The fireball had barely vanished into the sky, kojin zoomed of into the air faster than any rocket. He cloaxked himself with his dark destructive energy, it was an energy that had the mixture of black flames and lightning. Kojin took the giant fire ball into the sky in order to make the damage of its explosion limited. He scremed out with a huge burst of destructive energy blasting out of his body. This huge fire ball ended up blowing up in the air, it let out a devastating explosion that could turn cities to ash. "Tch! So much power from one serious attack?"
"KOJIN!!" Tomoa shouted, launching into the air as he pushed sorata's feet of his face and goes on to catch kojin who was just falling from the sky with huge burn injuries.
He landed gently on the cracked ground with Kojin in his arms, laying him down.
"Kojin! Hey, wake up!" Tomoa knelt beside him, shaking his shoulder In worry.
Kojin groaned, his eyes flickering open. "I'm okay… just... give me a second.". Kojin sat up with some difficulty "Its been way too long since I've taken down attacks like that, I hope I ain't getting rusty. What a damn pain!"
He tried to stand but his legs gave out, collapsing to his knees.
"Don't push yourself," Tomoa said, wrapping an arm around Kojin's back and helping him stand. "You did enough. Just breathe."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the fading smoke.
A shadow emerged—calm, composed, and grinning.
"Well, well..." Sorata stepped into view, his eyes fixed on Kojin with amusement. "It's been a while since I've seen destructive energy like that."
Kojin's expression darkened as recognition sparked in his mind.
Sorata… B-Rank criminal. Member of the Dark Sign Organization.
That trademark wicked grin spread wider across Sorata's face. "I only came to admire the man everyone's been talking about. Kojin Takahama… It's an honor, really. Everyone says that most lords of a city are extremely strong. And considering the feats ive seen you pull off in your... Hm, should I say younger days? Well sorry about that. Im talking too much now. My bad"
Purple destructive energy that resembled both purple lightning and flames surged violently around his hands.
"Unfortunately," he said with a deranged smirk, "it's a shame I have to kill you."
With a burst of lightning speed, Sorata lunged—hands glowing, energy flaring with an insane smile on his face.
Before his attack landed, three massive bullets tore through the air from a distance.
Sorata's eyes widened. He twisted mid-air, barely dodging the first. The second and third one came at a massive speed towards him. Out of annoyance, sorata blasted his destructive energy at the bullets. This attack from him caused a massive explosion that could wipe out entire city blocks in seconds.
From the sky, Levi swooped in, gun still smoking.
"You two alright?" Levi asked, landing beside kojin and tomoa.
"I'm fine," Tomoa said, "but Kojin needs help—fast."
Sorata chuckled, his eyes locked on Kojin. "Look at you… you've gone soft."
Suddenly, from behind the smoke, Shinki stepped out—Garou slung over his shoulder, bruised and barely conscious.
"That's enough," Shinki called. "Time to go."
A swirling portal opened beside him.
"Tch. Fine looks like the funs cut short." Sorata backed toward it but turned one last time to face Kojin. "AND DONT YOU GET YOUR OLD ASS KILLED. KOJIN TAKAHAMA! OR ELSE ID BE DISSAPOINTED!! YOU GOT THAT?!." Sorata yelled out in anger but with slight excitement.
With that, he vanished into the portal. It closed with a ripple.
Levi stared at the space where they disappeared. "...What the hell just happened?"
Tomoa looked down at Kojin, then back at Levi. "We need to get him to the city. Now."
The Next Day – City Hospital
Kojin layed in bed, silent and still. Tomoa sat beside him, arms crossed, eyes fixed on his unconscious father figure.
Finally, Kojin stirred.
Tomoa leaned in. "You awake?"
Kojin blinked slowly and sat up. "I'm fine."
Tomoa smiled in relief and stood. "Good. I was scared for a moment that you might not wake up any time soon.". Kojin replied with bandages on his rights side "Its fine. I'm okay. And plus, I've survived deadlier things than that mere fire ball. So it's cool."
Tomoa took a sigh of relief "That's cool. Well I've gotta go patrol tye city. I'm on duty today." Tomoa stood up from the chair he sat on and left the hospital room.
As Tomoa left the room, Kojin leaned back and stared at the ceiling. Sorata's voice echoed in his head.
"DONT YOU DARE GET KILLED! TAKAHAMA KOJIN!"
Kojin clenched his fists.
"I won't let anyone endanger this city. Its the duty i have to fulfill"
But something nagged at him.
Why… did Sorata's voice feel so familiar…?
He turned toward the window, gazing out at the skyline.
"I really don't like where this is going."
Elsewhere in the Hospital
Levi layed on another bed, bandages wrapped around his chest. The door creaked open.
Kinto walked in, holding a basket of fruit. "Yo. You good?"
Levi raised a brow. "You at a hospital? That's rare."
"Thought I'd check on you," Kinto replied, placing the basket on the side table. "Heard about the ambush. Is it true? There's an organization after Alex?"
Levi nodded slowly. "We don't know their full motives yet… but yeah. The Dark Sign Organization's real."
Kinto's expression darkened. "I've known Alex since we were four. We got close fast."
Levi smiled slightly. "No wonder you two are so tight."
Kinto chuckled. "He's reckless and kinda dumb… but he's strong. And he's got the biggest heart". "But still, a dark organization? So generic!" He said with mild annoyance with his hand on his head. "Now I've gotta train harder coz of this."
Later That Afternoon – Hilltop in the City
The sun shone brightly as Alex sat on a bench, staring into the sky.
Kazuki, taking a walk nearby, spotted him.
He walked over and sat beside him. "What are you thinking about, knucklehead?"
Alex didn't even glance over. "Tired."
Kazuki snorted. "Let me guess. You've been eating, watching anime, and reading manga all day."
Alex looked at him, eyes wide. "How'd you know!?"
"I've been your teammate for a while now I can read you like a book too an extent."
Alex smirked. "You've probably been training all day, huh?"
Kazuki shrugged. "Guilty."
A quiet pause settled between them—then laughter broke the silence.
Once it died down, Kazuki looked serious. "Hey. I'm sorry. For always insulting you... treating you like trash."
Alex blinked "Huh? Oh yeah. We weren't always the coolest of friends at first, but its fine. Im sorry too… for everything."
Kazuki stood, stretching out his hand. "From now on—we're not just teammates. We're partners."
Alex took his hand. "What's got you do sappy?"
They shook, sealing their new bond.
"But," Kazuki added with a grin, "we're still rivals."
Alex smirked back. "I knew it.."
As they shared the moment, Serena walked by and paused.
"You two better not be fighting again," she said playfully.
Alex waved. "Hey! Wanna hang out with us?"
Serena smiled. "Sounds like a nice idea. So what we gonna do?"
The three of them walked down the hill together, laughter in the air. "I don't know, we'll figure it out."
Behind a tree, watching silently, Diablo smiled faintly.
My team... they're finally getting along.
END OF EPISODE