Shamasu lifts Zodiac off the ground and ascends towards Daru, who struggles to rise, covered in bruises and cuts.
Daru: (out of breath) This guy is on a different level. How are we supposed to beat him?
After a moment, Daru senses something approaching from the sky—Shamasu and Zodiac. Shamasu grips Zodiac's head and slams him onto the ground in front of Daru, kicking up a cloud of dust. Once the dust settles, Zodiac is revealed to be gravely injured, prompting Shamasu to kick him aside.
Daru: Zodiac—
Shamasu: I thought Zatarians were supposed to be strong.
Gram: Back off!
Shamasu: Huh?
Shamasu turns to see Gram holding his book, pointing at him.
Shamasu: Who the hell are you?
Gram: My name is Gram! Gram the Great.
Shamasu bursts out laughing.
Shamasu: Gram the Great! What kind of name is that?
Gram: Shut up!
Gram unleashes a powerful fire blast at Shamasu.
Shamasu: (shocked) Ugh!
Shamasu is struck by the blast and pushed back; it explodes, filling the area with dust. As the dust clears, Shamasu stands with his arms crossed, smiling.
Gram: Dammit!
While Daru, Zodiac, and Gram confront Shamasu, Himitsu lies on the ground, exhausted, with Ohma and Kono protecting him.
Kono: Rito told you to use that weapon carefully!
Himitsu: I know; I got too excited and overdid it.
Ohma: How many times did you cut yourself?
Himitsu: I think it was eight times.
Ohma: EIGHT TIMES!!
Hinoka: Eight times is a lot.
Ohma, Kono, and Himitsu turn to see Hinoka sitting atop a pile of monks, blood on her hands.
Ohma: You're that girl!
Hinoka: (laughs) Mhmm.
Kono: What do you want?
Hinoka: Wow, this is the first time someone has asked me that! Hmm… what do I want? Let's see, well, Shamasu is battling those Zatarians; what a jerk! I want to fight too! All I desire is to fight! And kill, kill, AND KILL! (laughs)
Ohma: Guys, I think she's crazy.
Hinoka: Crazy… CRAZY… OH, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN CRAZY, SWEETHEART!! I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY!!
Hinoka rushes toward Ohma, who suddenly vanishes into thin air.
Ohma: What the heck! Where'd she go?
Himitsu: OHMA, BEHIND YOU!
Ohma quickly turns around, finding nothing there.
Ohma: Huh?
Himitsu: But she was just here!
Kono: Keep your eyes peeled! She could be anywhere.
Ohma and Kono position themselves back to back, methodically scanning their surroundings.
Ohma: Do you see her?
Kono: No, I don't.
Himitsu: She could be anywhere; be careful!
As they maintain their position, they hear her laughter but are unable to locate her.
Kono: What the hell!
Ohma: This is creepy.
Himitsu glances at his arm.
Himitsu: (to himself) I have three more in me; come on!
Himitsu cuts his arm and collapses.
Ohma: Himitsu!
Hinoka suddenly appears between Kono and Ohma, forcefully separating them.
Hinoka: Looks like your friend is dead.
Kono: Shut up, no, he's not!
Kono fires at Hinoka, but she evades the shot. Hinoka raises her hand and launches mist projectiles at Kono.
Kono: What the!?
Ohma swiftly intervenes, positioning himself in front of Kono and deflecting all of Hinoka's attacks with his nunchucks.
Hinoka: How long do you think you can keep deflecting my attacks!?
Ohma: As long as I need to!
Hinoka smiles and raises her other hand to unleash additional projectiles.
Ohma: AHH! UGH!
One projectile destabilizes Ohma, followed by three more that force him to the ground. He struggles to rise but collapses to one knee, gasping for breath.
Kono: Ohma!
Kono rushes to position herself in front of Ohma, extends her hands, and begins firing. Hinoka dodges and closes the distance. Hinoka attempts a punch, but Kono deflects it and points her gun at Hinoka's face, prepared to shoot. Hinoka leaps above her, seizing her by the shirt. Kono fires to the left, resulting in both of them crashing into a building.
Kono: Ugh!
Hinoka: (giggles) Hmm.
Kono looks up to see Hinoka perched on a counter, swinging her feet, unwrapping a lollipop, and sucking on it.
Kono: But… how.
