It is the desire to make a difference that drives us

To achieve our goals

Inside the abandoned house in the middle of the forest, the battle between Kayomi and Arou raged on. It was a classic one-on-one clash, with both combatants giving their all. But everything changed when Kato joined the fight, his determination to prove his worth pushing him to awaken the God Eye. This awakening shocked everyone, as the God Eye’s ability to copy techniques allowed Kato to replicate Kayomi’s shadow hardening technique. Arou’s nerves were on edge—this unexpected turn of events made the fight more dangerous than ever.

Kayomi: (running to Kato) Kato!! I thought I told you…

Kato: Mr. Kayomi, please let me join you in this fight. I’m the one Arou’s after, so I want to face him too. I HAVE TO PROVE MY WORTH. Everyone’s efforts to protect and help me can’t be in vain. I’m not running away.

Kayomi: (seeing Kato’s determined expression) Guess there’s no stopping you, huh? (noticing Kato’s hardened arms) Still, it’s amazing that you awakened the God Eye and copied my technique.

Kato: Is that why my arms hardened like yours? Honestly, it was pure instinct. I didn’t even realize I’d awakened it. So, this is the power of the God Eye? To copy techniques? (briefly recalls asking Ervin about the God Eye and not receiving an answer.)

Kayomi: Doesn’t it have conditions?

Kato: It does… Wait, how do I know that? Suddenly, I just understood how it works.

Kayomi: (to himself) Perhaps awakening it automatically downloads the knowledge into his mind. (to Kato) We can talk about this later. Right now, we need to focus on Arou.

Kato: (nodding with determination) RIGHT!!

As Kato and Kayomi prepared for the next phase of their battle, Arou was filled with conflicting emotions.

Arou: (to himself) He awakened it? Brilliant. That means our plan CAN still succeed. But if Kato already copied Kayomi’s technique, he could copy mine too. Or has he already? No… there must be conditions. DAMN IT! There’s no time to overthink. If the God Eye can copy techniques, I’ll use something it can’t replicate.

Kayomi and Kato walked towards Arou to continue the battle but then they stopped their advance because they sensed Arou’s shadow energy beginning to spike up. Arou spread his arms wide, and his shadow energy spiked. Kayomi immediately recognized the technique Arou was about to unleash.

Kato: What’s happening?

Kayomi: Damn it. He’s using it.

Arou: [PERFECT MANIFESTATION: BOUNDLESS ZENITH]

As Arou activated his perfect manifestation, his shadow suddenly grew larger and wider and covered the ground around them. At that same moment too, numerous clones emerged from the expanded shadow and surrounded Kato and Kayomi.

Kato: (shocked) What the hell is this!?

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Kayomi: It’s Arou’s perfect manifestation. Now he’s had us outnumbered. Stay close to me Kato.

Kato: Right!!

Arou: (watching the two of them) Now I can finish both of them in one fell swoop before they can have time to react. No matter what happens, I WILL fulfill our goal.

Arou's signature ability, Shadow Fragmentation, allows him to break his shadow energy into distinct pieces, creating independent clones from those fragments. This technique stems from Arou’s deep desire to have others like him, symbolizing his longing for connection.

Each clone functions autonomously and serves multiple purposes. Arou shares his vision with his clones, enabling him to observe multiple locations simultaneously. Furthermore, the clones possess a unique teleportation ability: when a clone is dispelled, any item or person it holds is instantly teleported to Arou. This is how Arou managed to teleport Kato Hamura from Kayomi during their first encounter—the "Arou" with Kato was actually a clone.

The number of clones Arou can create is usually limited to four. However, this restriction is lifted when Arou activates his perfect manifestation, BOUNDLESS ZENITH. In this elevated state, Arou’s shadow expands exponentially, enabling him to create an unlimited number of clones and fully unleashing the potential of Shadow Fragmentation.

Kayomi: (examining the clones) This will be a hassle.

Kato: (realizes something) Is that how it works? (to Kayomi) Mr Kayomi, I have a plan that might just work.

Kayomi: A plan?

