Previously on Hakuna, the prince got knocked out, the school is overrun with demons as the 40 Days of Corruption has reached its terrifying climax. But worry not, for reinforcements are on their way. How will the remaining Executive Committee (EXCOs) and the returning BBC deal with the Philosopher's sudden tyranny and his immense power?
Fade in…
Duel: Fury vs Amusement
Vanessa, the Head Girl, was seen locked in a brutal, blindingly fast battle with the demonified Rems.
From a distance across the cracked earth of the sports field, electric sparks could be seen flying in rapid succession, audible as the sharp, metallic CLANG! as Rems' stolen spiritual blade hit Vanessa's genuine ancestral sword, over and over in quick, dizzying succession.
The battle was intense, demanding every ounce of Vanessa's refined skill and endurance. Vanessa, showing unwavering determination fueled by her pure, righteous rage, continued the relentless assault. She refused to yield ground, her spiritual energy burning with incandescent fury.
But Rems, on the other hand, was not fighting with focus or malice; he was actively, visibly enjoying this terrifying new state of being.
He then thought to himself, the dark, corruptive power surging through his veins filling him with an addictive, false sense of superiority. "This power, this exhilarating speed, this overwhelming strength! I'm faster than I ever thought I could be, even before my transformation! This must be how the Prince feels when wielding the power of that demon, Psycha... ha-ha, this is beyond mortal power! I am omnipotent!"
Rems, momentarily distracted by his internal monologue of newfound godhood and glee, was slightly too slow on his block. Vanessa, capitalizing on the minuscule gap, utilized a swift, complex movement of her ancestral blade. The sword cut deep, severing one of Rems' corrupted arms clean off at the elbow, the dark, noxious spiritual energy sputtering from the wound. "Gyeaah!" he cried out, the pain a sharp surprise.
Vanessa spoke, her voice flat, devoid of emotion, yet dripping with menace. "Pay attention to the blade, Moremi. You forget where you are. Pay attention, or your head will be next to roll onto the field."
Rems then scoffed, allowing his severed limb to regenerate with unsettling speed, the dark energy knitting flesh and bone back together. "Women, always so contradictory, aren't they? Didn't you just moments ago swear an oath to your clan that you were going to kill me in the name of justice?"
Vanessa replied, maintaining her deadly, surgical focus. "There is no honour in killing an enemy who is not present in mind. You, are distracted by your borrowed toys and your own inflated ego."
Rems then rolled his eyes, the casual action strangely disturbing in his monstrous form. "Ugh! Whatever, Head Girl. Don't bore me with your warrior codes."
Vanessa then thought to herself, studying his behavior with clinical detachment, despite her inner turmoil. "He seems to be entirely consumed and controlled by his demonification. The dark influence has warped his moral center, stripping him of all his self-control and human restraint in the process. He is lost."
Their incredibly fast, high-energy fight continued, the clash of their swords becoming the rhythm of the accelerating battle across the campus.
Meanwhile…
Steven, The Philosopher, was walking deliberately towards the battered, unconscious form of Hakuna, taking his sweet time for some reason. The pace was slow, arrogant, savoring the unfolding chaos.
He then spoke, his voice carrying clearly across the battlefield, though he seemed to be speaking to the shattered environment and the omnipresent dark energy itself. "Ahh, is it not beautiful?"
Hakuna was still seemingly unconscious within the rubble of the pavilion stands.
Steven continued his monologue, his voice rising in self-congratulatory fervor. "I singlehandedly evoked the greatest 40 Days of Corruption there could ever be! I am the architect! I am ushering the world into a new, honest order of chaos, and I, at the very peak of this catastrophe, will rightfully sit on the shattered throne as its god, its supreme tyrant."
Suddenly, the shattered remnants of the pavilion stands were rocked by a massive, uncontrolled explosion of heat and light.
Hakuna roared, the sound rough and primal, "HAAAAAAA!"
