Truth

Silence…

The battlefield was drenched in silence.

The only sound was the ragged breathing of a man impaled through his chest.

Enji.

His blood soaked the pole.

More dripped steadily onto the ground beneath him.

He coughed violently – each breath weaker than the last – while crimson spilled from his mouth.

Near him stood Velocity, grinning.

Laughing.

Watching with delight as a father was taking his final breaths.

Farther away–

Haruto, previously unconscious, stirred.

He groaned, eyes fluttering open.

Moriya was still clutching his stomach, forcing himself upright with clenched teeth.

Hikaru, breathing hard, slowly pushed himself up after crashing into Teshii.

And Teshii–

He, too, began to rise, his usual grin absent, replaced by grim focus.

And Ikazuchi?

He stood still.

Frozen.

Eyes wide.

Watching in horror as Velocity drove his father into the pole like a weapon. The scene burned into his memory.

Then–

"DAD!!"

Ikazuchi broke into a run, boots pounding against the ground.

Velocity turned – just in time to see him.

He smirked.

ZOOM!

In the blink of an eye, Ikazuchi skidded down to his knees before his father, grabbing his bloodstained shoulders with shaking hands.

"Dad! Dad!"

Enji coughed again, more blood trailing from his mouth. His body was trembling, face pale and contorted with pain.

Ikazuchi's voice broke as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Why… why did you do that?"

Tears spilled freely now, streaking down his cheeks.

Then–

SKRRT!

Velocity came to a sudden stop nearby, chuckling to himself.

And then… laughing.

Loudly.

Manically.

"Perfect. Absolutely perfect," he said between laughs. "Plan executed flawlessly. The Leader will be thrilled to see this pathetic human die so pathetically."

He then turned to Ikazuchi, mocking his rembling figure, and doubled down on his laughter.

"Well, well, well! Who knew the hot-headed Thunder boy would end up crying like a baby over the father he supposedly hated!"

"Shut up!"

The laughter stopped.

"Huh?"

Velocity's head jerked toward the voice.

It was Hikaru.

Still on one knee, still bruised and battered, but his gaze – burned with fury.

"You… you don't have any right… to make fun of him…" Hikaru managed to say, his voice ragged but steady.

Velocity raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? And what are you going to do about it… Light?" he mocked.

Hikaru's eyes sharpened.

"I'll fight you… till the end."

Haruto, Moriya, and Teshii all turned to him, startled.

"Hikaru?" Haruto muttered.

Hikaru planted one foot beneath him and began to rise. He stood for just a second – then dropped back to his knee, groaning.

He was still too hurt.

Velocity began to laugh again, smug and condescending.

"Fight? You can't even stand."

"It's not just him!"

Velocity turned–

It was Haruto, now standing tall, water swirling violently around him his pouch.

"I'll fight you too – until the very end."

Moriya, though still in pain, rose beside him and nodded with resolve.

"Yes."

Hikaru's eyes gleamed.

That glimmer of hope.

Then–

A voice spoke up behind him.

"Get up, Sunshine."

Hikaru blinked and turned.

It was Teshii.

Standing upright again, arms crossed. His signature smirk had returned, but this time, it wasn't playful – it was defiant.

His crimson glasses reflected the flickers of battle light, but Hikaru could still feet the determination behind them.

"You said it yourself," Teshii said. "We fight until the end."

Hikaru smiled softly.

He forced himself up, every muscle screaming.

His body began to glow – golden light radiating from his core.

And now…

He stood.

Bruised.

Exhausted.

But tall.

Ready.

Teshii stepped back, watching the trio – Hikaru, Haruto, Moriya – battered and bloddied, yet full of fire.

He grinned wide.

"This… this is what I call… a Warrior's Mentality."

Then his eyes shifted.

Toward Ikazuchi – still cradling his dying father.

Teshii's smirk softened.

His voice dropped to a whisper.

"Ikazuchi…"

Velocity scanned the battlefield, chest rising and falling as he stood alone against the storm.

Surrounded.

Hikaru. Haruto. Moriya. Teshii.

Each one battered. Bruised. Still standing.

And worst of all?

Still fighting.

He didn't expect that.

He should have broken them.

But it didn't matter.

Because his true target… was Ikazuchi.

Velocity's grin stretched beneath his visor.

His plan had been executed perfectly.

All it took was the right pressure point.

The right emotional fracture.

And Enji's death had done exactly that.

Watching Ikazuchi crumble beneath the weight of it–

Seeing that fire snuffed out by grief–

That was the real victory.

The others?

Sure, they were strong.

But Ikazuchi…

He was the threat.

And now?

He was broken.

Velocity looked back at the four standing before him and let out a sigh – mocking, exaggerated.

"Alright then…" he said.

A manic glint shone behind his goggles.

"COME AT ME!"

His voice echoed across the battlefield.

And then–

"HYDRO VORTEX!"

A roaring surge erupted from Haruto's pouch.

The water twisted into a spiralling cyclone, its core howling with force as it barrelled forward like a liquid tornado.

 "LEAF STORM!"

Moriya joined in.

From the earth, a flurry of razor-sharp leaves exploded into the air, glowing with green energy and spinning with the deadly precision of throwing knives.

They danced through the vortex, turning the wind into a maelstrom of slicing fury.

Velocity's eyes widened.

ZOOM!

He bolted away just in time, barely avoiding the onslaught.

"Damn it!" he muttered. "How do they still have this much power left?"

He zigzagged through the storm, narrowly slipping past blasts of water and emerald blades. His speed faltered for a split second – a mistake that cost him a slice across his shoulder.

