Battle Between Friends

Mind's Retreat & The Army's Attack

Mind's smirk vanished as the Elements shook off the nightmares.

"Well," he muttered, eyes narrowing. "That was faster than expected."

Yami remained silent beside him, his violet eyes flickering with uncertainty.

Mind placed a hand on Yami's shoulder.

"Time to go."

With a wave of his hand, the mutant army surged forward.

"Kill them all," Mind ordered.

Then, before the Elements could react, Mind and Yami disappeared into the darkness.

Hikaru's breath hitched.

"Wait—Yami!"

But it was too late.

A wave of mutants charged forward, their eyes empty, their bodies moving like puppets on strings.

Hikaru and the others froze.

There were hundreds of them.

Each one once a person—now a mindless weapon.

For the first time—

Fear crept into their hearts.

The Arrival of Who?

Before anyone could make a move—

A blur shot past them.

Then—

SHINK!

A mutant's head rolled onto the ground.

The body collapsed.

Blood sprayed across the dirt.

The Elements stared in shock.

A figure landed in front of them, his back turned.

His right arm—

Had transformed into a massive blade.

Hikaru's heart stopped.

The figure stood up, unbothered by the carnage.

The wind carried his familiar voice.

"…Took you long enough."

The Elements' eyes widened in horror.

It was Teshii.

Teshii's True Identity

Teshii turned slightly, his golden eyes dull.

But it wasn't just his expression that had changed.

His body was shifting.

His left hand morphed into sharp claws.

His forearm twisted, reshaping into a serrated blade.

It was clear.

It was undeniable.

Teshii was a mutant.

And his ability—was weaponized transformation.

No one spoke.

No one breathed.

Hikaru's chest tightened.

The friend they had trusted.

The man they had fought beside.

The brother he had come to respect.

He was part of the species they were meant to exterminate.

Hikaru swallowed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Teshii…"

Teshii didn't acknowledge him.

Instead, he simply turned back toward the mutant army.

His voice was cold.

"Go after Mind and Yami."

Moriya flinched at the emptiness in his tone.

Ikazuchi stepped forward. "I'll stay and fight with you."

Teshii didn't even look at him.

"No."

Ikazuchi's eyes narrowed. "But—"

"I don't need help."

Teshii raised his bladed arm, preparing to take on the entire army alone.

"Go," he repeated, his voice devoid of emotion.

Hikaru wanted to argue.

Wanted to understand.

But there wasn't time.

Mind and Yami were getting further away.

Hikaru clenched his fists.

"…Fine."

With heavy hearts, the Elements turned and ran after Mind and Yami.

Teshii stood alone.

He exhaled.

His blade glistened under the moonlight.

Then—

He charged forward.

The mutant army descended upon him.

The slaughter began.

Doubt Creeps In – Moriya's Question

As the Elements ran, Moriya's mind spun.

He couldn't stop thinking about it.

About Teshii.

About what the president had told them.

Mutants were monsters.

Mutants needed to be wiped out.

But—

Teshii was a mutant.

And he was their friend.

Moriya's voice shook.

"…Are we really doing the right thing?"

No one answered.

Because none of them knew anymore.

Confronting the Enemy

The Elements sprinted through the dense jungle, their hearts pounding.

Teshii's battle against the mutant army raged behind them, but they had no time to turn back.

Their mission was clear—

Stop Mind.

Save Yami.

The air around them grew heavier, an unnatural pressure weighing on their bodies.

Then—

They burst into a clearing.

And there they were.

Mind stood calmly, his arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.

Beside him, Yami stood motionless, his violet eyes cold.

Dark energy swirled around his body, reacting to the rising tension.

Hikaru's stomach twisted.

This wasn't just any fight.

This was a battle for Yami's soul.

The Fight Begins

Without hesitation—

Hikaru rushed toward Yami.

The others charged at Mind.

BOOM!

The battlefield erupted into chaos.

Hikaru vs. Yami

Hikaru clashed with Yami, their powers colliding in bursts of light and darkness.

Hikaru gritted his teeth, dodging Yami's relentless shadow strikes.

"Yami, listen to me!" Hikaru shouted, blocking an attack.

Yami didn't answer.

He swung his arm, sending a wave of dark tendrils at Hikaru.

Hikaru dodged, countering with a blast of light.

But Yami absorbed it, his expression blank.

Hikaru clenched his fists.

"You don't have to do this!"

Still, Yami remained silent.

It was like his heart wasn't there anymore.