With a loud boom, the rubble was violently dispersed as Hakuna flared his internal spiritual energy, utilizing a supreme convergence of his life force to set himself free from the debris and the physical constraints of his injuries.
Steven then said, stopping his slow walk, his face lighting up with genuine excitement. "Ahh, you're awake, Prince Hakuna! Wonderful! I was starting to get terribly bored playing with the Head Girl and her subordinate. Your fight holds more value."
Is that even possible? How could he be bored at the climax of his plan?
Hakuna, his body damaged but his spirit alight with pure fury, then declared, his voice low and guttural. "I'm gonna kill you, Steven. I will personally end this tyranny."
Steven replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Be my guest, Prince. Try your best."
Hakuna then roared, channeling every ounce of his remaining energy. "HeerRRAAAA!"
With his fists covered in brilliant, explosive flames, Hakuna began his desperate, furious attack, launching a terrifying barrage of punches and energy blasts toward The Philosopher.
Steven, effortlessly utilizing his immense new dark power, blocked and evaded the barrage of flame-covered punches coming his way, treating the assault like a mild inconvenience.
Steven then commented, watching Hakuna's movements with clinical interest. "How odd. It seems pure emotion has completely taken over your movements. You are fighting blindly, without finesse."
"What's that supposed to mean, Mokoena?!" The Prince questioned, angered and deeply insulted at being treated like an object of simple observation rather than a true threat.
Steven then said, his voice laced with patronizing pity. "It means, Prince, that despite your overwhelming fury, YOU LOOK DEFEATED."
Suddenly, a foot appeared seemingly out of nowhere, connecting with devastating force directly onto Steven's face, kicking him violently away from the Prince and sending him flying several meters.
A familiar voice, sharp and commanding, then cut through the chaos. "Shut the fuck up, Steven. No one needs your psychoanalysis."
Super had arrived, along with all the other students from the DDF/EXCO who had been training at New Vision Secondary.
Hakuna muttered, recognizing the voice and the unique, sharp energy signature. "Super?"
Super then said, rolling his shoulders and flexing his hands. "Damnit, the one time I go away for actual, meaningful study, things get interesting here at Milner. You never call me when things get fun, Prince."
Hakuna then asked, trying to catch his breath. "Where were you, Super? We could have used your power sooner!"
"I was at New Vision." Super replied flatly, his focus already on Steven.
Hakuna then asked, catching the subtle jab in his voice. "For what, studying? You sound annoyed."
Super responded, a slight edge of arrogance in his voice. "Duh. Not everyone has a personal life-force demon to do the work for them, Hakuna. Some of us rely on discipline and training."
He lends Hakuna a strong, steady hand to help him up from the ground.
Super, as he grabbed Hakuna, sensed something profoundly wrong with the Prince's spiritual energy. "Eh."
He then thought to himself, the truth immediate and jarring. "His energy core is still active, but his overall power level is significantly weaker than usual. Something fundamental has been taken from him."
Hakuna then spoke, relief evident in his voice. "Mahn am I glad you guys are here. We needed the BBC."
Bodega chimed in, looking around for one familiar face. "Where's Enzo?"
Hakuna replied, catching his breath. "He left two days ago, something about urgent 'international business' that couldn't wait."
Super then said, nodding dismissively. "Oh yeah, I remember that. Typical Enzo. Probably buying a yacht."
Suddenly, a brilliant, powerful light could be seen cutting a devastating path through the rapidly surging demon army surrounding the battlefield.
Hakuna asked, shielding his eyes from the focused beam of energy. "Is that—?"
Super interjected, a slight smile touching his lips. "It's your boy, Tamatie!"
Freddie could be seen decimating the demon army with relentless speed and precision. He was knocking out all the transformed students that stood in his way, his energy perfectly controlled and immensely powerful.
Hakuna then said, observing his friend with astonishment. "He's gotten so much stronger. That's not the same Freddie!"
