At noon, a crossfire occurs between WTM which is backed up by the Japanese military, and Isshin Kira troops. Yumeno doesn't help much at all as her role is essential in Isshin Kira's subjugation and she will make a move when things get worse.
She feels uneasy by just staying yet Satou holds her hand. That makes her see the guy who smiles at her.
"Don't worry, I am with you! When things get worse, I'll back you up, Yume!"
He tries to soothe her up and persuade her to stay positive.
"Mhm. Thank you, Satou…"
But, Satou feels something is off with this battle. He usually will feel any kind of bad situation around him so that he will know what to do, but he feels none. A few minutes later, the WTM armies reports that they managed to defeat Isshin Kira's troops.
The day is getting dewfall, Satou and Yumeno who are with the WTM armies are proceeding to Isshin Kira's base which is located under the ground. When they proceed, they find no one there.
'As I thought, something is off! My hostile instinct has been unable to feel anything. Don't tell me as we have military on our side, we've nothing to worry about.'
Satou said in his mind getting curious as he tries to detect any kind of hostility around.
Satou and the other's steps are stopped as they find an HT on the table.
"Congratulation for coming here. The real battle is just begun here."
Said a voice from the HT. As they remembered, it's Isshin Kira's voice.
"Are you running away again? I will stop you right now! You make the citizens terrified!"
Yumeno exclaimed.
"Running away? As if. Who do you think I am? I told you that I decide when and which to kill you…"
The statement makes Satou realize something.
"Don't tell me… It's a trap!"
Satou exclaimed surprising Yumeno.
"Ding! Ding! As I thought you would figure it out, Satou Hideaki."
After Isshin Kira said that, all of the doors on the base are shut making Satou and others confined in Isshin Kira's base. But, what surprises Satou is not about the situation, but why he couldn't feel that.
"Guys, duck!!!"
Satou exclaimed warning his allies.
They then do what he said and so many firearms appear and shoot in every direction. They are relieved for him warning them about that, though it's not that perfect.
Some managed to dodge, and some didn't.
"Didn't expect that you could tell about that one."
Isshin Kira said impressed by what Satou has done.
"Get out! Where are you?!"
Satou exclaimed.
"Can you tell where I am now, hm?"
"Tell me!"
Satou exclaimed.
"I told you, didn't I? That you are with those weaklings which do not suit you! Then, I'll prove it to you!"
Then, Satou realizes something unbelievable.
"Don't tell me… You are in the WTM base right now?!"
"Ding! Ding!~"
Yumeno and Stephen Smith who know about this are surprised by hearing it. Satou then recalls that Sanada and Kayonna Charlee are in the base. He, Isshin Kira manages to infiltrate the base.
"I wonder if you can get outta there. Can you save them? I'm looking forward to it."
Saying that, the HT radio switches off. Satou sighs and tries to find a way out, but he is kept busy by the crossfire as he has to dodge the bullets coming to him.
"Dang it!!!"
He exclaimed.
"Satou… I've got an idea for this.."
Yumeno said.
"What!?"
"I will demolish this base! Then you can escape!"
"If you can do so, why didn't you say so?!"
Satou said trying to dodge the bullets coming to him.
"It's too spacious and to demolish, it will cost all of my energy I have."
"Don't do it, Yumeno! That must be a part of Isshin Kira's scheme which wants you to not fight him!"
Stephen Smith said.
"But Sanada and Charlee are there! Will you just stay and let them get killed like that?!"
Satou exclaimed while dodging the bullets.
"I'm sorry, Stephen san. I don't want Isshin Kira to hurt anyone anymore. That's why…"
Taking a deep breath, she blows a gale from her mouth and releases her wind power. Everyone around her can feel the gale coming from her.
"I'll do it!"
Using her power, the wind blows heavily and causes a grand hole in the wall and so they can get outta here. But, that cost her a great amount of stamina that she can't fight anymore.
"Jesen! I leave Yume to you!"
Satou is about to rush.
"Wait, Satou!!!"
Satou doesn't hear him at all.
"Oi, Satou! I'll take you there! Get in!"
The baldie said.
"I owe you, baldie!"