Before they could act, the clones attacked, forcing Kato and Kayomi to defend themselves. Every time they defeated one wave, another emerged. Arou’s strategy was clear: exhaust them and take Kato once he was too weak to resist. But Kato’s mind raced, and as he fought, he pieced together a solution.

Kato: [BLACK: SHADOW RUSH]

Kato hardened his legs and used shadow energy to amplify his speed, tearing through the swarm and heading straight for Arou. The key to defeating a perfect manifestation was severing the user’s connection to the Nexus, and Kato knew this was their only chance.

Arou: (seeing Kato approach) Hmph. Impatient, aren’t you?

Arou reached out to grab Kato, but Kato vanished just before contact.

Arou: (to Kato) IS THAT IT!? You copied my technique with that eye of yours and used it to distract me and you think that’s going to work? Too bad for you because NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, OUR GOAL WILL STILL BE REALIZED!!!

Above him, Kato descended, aiming a powerful stomp with his hardened legs. Arou raised both hands to block the strike, but the sheer force drove him into the ground, cracking the earth beneath him.

Reacting swiftly, Arou grabbed Kato's leg and slammed him into the ground, trying to immobilize him. As Arou glanced up, he froze—Kayomi was already in front of him, his shadow energy compressed into his right hand. Arou realized too late that Kayomi was far too close for him to evade the impending strike.

Kato: (to Arou) You can’t summon clones if you’re distracted, right? Thanks to this eye, (pointing to his right eye), I can see that.

With Kayomi already in front of him, there was nothing Arou could do to defend himself from the incoming attack.

Kayomi: [BLACK: SHADOW RUSH]

Kayomi unleashed a devastating strike, shattering Arou’s connection to the Nexus. The clones surrounding them instantly vanished, and Arou’s shadow energy receded to its normal state.

Arou lay sprawled on the ground, grunting in pain, while Kayomi lay nearby, utterly exhausted. Kato staggered to his feet and walked toward Kayomi. The strain of maintaining the God Eye and copying two techniques had taken its toll. The shadow-hardening on Kato’s arms dissolved, and the glow in his right eye dimmed, returning it to its usual yellow hue.

Kayomi: Are you alright, Kato?

Kato: I’m fine, Mr. Kayomi. Just a little weak.

Kayomi: That’s expected. You used a lot of shadow energy maintaining the God Eye and copying those abilities. Anyone attempting that for the first time would feel drained.

Kato: (glancing down at his feet) The shadow hardening tore my shoes apart. I didn’t think that would happen. Your shoes seem fine though. Are those even shoes?

Kayomi: They’re called ‘Tabi.’ They’re made to withstand shadow hardening. I’ll get you a pair when we get back.

Kato: Thanks.

Kayomi stood up, brushing off the dust on his clothes.

Kayomi: We should get moving. I’m surprised the others didn’t show up before we finished the fight.

Kato: Others?

Kayomi: Yeah, I called—

Before Kayomi could finish, someone dropped from the ceiling of the abandoned house. In an instant, Kayomi was attacked and restrained by writhing tree vines. The source of the vines stood before them—Lorra Hawks, who had appeared without warning.

Kato barely had time to react before he too, was ensnared by Lorra’s vines. Just then, two more figures descended from the ceiling: Zero and Jokita.

Zero: Careful, Lorra. Don’t kill them.

Lorra: Yeah I won’t.

Arou: (lifting his head weakly) You guys? What are you doing here? I said I’d bring Kato in myself.

Zero: Well I was kinda worried when you started taking too long, so I decided to check up on you.

Arou: (smirks) Aren’t you the kind one?

Zero: But man, you look like hell. Was Kato Hamura really that tough?

Arou: He’ll be even tougher if we don’t take the God Eye from him now.

Jokita: (wide-eyed) He’s awakened it?

Arou: (nods his head in agreement)

Zero: (grinning) Now it’s getting interesting. Let’s not waste time—we’ll take the eye here and now.

Zero strode toward Kato, who was struggling against Lorra’s vines. Sensing Zero’s presence in front of him, Kato ceased his struggle and looked up, his face twisted in confusion and

frustration.

Kato: Who are you?

Zero: (smirking) I’m Zero, leader of the Kaimi Daja. The one behind what happened to your mother.