Battle status.

Three enemies trapped. Four allies injured. Two allies unable to fight. One enemy standing confused. One enemy standing ground. And two allies who have evolved their weapons.

"But still… to think Shin also awakened his weapon…" Yukio smiled.

«I already mentioned that, though?» resounded Argon.

"Eh? You did?" After which he tried recalling his words.

«Yeah. But it's better if you don't lump yourself together with that brat.»

"...Why?"

«Right now, even if we're acting as your weapons, we're doing more work to support and maintain your powers. Meaning, it's mostly a one-way relationship. But him. He dove in and came back all on his own. It's more taxing on him at the moment, but the degree of his comprehension is far beyond yours.»

"Shin… just as expected, you're awesome!"

«Heh! You're a unique existence, but he's a genuine prodigy! You better hurry up and improve! Don't take being chosen by a dragon lightly!»

Shin felt relief, similar to Yukio. But more importantly, after facing that dreaded abyss, he learnt to further appreciate everything that he has. As such, his desire to defeat the opponent before him has never been greater!

In reality, with the amount of energy contained in that attack he faced, Shin would not have stood back up as easily as he did. Splinter's attack was indeed a 2-star attack, but the energy in the attack that landed on Shin was far less. This was because of Splinter's inexperience when utilizing the portion of the shard that was gifted to him.

As soon as he returned, he felt his senses sharpen. The sensory information he received from his environment was nothing compared to the turbulence after the void. He found his body moving to take action before he even consciously grasped the situation before him. He didn't even stop to notice his weapon evolving.

It was only after delivering the bodies behind Layla did Shin become properly conscious.

"Layla. It's alright now. Can I leave their treatment to you?" he said.

As if the natural answer was expected, Shin had started to make a move before she could nod. He eyed at Yukio and smiled at him, making their way towards the only opponent standing.

"That damned Yu. And here I thought it was finally my time to shine!"

The evolved weapon did indeed feel more comfortable. It weighed slightly more, but the balance being at the center helped greatly. Even though the current length was almost twice as before, it didn't seem like it would cause much of a problem.

"Aren't we the villains? What would I do if you're the ones breaking the one-on-one promise?"

Fwoop!

Shin swung White Lightning to his side. "Don't kid yourself. Nobody promised anything!"

This was no time to go with their flow. He understood very well that none of the opponents were those that they could defeat alone. Plus, Shin didn't know how long he'd be able to hold out on using Raze. Even if he hadn't begun sweating or panting, he could slowly start feeling the stress getting to him.

"Did Diav seriously use this power so easily for so long?" His evaluation of his best friend improved.

This was magnitudes more difficult to control than Natura. The output was enormous, true, but the cost seemed to be a short time limit. If Diavolo could maintain use of Raze for so long, just how far ahead was he?

And yet, the opponent before them was someone even that Diavolo could not defeat. Playing dirty? Unfair? No way! Nobody was taken hostage nor was there any sneaky tactics! Shin had no reason to feel guilty! Yukio also being able to use Raze was a blessing! Before they run out of strength, it was indisputable that they defeat this man right now!

"Yu! We've never fought together before, but… you think you can keep up?"

"Leave it to me!"

Instinctive fighter Shin would battle how he feels right, whereas tactical fighter Yukio who knew Shin's movement patterns would provide backup accordingly. Even if they hadn't tagged teamed against anyone before, there shouldn't be much of a problem.

On cue, Shin dashed forward for a simple but hard strike. Of course Geralt easily blocked it. But this was not Shin with his original White Lightning, but an evolved one. There were a variety of different moves that could be done. One of which was him using the block itself to boost the next attack.

Shin went along with the collision and actually pulled back the blade from his cane. Twisting the evolved sword pivoted at his hand, the other end was swung at his waist.

"!!!"

Alarmed, Geralt swiftly thrust his cane straight down diagonally, but what repeated was another reverse swing with the original end.

He squinted at slightly sighed at such a monotonous move, but just as he was about to easily parry the oncoming attack, the angle switched and what came was Shin rotating the sword at irregularly high and low speeds and at various angles, similar to fire dance performers. Attacks that actually were aimed at Geralt came randomly and it was slightly annoying to predict where the attack would come from.

One might think what Shin was doing was childishly desperate, but his movements were well calculated. Although it would be more accurately described as felt, rather than calculated.

