Chapter: I Hate When People Laugh
The beach was too quiet.
Waves moved slowly as if even the sea didn't want to disturb what was about to happen.
Ayu, Shadow, Kaito, Miko, Milosevic… and an empty space where Yoi should have been.
Ayu looked at that gap for a second.
Then forward.
A man stood far ahead near the shoreline.
Back turned.
Still.
"That's him," Milosevic said quietly.
Death Blower.
Ayu stepped forward first.
"Formation."
Shadow moved into the mist of darkness he created, slowly vanishing.
Kaito ignited both palms, steam and fire dancing together.
Miko stayed behind Ayu, ready.
Milosevic observed every step Death Blower took.
They approached.
Crunch.
Sand under their feet.
Death Blower spoke without turning.
"…I hate laugh."
They froze.
He turned slowly.
His face twisted, eyes wide, veins visible.
"I hate when people laugh."
Suddenly—
BOOM!
He slammed his fist into the sand.
A shockwave exploded outward.
The team scattered.
Kaito barely jumped back in time.
Shadow flipped into the air and vanished into mist.
Ayu blocked the wave with his arm, sliding back meters.
Miko fell but quickly stood.
Milosevic shouted, "He releases stored impact through his limbs!"
Death Blower charged straight at Ayu.
Fast.
Too fast for his size.
Ayu punched.
Their fists collided.
The sand beneath them exploded upward.
Ayu's arm trembled.
"He stores kinetic energy!" Ayu shouted.
Death Blower smiled in a twisted way.
He took Ayu's punch without moving.
Then returned it.
Ayu flew backward across the sand, rolling.
Kaito attacked from the side with a blast of steam and fire.
Death Blower took it head-on.
No defense.
Then kicked Kaito mid-air, sending him crashing near the water.
Shadow emerged behind Death Blower, striking his neck.
But Death Blower grabbed Shadow's arm without even looking and slammed him into the ground.
Miko ran to Ayu, placing her golden hands on his arm.
The bruise faded quickly.
Ayu stood again.
"Don't hit him repeatedly!" Ayu yelled. "You're charging him!"
Milosevic observed carefully. "He needs to be forced to release it without aim!"
Death Blower started laughing softly.
A broken laugh.
Then he punched the air.
The air itself exploded forward like a cannon.
Miko screamed as the shockwave threw her back.
Ayu activated Ying Yang.
Purple energy surrounded him.
His speed increased.
He dashed in, landing multiple light hits, then retreating instantly.
Death Blower's body began trembling.
Too much stored force.
Shadow understood.
He created thick mist around Death Blower's legs, limiting movement.
Kaito attacked the ground beneath him, destabilizing his stance.
Death Blower roared.
"I HATE WHEN PEOPLE LAUGH!"
He slammed both fists into the ground.
The sand around him blasted upward like a volcano.
Ayu appeared above him mid-air and punched down with full force.
Death Blower was buried into the sand.
For a moment…
Silence.
They breathed heavily.
Then—
The sand behind them rose.
Death Blower emerged from it.
Unharmed.
"I… hate… laugh…"
He vanished into the sand again.
Milosevic shouted, "He's using the sand to absorb and redirect impact!"
Ayu's eyes widened.
Too late.
Death Blower burst out from below Ayu and delivered a full powered punch straight into his stomach.
Ayu's eyes went blank.
Blood came out of his mouth.
He flew across the beach, unconscious before he landed.
"Ayu!!" Miko screamed.
Panic spread.
Their coordination broke.
Kaito attacked wildly.
Shadow tried to restrain Death Blower alone.
Milosevic tried shouting instructions but no one listened.
Death Blower moved like a monster now.
One by one, they were thrown aside.
Miko was cornered.
Death Blower walked toward her slowly.
Then—
A gunshot.
A special bullet pierced Death Blower's shoulder.
Yoi stood far away, gun smoking.
"Sorry I'm late."
Death Blower turned toward him.
Yoi kept firing, distracting him.
Shadow used the moment.
He appeared behind Death Blower silently.
Wrapped his arm around his neck.
And with one precise motion—
Snap.
Death Blower's body went limp.
He fell into the sand.
The waves finally touched the battlefield.
Yoi walked toward Ayu's unconscious body.
Kneeling beside him.
"…I'm sorry, Ayu."