Chapter 37 – The End of Hojo Clan
The battlefield was in ruins. Dust and debris swirled through the air as Hikaru stood face to face with Vector Hojo, the last remaining head of the notorious Hojo Clan. The others had already taken down their respective opponents, but Vector was different—his power in wind manipulation was on another level.
Vector smirked, his piercing eyes filled with cold arrogance. "You're not the main character, Hikaru," he sneered, his voice carrying through the battlefield like an ominous whisper. "You're just another pawn in a bigger game."
Before Hikaru could respond, Vector unleashed a devastating windstorm, the sheer force of it sending shockwaves through the ground. The violent gusts slammed into Hikaru, cracking the bones in his left arm with an audible snap. Pain shot through his body, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to back down.
Summoning his strength, Hikaru clenched his fists and charged his energy blast. With a swift movement, he dodged Vector's follow-up attack and struck him with a powerful punch, sending the Hojo leader skidding backward. But Vector wasn't done yet. His aura surged, his wind energy growing wilder.
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced Vector's back. His eyes widened in shock.
"Akito?!" Vector gasped, turning his head slightly.
Akito had stealthed behind him, his dagger dripping with blood. With a cold glare, Akito twisted the blade deeper before vanishing once more. Hikaru didn't waste the opportunity. Summoning his Ether energy, he activated his sword Nova, its glowing edge crackling with untamed power.
With a single, precise slash, Hikaru severed Vector's left arm.
Vector howled in pain, his arrogance vanishing as he stumbled back, clutching the bleeding stump. "You… bastard," he seethed, his face twisting in rage.
Fueled by desperation, Vector's body began to change. His form expanded, twisting into a colossal wind entity, his entire being merging with the raging storm. The winds howled violently, lifting debris into the air and knocking back Hikaru and his allies.
The sheer pressure of the wind was suffocating. Hikaru struggled to maintain his footing, his body battered by the violent gales. But just as Vector prepared to unleash his finishing blow, Hikaru teleported behind him.
Vector barely had time to react before Hikaru drove his Ether-charged fist into his back, shattering the wind barrier protecting him. The energy coursed through Vector's body, disrupting his transformation.
With a final war cry, Hikaru raised Nova high and slashed through the raging winds, stabbing Vector straight through the chest.
Vector gasped, blood spilling from his mouth. His once mighty form flickered, the winds around him fading into nothingness. He fell to his knees, looking up at Hikaru with dulling eyes.
"Just be…" Vector whispered his final words before collapsing. His body disintegrated into dust, carried away by the last remnants of his wind.
At the same time, Muscle was engaged in his own final battle. His opponent, Venom Hojo, had pushed him to his limits. Every punch, every attack had tested his endurance, but Muscle refused to fall.
Clenching his fists, Muscle activated Zero Knuckle at 100%, his entire body glowing with strength-enhancing energy.
"This is it," Muscle muttered. "I'm ending this now."
With a final devastating punch, he drove his fist straight into Venom Hojo's chest. The sheer force of the impact created a shockwave that shattered the ground beneath them. Venom's eyes widened in horror as his body began to disintegrate from the overwhelming force.
"No… impossible…" Venom muttered before vanishing completely.
Muscle exhaled heavily, his body trembling from exhaustion. He turned to see Hikaru standing over the remains of Vector Hojo, signaling the end of the Hojo Clan.
Silence filled the battlefield as the realization sank in. They had done it. The most feared and powerful criminal clan of the alien planet was no more.
But victory came with a price. Their bodies were bruised, their energy nearly depleted, and worst of all—they had no way back to Earth.
"We need to leave," Hikaru said, his voice breaking the silence. "Staying here any longer is dangerous."
Leon nodded grimly. "Agreed, but there's one problem…" He gestured toward their spaceship, or at least what was left of it. The once magnificent craft was now in ruins, shattered beyond repair from the intense battle.
A heavy silence fell over the group.
They had fought so hard to survive, but now they were stranded on an alien planet with nothing.