"
The Kaiju tilted its head, unbothered.
"Light… I've seen your picture with Lothar and Hikari, but your name isn't on the list. As for my motive—I already told you. I only want Hikari."
Light's fists clenched.
"Like we'd ever let you do whatever you want!"
The Kaiju's eyes sharpened.
"I have no business with you, Light. You're weak."
"You bastard—!" Light snarled, ready to charge, but Lothar's voice cut through, cold and steady.
"We don't have business with you either. But His Majesty gave us an order—no destruction. If you try anything, I won't show you mercy."
---
The Kaiju's tone dropped, low and ominous.
"Then there's no point in talking anymore."
In a blink, it vanished.
Only Hikari's eyes tracked the movement.
"He's fast!" she shouted.
The Kaiju reappeared before Lothar, slamming a hand over his face and hurling him across the ground.
Hikari instantly drew her twin blades, rushing forward. She swung hard, but before the strike could land, the Kaiju seized Light, dragging him into its grip and holding him as a shield.
"You Draekor… you're faster than these two," it mocked, its voice dripping with contempt.
Hikari froze, blades halted midair—she couldn't risk cutting Light.
Gritting his teeth, Light twisted and tried to punch the Kaiju, but the creature slipped aside with unnatural speed.
"You're predictable, Light," it sneered. "Your movements are easy to read."
A sudden blow sent Light crashing backward.
Hikari lunged again, swords flashing. But the Kaiju's arm twisted grotesquely, morphing into a blade-like weapon that parried her strikes with brutal precision.
At that moment, Lothar came charging back, his fist blazing with Voltra. He drove it straight into the Kaiju's chest, the impact hurling the monster across the ground.
The Kaiju slowly rose, voice steady but weighted with menace.
"I may be stronger than each of you alone… but against the three of you together, this will be… troublesome."