Kono then loses consciousness on the floor.
Ohma: GET AWAY FROM HER!!!
Hinoka looks up and notices Ohma charging at her, enveloped in a slim, glowing golden aura.
Hinoka: (laughs) Coming back to play already?
Ohma: FIRST AUTO!
He swings his nunchucks as Hinoka effortlessly dodges, conjuring a mist blade that slices across Ohma's chest.
Ohma: Ughh!
He kneels again. Hinoka approaches him and looks down.
Hinoka: (giggles) You know, you're kind of annoying.
Ohma: Tch!
Hinoka plunges the mist blade into his right shoulder.
Ohma: Ughhh!
Gazing up at Hinoka, Ohma seizes the blade with his bare hands.
Hinoka: Oh?
He extracts the blade from his shoulder, rises to his feet, and delivers a kick to her. Hinoka is pushed back slightly, creating some distance between them.
Hinoka: (Laughs with a sinister smile) YOU LITTLE BITCH!! YOU HIT ME! YOU JUST COST YOURSELF A DANCE WITH THE DEVIL!!
Meanwhile, the scene shifts back to Akira and Ruda, who leap toward each other, launching powerful attacks that cause them both to stumble back.
Ruda: (Panting) You're not going to beat me!
Akira: (Panting) And you're not going to live much longer!
Ruda: Heh, do you really think you can win?
Ruda charges at Akira and leaps into the air, executing a 360-degree slash. Akira raises her arms to block Ruda's blades, forcing her back. Just as Akira prepares to rush at Ruda, mist ropes emerge from the ground, ensnaring her arms and legs.
Akira: W-What the hell!?
Ruda: (Smiling) I can't believe that actually worked.
Akira: (Struggling) Get this off of me! Are you really that much of a coward!?
Ruda hurls one of her daggers at Akira, piercing her in the chest.
Akira: Aghhh!
Ruda: (Walking toward Akira) You can say whatever you want. There are no rules in a fight.
As Ruda approaches, Akira attempts to break free. Ruda seizes the dagger embedded in Akira's chest and pushes it deeper toward her heart. Akira screams in agony.
Ruda: Awwww. Looks like the mighty dragon is feeling the pain.
Akira: (Struggling) Let… go… of… me!
Ruda: No, I don't think I will. I'm going to enjoy killing you slowly while you scream in pain. Too bad your little friends will see you dead—your pathetic family too.
Upon hearing Ruda mention her family, Akira's anger intensifies, and she grits her teeth.
Akira: You better watch your mouth.
Ruda: Huh? Your pathetic family will never see you again.
Akira: I said watch it!
Akira's flames begin to leak from her body, growing hotter.
Ruda: Your family probably hated you. They never loved or cared about you. You're just a worthless being who deserves to die!
Akira: (Enraged) I SAID STOPPPP!
Akira's flames erupt from her, sending Ruda crashing to the ground.
Ruda: (Looks up) What the hell!?
Ruda rises from the ground, causing her mist ropes to dissipate as the dagger embedded in Akira's heart disintegrates. Akira strides toward her, flames igniting in her eyes and enveloping her in a fiery aura. With determination, Akira charges at Ruda, causing the ground to tremble beneath her. As she closes in, Akira seizes Ruda's head and drives it into the ground, leaving a massive shockwave.
Ruda: AGHHHH!
Akira lifts Ruda from the ground and delivers a powerful punch to her stomach, forcing Ruda to spit blood. Akira then unleashes a relentless barrage of punches that Ruda is unable to defend against. Following this, she throws an uppercut to Ruda's chin, propelling her into the sky. Akira spreads her wings and soars past Ruda, then dives down to deliver a forceful kick to Ruda's face as she crashes back to the ground, creating a significant dent and a cloud of smoke. When the smoke dissipates, Akira sees Ruda on the ground, bloodied and attempting to crawl away.
Ruda: (Struggling to speak) You're going to pay for this!
Akira: Where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you!
As Akira approaches Ruda, a sharp pain grips her heart, causing her to kneel, clutching her chest.
Akira: Agh! Not this again! I need to finish her!
As Akira's flames begin to diminish, she looks up only to find Ruda has vanished.
Akira: Noooo! Were the—
Ohma: Rahhhhh!
Akira: (Surprised) Huh? Was that Ohma?
