Kiren and the others watch in awe as Jean is in his monkey form, fighting fiercely against the golem. The intense fight causes the sewers walls and ceiling to collapse, with pieces of metal raining down from above. Jean slams the golem to the ground and pounces on it, relentlessly pounding its head with his fists. The golem raises its staff to block Jean's bite, but even so, Jean's teeth begin to crack the staff.
Nakao, noticing the wild rage in Jean's eyes, realizes that if this continues, Jean could become dangerous to them all. Spotting a broken drone nearby, she rushes over, frantically banging on it, trying to contact Mai. Meanwhile, Nhia, barely conscious, glances over and sees Ezzy clutching her chest as small flames flicker from her chest and back.
The golem slams Jean into the sewer walls, and its cracked body starts pulsing with magic. The golem channels its energy into its spinning staff, creating a glowing magic circle in front of it. Its chest intensifies with light as it charges up another, even more powerful energy blast. The magic circle amplifies the blast's strength as the golem unleashes a massive beam of energy. Jean, roaring defiantly, charges headfirst into the blast, grabbing hold of the energy and struggling to contain it.
Kiren, alarmed, warns, "If that blast explodes, it'll take out the entire sewer system and we'll die!" Desperate, Nakao shouts, "Jean!" seeing him struggle with the blast. Jean's mind flashes back to a conversation he had a day ago in the RV's living room.
In that flashback, Jean apologizes to Nakao, saying, "I almost killed you. I wasn't in control. I'm so sorry." Nakao accepts his apology, replying, "It's okay. We all believe in you, Jean. You'll overcome Henry." Jean wipes his tears, confessing, "I'm scared. If I use more of my power, I could put everyone in danger. I don't want anyone to die because of me." He adds, "Henry is getting stronger—stronger than even Adam's blood can't hold him back. I have to find a way to stop him with my own strength."
Nakao offers encouragement, telling him, "You're already incredibly strong for someone your age. In Nemura City, you'll be able to get even stronger—stronger than Runica, maybe even Adam." Jean with proper trainning" still unsure, Jean asks, "Why do you have so much faith in me?" Nakao explains, "Because of my own experience. When I was at my lowest, Conor believed in me. He helped me rise up. Seeing someone strong should inspire us to become stronger, to push ourselves further."
Jean, still filled with doubt, responds, "Not everyone can be strong. If I can't hold Henry back, maybe it's better for me to just… die."
Ezzy enters the room during the flashback, cutting in bluntly, "No one here has the guts to kill you, Jean. Not even yourself." She adds, "If we didn't care about you, Adam would've killed you during the war but it seems like this group has grow a bit too attached to you." Jean, disheartened, says, "Adam thought his blood could contain Henry, but it's not enough. I don't have enough time to get stronger. Every day, Henry grows stronger and the power gap between them is getting further. One day, I'll lose control." After a moment of thought, Ezzy says coldly, "If it comes to that, and there's no other choice, I'll give you a quick death with my flames."
The flashback fades, and Jean's beastly eyes turn white. The top half of Henry emerges from Jean's back, grinning wickedly. "Without Adam here, this time, I'll fully take control of Jean's body," Henry says confidently. He also grabs hold of the massive energy blast in front of him, his grip tightening until the blast shatters with sheer force, stunning everyone watching.
Henry steps out of Jean's body entirely, and Jean is absorbed into him. With a powerful swing, Henry's fist grows into a giant, monstrous monkey form, smashing the golem into pieces. As his arm returns to normal, a single seagull wing sprouts from his back. Henry glances at it, frowning. "Even now, Jean still resists from within," he mutters. "It'll take time before I can fully control his body."
Henry snarls, "I need to finish this quickly before Adam shows up and ruins everything."
Kiren, barely standing, stumbles forward with what little strength he has left. He turns to Michael, "I'm going to buy you all some time. Get everyone out of here." Then, with a faint smile, he adds, "Make sure you tell Adam I was the star of this mission."
As Henry charges, his wing lashes out with deadly force. Kiren raises his shield, blocking the wing's strike. Michael, struggling to move, clenches his fists and mutters, "If I run now, Mai will call me a coward... and I'm not running anymore. Not this time. Not from fear." He knows deep down that his true strength has always been held back by his own doubts, but he can't let that stop him any longer.
