BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
With force that nearly destabilized the entire area, the two Kaidanchō dueled ferociously as Zaria and Rika held on for dear life.
"NYUGAWA!"
With a terrifying roar, Atsushi swung his maces at Omariro, who sliced through them all like paper.
〈Ōgonryū Loadout: Activated.〉
Omariro landed on Atsushi's shoulder.
"Ōgonryū-zan!"
With a powerful strike, he cleaved his right shoulder off, including the remaining arms attached to it.
"No…"
Atsushi's eyes blazed. "NOOO!"
With a powerful punch, he knocked Omariro and the girls off, sending them flying. Omariro caught the two and set them down just as Atsushi charged.
"Atsushi, stop!" Nonoka insisted.
The two resumed clashing, with Atsushi using all his energy to swing at Omariro again and again, who calmly blocked with his blade and walked backwards.
"Ōgonryū no Tate!"
Just as Atsushi kicked him, Omariro formed a golden shield and blocked the blow, sending ripples through the room.
"What incredible strength!" Kohaku realized. "You ARE indeed the one!"
Han and Rei watched from above, awe on their faces.
"Whoa," Han gasped. "Sir in his prime…now that's a man I wanna be! What awesomeness!"
Rei nearly fell over. "Ooh! Let's go down there and join him!"
"Are you CRAZY?"
On the other side, Yuzuha also watched, unable to take her eyes off the fight.
"It's…like a warrior of pure gold!"
From their cells, the other Kaidanchō also watched the fight unfold on the feed, shock on their faces.
"That old man…" Kōichi murmured.
"Yeah! Throw those hands, boys!" Gakuto cheered.
"I told you guys Mr. Nyugawa was a legend!" Kaoru interrupted. "Why does no one listen to me?"
"He really is," Mizuki agreed. "He's still highly respected for a reason."
Yuka pushed herself to her feet and watched the screen. "They're out there. And we're in here. What good are we, if we're merely fodder compared to the higher warriors?"
They watched as she slammed her fist against the bars. "Watch closely. That, is the apex."
Even outside of the dungeon, all the tournament watchers had their faces glued to the screen as Omariro and Atsushi clashed even faster than before.
"Whoa! The Legendary Kaidanchō is giving the Stone Kaidanchō problems!"
"He's always been the best! And he's back in his prime, too!"
"No way! This can't be real!"
Even Hayate and Marin watched, at a loss for words as Omariro held Atsushi's arm back with his palm.
"You think you're something?" Atsushi yelled. "Your time is done!"
"Maybe," Omariro agreed. "But yet I'm still here."
Omariro raised his arms to block as Atsushi punched him, causing him to slide. "We will see."
"Yes. We will."
Rika and Zaria watched as Omariro began to rise into the air, his body suddenly shifting.
"Jugen-Henshōsha: Tenzen no Kinryū!"
BOOM.
A massive golden dragon formed where Omariro once stood, landing on the ground with a loud thud.
Nonoka backed away. "Such power…!"
Atsushi stood firm, using the last of his strength to form one more mace. "If this is it, then let us finish this, dragon!"
The two rushed each other at the same time, and Omariro jumped onto Atsushi, slashing him with his claws before flying with him into the air and tossing him into the ground. Atsushi bashed him repeatedly in the face with his mace, but he shrugged it off.
"RAHHHH!"
With a screeching roar, Omariro's mouth opened, and Atsushi got to his feet just as a golden beam erupted from his mouth.
"Atsushi!" Nonoka shouted. "Watch out—-!"
BOOM.
The beam tore Atsushi's golem form into pieces, causing him to fall out.
"Grr…I'm not…done…yet.
With all his effort, he pushed himself up as the dragon glared at him. "Bring it, Nyugawa."
〈Time Remaining: 0:00〉
"Enough!" Kohaku ordered. "The battle has finished."
From above, she dropped down as both Omariro and Atsushi sized her up. "I expected better. Thirty minutes was not enough to finish one another off?"
"You don't command us," Atsushi declared. "Step aside, woman. Or suffer my wrath."
Kohaku effortlessly backhanded Atsushi into Nonoka's arms. "Hey! What the hell's your problem?"
"And you," Kohaku continued.
Omariro shifted from his dragon form, collapsing to one knee. "A lot of energy, spent…"
"Power is there. But you lack the killer instinct I'm looking for. Stop holding back, or you'll die here!"
Zaria and Rika immediately jumped in front of Omariro.
"Step off, hag!" Zaria demanding.