Ohma is sent crashing into a wall as Hinoka strikes him with a flying knee.
Hinoka: (Smirking) HOW'S THAT FEEL, YOU TWERP!
Ohma: (Chuckling) Felt like someone who hits like a girl.
Infuriated, Hinoka forms a sharp mist blade with her hand and swings it at him. However, just as she is about to make contact, she senses something and goes invisible. Moments later, Akira comes crashing down. Ohma slides down the wall, blood trickling from the top of his head.
Akira: Ohma?
Ohma looks up.
Ohma: Oh hey, Akira… I didn't see you there.
Akira: You look terrible.
Ohma: Thanks! You look terrible too.
Akira: What? Ugh, never mind. Can you still fight?
Ohma: (Struggling to get up) Y-yeah, I can.
Hinoka: You two just keep surprising me.
Ohma and Akira both turn to face Hinoka, who reappears out of thin air.
Akira: Hmm… So she's the one you were fighting.
Ohma: Akira, don't take her on alone; she's too strong!
Akira: At least I can stand. You're done for today.
Ohma: No, I'm not. I can still fight.
Akira: Fine, whatever. But if you die, that's on you.
Ohma: I wouldn't want it any other way.
Hinoka: Are you done yet? I'm getting bored listening to you two.
Akira: If you want to die so badly, just say the word, and I'll make it happen!
Hinoka: You seem quite angry, don't you?
Ohma: I'll go right; you take the left.
Akira: Fine.
As they prepare to rush her, Hinoka disappears.
Ohma: Dammit! Not this again.
Akira: Where did she go?
Ohma: I don't know; she can vanish and reappear at will.
Akira: Great.
Back to back, Ohma and Akira remain vigilant, waiting for her attack. Hinoka's laughter echoes around them. She suddenly targets Akira, but just as she strikes, Himitsu appears in front of him, deflecting her attack with his sword.
Himitsu: GET AWAY FROM MY TEAM!
Ohma: Himitsu!?
Hinoka jumps back, creating distance.
Hinoka: This is getting so damn ANNOYING!!
Himitsu: Sorry I'm late, guys.
Ohma: Himitsu, you're alive!
Akira: When I saw you, you looked dead.
Himitsu: Yeah, I lost a lot of blood, but I'm good now. All I needed was a little rest.
Hinoka: The odds are still not even (laughs).
Himitsu: You guys remember the red ball?
Ohma: Red ball? No? Akira, do you have a red ball?
Akira: No, you idiot! He's talking about Rito.
Ohma: Rito has a red ball?
Akira: AHHH! The training RITO PUT US THROUGH!
Ohma: Oh! That red ball! I remember, but how do we get it?
Himitsu: That's just it, Ohma… She's the red ball (indicating Hinoka).
Ohma: Ohh!! Now I get it!
Akira: But the only difference is that we destroy the red ball.
Himitsu: Exactly!
Ohma: Alright, let's do this!
Ohma, Akira, and Himitsu rush at Hinoka.
Hinoka: Ohh finally! Some action!
Hinoka charges back at them. They all meet in the middle, executing a slash attack. Hinoka pushes them back, sending them flying through the air. Himitsu glances at Akira, and they both nod. Akira spreads her wings, grabs Himitsu by the shirt, and throws him toward Hinoka.
Hinoka: A head-on attack? How foolish!
Ohma seizes Hinoka.
Hinoka: What! What the hell!
Ohma: I'VE GOT YOU NOW!
Himitsu grips his sword with both hands and launches a red slash projectile at her as she raises her hands to block it. The attack strikes, resulting in an explosion. Moments later, Ohma opens his eyes to find Hinoka poised with a mist blade at his neck. Akira tackles Hinoka away from Ohma as Himitsu joins the fray to assist her. While Ohma remains on the ground, Kono crawls toward him.
Kono: Ohma! Are you okay?
Ohma: Huh? Me… yeah, I'm good, just a bit tired, but I need to help Akira and Himitsu.
Kono: No, stay down, Ohma. You're too weak right now. Why didn't you move out of the way of Himitsu's blast?
Ohma: Huh? Oh, because if I did, she would have dodged the attack, so I had to take it.
Kono: You could have died, Ohma!
Ohma: No… I trusted Himitsu. But if you'll excuse me, I have a battle to return to.