Nakao, reloading her gun, steps forward with determination. "We'll fight to the very end, no matter what," she says with resolute.
As the group steels themselves, they hear Simbad's fierce battle cry echo through the ruined sewers. With his katana gleaming, Simbad charges forward, slashing across Henry's back. Tears streak down his face as he shouts, "Jean is stronger than this! He will overcome you!"
Henry snarls, unfazed, and spins, lashing his wing at Simbad. The wing slices across Simbad's chest, sending feathers like deadly projectiles that pierce his body. Simbad is hurled across the sewer ruins, crashing into the debris, blood seeping from his wounds.
With a chilling smile, Henry declares, "This time, I'm going to kill everyone for good."
But then, something unexpected happens—half of Jean's face emerges from Henry's, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry... I'm so weak. I can't hold him back..." Jean's voice trembles with regret.
Without hesitation, Henry slams his fist into Jean's face, forcing it back inside his body. Kiren, gathering every ounce of strength, unleashes the stored magic from his shield. A massive energy blast erupts toward Henry, shaking the very foundations of the sewer.
Henry, unfazed, simply raises his wings, slicing through the energy blast with ease, cutting it in half and dispersing it effortlessly. The team stares in disbelief as Henry's overwhelming power becomes painfully clear.
Henry approaches Kiren, who collapses to the ground. With a sinister grin, Henry says, "If you had stayed on the Rider ship, Kiren, you would've made a fantastic monster for me. Maybe after this is over, I'll make that happen."
Michael trembles in fear, and Nakao, though struggling, raises her gun toward Henry, fully aware that pulling the trigger would also harm Jean. Desperation fills her as she screams out, "Jean!" But before she can act, Henry moves with lightning speed, covering her mouth with a forceful grip. "I'm tired of you all trying to reach Jean," he hisses.
Just as Henry is about to strike, Michael snaps out of his paralysis and, with his lightning speed, grabs Nakao and pulls her away to safety. Henry glares at Michael, his expression darkening. "I remember you," he says coldly. "You're the one who hurt my father. Now, you're going to pay for everything."
Henry lifts his wing, preparing to deliver a devastating attack. Michael, still shaking with fear, clutches Nakao tightly. But suddenly, Jean's top half emerges from Henry's body, and with a sudden burst of strength, he wraps his hands around Henry's throat, choking him from behind. Henry stumbles backward, struggling against Jean's grip. With desperation in his voice, Jean yells, "Ezzy!"
Nearby, Ezzy hears Jean's cry, though she feels like she's reached her limit. "I'm at my end too," she mutters to herself as she stumbles toward him, while Nhia, barely able to move, tries his best to rise but finds himself too weak to stand.
Henry staggers backward, inching closer to the magic portal. Panic flickers across his face as he speaks, "Jean, you can't do this! If you go through with it, both of us will die!"
Jean's grip tightens, his voice steady yet filled with resolve. "At least this way, no one else has to die because of me."
As Ezzy approaches, the air around them grows unbearably hot, with small flames flickering and sparking in the atmosphere. Flames begin to rise on Jean's shoulders and spread across Henry's body. Ezzy's voice is calm but tinged with sadness as she says, "I didn't think it would come to this so soon, but at least you won't have to die alone, Jean. I'm coming with you."
Tears well up in Jean's eyes, streaming down his face as he chokes out apologies, repeating them over and over. He can barely contain his emotions. Standing before them, Ezzy's flames grow more intense, engulfing the area. The seagull wing on Henry's back begins to burn, crumbling into ash.
Henry's voice turns desperate, "You won't kill Jean too! This is all just a bluff!"
Ezzy smiles, pridefully, flames then roar to life, bursting out of her with a fierce, uncontrollable rage. Her eyes harden as she replies, "This is no bluff. It's time to end of the final Rider—and to fulfill a friend's final request."
Suddenly, Nakao rushes into the flames, throwing her arms around Henry's body from behind. She cries out, "This can't be the only way! There has to be another! Death doesn't suit either of you—you both have so much to live for!"
Ezzy notices her flames burning brightly, but then something strange is happening. Someone's magic is cooling her flames, just enough to prevent Nakao from being severely burned. Only slight burns appear on her body, as if the flames were held back by an unseen force.
