The sight of Guzol crumpled to the floor, blood pooling beneath him, froze Makoto in place. His cursed eye flared with heat, showing him the trapped soul bound within the monstrous Level 2 Akuma that loomed over them. Lala sobbed, clutching the porcelain doll tightly, her voice trembling with anguish.

"Guzol! Please, no! You promised we'd be together forever!"

"Lala..." Guzol's voice was faint but steady, his body trembling as he pushed himself up on one arm. He turned to Makoto, his eyes filled with urgency. "Exorcist... take care of her. Protect her, no matter what."

Makoto nodded, his heart racing. "I promise."

The Akuma let out a cruel laugh, its gleaming claws slick with Guzol's blood. "How touching. But your little doll won't survive without her precious protector."

"You're wrong!" Makoto shouted, his Innocence wheel spinning furiously to life. "She's not alone anymore. We'll protect her."

Kanda, locked in a deadly exchange with the Akuma, growled in frustration. "Naegi, get her out of here! I'll handle this."

Makoto moved to Lala's side, his Innocence forming a protective barrier between them and the Akuma. "Lala, we need to move! Guzol wanted you to live."

Lala shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I can't leave him. I can't just abandon him!"

"Lala!" Makoto's voice softened, his cursed eye glowing as he met her gaze. "He wants you to survive. I know it hurts, but we can't let his sacrifice be for nothing."

The Akuma lunged toward them, but Makoto's spinning wheel intercepted its strike. The impact sent him staggering back, the force of the attack reverberating through his arms.

"Makoto, focus!" Kanda barked, slashing at the Akuma and forcing it to retreat momentarily.

Timcampy buzzed around Makoto's head, chirping as if urging him to keep going. Makoto steadied his breathing, his determination hardening. "We're not losing anyone else."

Despite their combined efforts, the Level 2 Akuma pressed its advantage. Its speed and intelligence allowed it to stay one step ahead, and its strikes grew more precise with each passing moment.

Makoto barely managed to deflect a deadly blow aimed at Lala, his wheel shattering against the Akuma's claw. "No!" he gasped as the shards of his Innocence flickered and faded.

The Akuma cackled. "So fragile. So weak. What hope do you have against me?"

Kanda, bloodied but unrelenting, launched himself at the creature. "I'll carve you apart!" he roared, his blade glowing as he activated Mugen's second form. But even his relentless assault couldn't land a decisive blow.

Makoto's fists clenched as despair threatened to overwhelm him. "I can't... I can't let this happen. I promised."

Guzol, his breaths shallow, reached out weakly toward Lala. "Lala... live for me. Please."

Tears fell freely from Lala's eyes as she clutched the doll tighter. "Guzol... I'll never forget you. I'll keep singing. For you."

The melody returned, soft and sorrowful, echoing through the chamber. The Innocence within the doll began to glow faintly, responding to Lala's song.

Makoto's heart raced as the light spread, intertwining with his shattered Innocence. His cursed eye burned like never before, and a surge of energy coursed through him. Images of everyone he'd met—Master Cross, Lenalee, Komui, even Kanda—flashed through his mind, but it was Guzol's final plea that solidified his resolve.

"I won't let this end here!" Makoto shouted, his voice echoing through the room.

The shattered shards of his Innocence reformed, splitting into two glowing, orbiting wheels. They spun around him like celestial bodies, their green light casting long shadows across the walls.

The Akuma recoiled as the new Innocence fully manifested, its energy crackling with power. "What... what is this?" it hissed, its voice tinged with unease.

Makoto's breathing steadied, and he stepped forward, the twin wheels orbiting him protectively. "This is my Innocence," he said firmly. "And it's stronger than you'll ever understand."

The wheels shot forward, their movements erratic and unpredictable. One struck the Akuma's leg, sending it stumbling, while the other arced around to slice through its shoulder. The creature screamed, its armor-like shell cracking under the assault.

Kanda smirked despite himself. "About time you pulled your weight."

Makoto didn't respond, his focus entirely on the Akuma. He directed the wheels with precision, each strike chipping away at the creature's defenses. The room itself seemed to shift in his favor—loose debris falling at just the right moment to block the Akuma's escape.

The Akuma lunged in a desperate attempt to overpower Makoto, but the twin wheels intercepted it, locking it in place. "You're finished," Makoto said, his voice calm but resolute.

The wheels combined into a single, massive disc, spinning with blinding speed. With a final surge of energy, Makoto sent the disc hurtling toward the Akuma's core, shattering it in a brilliant explosion of light.

As the dust settled, Makoto fell to his knees, his body trembling from exhaustion. The glowing wheels dimmed and faded, returning to their dormant state.

Kanda approached, wiping blood from his face. "Not bad, Naegi. You actually managed to pull it off."

Makoto looked up, his expression weary but determined. "Thanks. But... it wasn't just me."

They turned to Lala, who knelt beside Guzol's lifeless body, her song now a quiet hum. She placed the doll beside him, her tears flowing freely. "Thank you, Guzol. For everything."

Makoto approached her cautiously, his heart heavy. "Lala... I'm so sorry."

She shook her head, a faint, bittersweet smile on her lips. "You kept your promise. Guzol wanted me to live, and because of you, I can."

As dawn broke over Mater, the group stood outside the mansion, ready to return to the Black Order. Lala held the doll close, her expression solemn but resolute.

"I want to come with you," she said suddenly, her voice steady. "If Guzol can't protect the Innocence anymore, then I will."

Makoto nodded, his respect for her growing. "We'd be honored to have you."

Kanda grunted but didn't argue, his silence an acknowledgment of her strength.

As they boarded the train, Lala's song echoed softly, a reminder of the sacrifices made and the bonds forged. Makoto stared out the window, the weight of his new power settling on his shoulders.

"Guzol," he thought, "I'll protect her. I swear."

To Be Continued...