The wind in Paras City blew harder now, whipping through the broken streets like it was trying to carry away the fear and chaos that had suddenly swallowed everything. Dust swirled in thick clouds, mixing with the faint, acrid smell of smoke from distant explosions. The main ship of Dano's fleet stood like a dark, towering giant in the heart of the city, its engines still humming with a low, threatening growl that vibrated through the ground. Other ships hovered ominously in the sky above, their massive shadows stretching long and heavy across the buildings, turning day into something darker, colder. The once-peaceful city, still carrying the faint echoes of festival joy from just days ago, now felt like a battlefield waiting to explode. The air itself seemed to hold its breath, heavy with the promise of more pain.
Dano stood at the forefront of his forces, his smirk never fading even for a second. It was a cruel, confident curve of his lips that sent chills down the spines of everyone who saw it. His orange-and-black striped fur caught the pale morning light, making him look like a predator who already knew he had won the game. Aika stood right beside him, her staff gripped tightly in both hands, her expression a painful mix of reluctance and forced duty. Quan dusted off his clothes slowly, standing a little apart from the group, dark shadows still flickering faintly around his feet like living things eager for blood. Esta remained slightly behind them, his head bowed low, ice-blue eyes filled with quiet shame and deep regret as he forced himself to stand among the invaders.
And then there was Diablo.
He had already landed from the sky with a soft but heavy thud, his four massive demon wings folding slowly behind him. His neon-crimson eyes were fixed on the ground, his gloved hands clenched so tightly that the leather creaked under the pressure. He hadn't moved at all since Dano gave the order. The weight of the moment pressed down on him like invisible chains, heavier than any he had worn before.
Blu stood at the center of the defenders, arms folded across his chest, his cape fluttering in the rising wind. His expression was serious and unyielding, but there was a flicker of deep concern in his eyes as he faced the invaders. Uraka and Wano stood ready beside him, their auras already flaring with determination. Yuki and Honokage had teleported to the front lines, standing shoulder to shoulder, ready to protect the home they loved.
Dano's voice cut through the tense silence like a blade.
"Quan… Don't just stare at them. Now fight as Aika does."
Diablo irritated slightly, his wings twitching as he shifted his weight. He kept his eyes on the ground, but his mind was racing with memories he couldn't push away.
Esta clenched his fist tightly, the ice-blue armor creaking under the pressure. He felt the same heavy guilt twisting inside him, but he said nothing, his heart aching for the people he was forced to stand against.
Quan smiled, a cold, dangerous smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Let's give those insects a chance…"
Blu's voice was sharp and angry, his eyes narrowing with barely contained fury.
"Whom you call insect?"
Quan's smile widened, his tone mocking and full of arrogance.
"Two people standing in front of me, they are—"
Suddenly Uraka teleported right in front of Quan, her eyes blazing with fury that burned hotter than any fire.
"How dare you to call us insect!"
She punched hard, her fist glowing with crimson energy, the force behind it enough to shatter concrete and shake the ground.
Quan blocked it instantly with a shadow hand that erupted from the ground like a dark claw. A powerful shockwave exploded outward, cracking the pavement beneath them. The earth shook slightly, sending small stones bouncing across the street like frightened insects.
Quan's voice was cold and mocking, but there was a hint of amusement in it.
"Stay in your limit…"
He punched straight at Uraka's abdomen with brutal force.
The impact was devastating. Uraka was sent flying backward through several buildings, concrete and glass exploding around her as she crashed through wall after wall. The sound of destruction echoed across the city like thunder, dust and debris raining down in her wake.
Blu teleported in front of Quan in a flash of blue light and unleashed a barrage of punches, his fists moving so fast they left golden afterimages in the air.
Quan blocked all of them with his shadow energy, the impacts ringing like thunder. In slow motion, dust flew off Quan's arms as he absorbed the hits. Blu's eyes burned with anger for the first time anyone had seen — a deep, protective rage that made his blue skin seem to glow brighter, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might break.
Quan laughed softly, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"You think this fears me?"
He kicked hard, his foot slamming into Blu's side. The force sent Blu staggering backward, his body momentarily unconscious as he fought to stay on his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Dano watched from the mountain, his smirk growing wider, his red eyes gleaming with dark pleasure.
"Yes! That's what I want! Use your more forceeee!"
Uraka teleported back, appearing right in front of Quan again, her fist raised for another punch, her face twisted with anger and determination, her pink hair fluttering wildly in the wind.
Quan raised his hand. From swirling shadow particles, a dark sword formed in his grip, the blade humming with dark energy.
