Episode 19: "The Night Beyond Humanity"
Soma stood on the brink of defeat.
Konbaku’s overwhelming power pushed him beyond his limits.
――But then.
His comrades arrived.
Toka. Shikanosuke.
And… Kei.
A 4-on-1 battle began.
Yet even with numbers, Konbaku remained dominant.
She summoned altered humans—
and exploited Soma’s kindness.
He hesitated.
That hesitation nearly cost him everything.
---
“Hey, Soma.”
Toka spoke, her voice steady despite the chaos.
“You’re really kind. I like that about you.”
She stepped forward.
“But this is a battlefield.
Kindness can turn into weakness… and create openings.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“Those things may have once been human.
But now… they’re something else.”
She tightened her grip on her blade.
“If we don’t stop them…
they’ll only bring more harm.”
---
Soma clenched his teeth.
“…I’m sorry.”
He raised his spear again.
“I’ll fight.”
---
At the same time—
Kei was struggling to stay standing.
His movements were clearly affected.
Konbaku rushed toward him.
“Got you.”
But—
“Not happening!”
Soma stepped in to intercept.
The clash rang out sharply.
Even as he took the impact—
Soma didn’t fall back.
---
Toka moved in.
Her blade flashed—
And forced Konbaku to pull away.
Shikanosuke followed with a powerful strike.
The battlefield grew more intense.
Breathing grew heavier.
The tension thickened.
Still—
Soma advanced.
Again.
And again.
---
His spear struck true.
A direct hit that forced Konbaku backward.
“…Impressive.”
For the first time—
She lost her footing.
---
“Of course you’d step back!”
Shikanosuke shouted.
“Lightning Strike!”
A surge of lightning hit Konbaku.
Her movements slowed for a moment.
---
Soma didn’t miss it.
“Gorin…!”
Orange sparks burst outward.
His attack connected—
Stronger than before.
---
“…Orange?”
Kei’s eyes widened.
“He’s evolving…!”
---
But Konbaku smiled.
“Interesting… but not enough.”
A rainbow-colored gem formed in her hand.
The moment everyone saw it—
They understood.
Something was wrong.
---
“Stop her!”
They moved at once.
Lightning. Blades. Projectiles.
All aimed to interrupt.
---
But it was too late.
The gem shattered.
And from it—
Another Konbaku emerged.
---
“That one’s heading outside!”
“If it reaches the city—!”
---
“Shikanosuke! Kei! Go!”
“Got it!”
They rushed after it.
Leaving—
Soma and Toka behind.
---
“Good. Now it’s just us.”
Konbaku smiled.
Her presence grew heavier.
The pressure in the air intensified.
---
Soma tightened his grip.
The world around him shifted.
Colors deepened.
Movements slowed.
He could see everything.
---
“…So this is it.”
---
His spear moved.
Faster.
Sharper.
More precise.
Each strike carried overwhelming force.
---
Konbaku staggered.
“…What is this power…?”
She grinned.
“Good.”
“I can go even further.”
---
She lunged.
“Gorin!”
White sparks burst.
---
The impact—
Felt different.
Not just physical.
Something deeper—
Was shaken.
---
Toka was sent flying.
Soma followed.
His vision blurred from the force.
---
“Hahaha…!”
Konbaku laughed.
“I win.”
---
Soma’s thoughts scattered.
(What am I doing…?)
(I was just told not to hesitate…)
---
“Time to finish this.”
Konbaku raised her hand.
---
――Then.
Something changed.
---
A presence.
Heavy.
Cold.
Unnatural.
---
“…Hm?”
Konbaku turned.
---
The air shifted.
A purple aura filled the gym.
---
At the center—
Toka stood.
---
Her breathing—
Was unnaturally calm.
---
(…Something’s wrong.)
Konbaku moved.
To end it—
Before anything changed further.
---
But—
---
In an instant—
She was blown back.
---
“—!”
Her body slammed against the wall.
---
Standing there—
Was no longer the Toka they knew.
---
“…So this is where it gets interesting.”
Konbaku smiled.
---
Soma couldn’t move.
He could only watch.
---
(…Toka…?)
(Is that really you…?)
---
The two faced each other.
---
“Come.”
Toka spoke quietly.
“I’ll face you.”
---
This was not salvation.
---
This night—
Would become a point of no return.