"Sanada Motohiro has potential, there's no way I'll let him die! Not to mention that his assistant will do good for the WTM!"
"Like hell, I care about that! They are important to me! I can't let them die!"
Ignoring that, Satou gets in and they rush to the WTM base.
---
At first, Isshin Kira wanted to annihilate the people at the base, but he changed his mind when he arrived at the base. He felt something was off.
"Report! No one in the base!"
Said one of his officers who is still exploring the base.
"Say what? Just focus!"
Isshin Kira said. He thinks that there's no way no one is in the base. It's just strange.
They just nod and do as he said. Therefore, they are infiltrating the base, but they find something they didn't expect, some grenades falling from the sky.
"What!? How do—"
For the lack of speed of their reaction, they get bombarded by the grenades. The explosion can be heard clearly.
"Report! We found someone in the base!"
One of them said.
"Only one, you said?! Kill it right now!"
Isshin Kira is shocked by knowing that, and tells his subordinate to kill the guy who just ruined his plan. Hearing the command, some of them are charging to the gate which has been destroyed by the explosion.
"Ugh!"
One of them got shot by Sanada.
"Fire!!"
They are shooting at Sanada consecutively, but he manages to dodge them by hiding behind a wall. He takes a breath to soothe himself up and he returns to the fray with his hand holding a flashbang.
"As I thought I would be ambushed, then!"
He throws the flashbang at them. Their vision is getting blurry that they are unable to move for a while, and Sanada takes the chance to get out from his hideout and aim at them.
"Die!!!"
He shoots at them consecutively.
But something surprises him. There is someone from them who didn't get shot and that makes him get shot by the guy.
"Ugh!"
Grinning over the pain, Sanada has not given up yet and he gives a counter-attack by keep shooting at them, but he feels like he is outnumbered. He has no chance but to retreat.
"Heh, so he became the decoy to save all the armies of WTM in the base, eh? Interesting!"
Isshin Kira puts a smirk on his face when he knows about his opponent's plan. He feels like it's simple and predictable. And so that it makes him confident that he can subjugate the whole WTM.
"What do we do, Isshin-sama? Should we go offensive, or continue to search for escaping ones?"
One of them asked waiting for the next order. Yet he just shakes his head and touches his chin.
"No need, they are coming here! You just need to burn this base down!"
He ordered and they nodded following the order. They then proceed to the base and burn everything in there.
And later, Isshin Kira finally finds Sanada.
"You failed my plan! I couldn't kill everyone here because of you!"
Isshin Kira exclaimed.
"Yeah, as if I would retreat. It's for protecting all of them! If I can't make it, I will never be able to protect this nation, right?"
Sanada who looks exhausted said.
"At least I can kill Satou's good friend, that will be enough to give him some despair!"
Isshin Kira attacks Sanada by shooting crystal at Sanada.
"Uggh!!!"
Grimacing the pain, Sanada tries to avoid it as soon as possible, though it's impossible to not get shot a few times. He just has to bear the pain he has now.
"Isshin Kira… Why are you so eager to make him despair?"
Sanada asked Grimacing at the pain.
"I just want to tell him that he has chosen the wrong side… He will do good in my side!"
"In other words, you say that he resembles you?!"
"Yeah, he does. His gaze is like one in a monster which is about to destroy everything without giving a shit about it. That's why I'm interested in inviting him over."
The answer makes Sanada burst out laughing and that makes Isshin Kira upset by the laughter as if Sanada is insulting him.
"'A gaze like one in a monster', you said? The one suit to destroy everything without giving a shit about it? Sorry, My best friend is not like that!"
Isshin Kira remains silent for a while, then Sanada continues.
"Satou is a mere human being. He is just full of hesitation so that's why he doesn't have anything to achieve! Don't lump someone like him into a monster like you! That's why he won't join you. Let me tell you something, he will beat the shit of you."
Sanada's words get on Isshin Kira's nerve and make him start attacking Sanada again with his crystal.
---
A few moments later, Satou and the others have arrived at the WTM base and they are shocked to see so many burn marks around it.
"This is bad… This is really bad!"
The baldie is panicking to see that.
"Stay positive! I 'm sure they are alive!"