It slashed across Uraka's hand instantly, then exploded into black shadows that spread like ink in water.
But Uraka's pink slimy hand simply reformed, regenerating like it was nothing, the wound closing in seconds. She punched at Quan again, her crimson eyes glowing with fury, her hair fluttering slightly in the wind, her expression a mix of rage and pain.
Quan succeeded in blocking it, but the force made him slide back a few steps, his feet digging grooves into the cracked pavement.
He snapped his finger. Shadow spikes erupted from the ground all around Uraka, sharp and deadly.
She dodged them all with incredible speed, her body moving like liquid, twisting and turning with grace that seemed impossible under the pressure.
From behind Quan, Blu shot many golden blasts, his hands glowing with energy, his face set in grim determination.
Quan turned in shock.
The blasts hit him directly.
**Boom! Boom! Booooooom!**
Many explosions covered the entire area, buildings crumbling like paper, the shockwaves shaking the city, dust and debris flying in every direction.
Uraka crossed her arms in an X shape, her aura rising in a bright crimson glow. Pink lightning crackled around her like living veins of power.
"Slime Spirit, the curse."
The ground started shaking instantly, cracks spreading outward like spiderwebs.
A blue energy formed around Uraka's one hand, glowing brighter and brighter.
She rushed at Quan with speed beyond light, her form blurring into a streak of pink and crimson.
Quan couldn't even blink.
She slammed her hand on his chest and shouted, her voice filled with raw emotion.
"Hand of a Goddess…"
The energy gathered instantly and shot out in a powerful blast, the force so strong it left a trail of light in the air.
Quan was sent flying through the buildings and out of the city, his body crashing into the distance with a massive explosion that lit up the horizon.
Uraka's arm smoked slightly, the skin burned from the force she had used. Her face grew pale, her breathing heavy as she tried to stay standing, her legs shaking beneath her.
Blu teleported there, arms crossed, his expression grim and worried.
The place where Quan had crashed was absolutely destroyed — a crater of rubble, wind blowing like a tornado, stones, dust, and trees exploding outward in every direction.
But then…
Quan teleported back, appearing in the middle of the destruction, his clothes torn, blood trickling from his mouth.
Quan wiped the blood away with the back of his hand, smiling coldly, his voice low and dangerous.
"What you thought? I survived it…"
He snapped his finger. Two shadow swords appeared in his hands, the blades humming with dark energy.
He rushed at Blu and delivered a double slash, the swords cutting through the air with deadly precision.
Blu's gi instantly turned to ashes along with his cape. He stood shocked, a sudden force making him bleed heavily from his chest. He fell to one knee, breathing hard, blood dripping onto the cracked ground.
Uraka shouted, her voice filled with worry and raw anger.
"President Blu!!"
She gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with fury and pain.
"What have you done!!"
Quan laughed softly, his voice cold and mocking.
"As you can see, that's what I have done… Now it's your turn!"
He rushed at Uraka, delivering double and triple slashes with his shadow swords, the blades moving so fast they left trails of darkness in the air.
Uraka dodged all of them, her body moving like liquid, twisting and turning with incredible speed, her pink hair whipping around her face.
Then Quan continued slashing, one after another, thousands of dark slashes erupting in a storm of shadows that filled the air like a black blizzard.
Around Uraka, a force field appeared, glowing with pink energy, reflecting all of Quan's attacks back at him.
Quan blocked his own attacks with his swords, but the blades cracked slightly under the pressure, small pieces chipping off.
Uraka lowered her hand. The force field broke apart with a soft crack.
Her aura rose higher, crimson energy crackling around her like living lightning. She raised her hand.
A blue sword with a crimson aura appeared in her grip, the blade humming with power.
She held the sword with her burnt hand. The injury repaired slowly, the skin knitting back together as pink energy flowed over it, but the pain still lingered in her eyes.
Uraka's voice was steady, but her eyes burned with emotion, a mix of determination and sadness.
"Fight me now, if you dare…"
Quan smiled, his shadows swirling around him like loyal pets.
"I am always ready for challenges."
He raised his hand upward. A great shadow sword formed, larger and darker than the others, the blade pulsing with dark energy.
They rushed at each other, the ground cracking under their feet.
Uraka slashed with her sword, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.
Quan blocked it with his own, the clash sending sparks flying in every direction.
Slash after slash came down, the sound of metal on shadow echoing like thunder.
Uraka slashed. Quan blocked.
