Ren was being pressured by Shoji and Yujim.
Ren (thought):
What's going on with Ezonku…?
In the distance, Kagashi stood still, watching Ezonku's unconscious body on the ground. Without a word, he turned to leave.
Suddenly—
Akira appeared.
An explosion of acid burst from his body, rushing toward Kagashi.
Kagashi barely dodged.
Kagashi:
Pathetic.
Akira looked at Ezonku's body… unmoving.
His expression changed.
He turned back to Kagashi.
His body began to be covered in a bubbling, corrosive substance.
Kagashi watched in silence.
Akira:
How can you do that… to a teammate?
Kagashi:
Teammate?
The strong stand. The weak fall.
He was weak. That's why he fell.
Akira charged.
He hurled multiple spheres of acid.
Kagashi dodged all of them effortlessly.
In an instant, Akira appeared right in front of him.
Boom.
The impact echoed.
But once again… Kagashi remained unharmed.
Kagashi:
Acid… interesting.
But coming from someone who doesn't even understand his own potential…
He struck Akira.
Akira was thrown to the ground.
Akira:
Damn it…
Kagashi turned to leave again.
A voice stopped him.
Ezonku:
Where do you think you're going?
Kagashi looked back.
Ezonku was standing.
Injured.
But smiling.
Kagashi:
You're still standing?
Ezonku:
There's no one who can extinguish hell.
And I'm not losing to someone like you.
Kagashi:
Your pride is too big.
Ezonku:
Call it whatever you want.
In the end… everything burns.
Ezonku began walking toward him.
Akira got up… and stood beside him.
Ezonku:
What are you doing, meathead?
Akira:
He's too strong. You can't beat him alone.
Ezonku:
Don't compare me to you.
I don't need help.
Go help Ren.
Akira:
Ezonku…
Akira hesitated… then stepped back.
Kagashi watched.
Kagashi:
You should listen to your friend.
Ezonku:
Friend?
This is between us.
Kagashi… second year.
Kagashi:
Then let's begin.
Both took their stance.
Ezonku moved first.
A beam of fire shot toward Kagashi.
Kagashi absorbed it effortlessly.
In the same instant—
Ezonku appeared in front of him.
A right hook.
The impact forced Kagashi back.
Ezonku:
You're getting slower.
Kagashi:
This will be the last blow.
Kagashi moved at high speed.
Ezonku dodged at the last second, using explosions to propel himself.
He appeared behind—
A kick.
Kagashi blocked.
Ezonku didn't stop.
Explosions erupted around them.
Kagashi:
Pathetic.
Kagashi launched a rapid, precise combination of punches.
Ezonku dodged and countered.
The exchange intensified.
But something changed.
Kagashi's breathing grew heavier.
Kagashi (thought):
I'm getting tired… faster?
He looked around.
The flames.
Kagashi (thought):
So that's the plan…
He's consuming the oxygen.
Kagashi:
Took me a while to notice.
Ezonku smirked.
He charged again.
Kagashi prepared a direct punch—
But hit… nothing.
Ezonku dissolved into flames.
The real one emerged from within.
A kick.
Explosion.
Kagashi was thrown to the ground.
Kagashi (thought):
How… did he hide that?
Kagashi:
So you were hiding something.
Ezonku:
You're just noticing now?
Kagashi (thought):
He masked it with the flames…
I need to end this now.
Kagashi gathered energy.
But hesitated for a moment.
A mistake.
Ezonku noticed.
Kagashi expanded his domain again… weaker.
Ezonku:
You think I'll fall for that again?
Ezonku released a massive amount of Reikon.
A red aura enveloped his body.
He charged straight into the domain.
Smiling.
Multiple fire clones appeared.
Kagashi attacked.
The clones collapsed.
Compressed.
Formed a small sphere.
Kagashi (thought):
Why didn't my domain absorb it?
Ezonku appeared.
A barrage of rapid blows.
Kagashi could only defend.
Kagashi (thought):
My domain… was neutralized?
He stepped back.
Canceled the domain.
Condensed all his energy into a single sphere.
Dark.
Dense.
Unstable.
He launched it.
The sphere expanded.
Moving like a black hole.
Ezonku didn't move.
He faced it.
Boom.
A crater formed.
Silence.
Kagashi smiled.
Kagashi:
It's over.
A voice came from behind him.
Ezonku:
That attack… I liked it.
Kagashi froze.
Ezonku stood there.
Untouched.
Ezonku:
But I'm better.
The sphere formed by the clones began to glow.
Small.
Intense.
Like a compressed sun.
He threw it.
Boom.
The explosion swallowed Kagashi.
Silence.
When the smoke cleared—
Kagashi lay on the ground.
Unconscious.
Ezonku turned.
Looked at the other students.
That smile returned.
Ezonku:
So…
Who else thought they weren't getting beaten?
Silence.
No one moved