"Yeah!" Rika added. "Or you answer to us!"
"Kittens."
Zaria formed her spear. "I'll show you kitten, you ugly bitch!"
As soon as she swung it at Kohaku, the Huntress caught it with one hand, effortlessly snapping it in two. "You think you're something?"
Zaria tried to kick her, but she blocked the move, slamming both Zaria and Rika to the ground in the blink of an eye. "You're NOTHING."
Omariro grabbed her arm, but she quickly spun around him, placing a blade to his neck.
"Still, you hold back. What will you do, Nyugawa?"
She pushed it closer to his neck. "Stop hesitating, and attack me!"
Han's head suddenly began to spin, and with a rush of anger, he jumped down. "Hey, you stupid woman! Leave him and the girls alone!"
Using his cube, he fired a wire and dropped down to the floor, to the amusement of Kohaku. "Hmm? And who are you supposed to be?"
〈Yes…there you go, Han…〉
Han pushed Kohaku back with surprising force, catching her off guard. "I said STAY BACK!"
Kohaku's expression shifted to one of interest. "Well now."
"Han!" Zaria called out. "She's dangerous! Watch out!"
Han threw a haymaker, right hook, and left kick at Kohaku, who blocked them all effortlessly, but he headbutted her in the face, catching her by surprise and bloodying her nose.
"Hmm," she remarked, feeling the blood. "How amusing!"
She pulled her fist back, but Omariro caught it before she could punch Han. "Leave the boy."
Kohaku pulled out a knife and attempted to stab him, but he knocked it out of her hand with blazing speed before pushing her back.
"Heh."
She pulled out her skull, whispering a few words.
〈Destroy Them.〉
〈Rule: *Destroy* All Enemies of Kohaku.〉
The room began to shake violently, cracking apart bit by bit.
"Sir!" Rika exclaimed. "She's gonna bring this whole place down!"
Monsters suddenly spawned from the darkness, hissing and growling. Omariro kept his eyes on Kohaku, who regained her knife. "What will you do? Flee, or fight?"
Omariro formed his bow, but another chunk of rubble nearly crushed Zaria.
"Sir! I'm fully on board with your decision, but I think Rika's right!"
Omariro held up a hand. "Stay still."
With a clap of his hand, Han, Rika, and Zaria all disappeared. Kohaku looked around. "What did you do?"
"Cursed Movement."
Her knife grew bigger. "Cowardly!"
She ran towards him, but he clapped his hands once more, and he, along with Atsushi, Nonoka, Rei, and Yuzuha, all disappeared as the room further collapsed.
"NO!"
Kagetō landed next to her. "Boss. The prisoners are gone as well. What should we do?"
Kohaku tossed the skull aside, crushing it underfoot. "We hunt them down—Nyugawa, and that boy with him. Search the entire country if you have to. The entire planet. But DO not let them get away."
"Yes, Huntress. It will be so."
And with that, the entire room collapsed. But before it did, Rui emerged, secretly watching.
"Hmm. Seems I got here too late. Ahh, well. I'll have a chance at him next time. This Huntress seems…intriguing."
With a wave of his hands, he vanished.
Chiyoda, Japan—-
All of the Kaitansha landed outside of the dungeon gate, which collapsed behind them.
〈Tournament: Complete.〉
Hayate rushed over to them. "You're all back! Alive, too! Phew, thank goodness!"
Kōichi rubbed the back of his head. "Barely. You never told us there'd be some psycho huntress crashing the party."
"That was not intentional. Is she still there?"
"No clue."
"Let me check."
Hayate turned back to the feed, but mysteriously, all the hunters and their leader were gone. "She escaped! But to where?"
"Unfortunately, I feel we are soon to find out," Yuka warned.
"She's very strong!" Gakuto added. "Gave my rump a good thrashing!"
"Well, she wouldn't be so foolish as to attack Japan," Hayate assured. "Not with our Kaidanchō here. Especially you."
He turned to Omariro. "You must've aged down like, 70 years in one go!"
All of the crowd gushed over Omariro, taking pictures. Even Kaoru secretly snapped one.
"What are you doing?" Mizuki asked.
"What else? Taking a picture of the hottest guy on planet Earth!"
"Ugh."
"What? You know it's true!"
"…Send that to me, later."
Rika, Zaria, and Rei all swooned over Omariro, grabbing his arms and jumping onto him as he addressed Hayate.
"Winner. Who won?"