When Satou proceeds the base in flame, he can see Kayonna Charlee carrying one of the WTM officers. Seeing that, somehow it makes him relief and he puts a smile on his face.
"Good grief, you're saved, Caroline!"
He said.
She then turns around and sees him. Tears are dripping from her eyes and she is crying.
"Sanada… He sacrificed himself for us."
Hearing that, he quickly proceeds to the burning base.
"What the hell happened?"
The baldie asked in wonder. He can see Charlee is trying to wipe her tears as she is sobbing.
"As Sanada got intel about we managed to defeat Isshin Kira's troops, he felt something was off and he realized it. He ordered all of us including me to get out from the base."
She is trying to stop crying and continues.
"The Isshin Kira troops invaded us, and Sanada was trying his best to distract them so we could make a way out. But, in the end, he had to sacrifice himself by facing them all by himself."
The baldie answers in a frustrated tone.
"That's too reckless! But, we have no other choice."
As Satou is busy rushing in the base while dodging some falling materials by the flame, he finds the laying Sanada ahead.
"Tanakaaa!!!!"
He quickly approaches Sanada who looks in a severe condition.
"Yo… Satou."
"Hang in there!!"
"What are you doing here…? Why did you leave Yume--"
Sanada coughs some blood and that makes Satou worry more about Sanada.
"I'll bring you to the hospital right now!"
As Satou is about to carry Sanada, he feels his collar gets tugged and it's Sanada who looks at Satou with droopy eyes and he is trying to smile at Satou.
"I've done my best to protect them."
"Yeah, you did great, that's why-"
"But, I haven't told you something important."
He coughs more blood and Satou's worries are getting higher and higher.
"Don't say any fucking thing!"
"Do you have any idea why Stephen Smith told me to keep an eye on you?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"It's because Stephen Smith believes in the miracle within your body, but for me, you are not a miracle. You are my best friend! A stupid, reckless, woman obsessed one."
"It's not the right time to talk about it!"
"That's right, there are more things I want to talk about with you, but it's too late."
"What the hell are you talking about?! You can't die here! Have you thrown away your dream to protect this nation? If you die, how about your dream?!"
"That's right… But I don't feel sorry for doing this. I'm so grateful that I could know you. If it's possible, let's hit the karaoke box one more time, my best friend…"
After saying that, his hand lets go of Satou's collar and he closes his eyes. He doesn't breathe anymore. Satou's eyes are getting wide as if he knows what happens to Sanada.
"Oi… Tanaka…!"
Satou tries to shake Sanada's body hoping that what he thinks doesn't happen.
"Don't die before me! Oi! Wake up, you dumbass!"
He is shaking Sanada's body harder while yelling at Sanada.
"Sanada! Sanada!! Sanada!!!!"
But, that doesn't work. His voice can't reach Sanada as Sanada has dead. And when his prediction serves him right, he just remains silent and he hears a burst of laughter from someone.
"As I told you. This is what will happen if you are with weaklings! The weak are supposed to die in this world. In the end, only the strongest stand here!"
Isshin Kira said approaching Satou, yet Satou doesn't say a thing. Isshin Kira then says,
"You got it? What are you waiting for? Come with me, Satou Hideaki!"
As Isshin Kira is about to give his hand to Satou, he is shocked to see Satou is right before him out of the blue. Shocked and confused can be seen on his face.
"Since when has he--"
Not finished with his word, Isshin Kira feels something heavy on his face and he realized that Satou just smashed his face that he gets thrown away so far.
"Come with you? That's my answer…"
Satou Hideaki said that in a clod tone.
"Don't you have any idea who are you facing now, huh? I am Isshin Kira, the one becoming the strongest in the world ever! That stupid act of yours could declare war on me!"
Isshin Kira said.
"Like hell, I care about that. If that happens, you'll be perished, Issho Kemen!!"
Satou said in pique.
"What a stupid scum! Not only defying me, but also you misspelled my name! You have to pay it with your blood, and remember, I, Isshin Kira, will be the one to end your life here!!"
Isshin Kira shoots crystals in Satou's direction. Satou then hits the crystal that it crushes with his right palm. He doesn't care if that damaged his right hand.
