Mira's body hadn't even cooled before the Dreaded Knight stood up.
Slowly.
Silently.
Then he turned.
And faced Satoro.
Even without a face—
even with only a skull under that armor—
you could feel the hatred radiating from him.
When he spoke, his voice was deeper, darker than ever:
"You… did this."
Satoro flinched, still kneeling, still shaking, covered in Mira's blood.
But the Dreaded Knight stepped forward anyway.
"You killed my brother."
A step.
"You killed Mira."
Another.
"And you sealed your own brother's fate."
Satoro's eyes widened in horror.
"No… NO… I didn't mean—"
But the Dreaded Knight cut him off, screaming:
"YOU THINK SO STRATEGICALLY—
THAT YOU ARE A FOOL!"
The room went dead silent.
Lira held Haruto protectively.
Nova clutched the baby, trembling.
The child started crying, sensing the fear.
The Dreaded Knight continued, voice shaking with pain:
"There will be no breaking the book now.
There is no one left strong enough."
His skeletal fingers tightened around his greatsword.
"Your brother dies tonight."
Satoro froze.
And then—
Something inside him broke.
"No."
Satoro Stands
He rose slowly, eyes dark, tears still wet on his cheeks.
"No… he doesn't."
His hand wrapped around his sword.
"I won't let Haruto die."
The Dreaded Knight's aura pulsed violently.
"YOU WILL NOT STOP IT."
SHHHING
He pulled his greatsword up.
Satoro tightened his grip on his blade.
Nova gasped, "S-Satoro— don't— you can't fight him!"
But Satoro didn't look back.
He only stared the Dreaded Knight down with raw fire.
"I beat your soldiers."
His voice was low.
Deadly.
Cold.
"I survived the military."
He stepped forward.
"Itachi's special forces."
Another step.
"The forest. The cave. The king."
His aura flared red-black.
"And I'll survive YOU."
The Dreaded Knight snarled.
"YOU WERE LIKE A FLY TO ME LAST TIME!"
He rushed forward, armor echoing across the stone.
And Satoro—
Moved.
The Clash Begins
CLANG!
Their blades collided—
so violently the floor cracked beneath their feet.
Satoro slid back several meters but didn't fall.
The Dreaded Knight was already charging again.
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—!
Steel rang like thunder.
Nova clutched the baby and whispered, terrified:
"…He's… faster than last time."
Mira had been right.
Satoro had been training.
Satoro had grown.
Satoro wasn't the same boy anymore.
The Dreaded Knight swung a heavy overhand strike.
The kind that could cave in a mountain.
Satoro crossed his sword and forearm, blocking with all his strength—
BOOOM—!!
The impact sent shockwaves through the entire cellar.
The Dreaded Knight stepped back, surprised.
"…Impossible."
Satoro spit blood and lifted his sword again.
"You're forgetting something…"
His aura exploded in a swirl of flame and shadow—
Satoro was fighting for his FAMILY.
"For Haruto.
For Mira.
For Ren.
For Nova.
For everyone you've hurt."
The Dreaded Knight gripped his sword tighter, furious.
"YOU ARE ALREADY YOUR KING'S REINCARNATION—
AND YOU WILL DIE JUST LIKE HIM!"
He lunged—
Satoro met him halfway—
And the entire cavern filled with flashes of red, white, and black flame.