It was annoying for Geralt, but not impossible. So what if Shin has had countless battles against beasts in the wild? So what if Shin's body was made to be a natural born fighter? His past opponents were simply that - wild beasts. A deep gaze into his eyes from a well honed fighter would reveal his actual attacks easily. And that was exactly what Geralt was doing.

He quickly got used to Shin's attacks, but this was what Shin was waiting for.

A figure flashed past Geralt and something solid came straight at his face.

"Did you really think I wasn't paying attention to both of you?" he thought and immediately twisted his wrist for a swift parry.

BZZT!

Immediately, White Lightning let out a blindingly bright burst of electricity.

"!!!"

Geralt wore an eyepatch, meaning his right side was a blind spot and that was precisely what Yukio was aiming for.

Predictable.

That was what Geralt had thought. His only weakness was something he paid close attention to. Naturally, children facing him would think attacking in that region would be a smart move. And it definitely was. For children, that is.

However, there was a limit to how much attention one could spare if one wasn't used to something. Shin activating his weapon at that moment was something that took him by surprise. It didn't matter if it was a feint or not. He would definitely take damage if he took the hit.

BOOM!

Bzzt bzzt!!

His right arm already in the motion of blocking Yukio's attack was not something he could retract on time to take on both. And this was exactly when he was forced to take a new action.

This was when Geralt finally unsheathed the cane sword.

Blunt for blunt, sharp for sharp, the scabbard was used to block Yukio and the blade for Shin.

And now, Shin aside, Geralt's problem would be dealing with Yukio. Even if the scabbard gave him extended range, if a momentary lapse of concentration occurred and Yukio was allowed to draw close, the flexibility and versatility of using one's own fists would not be easily overtaken by the likes of a mere scabbard. Especially, when there's another annoying youngster causing problems with a double-ended sword.

Soon enough, the tag team started to corner him and the first drop of sweat finally appeared on Geralt's forehead.

And then another.

And another.

"This won't do," he thought. "I need to immobilize one of them."

But in contrast, it was Yukio who knitted his eyebrows. "Why isn't he using his flames yet?"

From the outside it looked as if Geralt was at a disadvantage, but the pair fighting him knew and was wary of him holding back. Geralt had yet to use his Raze. Plus, the darkness that completely reversed his injury was also something to take note of.

"Shit!!! That wimpy ass kid!!! Why is this ice so thick?!!!" Splinter shouted from a distance.

"Fuck you, Splinter! You interrupted me from enjoying myself just to get trapped here! This is all your fault!"

"Huh?! How is this my—!! If you've got room to complain, how about you help me break this shit, huh?!!!"

"UGH!!!"

"You too, old man! Stop standing there and help us out!!!"

"Ohoho! But my arms are still numb. It will take awhile before I regain control over them."

"Fuck your arms! Use those jacked up legs of yours! We can't let those punks pressure Leader like that!!"

"Is that how it looks like to you? He has yet to use his full strength though?"

"Shut up and do it!!!"

"Sigh… First the lad and now you. Youngsters these days really have no patience. Very well…" He approached one of the arch bases, "Hup!" and landed a straight upwards jab with his leg.

Boom!

The ice structure crumbled apart with a loud noise. Even the ones engrossed in their battles could hear it.

"Sheesh! If it was that easy for you, then you should've just done it from the beginning!" Tanran complained.

The other accomplice however, made a straight path towards the fight without a thank you. As he closed in, the surface of his skin began to brim with black currents.

"SURPRISE!!! MISSED ME?!!!" he shouted like a lunatic.

Voom! Bang! Fwoosh!

An instantaneous exchange stopped him in his tracks.

"The hell… you ain't dead yet?" His eyes narrowed towards half-sitting Diavolo.

"Haah… haah… haah…"

"Di-Diavolo-kun! You haven't been completely healed yet! Please lie—"

Fwoosh fwoosh fwoosh!

Multiple needle-like whips jabbed straight at him from who knows where. They were aimed at Suzume too, but sensing the disturbances in the air, Diavolo quickly defended against it.

"Hurk! Ugh!" he groaned.

"I suppose I'll make do with you until that bitch wakes up again. It's no fun if she doesn't scream after how she insulted me," Tanran twirled her braids.

"Tch! Every single one of them…!" Diavolo dreaded. Without a proper weapon, he was forced to grab onto Heratune that was nearby.