Bodega replied, pride evident in his voice. "Yeah. Somehow, he felt worse than all of us for not being strong enough to properly help you in your time of need. So, he disciplined himself. He trained himself, getting extra, brutal sessions with Master Mokoto. Now, he's closer to your full strength than you think."
Hakuna then said, realizing the immediate danger this lack of knowledge presented. "About that—"
Super cut in, confirming his earlier suspicion. "I figured."
Hakuna muttered, confused by Super's sudden insight. "Huh?"
Super then said, his eyes scanning Steven's retreating form. "I can tell you're not as strong as you usually are. Your internal energy feels incomplete. That has something to do with… all this chaos… right?"
Hakuna then explained quickly, trying to summarize the bizarre, mystical power struggle. "Yeah. Steven has something called Lilith's Rib. He used it to strip some of my power away."
Bodega queried, still confused by the supernatural logistics. "How did he manage to steal energy from an entity inside you?"
Hakuna replied, leaning on Super for support. "By putting my demon, Psycha, in a spiritual stasis."
Suddenly, Steven appeared, utilizing the dark power for a burst of speed, attempting to catch Super off guard by punching him, but Super had already anticipated the move, blocking the attack with a sharp elbow to his forearm.
Steven then snarled, recognizing the massive threat. "Super."
Super then said in response, his face utterly calm despite the aggression. "Lifa Mokoena. Honestly, I'm not surprised you're the 'Philosopher.' You've always had a flair for the dramatic and a clear candidate for a psych ward."
Steven then said, radiating his corruptive energy. "Chaos is the world's true, honest form, Super. I am simply guiding it to its rightful place—uaaghh!"
Super had delivered a sharp, unexpected punch to Steven's exposed jaw, cutting off his philosophical statement mid-sentence.
He then said, adjusting his stance. "Seriously, Mokoena. Stop talking and start fighting."
He flared his powerful, controlled life force dramatically, preparing to engage.
Hakuna then warned him, recognizing the immense, unique danger Steven posed. "He's a vessel now, Super. The dark energy is controlling him. Can you truly take him on?"
Super, genuinely appalled by the Prince's warning, reacted with disbelief and offense. "Eh—? What are you, an idiot? Questioning my ability?"
Hakuna then muttered, slightly annoyed by the retort. "Heh—?"
Super then said, his confidence immense. "Nahh. You know what? Just watch the Master at work."
As he walked towards Steven, Super bumped his fists together twice, causing slight, contained kinetic shockwaves to ripple through the air. He then performed a sharp, powerful pump of his arms, settling his shoulders and focusing his energy in preparation of the coming bout.
Steven then commented, watching Super's immense convergence of spiritual power. "Your confidence is quite suffocating, Super. It will be your downfall."
Super replied, taking a final step, his voice radiating power. "Yeah, that's how it is sometimes. Deal with it."
As he said this, his energy flared up even more, covering him in a brilliant, intensely focused light.
The fight begins…
Meanwhile…
Vanessa's battle with Rems was still going on, their constant, high-speed clashing finally forcing them to briefly separate to catch their breath.
Vanessa thought to herself, recognizing the shift in the battlefield's energy signatures. "Hmm? Seems like the reinforcements are here. That surge of disciplined power must be Super and Freddie. That means…"
She dramatically raised her internal power, concentrating her life force for a final, decisive strike.
As she then said, her voice filled with newfound urgency. "I can finish this quickly now. The distractions are handled."
Rems then scoffed, wiping the dark energy from his regenerating arm. "Heh. You're dreaming, Mbatha."
Suddenly, Rems utilized a terrifying burst of speed, slashing Vanessa with his corrupted sword across her body.
Vanessa jolted in intense pain, the dark, corrosive energy of the blade cutting deep. "Uaagh—!"
She then thought to herself, her consciousness fading as she fell. "Lifa, what changed you? How could you have done this? Were you always like this, behind that kind smile, was there always a corrupt demon lurking, waiting to strike? Throughout my entire life in Milner, through all the doubt I placed upon myself and my abilities, there was one thing I never, ever doubted: that through it all, you were my loyal, true best friend."
