The chapter begins in a strange area, something more like a junkyard.
And this is actually a scene from the past, showing our current Special Executives.
The four of them were sitting quietly, almost like school students, while a huge man stood in front of them. His face couldn't be seen because direct sunlight was falling across it.
The man says, "Listen, you four. As long as I'm here, you don't need to worry about anything. But the day I'm gone, all you need to remember is this—never lose to anyone! Always give your best, no matter what situation you're in."
Draken—who was actually the squad leader—thinks, Our master... I've never seen a man stronger than him. Not once have I seen him struggle against anyone. I don't think anything could possibly happen to us as long as he's around.
But... one day, he left us behind. And in this dark world, we never found him again.
We assumed he would never come back.
But that day, when we were completely overwhelmed by Fang, we felt that exact same power again—the same power our master possessed.
Volume 2nd [ The truth they buried ]
Chapter No.21 - Outcome or Just a beginning - begins...!
Back to the present.
All four Executives suddenly become consumed by rage as they remember those words—
"Never lose to anyone."
Even Raven, despite having only one arm, begins throwing attacks at Kye, while Blade starts unleashing a barrage of strikes from behind.
It seemed as if their power had increased even further.
But Kye...!
He doesn't say a word.
Even Hollow is shocked.
This man... he's beyond my understanding.
And just then, Draken and Needle also begin unleashing their final attacks with everything they have.
Kye and Raven, along with Blade, were constantly exchanging blows. The entire area around them had been almost completely destroyed.
Suddenly, Kye's movements became strange. His speed had increased to an absurd level—he had already broken past the sound barrier.
Raven and Blade's eyes could no longer properly comprehend what they were seeing. Kye's movements were literally appearing to them as after-images.
Narrator: For humans, a speed of around 300 km/h can be enough to create after-images for another human. But in this situation, Raven and Blade are also superhumanly fast. That's why, the moment Kye's speed surpasses the sound barrier, even they begin seeing after-images of his movements.
Before either of them could properly react, Kye appeared right in front of Blade's face.
Blade reacted—but...!
Broken!
Within just a few microseconds, Kye moved from directly in front of him to behind him and delivered a devastating kick.
The impact was so powerful that Blade's backbone broke.
Raven's rage intensified the moment she saw it, and she began spamming her chain attacks at Kye.
But Kye was dodging every single one of them with ease.
Meanwhile, Draken—who was still fighting Hollow—noticed everything from a distance.
Blade and Raven were struggling.
Draken charged at Hollow without wasting any time. He threw several punches at him before suddenly launching a kick that Hollow hadn't expected.
Hollow was sent flying backward and crashed to the ground, but he quickly got back on his feet.
However, in that brief moment, Draken had already moved toward Kye.
From behind, he launched his Hammer Punch at Kye, driving him straight into the ground.
Hollow shouted, "Kye!"
He thinks: I'm sorry... Because of me, you got hit from behind.
But before he could think anything, Needle unleashed a barrage of attacks upon Hollow.
Yet everyone was stunned when—
Kye suddenly reached out and grabbed Draken directly by the throat.
He lifted him off the ground.
Draken's body was built like a tank, yet Kye lifted him effortlessly.
And then—
Blast!
With a single punch, Kye blew apart the entire area around them.
Finally, Draken went unconscious.
Seeing this, the remaining Executives immediately began losing their motivation.
But Kye didn't even give them time to process what had happened.
Before they could even react—
Kye kicked Raven with such force that her internal organs were violently shaken.
She was sent flying and crashed straight into the ground, completely stunned.
But Kye wasn't satisfied.
He dashed forward at full speed and delivered a full-force kick directly to Raven's neck.
Needle's eyes widened in absolute shock.
What Kye had just done was monstrous.
He had separated Raven's head from her body.
And now...
Kye was staring directly at Blade.
Blade charged toward Kye from the air, but surprisingly, Kye stopped his katana with his bare hands.
And finally, Kye spoke.
Kye: "Do you have a death wish?"
But Blade used his final survival attack—his second katana—and drove it straight through Kye's chest!!
Blade smiled.
Even Needle, watching from a distance, finally let out a relieved breath.
But...
Kye's expression remained exactly the same.
Blade: "How...? You're actually human, aren't you? How is this possible? Just moments ago, you were so weak, but now... how can you suddenly take all of us down by yourself...?"
Splash!
A drop of blood fell onto the ground.
Kye had driven the katana he was holding straight through Blade's face.
And with that, Blade was permanently finished.
Needle immediately charged toward Hollow.
He thinks: At least I can kill this bastard traitor before I die.
But Kye wasn't going to allow that.
Kye: "Needle? I was behind you. Where exactly do you think you're going?"
For perhaps the third time in his entire life, Needle felt completely helpless and terrified in front of someone else's power.
Kye didn't waste a second.
He grabbed Needle by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
Needle thinks: Master...! Plea...se stay awa—
And with that, Needle died as Kye choked him.
