Four days of training, endless drills, sparring, and pushing our bodies to their limits. After everything, we find ourselves standing in a nearly empty parking lot next to a rundown mall, the wind carrying the faint scent of asphalt and exhaust. Kail, Galaxy, and I are here, bracing for what's about to come. There's a tense silence between us, the kind that presses down on your chest and makes each breath feel heavier than it should. Capuchin isn't with us—she's still unconscious, her body too weak to fight. Part of me feels guilty for leaving her behind, but I know we have no choice. We're on borrowed time, and DJ is closing in fast.
Kail turns to me, his voice sharp but calm, reminding me of the plan. "JLC, remember—don't get distracted. Stick to your role."
I nod, though inside, I feel that familiar, gnawing uncertainty creeping back. "Yeah. This time... I won't mess up. We'll win for real." I force the words out, trying to make them sound convincing. But my mind is restless. What if I fail again?
Suddenly, I sense a violent ripple in the magic around us—DJ's magic. It's wild, erratic, and getting closer. The parasite has pushed him to the brink, his humanity a distant memory. His presence feels like a storm approaching, chaotic and unpredictable. Then, he appears—bursting into view like a madman, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"The gods are coming! Doomsday is near!"
His voice is guttural, distorted by the parasite's influence. His body has changed since the last time I saw him—he's more monstrous now, his skin thick and cracked like stone, pulsating with unnatural energy. I can hardly recognize the person I once called my ally.
But I can't afford to hesitate. This is it.
I lock onto DJ with the Eyes of Truth, watching the flow of his magic—its movements erratic, surging in unpredictable patterns. But I've trained for this. My precognition has sharpened, and I can follow his attacks more closely now.
Without waiting, I charge forward, my hatchet drawn, slicing through the air toward him. I'm faster, more precise than before, but DJ is still relentless. His claws lash out, but I manage to dodge, my movements guided by the ebb and flow of his magic.
Kail follows close behind, striking at DJ from his blind spots, moving with deadly precision. Galaxy hangs back, his hand raised, gathering energy into the star bomb he's been preparing for this moment. Every step, every hit, is calculated. DJ roars in frustration, trying to shake us off, but we don't let up. It's all a distraction, a coordinated effort to keep DJ occupied while Galaxy prepares his final blow.
"Now!" Kail shouts, and we both leap back.
Galaxy's star bomb explodes with a thunderous roar, a bright light consuming DJ as half his body is atomized. For a moment, there's silence, a small, victorious silence. But it doesn't last long.
Through the smoke, I see DJ's form regenerating. His body twists and reforms, bones snapping back into place as his exoskeleton hardens, even more durable than before. The sight is horrifying—his bones have become armor, encasing him in something monstrous. I stand there, frozen, confused by how fast he's recovered.
I search for Galaxy, but I can't see him. My heart pounds in my chest, panic bubbling up. Where did he go?
A crash shatters the quiet. I turn just in time to see Galaxy, his body slamming into the ground with a sickening force, the pavement cracking beneath him. My breath catches in my throat. Standing over him is a man in a cloak, draped casually over his shoulders like he has all the time in the world. His face is calm, almost serene, but his presence... it's suffocating.
"Strange..." I mutter, recognizing him instantly—the leader of YUGEN.
Before I can react, DJ lunges at me, his claws outstretched. I brace myself, raising my hatchet just in time to block the blow. The force sends me skidding back, but I manage to stay on my feet. My body aches from the impact, but I've trained for this. I can take it.
Still, things are spiraling out of control faster than I can process. DJ, regenerated and more powerful than ever, Strange standing over Galaxy like a predator ready to strike, and then, appearing by his side are Flippy and Cherry. I can feel the weight of their presence, each one dangerous in their own right.
This isn't just a fight anymore—it's a full-on war.
Galaxy rises to his feet, dusting himself off as if being slammed through a building was a mere inconvenience. His eyes, burning with determination, meet Strange's.
It's clear now. We're not just up against DJ anymore. Strange, Flippy, and Cherry have joined the fray, and Galaxy knows what's coming. He doesn't need to say a word.
This is going to be a three-on-one fight.