Naturally, since Hannah was the master, he couldn't activate it, but he had no other choice.

"Is fighting back even going to…" Tanran stopped her sentence midway and sighed. "You know what. Whatever. Fight back or what not. Everyone knows it's futile but—"

"Keep your mouth open and flies will start gathering around your stinking breath…" he hoarsely said.

Crack crack!

Veins popped on Tanran's forehead. "It isn't my hobby to hit cute boys like you, but… looks like I'll have to make an exception!"

Ping ping ping

Tanran's hair relentlessly jabbed wind needles at him. Even in that injured and tired state, Diavolo was forced to heighten his senses and reflexes to the limit to parry as much as he could.

"Layla, quick!" Suzume screamed, alarmed. "You have to support him! Or else he'll break down!"

The latter timidly nodded and approached behind him, accelerating his healing and providing him with strength. But there was only so much a meek little girl frightened in her shoes could do.

"Yu, sorry, but I'll have to let you handle things on this end…" Shin said and took off just as the latter nodded.

Not even a moment of delay later, Yukio did the same as he had done to the other three. He leapt back a few steps to gain some distance and immediately swung up two large arches of water, solidifying them almost instantaneously once they'd touched the ground on the other side.

Even if Yukio had access to an infinite amount of energy, he was still leagues away from creating water out of nothing. That, and most of his abilities right now was also being heavily supported by Neon and Argon. However, what he did gain from the two was super heightened senses. And that was not only the sense of fighting but also in the sense that he could feel the presence of all fluids even if they were deep underground. Even if the land they were on was as barren as the current one. As thus, it was possible for him to bring out so much water even if he couldn't do so before.

Yukio knew very well this trap wouldn't hold. Unlike the previous three, Geralt was someone who could use fire. Even if his strength wasn't enough, he'd still be able to melt it away, especially with the intensity he displayed on Diavolo. He was well prepared to trap him repeatedly several times over.

But surprisingly, Geralt didn't move an inch. Instead, Yukio wasn't sure but, he probably saw him reaching out to his ear right before the arches covered him whole.

"Oh no you don't!" Splinter dashed after Shin.

Ping clang tong!

Diavolo kept parrying the rapidly assaulting wind needles.

"This is never going to end at this rate!" he declared and, "HAAH!" sent a fiery blast wave in desperation.

Much of the flames followed along the wind whips until they broke up, whereas the whips that didn't have fire through them simply dissolved for some reason.

Of course Diavolo knew this wasn't going to solve anything but buying time, which he was in dire need of. He prepared himself for the next onslaught while thinking of ways to close up on her without leaving the injured and weak open.

"Tch," Tanran clicked her tongue, moments after which she whipped her hair to her left and created a long batch of the attacks.

The attack was still relentless. However, due to taking a longer route, it came slower and weaker.

"Huh? Why doesn't she just attack normally like she did before?" he thought as he felt he was on to something, "Perhaps…"

"HAAH!" He managed to draw out a bit more of his strength and sent another fiery burst. A similar scene repeated and Tanran's face seemed to have twisted to that of frustration and annoyance.

She swung her head to whip her hair to her right this time, when Diavolo's voice interrupted her.

"I get it now." He smirked. "You can't control any kind of air like that, can you?"

Tanran shuddered.

"You need ideal conditions. As such manipulating heated air is beyond your control. Isn't that right?"

"... Don't get ahead of yourself…" she bluffed.

But Diavolo could see through it. He was indeed correct. Tanran needed a particular range of conditions to be fulfilled for her to control the air to the best of her abilities. It was unknown if cold air would conversely make her powerful or not, but hot air wasn't her strong point, that's for sure.

If that was the case, they had been at a huge advantage against Tanran throughout the entire spectacle!

Winter was long gone and the sun glaring down would easily heat the air. Under normal circumstances, Diavolo's flames heating the air would not be much of an issue as the air would quickly return to normal as the heat dissipates. But since they were on a barren land in summer, the time taken for the air to return was lengthened.

"Guess I'll have to go a little overboard for now…" He readied himself as he rested his upper body on his bent knees with his hands.

"Diavolo-kun, what are you…" Suzume asked, worried. She knew that smile meant he was about to do something dangerous.