Kye turned toward Hollow.
He grabbed him by the throat as well and lifted him into the air.
Kye: "I don't need you either. Understand?"
Sweat began pouring down Hollow's face.
But suddenly—
Kye collapsed unconscious.
The blood loss had finally caught up with him.
Aftermath
The scene shifts.
We see Hollow and Kye lying at Saito and Elena's base.
Kye's eyes slowly begin to open. He immediately looks at his condition and is shocked.
Kye: "How did I even get here? And... is the fight over?"
Elena interrupts him before he can say anything else.
Elena: "Let me tell you. You've been asleep for almost twelve to thirteen hours. And as for how you got here, Hollow called us. We went there and brought both you and him back. His condition wasn't good either."
Kye feels slightly relieved after hearing that.
Kye: "Oh... so that's what happened."
Saito speaks up.
Saito: "According to everything Hollow told us, you defeated all of them, right? I mean... you killed them. The police are currently investigating the area. Luckily, we arrived at the right time and got both of you out of there. Otherwise, things could have become really difficult for us."
We see the area where the massive battle took place.
The open field barely looks like a field anymore.
It looks more like a graveyard.
Everything has been destroyed. Trees have been broken or burned down, even parts of the surrounding forest have been devastated. Massive holes cover the ground, and the entire atmosphere of the place feels ruined.
After some time, the police arrive at the location and begin their investigation.
Back at the base, Elena and Saito turn on the news.
Anchor: "We have recently received reports of four dead bodies being discovered in an open field located far from the city, near the farmland area. At first glance, the victims appear to be ordinary people, but further investigation is currently underway. Once the reports are complete, we will provide more information."
Kye: "Ordinary people? What the hell are these people even talking about? The government is bought out, and these people are nothing but their puppets. Everyone is only concerned with their own interests."
Saito: "But what can we even do about it right now? Oh, and Arisa came to see you a little while ago. She was really worried about you. She said she'll come back tomorrow morning with Ren and Luca."
Kye suddenly asks:
Kye: "How's Hollow doing now? Is he alright? He suffered some pretty serious injuries during the fight too. And... thanks to him, I'm alive today. He distracted them at exactly the right moment."
We arrive at Hollow's perspective—the exact moment Kye loses consciousness.
Hollow immediately calls Elena and tells her almost everything.
Except for one thing.
He doesn't tell them how Kye killed the four Special Executives, nor does he tell them what Kye did to Hollow himself.
Hollow thinks: "I don't think it's a good idea to tell them about Kye's current state. It could destroy the mutual understanding between us. I'm not going to tell them for now."
Before ending the call, Hollow says:
Hollow: "Listen, I don't think I'll be able to carry Kye all the way there. I don't think I can stay conscious for much longer either, so please... get here quickly before something goes wrong."
Back to the present!
Hollow is awake now as well.
Elena brings him something to eat.
Kye keeps staring at Hollow, but he doesn't say anything.
It's almost as if something happened between the two of them.
The scene shifts toward—
Fang's base.
Null: "So, how did it go, Mr. Fang? One guy took down all four of them by himself, huh...?"
Fang: "Shut the hell up, you bastard. Keep your mouth shut for once. What does it matter how my people turned out? I'm still alive, aren't I? And I'm going to crush that Kye Kurasaki myself. Understand?"
Null: "Oh, really? Let's see. Just make sure it doesn't end with you getting killed too."
Null suddenly becomes slightly more serious.
Null thinks: "Hollow... I never expected you to betray me. Kye Kurasaki... just what the hell are you made of? I'm becoming more and more interested in you. I can't wait to see when we'll meet again."
His expression darkens.
"I want to tear you apart piece by piece."
Just then, a massive man enters the room.
He is almost eight feet tall, perhaps even taller.
For now, we still can't see his face.
He walks straight into the room and says:
Bansho: "Idiots. Stop your pointless nonsense and get back to work. A considerable number of people under our command have already been killed."
Fang looks at him.
Fang: "Oh? So now the Chief of the Special Executives, who's supposedly on the same rank as us, is going to start ordering us around? Who the hell do you think you are, Bansho?"
Bansho [The 3rd Special Executives Chief]: "I didn't order you around, understand? Those orders came directly from the Head Department. I don't even feel like wasting my time talking to bastards like you."
Null: "We understand, Bansho. You can leave now. And don't even think about talking shit about me, understand?"
Bansho: "Oh? And what exactly are you going to do if I don't?"
Bansho's voice is just as heavy and intimidating as his enormous body.
And finally—
We see his face.
Multiple tattoos cover parts of his face, one of his eyes is covered by an eyepatch, and several scars run across his features.
Suddenly—
ALARMS BEGIN BLARING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE AREA!
Fang looks around.
Fang: "Looks like it's time for the meeting. We'll finish our little drama later."
One by one, they all leave the room.
And with the room finally falling silent—
Chapter 21 ends.