As she finished this desperate, heartbroken internal thought, she fell to the ground, her strength giving way to the pain and dark energy.
Rems then said, sheathing the sword he carried with arrogant ease, believing the threat was over. "Well, that was easy. So much for being Head Girl. Your spiritual affinity wasn't enough."
As he put away the stolen sword.
Sibusiso made his appearance. Utilizing a blinding burst of speed, he arrived instantly, punching the ground near Rems with a deafening noise, narrowly missing Rems' face.
Sibusiso slowly turned, his face stern and unforgiving, his eyes burning with intense spiritual focus. He spoke with the cold, official tone of a judge. "Olebogeng Moremi. You are officially charged with assaulting an Executive Committee member in the line of duty. For your crimes, I'll be personally crushing your skull."
Rems, stunned by the unexpected speed and immense power of the attack, thought to himself. "When did he get here?! That speed! Ah—?"
Rems looked back at the spot where Vanessa had fallen. She had vanished.
Rems then thought, panic creeping into his voice. "Where's the Head Girl?! Did she move herself?!"
Sibusiso, almost as if he could hear Rems' frantic thoughts, spoke, confirming his fear. "Don't worry about the collateral damage, Moremi. She's been taken to a safe place for healing. I am your opponent now. Prepare yourself."
Rems then thought, realizing he was trapped and facing a potentially superior opponent. "Shit!! This wasn't part of the plan!"
Meanwhile…
Super's fierce fight with Steven was now fully underway.
Their clashes were thunderous, each blow causing ground-shaking tremors across the sports field.
Their display of raw power was overwhelming, the pure Nzilo of Super's controlled spiritual energy battling the chaotic darkness of Steven's absorbed dark Daemonium.
But as the battle raged on, it became clear that Super was slowly but surely gaining the upper hand, his precision and control overriding Steven's brute strength.
Steven then questioned, his voice strained by the relentless assault. "How are you this strong?! I should be invincible!"
Super replied, blocking a desperate swing from Steven with minimal effort. "Most of the attention has been on Hakuna for the last few arcs, hasn't it? That gave all of us a crucial chance to hone our true skills in the background. In the BBC, as much as people may speculate, there is no permanent Leader. We are all equal in power, and we all trained relentlessly."
As he said this, he landed a devastating, perfectly placed blow to Steven's abdomen.
Steven jolted, the impact shaking his core. "Uaaargh!"
This punch sent Steven stumbling backward a few meters, forcing him to create distance.
Super, walking towards Steven slowly, his massive, controlled aura displaying a menacing, undeniable superiority.
He then said, his voice ringing with confidence. "You thought taking his powers would weaken the structure of the BBC? You thought we relied solely on him?"
His spiritual energy flared higher than before, creating waves of light that purified the air around them.
Steven then grunted in frustration, his plan failing. "Grrrr! You are an obstacle!"
He raised his arm, pointing it towards Super.
Demons immediately appeared from the ground, utilizing their dark energy to attempt to hinder Super's movements by tackling him in a wave, but they were too slow and too weak.
Super then said, his eyes not even acknowledging the minions. "Pathetic."
With a simple, dismissive burst of his internal energy, Super reduced the attacking demons to piles of smoking ashes.
He then continued to walk, commenting, his voice laced with disdain. "Calling your pathetic minions I see, Steven. Have you already run out of true strength?"
Steven then snarled, his anger giving way to blind rage. "You bastard! I will destroy you!"
Hakuna then thought to himself, observing the entire field with immense pride and realization. "He's gotten stronger too. It's not just him and Freddie. Bodega as well, and MXO. Even Rems is stronger now, despite the demonization, which is frightening."
MXO was seen fighting three highly powerful demons at once, his movements fluid and efficient.
Rems was seen keeping up with Sibusiso's immense, controlled attacks, a testament to his new, dark power.