Kono: Ohma, you can't.
Ohma: Yes, I can.
Ohma struggles to rise.
Ohma: I know I can because I'm a Knight of Judgment.
Ohma stands, but as he moves toward the fight, he limps. However, his armor begins to transform as he progresses.
Kono: Wh-what is happening to his armor?
Ohma's armor morphs as a helmet encases his head, and his eyes glow gold. Hinoka lunges for a slash attack, but Ohma dashes toward her with astonishing speed, blocking the strike and pushing her back slightly.
Hinoka: Tch!
Himitsu: Wh-Ohma?
Akira: What the hell happened to your armor?
Ohma: My armor?
Ohma glances at his armor and notices for the first time that he is wearing a mask.
Ohma: OH MY GOSH!!! MY ARMOR EVOLVED!!!
Akira: I don't care; if it helps us win this fight, so be it!
Himitsu: Stay on guard, everyone!
Ohma: RIGHT!
While the others engage Hinoka, Gram is seen fleeing from Shamasu's blast.
Gram: Ahh!! WHY AM I ALWAYS THE ONE GETTING SHOT AT?!
He leaps behind a boulder just as the blast strikes it. As he hides, the boulder begins to tilt toward him, threatening to crush him. It's so massive that if he attempts to escape, he won't make it. Just as the boulder is about to fall on him, Zodiac appears and slices it into small pieces that tumble to the ground.
Gram: (Sighs in relief) Whew! That was close (laughs).
Shamasu fires another blast aimed directly at Gram.
Gram: AHHHH!
Daru leaps in front of the blast and intercepts it.
Daru: UGHHH!!! AHHHHH!!!
He hurls the blast into the sky, where it detonates.
Shamasu: Cool trick.
Daru stands beside Zodiac.
Zodiac: I don't know how we're going to beat this guy.
Daru: We'll have to stall him for a bit.
Zodiac: Stall?! Stall for what?
Daru: Until Rito arrives.
Gram approaches them.
Gram: But isn't he busy fighting that other guy?
Daru: Yeah, that's why we need to stall until he finishes.
Gram: Great!
Zodiac: I'm going for the head.
Daru: Just don't get in my way.
Daru and Zodiac charge toward Shamasu, who advances toward them. As they close the distance, Shamasu extends his arms, slamming Daru and Zodiac to the ground, causing them to cough up blood.
Zodiac: UGH!
Daru: UGHH!
Daru twists his arm while Zodiac swings his longsword toward Shamasu's head. Shamasu begins to spin, forcing Daru to release his grip and catching Zodiac off balance. He then conjures small mist balls in his hands and throws them at Daru; upon impact, Daru's head smashes against a boulder, breaking through it and rendering him unconscious.
Gram: DARUUU!!! Tch!
Gram rushes toward Daru just as Shamasu charges at him. Zodiac fires his arrows, halting Shamasu's advance.
Zodiac: You're fighting me, you ugly bastard.
As Zodiac says this, his arrows detonate around him.
Zodiac: (to himself) I have to end this quickly! Daru's down for the count now, DAMNIT DARU!
Gram reaches Daru, who remains unresponsive.
Gram: Daru, come on buddy, talk to me!
Daru's hair and veins begin to revert to their normal state.
Gram: Daru, wake up! Come on!
As the smoke clears, Shamasu is revealed, encased in a mist bubble.
Zodiac: Really...
Shamasu: (grinding his teeth) It's going to take a lot more than that, buddy!
Zodiac: Yeah, I can see that, idiot!
Zodiac employs sudoshi, moving side to side as he rushes Shamasu. Shamasu envelops his fist in mist as they exchange punches. Zodiac flips over one of Shamasu's attacks and utilizes sudoshi again, appearing behind him to strike at his head. Shamasu spins around so quickly that he bites his sword.
Zodiac: (shocked) Wh-what the hell!
Shamasu swings his fist towards Zodiac, punching him into the air. Shamasu leaps up, bringing his hands together to strike Zodiac in the stomach.
Zodiac: (spitting out blood) Augh!
Zodiac is propelled back to the ground, resulting in a massive impact. Gram looks over as Zodiac falls unconscious, watching as his hair and the black tattoo gradually fade away.
Gram: Zodiac! No! No! This can't be happening! Not both of you!