"Ahh, right. She never gave you your points. Let's see what the scoreboard totals…"
〈7th: Eikaidan〉
"Be serious," Kōichi scoffed.
〈6th: Kōkaidan.〉
"At least we aren't last!" Kaoru pointed out.
〈5th: Seikaidan.〉
"That score is unsatisfactory," Mizuki remarked.
〈4th: Rekkaidan.〉
"Awesome!" Gakuto blurted out. "In the top 4!"
〈3rd: Sōkaidan〉
"Hmph," Yuka muttered.
"Everything okay, Miss?" Shino asked.
"Read the situation and then answer your own question."
"Oh. Erm…"
〈2nd Place: …〉
Everyone eagerly waited for the answer.
〈Shinkaidan.〉
"Second…" Zaria gasped. "No way we're in second…"
〈1st Place: Naraku-Kaidan.〉
Nonoka, still supporting Atsushi along with Yuzuha, cracked a smile. "See, we won! We didn't even need that last win!"
She gestured to Shinkaidan. "Take that, losers!"
"But the real win eludes us," Atsushi stated. "This won't be adequate compensation, but hopefully it'll get us there."
"This means the Hibako Misutikku goes to Atsushi's Division once again!" Hayate announced. "Congratulations, Naraku-Kaidan!"
The crowd clapped while Omariro and his group watched.
"We'll hold the ceremony to gift the Misutikku tomorrow night. Please attend, everyone! And don't forget to share the news!"
Marin shot one look at Omariro before leaving with Hayate in a hurry.
"Sir," Marin whispered. "We need to get back to the task at hand."
"We will," Hayate told her. "Just give me time."
As the other Kaidanchō either left or took pictures with fans, the rest of Shinkaidan turned to Omariro, shame on their faces.
"We're so sorry, sir," Zaria apologized. "We failed you."
"We made you look weak," Rika added. "*I* made you look weak."
"We'll make it up to you, Mr. Omariro! We pinky promise!" Rei said.
Han looked at his hands. "Sir…I don't know what's happening to me. I…think I should take a break from the group."
The others stared at him while he simply sipped his tea. "Everyone back home in one hour."
"Sir, wait——!" they pleaded.
With a clap of his hands, he disappeared.
"And he left us again…" Rika moaned.
"Well, he looks super amazing, and he saved us, so he gets a pass," Zaria shrugged.
"Hmm. True."
Han shook his head. "Women."
〈Han…〉
"The hell…not again!"
〈Han…〉
Han smacked his head. "Uh. You guys, I'll catch up later."
"Where are you going?" Rei asked.
"To get some air."
As he walked off, Sōshin suddenly buzzed to life in his pocket. "Ooh! Can Sōshin come?"
"Here, Rika! Take your phone!"
He tossed Rika's phone to her. "Hi, Friend Rika!"
"Hi…Sōshin."
Zaria pointed to a nearby fast-food place. "Here. Let's go get some food, girls. We can bring Mr. Nyugawa some too."
"Sounds like a plan."
The girls walked over to the store, exhaustion and regret evident on their faces.
Meanwhile——
〈Abyss Dungeon—-Floor 10,000〉
Shion walked through the halls of a dark cathedral until he found a throne room, where a man bathed in shadows was busy reading a book.
〈Rule: Do Not Speak Names.〉
"Lord Tsuihō-Ō," Shion greeted.
"Ah. The Herald of Ruin," the man greeted. "How was your mission?"
"A success," Shion acknowledged, tossing the file to the man before shoving Junpei to the ground. "I also found this man. He's a part of the Kaitansha."
"Oh, really? That's quite a find."
Junpei stood up. "What is this place? Who are you? Tell me!"
The man put a finger to his mouth as he stepped from the shadows, revealing a tall man clad in shadowy black armor, with corrupt black eyes.
"Shhh. Do you not read the rules? Do not speak names."
A woman in shadowy black gear with glowing pink eyes handed a statue to Lord Tsuihō-Ō. "My Lord."
"Excellent, Herald of Chains. You both have done so well."
He turned to Shion. "Herald of Ruin. I must ask a favor of you."
"Yes, My Lord?"
"Omariro Nyugawa will be onto us soon. I want you to halt his path and stop him."
"Consider it done."
Shion shifted into his armored form before a portal opened, and he stepped through, leaving Junpei to face the Lord.
"Now, Agent. Would you like to see the power of the Abyss?"
"No, no—-!"
With a snap of his fingers, a dark wave flooded the room, sweeping over Junpei and turning everything into darkness.
——-