As Rei fumbles with the final lock on Yami's cell, the heavy chains clatter to the floor, and she throws her arms around him, trembling with relief. Yami, still weak but determined, wraps her in a tight embrace, both silent yet unbreakable in their reunion. For a moment, time seems to still for them, the chaos outside fading as they cling to each other.
But the reunion is brief. From somewhere in the shadows of the underground, Vistago's low chuckle echoes. Qwana and Nijira appear beside him, and in an instant, Vistago lays his hand on each of their shoulders. Before Rei or Yami can react, the trio vanishes, leaving only a faint ripple in the air.
Above ground, the battle between Buddha and Horiba is a thunderous storm, each blow a collision of immense power. The ground trembles beneath them, and debris flies with each impact. Blood drips from their wounds, but neither man falters, their resolve like steel. Suddenly, a dark pressure fills the air, followed by a sickening silence.
A faint whistling sound cuts through the battlefield, swift and deadly—and then, in an instant, a hole is blasted through Horiba's chest. Horiba staggers, a look of shock in his eyes, as the blood seeps through his robes. He collapses to one knee, looking up to see Vistago calmly stepping forward, his fingers dripping with a dark red aura.
Qwana and Nijira stand behind him, their faces a mixture of horror and confusion. Buddha, stunned, locks eyes with his brothers, trying to make sense of this sudden shift.
"Why?" Nijira's voice breaks through the tense silence, his usual confidence shattered. "What are you doing, Vistago? We were fighting for freedom, not slaughter."
Vistago's gaze sharpens, his eyes cold and unreadable. "Freedom?" he scoffs. "No. The Naguyoto have been dishonored, shackled by others, told to accept peace while our pride was stripped away. Today, we reclaim our true strength. Anyone who stands in the way must fall. Including...our supposed allies."
Buddha's face drains of color as the truth hits him with brutal clarity. He can see it now—the simmering ambition in Vistago's eyes, the twisted pride in his words. They had been nothing but pawns in his grand scheme, and every assurance of peace had been a lie. This was never about unity or respect. Vistago's intentions were nothing more than a burning desire to dominate.
Realizing the depth of the betrayal, Buddha turns to his brothers, pain and fury mixing in his gaze. "Do you see it now?" he growls. "We were deceived. All this talk of peace and reclaiming honor...he played us. And now, he's using us to destroy everything and everyone who won't bend to his will."
Qwana and Nijira exchange a look, their faces growing hard as the truth settles in. Their loyalty, their sacrifices, all used to bring back a man they'd trusted—only to find that he intended to use that power to tear the world apart.