"Isshin Kira, Issho Kemen, who the fuck will care about that? What matters is your death!"
Isshin Kira remains silent and his face gets smashed by Satou that his body crushes the wall that Isshin Kira is piled up by the debris of the wall.
"Die you!"
Isshin Kira shouted getting up and shooting his crystal consecutively in Satou's direction, but Satou can dodge them easily.
"What!?"
Isshin Kira is surprised to see Satou holding his hand with Satou's left hand. Satou then smashes Isshin Kira's face with his right hand.
"Ugh!!"
Satou's palm smashed his opponent again, and Isshin Kira's face got to bleed. But Satou doesn't give a fuck about that. He then pummels Isshin Kira's face that Isshin Kira falls to the ground. But, Ishhin Kira is trying to get up as he has a great sum of wrath in his heart. He is really angry.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I am the strongest! I'll kill you! I'll…"
Satou swiftly kicks Ishhin Kira's face and Isshin Kira falls again. Satou then pulls Isshin Kira's hair. He says something to Isshin Kira with a cold gaze. That freaks Isshin Kira out.
"You called me scum, eh? You do look like one. You are not only scum, remember that…"
"Damn you!!"
As Satou is about to beat Isshin Kira's face again, he lets Isshin Kira go to dodge a bullet shot by Isshin Kira's subordinate.
"I let you go for now, but I'll kill you the next time we meet, Satou Hideaki, Uwahaha!"
Isshin Kira is fleeing with the one who saved him.
"You afraid? Oi! Are you afraid of getting beaten again? As I thought, you are nothing but a coward."
Satou said giving a middle finger to Isshin Kira. And that manages to provoke Isshin Kira who wanted to provoke Satou. His subordinates then hold Isshin Kira not to attack Satou as he won't win against Satou for now.
Satou carries Sanada's body taking him out of the base which is about to collapse. He then sees Stephen Smith and the armies who just arrive. When he sees Satou carrying Sanada's body, they have nothing to say.
He sacrificed his life to protect everyone… He even didn't regret it.
Satou said putting the body lying on the ground.
Later, Sanada's body is finally buried. So many people are mourning the accident. Not only because of Sanada's death, but also the military who got entrapped in Isshin Kira's base.
"If only I were stronger… This wouldn't happen."
Yumeno drops her head in sorrow.
"You've done a great job, Yume. So, don't blame yourself."
Satou tries to cheer her up.
"He has fought till the end as the part of the WTM. I will never forget your struggle, Sanada Motohiro…"
Stephen Smith said in pride while giving his salute followed by the members of WTM, including Satou, Yumeno, and Charlee.
"I'll survive! He has sacrificed himself for protecting me."
Kayonna Charlee said.
"At first, I did underestimate him, but I didn't expect that he would be a true warrior."
Said the baldie who starts respecting Sanada Motohiro.
As the WTM base has been destroyed, Stephen Smith suggested renting a place to stay for some time for the members of the WTM. The nightfall comes, Satou and the others just arrived at the place ranted by Stephen Smith.
"We are neighbors there, Satou."
Yumeno said.
"Really…?"
"Me too."
Kayonna Charlee said.
"If Sanada were here, he would bully me…"
Satou said chuckling.
While it makes Yumeno and Charlee remain silent. He curses himself when he realized what he just said is too dangerous for now.
"Ah, my bad. As I thought, I still can't believe that he has left us already."
"I understand. You'd better get some sleep. You'll need it."
Charlee said nodding as she understands what he feels.
"That's right!"
Yumeno said nodding.
As Satou is about to enter his room, he hears a noise that likely comes from a contention out there. That makes Satou and his friends wonder to find out what they are talking about.
Then, when they arrived at where the noise comes from, they find the baldie and the other members of the WTM are having a debate with Stephen Smith.
"You said that we have to stay if he spreads it again?! We have to stop Isshin Kira once and for all!"
The baldie argued.
"What is happening here?"
Satou asked in wonder and that makes everyone stares at him. Stephen Smith then lets out a sigh while patting his forehead for the exhaustion.
