The battlefield was still.
All eyes—those barely conscious—were on Riku.
His aura surged again, light bursting out in waves. With a flick of his hand, four glowing clones and one towering knight, forged from the raw force of his TDA form, materialized beside him. They stood silently, awaiting orders.
Riku looked back once.
"Take them," he said, voice low but commanding. "Get the Vanguard, Toru, and Yumi to safety."
The knight nodded and the clones moved fast, scooping up the unconscious warriors. As the Vanguard Team was lifted away, their bruised and broken forms finally allowed to rest, a faint shimmer of healing energy emitted from Riku's body—a promise that he'd reach them soon.
Yumi's fingers twitched, barely awake, whispering, "...Riku..."
Toru's body stirred slightly, but he couldn't move. He heard it too.
Riku's voice, distant, but clear:"I'll end this. Just hang on."
Then—Riku shot into the sky.
The King sneered. "So you're next to fall."
But Riku didn't stop.
He appeared above him in an instant—and slammed his fist down.
The hit cracked the sky.
The King plummeted, crashing into the earth with a thunderous shockwave that split the ground beneath.
Riku hovered above, eyes cold. "This time… you stay down."