The claw tore through the air.
Chiki felt it—felt death brush his chest—and somehow moved. Without thinking or planning. His body twisted on pure reflex.
The claw missed.
But the dodge was too sharp.
His legs collided mid-step and he crashed hard onto the ground, breath knocked clean out of him.
Chiki looked up.
Kunter stood there.
Silent. Looming.
Like a grim reaper staring down at a person ready to take his life anytime.
Kunter bent his knees, grinning cunningly—ready to finish it.
"—HEY!"
A fist slammed straight into Kunter's face.
The impact sent him skidding back several meters, boots carving lines into the floor.
Tuka stood in a weird stance between Kunter and Chiki, chest heaving, fists clenched.
Kunter wiped blood from his lip and smiled.
"…Not bad, kid," he said. "Have you been training lately?"
Tuka didn't hesitate.
"What do you mean by 'lately'?" he snapped. "I've been doing this forever."
Kunter lunged, claws flashing.
Tuka dodged.
He stepped in, stance low, hips turning—
KYOKUSHIN KARATE.
His fist drove upward into Kunter's gut.
"KOI!"
The blow landed solid. Kunter staggered back half a step—more surprised than hurt.
Kunter retaliated with raw speed, a brutal backhand tearing through Tuka's guard. The force burned, vibrating into bone, but Tuka absorbed it, arms locked, stance intact. Suddenly Tuka started facing nose bleeding due to the force Kunter hit him with. He exhaled slowly, stepping back in despite the ache spreading through his limbs. An elbow strike—Age Empi—cut upward, followed by a rising punch that drove straight into Kunter's abdomen.
"KOI!"
For a moment, Kunter actually halted.
Tuka's arms trembled now, muscles screaming beneath discipline, every block and strike carving pain deeper into him. Still, he stood. Breathing steady. Eyes focused.
Kunter straightened, studying him with something close to interest.
"So this is karate," he said quietly. "Structure,Endurance,Pain tolerance Blah Blah Blah."
His coat slipped from his shoulders and hit the floor.
"But did you know ? endurance only works," Kunter added, shifting his stance, lighter, sharper, "until someone hits hard enough."
Before Tuka could react—
TAEKWONDO.
A back kick exploded into his chest.
The force lifted him off the ground.
Tuka flew across the hall and slammed into the far wall, crumpling as he hit the floor—motionless.
Tema heard it.
The impact echoed through the shield she was forming around the non-combatants.
Her heart dropped.
"Tuka…?"
Panic crept into her control.
"That means.....the only one left now is..."
Kunter turned.
Bear stood up across from him, blood on his face, breathing steady despite the pain.
The monster stood in front him, grinning menacingly.
"I was hoping that fun shouldn't end this soon. Guess it Won't."