Raquel wiped her face, still catching her breath. After defeating Sakura, she made her way through the quiet forest, eventually finding Serena and Sukuna resting under a broken tree, tending to their wounds.
"I just handled everything," Raquel said with a confident smile.
Serena raised an eyebrow. "Took longer than I expected."
Raquel sighed. "Yeah... Sakura was actually a hard one."
Sukuna, bandaging her arm, gave a small nod. "I'm just glad no one got hurt too badly." She looked around. "What about the boys?"
—
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Alex, Kinto, and Baraka were making their way down a narrow path, Baraka leaning on Kinto for support. Suddenly, they came across Kazuki, standing calmly under a tall pine tree.
Alex stepped forward. "Kazuki. Were you able to catch the guy controlling the puppets?"
Kazuki's face was unreadable—eyes sharp, expression cold.
"No," he said. "Because the city of Raijin planned this entire situation."
Alex blinked. "Wait… what are you talking about?"
"I don't have time to explain," Kazuki replied. "We need to find the energy stone—fast. It's the only way we can wrap up this whole 'Battle of Domains' thing."
Kinto's eyes narrowed. "I think I know what you mean." He looked at Alex. "I've been suspecting it for a while. The Raijin assassins who entered this competition… they all had long-range attacks. And their D-rank status? Probably fake. They are all C-rankers.They planned this to scatter us—separate us. But there was just a down side. That being that all 11 of us boys and girls are slowly entering the C,rank level of strength. That's why kojin let us enter the competition. He made the lord of the raijin country believed we'd play fair. He fooled her. Smart move for an old man"
Alex gave a tired shrug. "Doesn't matter anymore. I'm willing to bet most of them are already down.". For a few moments(30 minutes) they were walking.
As they walked through the dense woods, two familiar figures emerged from the shadows—Son and Deo.
Kinto's face lit up in surprise. "You guys! You okay?"
"I'm fine," Son said casually.
"My injuries are just minor," Deo added.
Right then, Serena, Sukuna, and Raquel arrived from the opposite direction. Alex glanced over, visibly annoyed.
"Where the hell have you three been this whole time?"
Serena crossed her arms. "A 'I'm glad you girls are alive' would be nice to hear. You know?" Serena added "That was kinda cold alex. And plus we were worried about you boys. Our opponent was rough and dangerous, so we had to take our time."
Son stretched and smiled. "Who cares. Im just glad everyone made it out alive."
Kinto let out a breath. "There's just one person left now."
Sukuna raised a brow. "Who?"
Kinto answered, serious. "The one who controls puppets… remotely. I'm almost certain he can control people too." Kinto muttered to himself "That guy, he uses his puppets just as I use explosives. The only difference is that he multiplies his puppets and contains them in a small object and then throws them at his opponents from a far distance. I on the other hand multiply my explosives and launch them from a long but closer distance."
"Tch, so the guy's good at hiding," Alex muttered.
Raquel activated her Crystal God's Eye, scanning the surroundings. "I don't see anyone hiding so far…"
"I'd love to go look for him," Deo said, "but I'm way too tired for anything right now."
Suddenly, Alex's expression changed. He turned his head sharply.
"Something's coming…"
Without warning, a massive slash tore through the forest. Trees exploded, bark splintered, and the ground trembled. One of the trees came crashing down toward them.
"Damn it!" Son yelled, blasting it away with a fireball just in time.
Raquel's Crystal God's Eye flared. "There's something… no, someone coming!"
From far off, she saw it—an armored figure slicing through the forest with monstrous force.
"It's headed this way, and fast!"
Kinto's eyes widened. "We can't take that thing on… everyone's too drained."
The trees burst open as the machine finally arrived. A robot 16 feet tall, bladed arms glowing red, came to a halt before them. Its face opened… and out stepped Yuta.
"That's the guy!" Alex pointed. "The one behind the puppets!"
Yuta's voice echoed with fury. "Finally realised your place? You god damn fodders. None of you can stop this. My robot is strong enough to level half this forest. Good luck beating me"
Kinto was visibly annoyed "He's a cocky one. Permission to kill him? " Sukuna replied "Permission denied!"
Raquel read the energy. Her face dropped. "He's not bluffing. That thing is dangerous."
Kinto still annoyed "Great. He's cocky and backs it up with strength. Permission to kill him?" Baraka and sukuna replied together "Permission denied." Alex whispered "I'm on Kinto's side here. Who the fuck brings a megazord to a mere squabble between kids?" Deo replied "I know right? Such a waste of energy"
Yuta raised his arm. A glowing cannon charged.
"I'll make you pay… for what you did to my teammates!"
Before the beam could fire—BAM!
Out of nowhere, Mori exploded onto the scene, slamming his fist into Yuta's mech. The entire thing shattered. Sparks flew. Metal parts rained down like leaves.
Mori didn't stop.
He grabbed Yuta by the neck and pummeled him—fist after fist, blow after blow at rapid speeds. The ground beneath Yuta cracked and gave way from the force of the beating. A final punch sent shockwaves through the area, flattening another chunk of the forest.
When it was over, Mori stood tall, dusting off his jacket.
"You're lucky I came," he said, glaring at them. "Your sorry asses would've been toast."
From a nearby branch, Runo dropped down gracefully.
"Are you all okay?"
Sukuna snapped. "Where the hell have you been this whole damn time?!". Deo turned to runo with his hands on his pockets and abit annoyed "Sukuna has a point. Where have you been?"
Alex and Kinto, both a little shaken by Mori's power, exchanged glances.
"I really don't like the way this Mori bastard fights…" Alex muttered.
—
As the group exited the ruined forest, Kinto groaned. "This whole thing was a damn scam…"
"I'm going home, eating, and watching anime. Straight up," Alex said flatly.
But just as they were about to step out—
"Wait… the energy stone…" Alex paused, eyes wide. "We forgot it!!"
The whole group paused together before Groaning in sync.
Kazuki sighed. "Quit whining. While you were all too busy fighting, I found the stone and submitted it to Tomoa."
Everyone froze.
"…Kazuki, you're a real one," Alex said with a sigh of relief and excitement.
—
Later that day, the squad found themselves gathered at a restaurant. Alex, Baraka, Kinto, Serena, Sukuna, and Raquel devoured bowl after bowl of steaming hot rice.
"I'm glad it's over," Alex mumbled with a mouthful.
Kinto leaned back. "Finally… sleep."
—
8 PM.
Alex returned home, barely able to stand. His limbs felt like jelly. As he opened his door and switched on the light…
"…huh?"
There, lying on his bed—half-naked—was Raquel.
She looked up, slightly flustered. "Sorry for doing this… I just… Do you mind doing something… with me?"
Alex froze.
A second later, he dove into her chest, rubbing his head with uncontainable joy.
"THANK YOU, GOD! MIRACLES ARE REAL!"
The lights switched off.
END OF EPISODE.