And in fact that was the case. Diavolo was planning on heating up the surrounding air as much as he could! Just enough to allow him or the approaching Shin, or… someone, to deal with her!

He took a deep breath and—

Kachak!

…

..

.

Everybody in the scene froze stiff.

All eyes were on Diavolo.

Diavolo looked down… at the thing protruding from his chest.

How could an enemy have gotten behind him so quickly?

He instantly glanced at everyone ahead. All of the five enemies were at bay. Then who could've…

He turned back and stared stupefied…

"Layla… why…Hurk!"

Ping. Clang!

He coughed up blood as the weapon that stabbed into him broke apart and turned to dust.

The culprit never once looked him or anyone in the eye silently kept staring at the ground. The ground where Diavolo fell on his knees as his body became powerless and cold.

VOOSH BOOM!!

A fiery dome appeared around Geralt and melted the ice whole. But right now, Yukio was too dumbfounded to take action against it.

"Fucking finally!" Splinter exclaimed ecstatically and leapt towards the frozen Shin. He grabbed his arm and yanked it behind him, pushed his body down to the ground by the head and executed a black lightning attack with ease and comfort.

Before Shin could groan in pain, he was robbed of his consciousness yet again as his eyes whitened at the point where his face had contorted into a vicious frown, his mouth foaming.

Geralt emerged from the dome and struck Yukio cleanly at his neck and jaw, causing his body to twist and fall over.

"Layla… what… why…" Suzume couldn't form the words at what she just witnessed, when she suddenly remembered the odd words she had spoken.

"Heh!" Tanran took this chance and launched a series of attacks to render Suzume motionless as she swiftly approached right in front of her and picked her up… as well as Layla on either arm.

"You…!" Diavolo's eyes widened and he gritted his teeth. He twisted his body and reached out to grab onto Tanran but she had already leapt a few steps away and ran towards the dangling ropes.

"Hehe! This has indeed been fun! Adios, chumps!" Splinter also casually went towards the ropes. With Diavolo's heart pierced through, nobody noteworthy was left to take care of.

Reports had told them that the 'bodyguard' displaying most problems was Diavolo. Although they hadn't witnessed a thing like so, there was no reason for there to be lies in the reports. His heart was stabbed so that was the end for him. All that was left was for him to sink into the cold deep abyss of death. There was no need to double check such an obvious thing.

Geralt calmly walked towards the ropes.

The old man was seen to tie the fat one in chains and easily lift him up for departure up to the airship.

"It was a good show. I thank you for entertaining our Master." Geralt bowed, after which a gentle tug on the ropes was followed by then ascending back up at an irrecoverable rate.

"H-hey… wait— Hump!" He attempted to get up and run towards them, but the pain and powerlessness made him fall face first.

"I'm sorry… even though I was fine, I couldn't act soon enough to stop her…" Randolf said apologetically. "It just happened so suddenly!" he cursed and clenched his fist.

But his words didn't enter Diavolo. He didn't care. He trudged and lifted his torso, and looked straight up at the airship, the edge on which… he could see a figure clad in a black cloak.

He felt his vision become dark. But wasn't this what he was waiting for? His powers had always awakened when he fell unconscious, right?

"No… I can't collapse… not now!"

They had attempted knocking him unconscious in the past but it never worked. There was some other kind of trigger. There was no guarantee!

"If I collapse now… I definitely won't be able to recover her!" He stood back up, still staring up with gritted teeth.

This 'power' was far too unreliable. He had put his bet on this, but now was not the right time. What if they were gone by the time he woke up? If only he knew the way. If only he could use the power consciously!

"I still have yet… to ask her!"

Right now, he didn't care that he was mortally wounded. The pain was beginning to fade away, slowly becoming overshadowed by cold and numbness.

This was not a good sign at all, but Diavolo felt it was just more convenient. The pain was getting in the way.

"This is all your fault!!" He cursed the man in the black cloak, who finally turned around and started to walk back in.

His face turned into a deep glare.

And his vision overlapped… with the phantom image of a giant cracked gate.

"Hisao…"

The cracks spread wider and across the whole gate.

"Hisao…!!!"

Amongst the cracks… just at the area where a knob would normally be… a small chunk of the gate broke off and disintegrated… revealing a hole about as thick as two fingers.

"HISAOOO!!!!!"

And his eyes…

… glowed bright red with soul piercing vertical slits.