Chapter 157: The One Who Stands

Lightning tore across the night sky as Kavros Isen's aura pulsed brighter with every second.

Yumi's blade trembled slightly in her hand — not from fear, but from sheer strain. Her arms ached. Her lungs burned. But she stood tall between Kavros and the recovery wing of Raiden Edge, where Riku was still resting.

Behind her, Takumi's breathing had grown ragged, his dual blades now chipped and steaming from repeated clashes.Renji was down on one knee, fingers trembling as he tried to load another essence-tag trap into his gauntlet.Reina gritted her teeth, sweat trickling from her brow as she forced out another harmony of healing light to keep them on their feet.

But it was no use.

Kavros blurred forward — too fast.

In a flicker of movement, he appeared behind Takumi and drove a palm into his back. A violent shockwave threw the stoic warrior across the field, unconscious before he even hit the ground.

Renji launched a trap—only for Kavros to raise two fingers. Snap.

The tag detonated mid-air, backfiring and knocking Renji into a tree with a sickening crack.

"Renji!" Reina shouted, but Kavros appeared before her next, pressing one hand against her orb. Her song stopped instantly. She gasped, a jolt of energy ripping through her system, dropping her to her knees.

Then — he turned to Yumi.

"You've held up well," he said calmly. "But you're all out of time."

A glowing orb materialized in his hand — small, no larger than an apple, but unnaturally dense. It floated above his palm and shimmered, revealing a disturbing sight: a small face etched on its surface, twisted into a wide, eerie smile.

"This," Kavros said, raising the orb, "is a Vortex Essence Core. Once released, it will consume the area within a 5-kilometer radius — and none of you will survive."

Yumi stepped forward despite her pain. "You wouldn't…"

"I would," he said. "Unless I get two things: Five million Essence Credits... and Riku Hayashi."

The remaining conscious warriors of Raiden Edge gathered behind Yumi. Reina crawled to her feet, blood at the edge of her lips.

"We don't give in to terrorists," she said.

Kavros raised a brow, amused. "Final answer?"

The team nodded as one.

Kavros let out a disappointed sigh. "Very well."

He gently tossed the orb.

The sky flickered as the orb floated forward like a death omen.

Yumi braced herself. Reina prepared her barrier. Renji, unconscious. Takumi, still out. Everyone else... frozen in dread.

But then—

[Internal AI Diagnostics: 100% complete. Essence contamination purged. Movement enabled.]

From the upper window of the guild's main tower — a flash.

Riku Hayashi moved.

In a single blur of speed, he exploded from the guild window, landing between his comrades and the orb.

With one hand forward, he summoned an energy barrier—pure silver energy, his unique Essence signature swirling around him.

BOOOOMMM!!!

The orb hit the shield—then veered off, deflected by Riku's unseen will. It spiraled out and rocketed into the distant mountainside—

—and exploded, obliterating an entire mountain in one terrifying flash.

The shockwave hit seconds later, shaking the trees and buildings as debris soared across the sky. Everyone stared — breath caught in their throats.

Kavros's eyes widened, for the first time genuinely caught off guard."So… he's finally arrived," he said softly. "Hopefully, to surrender."

The dust settled.Riku stood tall. Grey hair slightly tousled, shirt half-open revealing bandaged abs and toned muscle, dark eyes smoldering with focus.His necklace glowed faintly — the same as the one around Yumi's neck, the Hayashi symbol lit up between them as their shared energy briefly flickered.

He turned to Yumi.

"Thanks for taking care of me," he said gently. "I know you're tired."

Yumi's eyes shimmered as she blushed deeply, nodding, hand clutching her necklace. "You're welcome…"

He turned, stepping forward as thunder rumbled again.

"I'll take it from here."

Riku walked calmly toward Kavros.

Everyone behind him instinctively knew it.

This was no longer their fight.

He glanced at the stunned warriors and said with quiet confidence:"You all might wanna get inside the building."

Lightning flashed. The storm held its breath. And Riku Hayashi stepped forward to meet the threat.