Hakuna, prideful, couldn't help but smile through his pain and exhaustion.
He then thought, "I'm proud of you guys. You didn't need me after all."
Super had reached Steven, the true fight continuing with renewed, earth-shattering intensity.
…At the Hostel…
Vanessa was seen being rushed into the temporary infirmary by Mihlali, Naledi, Sureina, and Joy, her corrupted wound actively suppressing her healing.
Naledi yelled, frantically searching for aid. "She needs immediate help! The dark energy is spreading!"
Mihlali also shouted, supporting the unconscious Head Girl. "Her injuries are terrible, they won't close! Is there anyone who can heal her spiritual core?!"
Joy chimed in, pointing to a familiar figure in the distance. "Yes, there is."
Nokukhanya appeared, approaching the injured group. "I can heal her. Clear the area."
They looked towards her, trusting her unique, healing power.
…At the field…
Super seemed to be giving Steven quite the decisive beating.
Steven was seen to have been desperately blocking and deflecting some attacks, but several blows were landing, and the impact was devastating. The dark power only provided brute strength, not Super's finesse.
Super's punches could be felt from afar, shaking the very foundation of the school.
Steven thought, his panic rising. "I may have profoundly miscalculated this opponent. His kinetic force is too stable. I have to get some distance and reset—ah?"
Super finished his current attack with a powerful, perfectly timed roundhouse kick, connecting with Steven's side and sending The Philosopher flying violently toward the short brick wall nearby.
Steven muttered under his breath, wiping a stream of blood from his nose. "Damnit! He is too strong in close combat!"
He raised his arm, pointing it towards Super again, focusing his dark spiritual energy for a mass summoning.
But this time, an almost infinite number of demons appeared, a vast horde that rose instantly from the ground. They surged forward and whisked Super far away from Steven, tackling him with sheer mass and momentum.
Steven quickly stood and fixed his torn outfit, wiping the blood from his lip with a casual, cruel gesture. He then walked towards a now rested, but still injured, Hakuna.
He then cleared his throat, enjoying the dramatic moment. "Ehem. With that brief annoyance out of the way, shall we continue our fated duel, Prince Hakuna?"
Hakuna then grunted, channeling his desperate fury. "Grrr. Your pathetic arrogance ends now, Steven."
His eyes glowed light brown with pure, volatile Nzilo.
As he then declared, his voice low and firm. "You're dead."
Steven then taunted, adopting a fighting stance. "Come on then, Prince. Make good on that empty threat."
Hakuna vanished in a burst of speed.
He then appeared instantly in front of Steven, about to land a devastating, flame-covered blow.
But Steven, having learned from Super's attack, quickly sent the Prince flying with a punch to the face, utilizing the pure dark energy he now commanded.
He then said, looking down at the Prince. "Perhaps the message is not clear enough. Perhaps, I need a more drastic, devastating approach to display my inevitability and the absolute power of chaos."
As he said this, he slowly levitated into the air above the sports field.
Hakuna thought to himself, watching the sudden, terrifying change in tactics. "What is he doing?!"
Steven then raised his right arm toward the stormy sky.
He then said, his voice echoing across the entire school campus. "Now bear witness to the true beauty of absolute Chaos!"
As he said this, his power level could be felt rapidly increasing as he called upon the immense, corruptive energy of his vessel demon.
"Khakunem!"
Suddenly, a massive, meteor-sized ball of swirling, destructive energy, radiating pure dark matter and chaos, appeared above Steven's hand, rapidly converging and growing in size.
Hakuna yelled, terrified by the scale of the destruction. "What the?! He's going to destroy the campus!"
Steven then said, the demonic vessel smiling. "Say goodbye, Hakuna Ntlamele, to your precious Milner. And say goodbye to your ordered world."
He then sent the massive ball of destructive energy screaming towards Hakuna and the remaining students on the ground.
Hakuna then shouted, channeling his last desperate burst of power. "DAAMNIIIT!"
Fade out…
End of Episode 60