At the very beginning of the battle between Kazehaya and Number Two…
In the abandoned district, far from the clash of leaders, Toxivar had already claimed his victory.
Milo lay defeated on the fractured pavement, his red aura completely extinguished.
The poison had spread deep within his body, tightening around his lungs and draining the last remnants of his strength. He could no longer stand… no longer fight.
Toxivar stood over him, calm and satisfied.
The Poison Scythe slowly faded from his hand as a cold smile formed on his face.
Toxivar carried Milo on his shoulder, walking slowly through the abandoned street.
Milo's body sagged with exhaustion and frustration, his expression blank, indifferent to the chaos around him. He didn't struggle, didn't protest he simply let the world pass by.
Toxivar moved with deliberate steps, each one echoing softly on the cracked pavement, as he continued down the street toward the location of Number Two.
Toxivar looked down at Milo's face and a wicked smile spread across his lips.
"Don't worry, my friend," he said softly, his voice dripping with malice.
"You'll come with me… and you'll join us.
You'll be the first witness as I achieve my goal."
Suddenly, a powerful scream echoed from behind Toxivar.
A strong figure was running toward them, charging with determination.
Toxivar turned his head, eyes narrowing as he heard the sound.
"Wait!"
It was Brane, one hand pressed against his wounded side, still gasping for breath, every step heavy but resolute.
Toxivar looked at him with a visibly annoyed expression.
He placed Milo on the ground and unleashed his energy, summoning the Poison Scythe once again.
"You… you came from the place where Zeric, Number Four, was fighting…"
His face turned serious, the playful malice gone.
"That means… you defeated Zeric."
Brane was running toward him, utterly exhausted, barely able to keep his pace, gasping heavily with every step. His clothes were torn and dirt-streaked, sweat and blood mixing on his face, eyes burning with determination despite his fatigue.
"I won't let you take that boy with you," he said, voice strained but firm.
Toxivar pointed his Poison Scythe toward Brane.
"No problem. All I have to do is separate your head from your body. You're tired anyway it won't be that difficult," he said, the words laced with casual cruelty.
Yet, despite his confident tone, a subtle tension betrayed him.
Suddenly, from his side, Toxivar felt something approaching. In the blink of an eye, a powerful kick struck him on the right side of his abdomen, sending him crashing into the window of an abandoned house. He tumbled inside, glass and debris scattering around him, and the loud crash of falling objects echoed through the empty room. Something heavy had collapsed on top of him, pinning him briefly, the impact rattling his body.
Meanwhile, Bran halted in his tracks, his face showing a mix of shock and unease. Beside the motionless Milo stood kryne, a cigarette perched between his lips, the smoke curling lazily into the sky. His hat sat as usual, though his clothes were slightly tattered after the fight with Noir but still, his condition was far better than Bran's.
In a calm and confident tone, Crane said:
"Took me less than ten minutes to defeat that guy anyway."
Bran looked at Kryne's condition.
"Kryne! Are you okay? How are you doing?"
Kryne lifted his head high, exhaling smoke from his mouth once again.
"I defeated all the troublemakers… including the one who controls shadows, and another who wields the Abyss energy…"
Bran froze at the mention of the word Abyss.
"There are users of Abyss energy too… among them!"
Kryne replied calmly,
"Yes… but don't worry. I made sure he'll be powerless for a while. The Novara police will handle capturing them.
Now, all that's left are the ones called by their numbers."
Kryne looked at Bran's condition.
"Obviously, you were fighting one of them… please tell me it was the strongest among them."
Bran gripped his wound with a grimace.
"I don't think he's the strongest. As far as I know… he's Number Four."
Kryne threw his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his foot.
"This doesn't bode well… anyway, if you're still able to fight, let's move."
Bran nodded slightly, confirming that he could still continue despite his condition.
As they were preparing to leave, Toxivar's hand shot out from the window of the abandoned house, gripping the edges.
His expression was annoyed.
"Hey! You can't just take what you earned from my fight without paying the price!"
Toxivar pulled himself fully out of the shattered window, his legendary Poison Scythe clutched tightly in his hand. His green energy flared violently around him, casting an eerie glow on the broken walls. Muscles tensed and eyes sharp, he leapt from the rooftop with terrifying speed, landing lightly on the ground, ready to strike. Dust and debris swirled around his feet as he charged straight toward Kryne, every movement radiating lethal precision and unyielding intent.
Toxivar launched himself at full speed, swinging his Poison Scythe with deadly intent. But Kryne moved effortlessly, sidestepping each strike with precise timing. With a swift motion, Kryne hooked Toxivar's leg with his own, sending him tumbling violently to the ground. Dust and debris scattered as Toxivar hit the pavement, momentarily stunned, while Kryne stood firm, eyes sharp and unwavering.
Kryne looked at Toxivar with a mocking grin, his eyes glinting with disdain.
"I'm not here to teach a child the basics of fighting. Move out of my sight now, or I'll break every bone in your body…"
Toxivar planted his hands on the ground, exhausted from his fight with Milo.
He slowly rose, determination burning in his eyes, ready to reclaim what was his…
But before he could continue, another kick struck him, throwing him harshly to the ground.
Toxivar refused to surrender.
He stood up once more, gasping for air, his eyes shining with defiance.
He raised his hand toward Kryne, flipping him the middle finger in a blatant attempt to provoke him.
Kryne and Bran froze instantly, their eyes widening in shock and dread. The ground shook violently, as if everything around them had become unstable. In the blink of an eye, the earth erupted beneath them, and a gigantic insect emerged, its dark, shimmering body casting ominous shadows. On its back sat Zeric, Number Four, letting out a piercing, terrifying scream that shook the entire area.
Toxivar, despite his exhaustion and previous blows, smiled wickedly, as if the fight wasn't over yet. Kryne and Bran felt an overwhelming wave of shock: this wasn't just a battle… this was a confrontation with the true power of Number Four.
The insect's massive body was armored and glistening, its long legs moving with terrifying speed. Zeric sat imposingly on its back, his eyes glowing with deadly energy. His scream mixed with the insect's sounds, echoing across the abandoned street and sending shivers through the air.
The giant insect opened its massive jaws wide, swallowing Toxivar whole in a single, terrifying motion. It leapt into the air with incredible force, soaring ahead of Kryne and Bran as if racing toward a single point. Both heroes watched, alarmed, as the creature darted toward the location of Celestine and Number Two, Crystel. The ground trembled beneath them
Kryne tightened his grip on his cigarette, his eyes narrowing. Bran's hand hovered near his wound, still bruised and bleeding, but his resolve hardened. There was no time to hesitate the race to Celestine had just become far more dangerous.
Bran was shocked and stunned. He saw the person he had already defeated still moving and now overtaking them toward their target. Impossible… I was certain the police had him restrained in handcuffs!
Kryne ran behind the giant insect, carrying Milo on his shoulder, determined not to let him go. There was no time for shock or fear now; they had to catch up quickly. Bran tried to ignore his injury and ran, his face marked by anger and regret. Even though his pace was slower, he ran with determination to make up for the mistake he had made.
Inside the insect's mouth, Toxivar leaned against one side, relaxed, eyes closed, thinking. They've decided to retreat so quickly… He smiled a terrifying, vicious smile, fully aware of what was happening.
"It seems that Number One is finally on the verge of getting what he wants."
A fleeting vision appeared Theron standing in front of Number One.
The scene lingered in suspense as the insect leapt forward, racing toward Celestine and Number Two, leaving the heroes struggling to catch up.
The chapter ends.