Ezonku's flames sliced through the air like living blades.
Compressed fire projectiles shot forward at high speed, tearing through space toward Kagashi.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions echoed across the park.
The ground cracked.
Smoke rose.
Silence.
…
Ezonku smiled.
The smoke began to slowly fade…
And then—
A silhouette.
Still.
Kagashi.
Not a single scratch.
Ezonku… froze.
For the first time…
his smile failed.
Kagashi: — Is that all you've got?
A step.
CRACK.
The ground gave way beneath his feet.
Ezonku: — …how?
Without warning—
Kagashi vanished.
BOOM!
Ezonku was struck in the stomach.
The impact bent his body midair.
He flew… crashed through trees… and dragged across the ground.
Akira: — EZONKU!!
Akira ran toward him—
But two students appeared, blocking his path.
A gap in power.
Kagashi was already standing in front of Ezonku.
No rush.
No emotion.
Kagashi: — Your fire… is too loud.
Ezonku stood up… coughing blood.
The flames returned.
More intense.
Denser.
More dangerous.
Ezonku (smirking): — Heh… so you can handle heat?
He brought his hands together.
The flames spiraled.
Compressed.
The air trembled.
Ezonku: — Forbidden Technique… Shiranui…
The temperature rose violently.
The ground began to melt.
Ezonku: — 30%.
A dense sphere of fire formed between his hands.
Unstable.
Wild.
Destructive.
—
Release.
The sphere tore through the air like a meteor.
Kagashi… didn't move.
He simply raised his hand.
And—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion swallowed everything.
Flames surged into the sky.
Heat warped the air.
Akira covered his face.
Ren shielded his eyes.
Silence.
…
The smoke slowly cleared.
Bodies scattered.
Several students unconscious.
Ezonku breathed heavily.
— Now… it's over.
…
Footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
Walking out of the burning inferno.
Kagashi.
Unharmed.
But now…
his arm was covered in a black energy.
Dense.
Heavy.
Like molten iron, pulsing.
The Truth
Kagashi: — I didn't block it.
Silence.
Kagashi: — I… absorbed it.
Ezonku's eyes widened.
Ren (low): — What's happening to him…?
Kagashi raised his arm.
The black energy pulsed… like something alive.
Kagashi: — Let me show you…
A pause.
The air trembled.
Kagashi: — True power.
— Illusory Domain
Kagashi: — Kokuiki…
The surroundings darkened.
Light itself seemed to flee.
Kagashi: — Kuroshoku En.
A black zone expanded.
Silent.
Heavy.
Inside it…
Ezonku's flames began to weaken.
To fade.
As if being devoured.
Ezonku: — …what?!
Desperation
Ezonku tried to attack—
But his fire… dissolved.
Disintegrated.
Consumed.
Kagashi appeared right in front of him.
And—
CRACK.
A direct punch.
Ezonku was sent flying.
This time…
without any resistance.
His body hit the ground…
motionless.
Silence
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Ren stood still.
His smile… disappeared.
For the first time…
his eyes changed.
Cold.
Deep.
Kagashi looked at him.
— Now…
A step.
— You're the only one left.
The air grew heavy.
Everything froze.
—
Akira (shouting): — EZONKU!!
Ren turned his head—
At that exact moment—
SWOOSH!
An attack cut through the air.
Ren barely had time to react—
CLANG!
He blocked it on instinct.
Shoji appeared in front of him.
A twisted smile.
Shoji: — Don't lose focus.
Ren slowly raised his gaze.
Silence.
Then…
a smile returned to his face.
But now…
it wasn't the same.
It was… more dangerous.
Ren: — You guys really don't know when to stop, do you…
The ground beneath his feet…
cracked.