Meanwhile–

Hikaru watched from the edge, a smile forming on his lips.

"Haruto and Moriya… they're incredible."

He turned slightly. "I can't let them have all the fun. Right, Teshii?"

…

Silence.

"…Teshii?"

Hikaru looked over.

Teshii wasn't watching the fight.

He was watching Ikazuchi.

Still kneeling. Still trembling. Still holding onto his father.

"Hey… Teshii?" Hikaru asked, approaching. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Teshii answered softly, not looking away. His voice was quieter than usual – lacking the usual mischief.

Then, with a breath:

"Actually, Sunshine…"

"What is it?"

Teshii turned toward, gaze steady. "You three are going to have to fight Velocity on your own."

Hikaru blinked. "What? Why?"

Teshii pointed.

"Look at him."

Hikaru followed his gaze – to Ikazuchi, still kneeling beside Enji, his hands bloodied, his eyes hollow.

"Zeus's father is dying in front of him," Teshii said quietly. "The least I can do… is to be there for him."

For a moment, Hikaru just stared.

Then he nodded.

"Okay then, Teshii."

No argument.

Just understanding.

The two locked eyes – an unspoken trust passing between them.

Hikaru turned and sprinted back toward the battle, light already beginning to radiate from his form.

Teshii?

He ran toward Ikazuchi.

"ZEUS!"

Teshii's voice rang out across the battlefield, strained and desperate.

Ikazuchi was kneeling beside his father, shaking him, gripping his bloodied shoulders, refusing to accept the truth staring him in the face.

Enji.

Eyes closed.

Blood soaking his shirt.

More still dripping to the ground beneath them.

Teshii's breath caught in his throat behind his crimson glasses.

"No… Is he–"

Then–

"I… ka… zuchi."

Ikazuchi's eyes widened.

"DAD!"

Enji coughed violently, blood pouring from his mouth. Every breath came with agony.

"Why…" Ikazuchi's voice cracked, tears streaking down his face. "Why did you do that?!"

Enji's gaze softened, pained.

"…Because I failed you."

"Don't – don't say that, you idiot!" Ikazuchi choked out. "You're gonna be fine, okay?! Just – just hold! We can–"

Enji's trembling hand slowly reached up and pressed weakly against his son's cheek.

And then–

"…Your mother."

Ikazuchi froze.

His heart slammed in his chest.

"…What?"

Enji's voice was fragile, barely a whisper now.

"She didn't leave…"

A pause.

"She was… murdered."

Ikazuchi's entire world ground to a halt.

10 Years Ago…

The day she was supposed to come home.

The day she didn't.

Haruka Ikari, eyes bright and smile ewarm, was dressed for work.

She already said goodbye to a 5-year-old Ikazuchi and leaves the house.

Outside…

It was Enji, who was just standing in her path, guilt written all over his face.

Haruka's eyes widened. "Enji?"

"…Look, I'm sorry about yesterday." Enji said.

Haruka stared at him for a moment, then smiled gently.

"It's okay, Enji. I know you didn't mean it."

"But–" he started.

She stepped forward, touching his arm. "The most important thig is Ikazuchi. You know that, right?"

Enji nodded silently.

"Good." She started walking again. "Well, I'm off. I'll be late if I don't hurry."

"Haruka!" he called after her.

She turned back, blinking.

"…Let me pick you up later. Just to make up for everything."

Her eyes softened. "You're sweet, dear. But I'll be okay. I'm a strong woman. I can handle myself."

She smiled.

She walked away.

Enji stood there, watching her walk away.

But a heavy feeling sat in his chest.

A sense of dread.

He didn't know why – but he was worried.

And…

He was right.

That night, Haruka never came home.

She had been found – murdered.

Her body discovered in a back alley.

Her stomach had been slashed open.

Enji founded her, collapsed to his knees in the rain, screaming in anguish as he held her broken body in his arms.

Back to the Present

Enji's voice rasped.

"I… volunteered to pick her up. But she told me not to worry."

His chest heaved.

"She was murdered."

Ikazuchi couldn't breathe.

His father continued, voice thick with regret.

"I became… controlling. Because I was scared. I thought if I kept you close… if I controlled everything…"

He coughed, blood dribbling from his lips.

"…I could protect you."

Ikazuchi trembled, tears streaming down his face.

"…You could've just told me."

Enji gave a faint chuckle – broken, weak.

"Guess I was never good at that…"

His hand on Ikazuchi's cheek started to fall.

"...I'm sorry."

"No!" Ikazuchi gripped his arm. "Don't say that! You're not – You don't get to–"

But it was too late.

Enji's eyes lost their light.

His chest no longer rose.

His hand dropped completely, leaving a bloody streak across Ikazuchi's cheek.

Ikazuchi froze.

"…Dad?"

No answer.

"Dad…"

Teshii looked away, jaw clenched, unable to bear the weight of it.

Across the battlefield, Hikaru, Haruto, and Moriya felt it.

A sudden shift in the air – heavy, volatile.

Ikazuchi stared at his father's lifeless body.

His hand still clutched Enji's arm.

Teshii took a cautious step forward.

"…Zeus. I'm sorry."

He reached a hand toward him.

Then–

CRACK!

Teshii froze.

His hand mid-air.

Eyes flicking downward.

Lightning.

Crackling, unstable, alive.

It danced across Ikazuchi's body – wild, unchecked.

The ground at his feet shuddered.

Teshii's breath hitched.

Ikazuchi's hands trembled.

But not from fear.

From something deeper.

Something primal.

Pure, unrestrained rage.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!