"Business to handle? I'm more than just business… I am the end of all beginnings," Typhon's voice boomed, heavy and dark, rolling across the broken sky like thunder.
Kentarō tilted his head, squinting. "End of all beginnings? That sounds… really, really stupid."
Katsu snorted, slapping Kentarō's back. "Yeah, but you're more stupid."
Kentarō stared at him with the most expressionless face imaginable. "So my jokes are stupid, but-"
"-yeah, you're more stupid," Katsu repeated, grinning.
The others laughed, but it was hollow. Forced. They all knew what was standing in front of them wasn't something to laugh about.
Typhon's lips curved into a grin. "Laugh while you can."
The sky answered his words, black clouds churning, lightning snaking through the heavens as if the world itself was afraid.
Isocrates stepped forward, calm despite the storm tearing around him. His armor glimmered faintly with fading light. "You've caused enough destruction," he said. "This storm ends here, Typhon."
Typhon's laughter echoed, cruel and deep. "You? You're from a dead age. A relic holding onto hollow ideals."
With that, he lifted his arm, and the world split. Lightning struck like mountains crashing into each other. The earth trembled beneath their feet.
Isocrates charged forward, his fist glowing with raw energy, clashing head-on with the storm god. Each blow tore apart the wind itself. Craters formed under their steps. Every clash was a clash of generations, the old guard versus the unstoppable.
But it didn't last.
With every punch, every deflected strike, the light pulsing through Isocrates's veins began to flicker, like a candle struggling in the rain.
Shichiro clenched his teeth. "He's pushing too far…"Ryosen whispered, "No… he's breaking it."
Typhon towered over the exhausted hero, raising his hand high. The lightning condensed into a single spear, radiant and fatal. "Goodbye, Hero of Strength."
Isocrates smiled softly, blood dripping from his mouth. "Not strength…"He looked back toward the team, Katsu, Shichiro, Kentarō, all frozen in fear and awe."…Hope."
A surge of light erupted from his chest. His Heart, the Heart of Strength, glowed pure white, brighter than any lightning.
Typhon's smirk faltered. "What are you-"
The glow consumed everything. The ground, the clouds, even the storm itself screamed as light tore through it. And then… silence.
When the light faded, Typhon was gone, scattered by the blast. The skies cleared. The storm that had raged for days simply vanished.
Isocrates knelt on one knee, breathing heavily. The spot where his Heart once was, only burned ash and faint embers remained.
Shichiro rushed forward. "Hey, hey! Stay with us!"
Isocrates smiled faintly. "I made sure… he can't use it. He can't give it back to him…"His words trembled. "Tell them… to never stop. Even if strength dies… hearts will never fade."
The glow in his eyes dimmed. His body began to dissolve into golden dust, scattering into the wind like the last breath of a dying storm.
The group stood in silence as the final traces of Isocrates faded away. No one spoke. No one moved.
And for the first time, Katsu looked at the horizon, and felt small.
Because even a legend couldn't win against what was coming next.