The moment Watari vanishes from the scene, a sinister grin creeps across Ryuko’s face.

  “Good. Now it’s finally just you and I alone again, senpai.”

  The shadows around them pulse and shift unnaturally, stretching like ink bleeding into water. His daggers dissolve into pure darkness, reforming into three floating bdes circling him like ravenous beasts.

  Ren tightens his grip around Tsukuyomi, the katana’s silver-white light flickering in contrast to the creeping abyss surrounding them.

  “You’ve stalled long enough,” Ren says. “Show me if all that talk means anything.”

  Ryuko snaps his fingers—instantly, the floating daggers multiply into a storm of pitch-bck knives, all aimed at Ren.

  “Night Fang—Shadow Barrage.”

  The knives shoot forward at blinding speeds, their dark edges consuming the air itself.

  Ren doesn’t even flinch.

  “Half Crescent.”

  With a swift ssh motion of his sword. A single stroke of moonlight energy fshes across the sky, erasing the shadows with a whispering hum. The daggers vanish into nothing before they can reach him.

  Ryuko grits his teeth but doesn’t hesitate. He melds into his own shadow, reappearing behind Ren in an instant, twin daggers aimed for his ribs.

  “Void Reaver.”

  Ren barely moves. His free hand flicks upward, catching Ryuko’s wrist mid-strike.

  “Too slow.”

  With a deft twist, he flips Ryuko’s body overhead and sms him downward, cracking the air beneath them.

  Before Ryuko can recover, his own shadow rises from the ground, forming a massive beast with jagged cws.

  “Devourer Maw.”

  The towering shadow lunges forward, fangs snapping at Ren. Ren exhales, then vanishes.

  For a moment, the battlefield is still—then a fsh of silver cuts through the void, slicing the beast in half before it can even react.

  Ryuko growls in frustration. His shadows can’t even keep up. “Tch… Not bad, senpai.” But then—he grins.

  The darkness shifts again. From every direction, shadowy clones of Ryuko rise, their figures distorted, eyes glowing with an eerie red hue.

  “Void Puppeteer.”

  Ren remains still as dozens of Ryukos rush toward him. His grip on Tsukuyomi tightens. “You really think distractions will work?” Then, without a sound— The battlefield goes silent.

  The shadows freeze in pce. The air itself becomes unbearably still. A cold glow spreads outward from Ren’s body, bnketing the sky.

  Ryuko’s breath catches in his throat. “W-what—?!” Ren’s voice is eerily calm, absolute.

  “Full Moon.”

  Suddenly, Ryuko’s entire body locks up.

  The void stops moving—his shadows stop responding—even his own breathing feels muted. For the first time in the fight, his instincts scream in warning. He can’t move. He can’t even sense his own abilities.

  Ren steps forward, his katana glowing like cold steel under moonlight. He notices Ryuko’s frozen face but pays it no mind. His expression is unreadable. Deadly. Absolute. Ryuko’s mind races in panic.

  He’s on par with Yasuke, no, he’s stronger. So this is the top Hoju’s power. He tries to break free, but his body won’t listen.

  Ren stops a few feet away, gazing down at him. His voice barely above a whisper.

  “…I can finally see fear on you, boy.”

  His hand shes out, gripping Ryuko by the hair, lifting him up as if he weighs nothing. Ryuko, battered and cut, lets out a bloody chuckle. “Heh… You really… got me good.”

  Ren’s expression remains cold. “You’re lucky I’m a caring senpai. That kid put me in a better mood.”

  Ryuko coughs up a bit of blood, a grin still pying at his lips. “So what now? Gonna end me, old man?”

  Ren tightens his grip. “…Tell me what you know about the organizations.”

  Ryuko gives another bloody chuckle. “…That’s what tickled your curiosity, huh?” He spits to the side. “Just know—Kuroda isn’t your only enemy, Ren.”

  Before Ren can react, a flicker of movement catches his eye. Ryuko’s hand twitches.

  From the shadow beneath Ren’s own feet, a dagger forms. In a st-ditch effort, Ryuko lunges forward, aiming straight for Ren’s heart.

  But in a single motion— Ren sidesteps. His katana slices through the air, sending the dagger flying.

  Before Ryuko can react, Ren drives his knee into his stomach, knocking the breath from his lungs. Still holding onto his hair, Ren raises him up. And then, in one swift, brutal motion— He SLAMS Ryuko into the ground.

  A shockwave erupts from the impact, dust and debris bsting outward. For a moment, there is silence.

  Then—a smirk.

  Through bloodied lips, Ryuko lets out a final, victorious ugh.

  “Damn, Senpai… You’re way stronger than I expected. This is gonna be fun.”

  Ren’s eyes narrow. And then, Ryuko’s body dissolves—The darkness beneath him twisted. Before Ren could react, Ryuko’s form melted into the very shadow he y upon—vanishing as if the earth itself had swallowed him whole.

  By the time Ren registers what happened, the darkness has already slithered away, vanishing into the environment. Ren remains still, his grip tightening around Tsukuyomi. “…Damn.”

  A light breeze moves through the battlefield.

  The sky, once suffocated by Ryuko’s void, begins to clear. Ren exhales sharply. His eyes lift toward the underground hideout, where Watari is still fighting.

  “Better not be scking, kid.”

  Before sheathing his sword, Ren closes his eyes and takes a deep breath—the moonlight flickers once.

  He mutters: “Ahh. You can’t escape moonlight.”