But Hikaru refused to give up.

The Others vs. Mind

Meanwhile, the Elements fought Mind.

Moriya sent wooden vines crashing toward him, but Mind saw it coming.

With a simple thought, the vines froze mid-air.

Reito attacked from the side, sending a storm of ice shards.

Mind sidestepped smoothly, without even looking.

Haruto summoned a torrent of water, but Mind simply raised a hand.

A pulse of psychic energy sent Haruto crashing into a tree.

Mind's smirk never faded.

"You're all so predictable."

Then—

He turned his gaze toward Yami.

"Enough playing around."

Mind Manipulates Yami

Mind's eyes glowed.

Yami flinched.

His body tensed.

Then, without warning—

Yami's movements changed.

His attacks became faster.

His dark energy doubled in strength.

Hikaru's eyes widened.

"Yami, stop!"

But Yami wasn't in control anymore.

Mind smirked.

"You see, Hikaru… he's already mine."

Hikaru gritted his teeth.

"Damn it…!"

They were losing.

Mind and Yami were too strong together.

The Turning Point – Yami's Choice

As Mind raised his hand, preparing to finish them off—

A wave of dark energy surged toward the Elements.

Hikaru braced himself.

The attack was unavoidable.

It would end everything.

Then—

Something unexpected happened.

The attack never hit.

Instead, the energy stopped mid-air.

And then—

It turned.

It shot back toward Mind.

BOOM!

Mind was sent flying backward, slamming into a rock.

The Elements gasped.

Hikaru looked up—

And saw Yami, standing still, his hand raised.

Mind's eyes widened in shock.

"…You."

Yami's fists clenched.

His breathing was heavy.

He finally spoke.

"I'm done listening to you."

Betrayal and Rage

Mind pushed himself up from the rubble, his blue eyes burning with fury.

"You—" he hissed.

He wiped the blood from his mouth and glared at Yami.

"You dare betray me?"

Yami stood tall, his violet eyes glowing, dark energy crackling around him.

"I was never yours to begin with," he said coldly.

Mind clenched his fists.

"You still need me, Yami."

His voice was sharp, calculated.

"You still don't know the truth about Teshii."

For a moment—

Yami hesitated.

The truth about Teshii.

That was why he had come here in the first place.

That was why he had allowed himself to be used by Mind.

But then—

A memory surfaced.

A conversation with Teshii.

"Investigating me will only ruin your relationships—with Hikaru, with Aoi… with your own family."

"Ask yourself, Yami—do you really want that?"

The answer was clear now.

No.

He didn't.

Mind saw the shift in Yami's expression and realized his hold was gone.

"No…" he muttered, stepping back.

But it was too late.

Yami's dark energy surged.

"You have nothing I need anymore."

And with that—

He attacked.

Yami vs. Mind

A massive wave of darkness erupted from Yami's hands, surging toward Mind like a roaring tide.

Mind barely managed to dodge, flipping backward just in time.

He reached out with his telepathy, trying to force his way into Yami's mind—

But Yami's willpower was unshakable.

Mind gritted his teeth.

"This is a mistake!"

Yami didn't listen.

He moved with deadly precision, his attacks flowing like shadows.

A blast of black energy narrowly missed Mind, shattering the ground beside him.

Mind countered with a psychic shockwave, sending Yami skidding backward—

But Hikaru suddenly appeared behind him.

"You're not fighting him alone."

Before Mind could react, a golden beam of light slammed into his back.

BOOM!

Mind was sent flying, tumbling across the ground.

The moment he got up, Yami was already there.

A dark tendril wrapped around Mind's throat, lifting him into the air.

Mind struggled, his hands clawing at the shadowy grip.

Yami pulled him close.

His voice was calm but deadly.

"You manipulated me."

Mind's eyes widened. "Wait—"

"You tried to use me."

Yami's grip tightened.

"You lose."

Then—

He threw Mind across the battlefield, slamming him into the rocks.

Dust exploded around them.

Mind coughed violently, struggling to stand.

He looked at Hikaru and Yami—

And for the first time, realized he had lost.

"…Tch."

Mind wiped the blood from his lip.

"This isn't over."

Then, with a final glare, he vanished into thin air, retreating into the shadows.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

Hikaru let out a long breath, exhausted.

Yami stood still, watching where Mind had disappeared.

Then, after a long pause—

He turned to Hikaru.

"…Thanks."

Hikaru smiled weakly.

"Anytime, Yami."