As the Twin Catastrophe rose from that giant energy sphere, it felt like hell itself had crawled into the hall. The ground shuddered under their weight; dust rained like gray snow. Light bent wrong. Sound tore. Everything that lived in that space tasted of iron and fear.

Ana's breath stopped. Her eyes burned; she couldn't believe what she saw. Her friends — Aazin and Ryzin — were gone. In their place stood a thing that stole names. They had merged and grown taller than any man should be. Their bodies stretched, limbs lengthening, armor like black glass cracking with glowing veins. Each step they took was a sentence of doom, slow and deliberate, a rhythm that hammered at the bones of anyone weak enough to listen.

Around them, an aura boiled — not light, not shadow, but something that could break a person's will like dry glass. The air around the brothers tasted of cold metal and ash. Every inch they moved, the hall's breath shortened. Weapons hummed with a sudden uselessness; prayers choked in throats.

Their eyes were wrong. Wide and hungry. Their pupils trembled like bells struck in a storm, shaking so the world itself felt unstable. The gaze of both brothers scanned the hall, tracing corners, finding hiding places, sniffing out hearts like prey.

Silence folded in on itself. Even the tornado's last whispers felt small beside that presence.

Then the fusion spoke — a voice heavy as a tombstone, grinding like iron dragged over bone. It filled the hall and the marrow of everyone who heard it:

Where are you, Auren Ryuk?. Your Vitara makes my vision sick. I want your head. You filthy obstacle...

The words hit like a verdict. The hall swallowed them, and in the echoes, everyone felt the first true hint of doom.

Meanwhile, Auren Ryuki lay with his back against the cold stone pillar, his body slouched as if the chaos of the world had nothing to do with him. His eyes were shut, lips curved in the faintest smile, drifting in a sleep too deep for the storm to touch.

He looked weightless. No burden. No chains. Just a boy, resting like the world wasn't burning. His breaths were steady, soft, like waves against a quiet shore. The madness, the screams, the broken ceiling, none of it reached him.

It was the sleep of a child — pure, fragile, untouchable. The kind of sleep one only finds pressed against the chest of a mother, safe and warm, far away from all the knives of destiny.

Yet this was Auren Ryuki. A child at peace, in the middle of hell. And that peace was louder than any roar.

The Twin Catastrophe laughed, blunt and wide, like thunder cracking a skull. Their mismatched eyes burned — crimson star and sapphire abyss — and their finger stretched, pointing at the boy sleeping against the pillar.

"Hahaha… you kid. No effect of Black Mamba. And you sliced Aazin in half… impressive. Impressive!" Their voice rumbled, half echo, half earthquake. "But I will shatter you now, Auren Ryuki. Show me your true face. Now we know you were Ash Phantom in the Grand Era — show me what you are! You die today!"

They raised one monstrous arm. The air collapsed around their palm as a sphere of energy swirled into existence, thunder crawling across their skin like serpents. The hall shook under its pressure. With a roar — Maniac Blast! — the sphere shot forward, a comet of annihilation.

Dax moved. Without hesitation, he planted himself in the path. His blade-arm screeched as it twisted, transforming into two colossal iron shields, layered like jaws of a fortress. The blast slammed into him. The collision shrieked. Sparks flew. Dax's body rattled, his transfigured form dismantling piece by piece. Bolts of energy burned holes across his armor; his steel skin cracked like dried clay. The Terminator form groaned under the weight of destruction.

Nova's heart jolted. I have to do something. I have to. His trembling hands lifted the brush, dipped in blood and aura both. He sketched furiously, lines tearing across the air itself. Soldiers. Cannons. Giants. Each stroke became a shape, each flick a weapon. In a single clap, his canvas army erupted. Human-sized shadows rose, wielding swords and guns, cannons roared to life, and towering giants burst out, filling the hall like summoned nightmares. They charged, tearing into the mages, some diving at the Twin Catastrophe themselves.

Still, the blast pressed harder on Dax, peeling his body apart. He gritted, teeth, iron, but his frame smoked, flames hissing through the cracks.

"Not enough!" Nyra roared. Her hands trembled, veins bulging, and with a scream she summoned again. "Balira! Fenra! Zarkis!"

