The ground still quivered from the rumble, the dust hanging thick in the air as the shattered silence broke with a low, furious roar.
The King stood tall, his Fractured Sovereign form radiating raw, terrifying power. His eyes glinted with ruthless intent as he turned his gaze toward Toru, Yumi, and the Vanguard Protocol Team.
Without hesitation, he surged forward — a blur of crushing force and lethal precision.
Toru braced himself, Titanblood Essence flaring as he met the King's first strike head-on. The impact echoed like thunder, shaking bones and sending shockwaves through the air.
Yumi moved beside him, her movements a flash of grace and lethal accuracy, unleashing a barrage of Essence-enhanced strikes.
The Vanguard Protocol Team spread out, each member using their unique abilities — Kaien's dual blades slicing wind, Rei's crystal armor shimmering defensively, Arden's sound waves distorting perception, and Selene's icy coils freezing the air around them.
But no matter their combined strength, the King's assault was overwhelming.
He crushed Kaien's blades with a single swipe, sending the speedster tumbling.
Rei's defenses shattered like glass under a devastating blow, forcing her to stagger backward.
Arden's attempts to confuse the King with sound manipulation failed as the King's fractured form seemed to absorb the chaos effortlessly.
Selene's icy strikes slowed him briefly but only provoked a savage counterattack.
One by one, the team was pushed back, bruised and battered.
Toru gritted his teeth, blood trickling down his chin from a glancing hit. "We can't hold him… not like this."
Yumi's eyes burned with fierce determination despite the mounting pressure. "We have to buy time — Riku's not dead."
The King let out a feral growl, each strike more brutal than the last. His strength seemed inexhaustible, his speed impossible to predict.
The battlefield became a maelstrom of shattered defenses and desperate counterattacks, with the King standing unyielding amidst the chaos.