Running at top speed, Zero leaped and dashed gracefully through the intricate maze of trees. The urgency in his movements matched the worry in his voice as he muttered, "Damnit, just how far did we move from them?!"

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a tree contorted and stretched its branches towards him, ensnaring him in a tight grip. The branches grew longer and wound themselves around him, restricting his movements.

"Huh, get off me, damnit!" Zero struggled, using all his strength to break free.

As if responding to his frustration, the tree branches abruptly released him, allowing Zero to resume his relentless pursuit. Confused yet grateful, he wondered, "Huh?"

A particular branch, almost tenderly, came up to caress his face before pointing in a specific direction. "I don't have time to play around, but thank you!" Zero acknowledged the enigmatic guidance and followed the indicated path. However, as he drew closer to his destination, a throbbing headache began to plague him.

Undeterred, Zero dashed through the forest until he finally reached a clearing. There, he spotted Ushin being tended to by Kai. Though his emotions threatened to overwhelm him, Kai remained steadfast, focused solely on saving Ushin's life.

"Ushin?" Zero muttered in shock, his heart filled with relief and concern.

"P-papa, you finally came?" Ushin's weak voice reached his ears, evoking both happiness and sorrow in Zero.

He stood there, unable to respond, as his eyes slowly turned red, a sign of the intense emotions surging within him.

"Ah, you must be the Zero she spoke of earlier," the man behind the attack taunted, trying to provoke Zero further.

Dark red scales started to cover more of Zero's body, accompanied by an ominous aura that leaked from his being. The man, noticing this, decided to push Zero's buttons even harder.

"So tell me, can you do better than the stupid brat and assassin?"

Anger flared within Zero, but his attack missed, causing him to smash into the ground and create a crater.

Taking advantage of the opening, Zero parried the man's blade and delivered a slashing blow across his chest, drawing a pained "Gah!" from his enemy.

Growling, Zero's eyes glowed red, and scales continued to form over his body, fueled by his mounting fury.

"What the hell are you?" Zero demanded, his voice laced with anger and confusion.

Unyielding, Zero channeled lightning into his sword and unleashed a powerful strike, nearly cleaving the man in two. However, the man managed to avoid the fatal blow, losing only his arm in the process.

Seeing that he needed to buy time, the man retrieved something from his pocket and threw a couple of flash bombs at Zero, blinding him momentarily.

With an ominous ring adorned with a gem on his finger, the man activated a mysterious power. A surge of mana enveloped him, transforming into an armor suit with a shimmering blue steel appearance.

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Just as the man attempted to capitalize on his newfound power, a sudden slashing arc appeared out of nowhere, cutting through the air toward him. Though he managed to avoid a lethal blow, the attack inflicted a deep wound, causing him to grimace in pain.

Amid the chaos, Zero growled, taking his one-handed stance as he faced the persistent foe.

Both Zero and the man released their powerful auras, clashing their blades with tremendous force that knocked them both back.

Seizing the moment, Zero unleashed a barrage of spiral slashes in a ferocious attempt to cut the man to pieces. Though the man managed to block the attack, his axe shattered, and he was sent reeling.

With the adrenaline rushing through him, Zero swiftly closed the distance and clashed with the man's arm guards, seeking answers about the attack on Ushin.

The man divulged the chilling truth: someone hired him to capture Ushin, valuing her as a rare hybrid and intending to enslave her for profit.

Dismayed by the man's greed, Zero stood silent, his teeth clenched in frustration and sadness.

Undeterred, the man remained resolute, explaining that survival in this world required money and understanding the harsh reality faced by the weak and poor.

Bitterly torn between emotions and principles, Zero felt a surge of determination as he thought about Ushin's safety and the wickedness of the man before him.

"You wouldn't understand, but this is something I have to do," the man spoke apologetically, his resolve unwavering.

Before Zero could respond, a sudden explosion of blood erupted from his chest, leaving him stunned and weakened.

"I can still fi-," he attempted to speak, but the man seized the opportunity and impaled Zero's heart, rendering him unconscious and leaving him sprawled on the ground.

As Zero lay unconscious, the man declared, "No, this is over."

Meanwhile, Kai, sweating and concerned for his daughter, urged Ushin to run for her life. But she remained loyal and determined to help Zero.

"But dad?" Ushin questioned, unwilling to abandon her father.

"He's dying, Ushin. Go help him," Kai insisted, his parental instincts urging her to prioritize Zero's well-being.

Resolute, Ushin turned her attention to Zero's motionless form, hesitating for a moment before whispering, "You better win."

Kai, somber but determined, approached the man with a hint of sadness and a small smile, ready to confront him again.

"Do you really think you can beat me after you lost the first time?" the man taunted.

"I don't know, let's test that," Kai retorted, preparing for the imminent clash.

In a lightning-fast move, the man thrust his arm at Kai, aiming for a lethal strike. But, to the man's surprise, Kai suddenly started to laugh, as though he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

Infuriated by Kai's mocking laughter, the man demanded to know what was so amusing.

"That Idiots like you always fall for it so easily," Kai said, his voice now dripping with confidence and sarcasm.

In that moment, black tendrils emerged from Kai's body, entangling the man within their dark grasp.

Unyielding, the man tried to break free, but Kai had him firmly trapped. As the man struggled, Kai appeared behind him, revealing his true prowess.

Seizing the opportunity, Kai delivered a swift and precise slash across the man's chest, his aim perfect despite the man's durable armor.

"I'm not strong enough to cut through his armor, I need to find his weak spots," Kai strategized internally, determined to overcome his enemy's defense.

The man retaliated, striking Kai's side, but the agile and nimble Kai skillfully evaded the blow, springing onto the man's arm and delivering a powerful kick to his face. Simultaneously, Kai unleashed his shadow tendrils, capturing the man in a vice-like grip.

Cornered, the man attempted to break free, but the tendrils were relentless. He managed to shatter four out of the fifteen arms, but it was not enough to free himself entirely.

The tendrils swung him forcefully down to the ground, creating a deep crater upon impact. The man's aura exploded, his power surging as he prepared to launch a deadly assault.

Unbeknownst to the man, a mysterious figure suddenly appeared, pushing Kai out of harm's way.

"I'm sorry," Ushin's soft voice whispered, her actions driven by a mix of guilt and determination.

With a swift and ruthless move, the man thrust his fist through Ushin's chest, leaving her gravely wounded.

The battlefield now bore witness to a dire and harrowing confrontation, with the fate of multiple lives hanging in the balance. The air crackled with tension, and the forest bore witness to the tremendous power unleashed in this epic struggle for survival and justice.