Carter was on his way when suddenly, a winged figure descended from the sky.
He leapt out of his car just in time.
The figure collided with the ground in a devastating blast, sending a cloud of dust into the air. From it, Connor emerged.
"Connor?" Carter muttered.
Without hesitation, Connor lunged at him.
Carter summoned Dark Faith, sprouting dark wings, and took to the air to evade the attack. But Connor was fast—he caught Carter's leg mid-flight and slammed him across multiple buildings.
Connor soared high and plummeted toward the ground at full speed, slamming Carter into the pavement.
Carter slowly stood, a smile playing on his lips.
"It's been a while since I fought someone strong," he said. "Your raw power is impressive. But battle IQ and experience always win."
He pressed his palm against the ground. In an instant, countless swords erupted toward Connor.
Connor dodged, but then massive bear claws appeared. He barely avoided them, only to have a charging rhino slam its horn into his chest. Blood speckled the air.
"I can't beat you with strength," Carter said calmly, "but I can outsmart you. Battle IQ is my specialty."
Connor struggled to move as the Faith condensed into a small, glowing sphere.
"No… a ki blast?" he gasped.
The blast rocked the entire planet. Connor fell to the ground, missing a leg and an arm, pierced by horn and claw, one wing shattered. Blood ran down his face.
Then, with a roar, Connor opened his mouth and hurled a spear. Carter barely dodged, though the tip grazed his shoulder.
Connor charged again—but a massive object slammed onto him, driving him into the ground.
It was Jake, clad in his armor.
"Sorry if I'm late," Jake said.
"How did you know I was fighting?" Carter asked.
"You two turned the entire city upside down," Jake replied, pointing toward a news van. "It's all over the broadcast. Tonight, the world will talk about you."
The Dragon Sage, Connor, rose with a snarl. Both Jake and Carter turned toward him and rushed.
A sword materialized in Jake's right hand. Carter summoned one in his own.
Connor closed his eyes, preparing.
But in an instant, a woman's silhouette passed between them. Jake's sword drove into Carter's abdomen, while Carter's pierced Jake.
"What—?" both gasped in shock.
"Madam Eirene," Connor said, stepping back.
Eirene turned, her hand gripping Connor's throat.
"You've disappointed me," she said coldly. "I trusted you to bring me Carter and Jake so I could get the envelope."
Carter and Jake ripped their swords free and tried to move. But Eirene lifted her other hand, palm outstretched.
In a heartbeat, Zalle City was reduced to dust. Every building, every living creature—human, animal, everything—vanished.
Blood rained from the sky, followed by bones, skulls, and debris.
Carter and Jake lay on the ground, barely alive.
"How… did you survive?" Eirene whispered, noticing a figure in front of them.
It was Lia. Severely injured, she had arrived at the last moment and unleashed all her strength through telekinesis.
"Who… are you?" Eirene demanded.
She released Connor and stepped toward Lia.
Then the sky twisted into an upside-down tornado. Massive green eyes opened.
"Eirene. Return to headquarters immediately."
Eirene froze.
"It's Rio…" she muttered. She looked up, terrified—though no one else could see the eyes.
Lia began to falter, about to lose consciousness, when a hand rested on her shoulder.
It was DA.
"Go to the hospital," DA said, handing her a stick. "Use telekinesis—this will amplify your power and allow you to fly."
Lia nodded, lifting Carter and Jake with her newfound strength.
DA's gaze shifted to Eirene, who trembled. Eirene met DA's eyes, then, with a final glance at Connor, seized him by the neck and flew away.
Lia reached the Hero Town Hospital, her vision blurred and her body barely responding to her will. Jake and Carter were completely unconscious, their bodies stained with blood. Gritting her teeth, she dragged herself through the entrance.
The moment she stepped inside, her legs gave out.
She collapsed on the floor.
A dull thud echoed through the hospital.
From upstairs, Ava paused mid-step. She heard the sound.
Her heart tightened.
She rushed down the stairs and froze at the sight before her — three bloodied bodies lying near the entrance. Recognition hit her instantly.
For a moment, shock threatened to overwhelm her.
She swallowed it down.
With trembling hands, she called for help, and together with the staff, she moved Jake, Carter, and Lia into separate wards.
What happened…? Ava thought, her mind racing.
Within minutes, the hospital was in chaos. Specialist doctors flooded in, preparing for emergency surgeries.
Outside Carter's ward, Ava sat alone, her hands clasped tightly together.
Footsteps approached.
She looked up.
It was DA.
She didn't acknowledge him — she didn't even know who he was.
DA sat quietly near the ward door, his presence strangely calm.
Time passed.
Finally, the doctors stepped out.
Ava shot to her feet and rushed toward them.
"Doctor… how is my brother? And the others?" she asked, her voice shaking.
The doctor avoided her gaze.
"Their condition is…" He hesitated.
Ava's chest tightened.
"You should be patient," he said carefully.
"Can I see them?" she asked desperately.
The doctor slowly shook his head. "They need rest."
Ava nodded, though her heart felt heavy.
She returned to her seat.
Exhaustion finally overtook her, and she drifted into an uneasy sleep.
When she opened her eyes again — DA was gone.
Dawn slowly crept over Hero Town.