Suddenly, Ezzy feels another embrace from behind. It's Nhia, who yells out, "Ezzy, you can't go out like this! You still have your people to save! They suffer from the same fire curse as you did, and if you give up now, your mother's death and your people's struggles will all be in vain!" His voice cracks with emotion as he continues, "All my life, I've lost so many friends. I just want to see the people I care about live. Please don't let this end like this!"
Ezzy realizes that it's Nhia's magic that is suppressing her flames, but she feels it weakening, slowly breaking as her fire burns hotter and hotter. The searing heat begins to overwhelm his protective magic, and both Nhia and Nakao's bodies start to burn, the flames licking at their skin.
Henry laughs maniacally, his voice full of cruel joy. "There's no stopping it now! She's really going to take out all of her friends, all at once!"
Michael watches the scene unfold from afar, frozen with fear. His body trembles, and he can't bring himself to act. He drops to his knees, slamming his head against the ground in frustration. "Mai was right," he whispers to himself, over and over. "I really am a coward."
Ezzy struggles against the raging flames engulfing her, Henry's mocking laughter echoing in her ears. Her frustration mounts as she realizes that, despite her desperate attempts, she can't stop the fire from spreading. The flames have taken hold, and now, both Nhia and Nakao are in danger. Tears stream down her face as she cries out in desperation, "Somebody, please help! I don't want my friends to die with me!"
Suddenly, through the flames, they all see a figure walking toward them and stands strongly in between her and Henry. It's Kiren, his body already scorched by the fire. Despite the pain, he smiles faintly and says, "I've figured out my hero name... it's Star Hero!" He raises his shield, and with a surge of magic, a glowing star forms on its surface. The shield begins to absorb Ezzy's flames, but Kiren is too weak. His body trembles as he struggles to hold the shield aloft, the flames licking at his skin.
Just as Kiren is about to falter, Simbad steps in beside him. With a weary but determined smile, he grabs hold of the shield to help. "At least we're all together," he says softly, "even if it's the end."
Ezzy watches in horror as her uncontrollable flames continue to consume their bodies and Kiren's magic isn't enough to save them. Tears pour down her face, her heart pounding faster and faster, threatening to ignite in a final, deadly explosion. Overcome by guilt and sorrow, she squeezes her eyes shut, ready to accept her fate.
But in the midst of her despair, she cries out once more, her voice trembling, "Help... please..."
Suddenly, the flames begin to retract back into Ezzy's chest with startling speed. She blinks in disbelief, watching as her intense fire is absorbed, leaving her breathless and stunned. Everyone but Ezzy collapses to the ground from the strain of her flames.
Ezzy turns toward the magic portal and sees Megan standing there, her body enveloped in a brilliant white light. The sight triggers a memory of the war, when Megan had cast a similar spell, bathing herself in the same radiant magic. Megan's presence is a beacon of hope amid the chaos.
With a determined expression, Megan draws a blade of light and slices her arm. Her blood, shimmering with magic, flows out and streams into Ezzy, soothing the fierce flames within her. The calming effect of Megan's magic gradually extinguishes the fire, bringing relief to Ezzy and a renewed sense of hope.
Megan, her body still glowing with radiant magic, speaks with resolve: "I know using this spell again will drain my magic for a while, but if I don't use it now, all of my friends are going to die. This is my moment to push beyond my limits—for myself, and for Iris's sake." Her magic intensifies, the light shining even brighter as she raises her hand. With a graceful wave, her magic flows throughout the sewers, touching everyone who had been severely injured.
The soothing power of Megan's magic begins to heal their burns and wounds, restoring them slowly back to health. Ezzy, overwhelmed with emotion, falls to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Maybe it was foolish of me to think killing myself was the answer," she says, her voice trembling. "I should be more grateful with my life and for all of you guys."
As the healing magic works its way through the sewers, Henry, stands up, feeling his wounds knitting themselves together. He grins darkly, saying, "I knew Jean was too important to Old Berry Town... that's why I chose him as my backup vessel during the war." His one seagull wing emerges from his back, pulsing with magic energy.
Megan, undeterred, summons her weapon. The white glow of her magic flares around her, almost blinding, as she takes a deep breath. Steeling herself, she dashes forward with incredible speed, magic swirling powerfully around her, charging directly at Henry for a final confrontation.