The night was still and heavy, the faint glow of the moon casting silver streaks across the forest. Kuri's breathing slowed as she knelt near the fire, her eyes fluttering closed. The warmth of the flames flickered across her face, but her expression tightened. A sudden chill ran down her spine, and her vision swam.

Flashes of chaos filled her mind: Senku crumpling to the ground, blood pooling around his head, a dark figure standing over him with a crude weapon. Kuri's eyes snapped open, her chest heaving as she clutched the ground beneath her.

"Senku…" she whispered, panic rising like a storm inside her.

The noise startled the group around her. Senku, who had been examining his latest invention, turned to her with concern. "Kuri? What's wrong?"

Kuri's silver eyes locked onto his. "You're in danger. Someone's coming for you."

Before Senku could respond, Gen's smooth voice broke the tension. "Then perhaps I should go in your place."

The group turned to see the mentalist leaning casually against a tree, a sly smile on his lips. "If they're after you, Senku, they won't be expecting me. I've got a knack for handling tricky situations."

"Gen, this isn't a game," Senku said, his tone sharp. "You're not exactly the picture of physical resilience."

Gen chuckled, brushing off the concern. "Ah, but I have other talents. Trust me."

Despite his reservations, Senku reluctantly agreed. Gen set off toward the village outskirts, whistling a carefree tune as the group watched him disappear into the trees.

Hours later, a bloodcurdling cry echoed through the forest. The group rushed toward the sound, finding Gen collapsed in a clearing, his clothes soaked with blood.

"Gen!" Kuri cried, dropping to her knees beside him.

He groaned weakly, eyes fluttering shut. "Ah… it seems I wasn't as clever as I thought…"

Senku leaned over him, his fingers expertly examining the wound. As he peeled back Gen's shirt, a grin spread across his face. "Fake blood bags and padding. Nice touch, mentalist."

Gen's eyes popped open, a smug smile curling his lips. "What can I say? I'm a man of theatrics. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll lie low for a while."

The group exchanged relieved glances as Gen stumbled off, his performance having served its purpose. Kohaku, however, remained tense, her sharp eyes scanning the area.

"I know who did this," she said, her voice cold. "It was Magma."

Chrome's expression darkened. "Of course it was. He's trying to eliminate anyone who might stand in his way at the Grand Bout."

"Grand Bout?" Senku asked.

Kohaku nodded. "It's the village's competition to decide the next chief. The winner gets liquor—and leadership."

Senku's mind began to race. "Liquor? That's exactly what we need for our antibiotics. And if one of us becomes the chief, we can finally get the villagers to cooperate with our experiments."

Kuri's eyes narrowed. "Then we'll have to win."

Kohaku crossed her arms, her gaze locking onto Kuri. "If you think you're strong enough, show me."

Kuri blinked. "Wait—now?"

"Now." Kohaku stepped back, her posture shifting into a fighting stance. "If you're going to compete, I need to know you can handle yourself."

Kuri sighed, stepping forward reluctantly. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

The two women squared off, the tension in the air thick enough to cut. Kohaku lunged first, her movements swift and deliberate. Kuri sidestepped gracefully, her fingers glowing faintly as she adopted a fighting stance that caught everyone's attention.

"What the hell is that?" Senku murmured, his eyes widening as Kuri's hands moved in a fluid, circular motion. Her strikes were precise, barely grazing Kohaku, but each one sent her opponent stumbling back as if hit by an invisible force.

Kuri's movements were mesmerizing, her hands weaving through the air in intricate patterns. She struck again and again, each blow landing with uncanny accuracy, as if she could see Kohaku's energy and disrupt it at will.

Senku's heart raced, his scientific mind struggling to process what he was seeing. Is this… magic? Or is it something else? He watched, transfixed, as Kuri executed a final sequence, her hands moving so quickly they blurred. Kohaku fell to her knees, breathless but unhurt.

"That was…" Senku began, his voice trailing off. He was staring at Kuri with an intensity that made her blush furiously.

"Overkill?" Kuri offered, fidgeting under his gaze.

"Incredible," Senku finished, his voice thick with awe. "You're… incredible."

Kuri looked away, her cheeks burning. "It's just a fighting style. Nothing special."

"Nothing special?" Senku repeated, stepping closer. "That was precision and force beyond anything I've ever seen. You're a walking mystery, Kuri."

She glanced at him, her embarrassment deepening as she caught the admiration in his eyes. "Stop looking at me like that," she muttered.

"Like what?" he teased, though his voice was softer than usual.

Kohaku, still catching her breath, rose to her feet. "You're strong. Stronger than I expected," she admitted. "And you'll help us save Ruri. Thank you."

Kuri nodded, her composure returning. "I'll do whatever it takes."

Senku's gaze lingered on her as she walked away, her movements graceful and sure. His mind was still buzzing, both with questions and an undeniable pull he couldn't quite explain. For now, though, he had only one thought: She's going to win this, and together, we'll save the village.