The three giants surged into the hall. Summoning them twice, together, ripped blood out of her throat. She coughed violently, body breaking, but the giants obeyed. Balira charged hammer-first, meeting Vaslimo mid-stride. Boom! The clash was deafening. Hammer met hammer. Sparks like meteors. Balira's body was thrown back, tumoring across stone. Fenra and Zarkis lunged, claws flashing, jaws snapping at Vaslimo. But the fat giant man was flexible, too flexible — ducking, twisting, his hammer whistling arcs of death.

And above it all, the Twin Catastrophe smiled. Watching. Studying. Another sphere burned in their palm, faster, hotter, crueler.

They hurled it.

The first blast still crushed Dax, dismantling him inch by inch. The second sphere screamed toward him like a second sun falling.

This time, there was no chance. No shield. No escape. Not even a miracle.

As the sphere of destruction raced toward Dax, Vivi and Nyra screamed in unison. Nyra's voice cracked with despair—her roommate, her best friend, about to be obliterated in the middle of chaos.

From the top of the shattered pillar, Auren suddenly leapt down.His kick cut through the air, crashing into the catastrophe's attack and redirecting it with sheer force.

The impact shook the hall. His landing—stylish, too stylish. His hair fluttered wildly in the storm of energy, his grin twisted with that same lunatic charm.

The hunter was back. The madness was back.

Vivi's eyes widened, her breath stolen. She watched as Auren saved Dax in the blink of an eye. Her eyes turned glossy, her tribal attire fluttering gently as a soft wind of snow kissed her skin.

In that moment, Auren wasn't just a fighter—he was her hero.

Vivi's eyes followed Auren as he dropped from the pillar, his kick splitting the air and crushing the catastrophe's attack like it was nothing. The way his hair caught the wind, the effortless style in his movements, the grin that curved at the edge of his lips—it all struck her at once.

Her heart skipped, not out of fear, but admiration. He wasn't just strong; he was… different. Carefree, fearless, playful even in the jaws of death. That confidence, that recklessness—it made him shine in a way no one else could.

For the first time, Vivi felt her breath catch—not in panic, but in awe. In that chaos, he looked almost untouchable.

To her, Auren wasn't only saving Dax.He was leaving a mark on her.

Meanwhile, Nyra's voice broke through the chaos, trembling yet loud:"Thank you, Auren! Thank you so much!"

Dax hit the ground hard after taking the brunt of the first attack. His body shuddered violently, chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. Smoke curled from his armor, scorched and scorched again. The pain he endured was unbearable; every groan a testament to the blow.

Slowly, he raised a hand, calling out for Auren. The boy turned, eyes locking with his friend.

"You came late, buddy," Dax said, voice low, strained, yet calm. "But I'm safe now… I need some sleep."

Auren's lips twitched into a small grimace. "Sorry… it happened because of me."

Dax smiled, weak but genuine. "It's okay. Now… go. Kill that demon."

Auren nodded, the playful glint and madness returning to his eyes. He turned toward the Twin Catastrophe—Aazin and Ryzin fused form—its monstrous gaze meeting his with an almost teasing smile.

"Prey came to the predator's jaw, haha," the Catastrophe taunted, circling Auren.

Auren smirked, tilting his head. "This prey is poisonous… you'll die."

Snap. One… two… three.

His form shifted violently. Lunatic Predator, Stage 3. The air itself seemed to pause as everyone noticed the change. Auren's hair darkened, streaks of silver slicing through black, glinting like sharpened steel. His teeth shimmered silver in the dim light. Black stripes carved across his body, jagged and alive, crawling over his skin as if drawn by wrath itself.

From his left eye, the ancient purple Vitara flared—burning bright like a candle, spilling raw, unrestrained energy into the hall. Every breath he drew made the floor tremble, and the storm above bent toward him, answering to his presence.

The Catastrophe laughed, sharp and loud. "Haha! You know one thing. That purple flame you bear… that's the only thing interesting I see. The rest… just your ability. But that thing—your Vitara—it proves it. You are Ash Phantom… and you are my enemy."

Auren's gaze hardened, the halo of purple Vitara flickering with intent. The air around him buzzed, thick with anticipation.

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