A soft fog clouded Fallen's vision. Everything was blurry. A strange warmth rested against his cheek.
His eyes blinked open slowly—then widened.
His head was on someone's lap.
"W-What…?"
He jerked upright, wincing. "Ahhh—my head," he groaned, pressing a hand to his temple. His voice cracked from pain and confusion.
"Hey, take it easy." Misaki's soft voice soothed him. She gently reached for his shoulder. "You fainted. What happened to you?"
Fallen blinked again, his mind racing. "Where… where is he?" he asked suddenly, eyes darting around the room.
Misaki frowned. "Who?"
"The doctor," he whispered. "Where is he?!"
"There's no one here, Fallen," Misaki said carefully. "You're scaring me."
"No... no, he was here. I saw him—his body…"
She reached out and touched his hand. "There's no body. Maybe your head's spinning. Just lie down again—rest. You've been through a lot."
Fallen sat still for a second, confused. "Yeah… maybe you're right."
But then—like nails screeching across glass—an agonizingly sharp sound pierced the air.
Fallen flinched. "What is that noise? Is that… coming from the street?"
The scene outside shifted.
— Outside —
A scream rang out across the city.
"MONSTER!!"
Fallen's father stood in the middle of a devastated road, staring ahead in horror.
Across from him was a blood-drenched figure. His brother. No.2.
Corpses littered the streets like broken dolls. Torn spines, severed limbs, heads cracked open. Pools of blood soaked the concrete.
No.2 stood in the center, grinning like a beast. In each hand, he held the freshly ripped backbones of two humans—using them as weapons, twirling them like sick trophies.
Fallen's father gritted his teeth. "This is… inhuman."
Without warning, No.2 lunged forward.
A thunderous punch crashed into his face, sending him flying into the air.
Before he could even react, No.2 flash-stepped next to him mid-air and drove his fist into his stomach. The impact hurled him straight into the road, shattering the concrete.
Coughing blood, Fallen's father struggled to his feet. "You've lost it… completely…"
But No.2 wasn't done. He appeared again—faster this time.
A jab to the cheek. An uppercut that snapped his head back.
Then a Brazilian kick to the back of his knee—forcing him down.
Before he could catch his breath, a spinning mid-air roundhouse smashed into his face, launching him backward.
His body blasted through the outer hospital wall and landed hard in the reception lobby. Rubble buried his limbs.
Fallen's father staggered up, wiping blood from his lip.
"So… now you've learned my style," he said with a bitter grin. "The No.1 technique. Is that what this is about, brother?"
No.2 grinned savagely.
He clenched his fist, gathering dark energy to mimic the Ring of Fire—but it backfired. His arm exploded at the elbow.
And then—regenerated instantly.
No.1 narrowed his eyes. "You're channeling too much power. Your energy is leaking—your control's unstable."
He launched a punch, but the pressure around No.2's body sliced the air, deflecting it cleanly.
"That leaking energy's turned into a shield… I can't even land a clean hit," he muttered.
But then—
No.2 succeeded.
The Ring of Fire ignited from his palm. He dashed forward and slashed No.1 in half.
Mid-air, the body separated—but almost instantly began regenerating.
As it reformed, No.2 intercepted the still-healing No.1 and kicked him downward, slamming him into the street again. A crater opened beneath the impact.
No.1 coughed, struggling. "He's faster… stronger…"
No.2 wasn't finished.
He yanked him from the ground by the collarbone and hurled him into a nearby gas station.
As No.1 landed, No.2 leapt after him—both fists high, preparing a brutal hammer punch.
No.1 dodged, and No.2 struck a gas dispenser.
BOOM!
The explosion lit up the street in a wave of fire.
Both bodies were thrown violently into the road, half-charred.
Smoke lingered in the air.
And then… they both stood.
Their bodies regenerated in seconds.
No.1 exhaled deeply, glaring into the flames. "I'm not losing to you, brother. Not now. Not ever."
He stood tall.
"My pride won't let me lose."
[End of Chapter 16]