"Isshin Kira told the mass that he is on his way to the Yggdrasil, and he will destroy it. "
Stephen Smith answered in a calm tone regardless his face tells the opposite.
"But, he, Stephen Smith, told us to ignore him? What kind of joke is this! So many innocents dead because of him!"
The baldie argued in disagreement with the decision.
"If only we recklessly fight him now, what will happen if we get in his trap again? It'd be good if we make a good strategy to stop him."
Stephen Smith answered trying to calm down his subordinates so they can think rationally. Yet, his statement is like being ignored by them as they are really mad right now.
"But, still, we can't just sit back here and see what he will do! He has killed so many of our friends!"
The baldie argued ignoring Stephen Smith's words.
That gives Stephen Smith a headache as he can't take control of his mad subordinate.
"That's right!"
"We have to fight Isshin Kira!"
Said one of the members who agrees with the baldie.
"Shut the fuck up! All of you!!!"
Satou exclaimed and it makes them go silent. He got enraged by all of this and finally agrees with the decision. Hearing that, the baldie then approaches him with a look of disbelief on his face.
"What are you doing, Satou?!"
"Stephen is right, we can't be reckless to fight Isshin Kira. We have to make a good strategy to stop him, the suitable and perfect to put an end to the Isshin Kira's tyranny."
Hearing his statement, the baldie is getting enraged that he pulls Satou's collar.
"So, you'll let your friend's killer do as he wishes?! Isn't Sanada your best friend?! You shouldn't let someone like him do as he likes!"
"Do you think Sanada wants to avenge him? He doesn't want it at all! He must want us to focus on protecting the Yggdrasil! What do you think what the WTM does, huh?! Revenge? Of course, not!"
The bold answer Satou gives shut the baldie up that the baldie lets him go and the others are seen to be calmer. Seeing that, Stephen Smith clears his throat and that attracts their attention. Stephen Smith is about to say a thing.
"Tomorrow, I will make a good strategy to stop him. Of course, I'll take the responsibility."
He said it with confidence. The baldie is frowning and nags in a low tone.
"That's right. You are the WTM armies, don't do anything stupid nor reckless…"
Satou said nodding in relief knowing the case closed. Yet, Yumeno feels the one who soothed them up is Satou Hideaki.
"Then, we have to take some sleep! For making the strategy to stop what will happen tomorrow! Dismissed!"
Kayonna Chatlee said extending her arms dismissing the debate for now.
In the end, the debate is dismissed and everyone goes to their room.
At the midnight, Satou is wandering in the Yawata no Yabushirazu forest.
"That's right, I am just enough to be the idiot one here.."
He said.
---
"Isshin-sama! This is just not like you! If you attack the Yggdrasil that recklessly like that, then the WTM will try to stop us!!"
Said one of his subordinates, Isshin Kira swiftly strangles his neck. Everyone is shocked to see that.
"Do you think I'll just stay after getting beaten up by the likes of him, huh?! I'll make Satou Hideaki pay for this!"
Isshin Kira said in pique. His nerve is got literally.
"Report! Someone is invading us!"
Said one of them who just came and that makes Isshin Kira lets go of the one he was strangling. He then smiles. It's not the gentle one, but it's the manic one.
"As I thought they would be provoked by now. Prepare the traps right now or I'll kill all of them!"
"But it's just a single guy…:
"Single guy? What is happening?!"
Isshin Kira is shocked to know that the one invading them is just a single guy.
"It's Satou Hideaki."
Isshin Kira's face is getting pale when he hears the name, he remembers the trauma of being beaten up black and blue by Satou.
"Didn't expect he would invade me by himself… Hahaha…"
Isshin Kira has lost his sanity, his mind now is full of the feud of Satou Hideaki. He will crush the guy and makes him pay for everything he did to Isshin Kira.
---
Meanwhile, somewhere, One of the Isshin Kira's troops approaches Satou.
"Tell me where your boss is?!"
Satou asked.
"I have no obligation to tell you!"
Satou lets out a sigh and puts a mad look on his face. The aura around him is intimidating in that it sends a chill to the officer's spine, not to mention that his killing intent can be seen clearly there.
"You do have a death wish, eh?"
Satou exclaimed letting go of the bandage on his right hand.