As Leon and the group settled into the building in Hakodate, they were surrounded by lights, and the tension in the air was palpable. Baluka was still recovering from Hanako and Akira being thrown onto her back.

“Are you feeling better, Hanako?” Amber asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Like hell I am,” Hanako groaned. “Being thrown at that speed… I don’t even want to think about it.”

Meanwhile, Nur and Leon were at the window, keeping a vigilant watch on the streets below.

“Leon, what are we supposed to do now?” Nur asked, his voice edged with concern.

“We can't keep traveling on foot anymore,” Leon responded, his eyes scanning the horizon. “There have been too many encounters with Yeager ranks. That's why I'm going to hack into Japan's satellite and get us access to the teleportation system.”

Nur stared at Leon in shock. “What... You realize how dangerous that is, right?”

“I know,” Leon said, his tone resolute. “But if it means getting to Luna while she’s weak and vulnerable, I’ll take that risk.”

“But how can you do it from here?” Nur asked. “You don’t have the equipment, and we’re being hunted by two Yeager ranks right now.”

Leon smirked. “I can make it work. That’s why I’ve got a plan.” He signaled Amber and Baluka over. Both women approached him, their expressions wary but ready.

“The plan is simple,” Leon began. “I’ll hack into Japan’s satellite, but I’ll need time. Amber, Baluka, you two will deal with the Yeager rank four. Nur, I need you to stay with me for protection while I work.”

Amber crossed her arms, looking skeptical. “What about Yeager rank three? He can appear out of any shadow and strike at you while you're hacking.”

Leon gave her a confident nod. “Don’t worry. I’ve already thought about that. The person I trust to handle him is someone who can create shockwaves with his hammer and fists.”

Meanwhile, Natalia and Shadow were splitting up to track down the group. Shadow, moving silently through the streets, came across a lone figure standing in the middle of the road. The man was tall, with deep scars etched across his face. His presence radiated strength and experience.

Shadow’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the figure. It was Ash, a fighter known for his devastating shockwave abilities, standing ready for battle.

Without a word, the two locked eyes, and the fight began.

“So you’re the Yeager I was told to fight,” Ash said, gripping his giant hammer with both hands, ready for action.

Shadow remained silent, his cold, lifeless eyes fixed on Ash.

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Ash’s brow furrowed, and his tone turned deadly serious. “Before I kill you… what’s the Yeager’s name that killed Adam?”

Shadow finally spoke, his voice low and emotionless. “Killer.”

Ash nodded, his grip tightening on his hammer. “Good to know.”

With that, Ash swung his hammer with a mighty arc. But before Shadow could react, Ash closed the gap and kicked him in the face with brutal force. The impact sent Shadow flying, crashing into the ground, but he quickly regained his footing.

“He sent shockwaves into my mind when he kicked me,” Shadow thought, his head pounding from the attack. He barely had time to think as Ash came charging again, hammer raised.

Ash brought the massive weapon down, but Shadow blocked with his sickle. Ash’s right hand moved like lightning, striking Shadow’s head at the speed of sound, sending even more shockwaves through his skull. Shadow staggered slightly, his vision blurred, but just as Ash was about to kick him in the head again, Shadow recovered. In a split second, he blocked the attack and shot Ash a murderous death glare.

Without hesitation, Shadow kicked Ash, sending him flying backward. Ash landed hard, dust kicking up around him as he hit the ground.

“Damn,” Ash muttered, wiping blood from his mouth. “I wanted to end this fight quickly.” He got to his feet, preparing for the next round, knowing he was up against someone far more dangerous than he first thought.

"He can hear them, can’t he? The pressures of shockwaves caused by flux energy," Shadow thought, observing Ash’s movements.

Since birth, Ash had been able to sense and manipulate shockwaves. To him, the air pressure and vibrations in his surroundings told a story no one else could understand. By adjusting these pressures, he could unleash devastating attacks capable of shaking the earth itself.

"I guess I have to take this fight seriously," Ash thought, gripping his hammer tightly before pressing a button on its handle. The hammer dissolved into a set of sleek armor, covering his arms and legs in protective gear. "Leon, this armor better work," he muttered under his breath.

"Using my sickle will be pointless in this fight," Shadow mused, his weapon disappearing in a wisp of darkness. He assumed a fighting stance, his eyes narrowing.

“Hey, don’t get yourself killed in one hit,” Ash taunted, a grin pulling at his lips.

Shadow’s annoyance flared, but before he could react, Ash was already in front of him, moving at the speed of sound. Punches flew in rapid succession, and Shadow barely dodged them, though a few strikes connected, sending sharp jolts of pain through his body. Ash’s relentless assault pushed him back.

"System, has everyone evacuated?" Ash asked through his cybernetics.

"Yes, the area is clear," the AI responded.

"Shockwave Style: Waves of Clashing Mountains!" Ash thought. He grabbed Shadow by the head and slammed him into the ground with immense force. The resulting shockwave obliterated buildings in a 200-meter radius, the ground itself trembling under the sheer power of the attack.

Shadow knelt, his body already regenerating from the damage. Blood dripped from his wounds, but his face remained expressionless. "Time to end this," Ash said, preparing for a final blow.

“Yeager Ability: Shadow Explosion,” Shadow whispered. In an instant, Ash’s body was slashed open as though an invisible blade had cut through him.

"What the hell? How did he do that?" Ash thought, gripping his side in shock.

"I’m not hitting you directly," Shadow explained, rising to his feet. "I’m targeting your shadow. When your shadow takes damage, so do you."

Shadow rushed toward Ash, closing the distance in a heartbeat. But as soon as he was close enough, Ash grabbed his head and began slamming it with brutal headbutts. Shadow responded in kind, their foreheads colliding in a brutal exchange of blows, neither willing to back down.

"For some reason… this reminds me of her," Shadow thought amidst the chaos, the impact of their heads ringing in his ears as memories of another fierce fighter flickered in his mind.

as he remembers his past with Amelia Locke and him when they were both humans.