Then Quan slashed. Uraka dodged and kicked at Quan's abdomen, her foot connecting with a solid thud.
He crashed into the wall of an office building, concrete cracking around him, dust falling from the impact.
Uraka came dragging her sword, the blade glowing with crimson light, her breathing heavy but her eyes determined.
She did a sudden attack on Quan, the sword moving faster than the eye could follow.
Quan couldn't see it coming. A deep cut appeared on his chest, blood welling up instantly.
Blood came out through his mouth, warm and metallic.
He fell to the ground, his body hitting the rubble with a dull thud.
Uraka stomped her leg on his abdomen and raised her sword high, the blade gleaming in the light.
Quan blocked her sword with his own, sweating heavily, his face twisted in pain, his eyes wide with shock.
Uraka's hair fell over Quan's face, strands of pink silk brushing against his skin.
Their eyes met each other, close and intense.
Quan lowered his sword slightly. His eyes softened finally, a flicker of something human breaking through the cold mask he had worn for so long.
"You are afraid to lose your people, aren't you?"
Uraka didn't respond with words.
Her face and her tears said it all.
A single tear dropped from her eyes onto her sword, where Quan's blood was still sticking, the drop mixing with the red in a small, heartbreaking moment.
Uraka's voice broke, filled with raw emotion that made her words tremble.
"I am only doing this… because those aren't just my people… They are like my family… Even after being an alien, Wano had given me a home. President Blu had given me respect. I had met so many people there… I have enjoyed moments with them… laughed with them… felt like I belonged…"
Quan finally understood something he hadn't understood in centuries.
Guilt.
It hit him like a wave, heavy and suffocating, making his chest tighten and his breath catch.
*What am I doing? What for am I doing this? Is it even worth it to hurt someone like this?*
He questioned himself, his mind racing with memories of his own past, of orders he had followed without question, of lives he had taken without a second thought.
Still Uraka's hair was falling over Quan's face, soft and warm against his skin.
Quan's eyes shone slowly, a crack in his cold exterior, tears welling up in the corners.
Uraka's eyes closed, her grip on the sword loosening, her body growing weaker.
She fell over Quan.
Hugged him tightly, her arms wrapping around him in a final, desperate embrace.
Quan was left with no words, his face pure shock, his body frozen in place.
Blood came down through his head from the cut on his chest, warm and sticky.
Now he had two choices — follow Dano's order… or save them.
Quan touched Uraka's face gently with his hand, his fingers trembling as they brushed her cheek… then removed it immediately, as if the kindness burned him like fire.
Quan gritted his teeth, his voice breaking with emotion he couldn't hide.
"Enough drama! I will end you here!!! How dare you to touch me!! You think that hugging someone would fix anything!?"
He grabbed his sword and tried to stab Uraka's back, the blade rising slowly, his hand shaking violently.
But the blade stopped instantly before even touching her skin, hovering in the air as if held by an invisible force.
Quan lowered his sword, his hand shaking uncontrollably, tears falling from his eyes before he could stop them.
"No… I cannot do it…"
His sword loosened from his grip and fell to the ground with a clatter, the sound echoing in the sudden silence.
Quan wanted to attack Uraka, but he couldn't.
The feelings hurt more than any war, more than anything he had ever done with Dano the space emperor.
Quan's voice cracked, tears streaming down his face now, his body trembling.
"Forgive me… Please."
He grabbed his sword again, his hand shaking so badly it took all his strength to lift it.
He stabbed it into Uraka's back.
Blood sprayed across the ground, warm and red, soaking into the rubble.
Quan's eyes filled with tears, his face twisted in agony.
He threw away the sword and crushed it instantly with his shadow energy, the blade shattering into black dust.
Then he removed her hand from him and stood up, clutching his own chest, his breathing unstable and ragged.
Quan's voice was broken, filled with guilt and self-loathing.
"I am sorry… But the duty is first always for me…"
Blu, in his injured state, flew down to the broken office building and saw it all.
His face grew pale, the color draining from his blue skin.
Anger was clear on his face — a deep, burning anger that made his eyes glow with golden light, his body trembling as he forced himself to stand despite the pain.
The wind slowed, the dust floated in the air like time itself had paused.
The sound of the city faded into a distant hum.
A single drop of Uraka's blood hit the ground with a soft, echoing sound that seemed to fill the entire battlefield.
Blu's hands clenched into fists, his cape fluttering weakly in the dying wind.
The war for Earth had truly begun.
And in the middle of it all, broken souls from the past stood on opposite sides, forced to face a future they never chose.