Victor stood over Thronjaw's fallen form, his expression hidden behind the ominous visor of his suit. With a cruel smile, he lifted his foot and stomped down on Thronjaw's head, grinding it into the dirt. "I thought a Calamity Class would be a challenge," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "But all you are is a little toddler trying to fight."
Thronjaw's body lay motionless, his strength drained from the battle. Uriel and Lance, both severely injured, could do nothing but watch in helpless despair. Their bodies were battered and broken, their energy sapped by Victor's relentless attacks. Hope began to fade as they realized the dire situation they were in.
As Thronjaw lay there, a memory surfaced in his mind. He remembered a time before the chaos, before the Undergrounders began appearing more frequently. He was just a young Undergrounder, confused and alone in a world that saw him as a failed project. But there was one person who saw him differently—a kid who promised to be his best friend, no matter what.
Thronjaw's monologue played out in his mind, a bittersweet recollection of the past. "Before it all happened, there was a time when I was born into this world. They called me a failed project, an abomination. But there was a kid, a human, who saw me differently. He told me he would always be there for me, even when I was alone. He inspired me to protect, to believe that not all humans were bad."
That kid had protected Thronjaw when others had tried to harm him. He had shown Thronjaw that there was goodness in the world, that not all humans were enemies. As Thronjaw grew, he couldn't recognize the kid anymore. The kid had become a man, a protector of humans, but he still understood the Undergrounders. Thronjaw had fought against him months ago, and he knew it was his defeat because the man had smiled as he took the sword. He hadn't fought Thronjaw with his full power; he was undercover, trying to protect both humans and Undergrounders.
Even just a few days ago, that man had told Thronjaw, "If you ever need my help, call for me, Thronjaw. I know it seems pretty corny of me to say this, but I will always come to help you, bud."
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Thronjaw's eyes fluttered open, his voice barely a whisper. "Arata... Help... Me..."
In an instant, a powerful hand grabbed Victor's visor and crushed it, then grabbed Victor's face and sent him flying into a wall. "Say no more," a familiar voice said, filled with determination and strength. It was none other than Ryuki Arata, the figure that gave everyone hope.
Thronjaw smirked, knowing that the battle was now in safe hands. Angela followed closely behind Arata, her presence a reassuring sight. Victor, recovering from the sudden attack, roared in fury. "I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!" he bellowed, charging towards Arata.
But before Victor could reach him, he realized that Uriel and Lance were already near Thronjaw. Arata had moved so quickly that even Victor's eyes couldn't comprehend his speed. Arata stood protectively over his fallen comrades, his presence a beacon of hope.
"Are you guys alright?" Arata asked Uriel and Lance, his voice calm and steady.
"Yeah... He has the ability to devour and deflect our abilities, Arata," Uriel explained, his voice weak but determined. "He also devours your strength as you fight him. A prolonged battle will lead to your defeat."
"Is that so?" Arata smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Oye, I am going to hit you with my strongest attack. Deflect it for me, can you?" he called out to Victor.
"WHAT?! ARE YOU CRAZY?! HE WILL DESTROY YOU—" Uriel tried to reason with Arata, but Lance stopped him.
"You see that, Uriel? That's the face of a man who knows he has already won the battle," Lance said, his voice filled with admiration.
Arata took a deep breath and placed his hand on the ground. A massive ball of yellow lightning began to generate around his hand as he readied his attack. The energy crackled and surged, illuminating the battlefield with its intense glow.
"Element of Thunder..." Arata's voice was calm and steady as he moved with blinding speed, appearing right in front of Victor. "Victor... You are dead for trying to even hurt my comrades," he said, his voice filled with resolve.
The lightning ball was absorbed into Arata's hand as he raised his fist. "Fearing Jolt of Grim Light," he intoned, his voice calm and unwavering. Before Victor could even activate his defense, with a powerful strike, he brought his fist down on Victor, the energy of the attack completely annihilating Victor's presence from the scene. The ring shattered, never to be used again.
The battlefield fell silent, the overwhelming power of Arata's attack leaving no doubt of his victory. The sight of Victor's defeat was a testament to Arata's strength and determination, a beacon of hope for his comrades.