Volker's imposing figure loomed over the fallen trio, a predator surveying its prey. As Udo struggled to regain his footing, Troy and Trevor scrambled to untangle themselves, but the momentary lapse had given Volker the advantage he needed.
With a swift motion, Volker lunged forward, his body a blur of speed. Udo barely had time to react as Volker closed the distance between them, launching a vicious uppercut that connected with Udo's chin, sending him reeling backward. The impact reverberated through Udo's skull, leaving him momentarily disoriented as he hit the ground again.
Troy rushed in, fueled by adrenaline and anger, charged at Volker, throwing a flurry of punches, but Volker stood his ground. Troy's fists collided with Volker's body, but it was like hitting stone.With a sharp flick of his wrist, Volker retaliated, his gloves cutting through the air like a razor.
Troy's eyes widened in horror as Volker's fist connected with his side, the serrated teeth of the gloves tearing into his skin. "Ahh!" Troy gasped, feeling the searing pain as he staggered away, clutching his side.
Trevor, still on the ground, tried to regroup and launched himself at Volker, attempting to capitalize on the distraction Troy provided. He powered forward, his fists poised to strike, but Volker turned, catching Trevor mid-charge. With a powerful grip, Volker lifted Trevor off the ground, his muscles flexing with the effort.
"Come on. You're better than that!" Volker roared, slamming Trevor into the dirt with brutal force. The impact created a small crater, dust and debris flying into the air as Trevor gasped for breath, his body wracked with pain.
Udo finally pushed himself to his feet, determination shining through the pain. He lunged at Volker, wrapping his arms around him in an attempt to grapple, locking his grip around Volker's midsection with all his strength.
But Volker's body was unyielding, like gripping a steel beam. Volker broke free with a vicious twist of his torso, slamming his elbow into Udo's ribs. Udo gasped, feeling a sharp, searing pain as Volker spun and delivered a brutal knee to his stomach, forcing Udo to release his grip and drop to the ground.
Volker looked down at Udo, disdain etched across his face. The determination that had fueled Udo moments ago was quickly replaced by agony, the fighter crumpled on the ground, clutching his stomach.
"Come on. Get up then you cunt." Volker taunted, his voice cold and mocking. Without hesitation, he lifted his foot and brought it down in a punishing kick, landing directly on Udo's chest. The impact knocked the breath out of him, leaving Udo wheezing beneath his mask.
Troy, seeing the opening, charged at Volker with fury, fists flying in a flurry of punches. But Volker remained unfazed, his body like unyielding steel. Each punch Troy threw seemed to have no effect, bouncing off Volker's hardened form.
With a swift motion, Volker's gloves gleamed, and he lashed out, his fist cutting through Troy's side with the razor-sharp teeth.
Troy's eyes widened in shock as he staggered back, clutching at his bleeding side. Before he could react, Volker swung a powerful kick, sending Troy flying through the air, crashing into the dirt with a heavy thud.
Trevor, furious at the sight of his teammates crumbling, charged forward with a massive punch aimed at Volker's head. But Volker was already gone, his movements too fast to track.
He sidestepped with ease, and in a single motion, slammed a knee into Trevor's midsection, sending him stumbling backward. Trevor barely had time to recover before Volker lashed out again, slashing him with the sharp teeth of his gloves, leaving deep gashes across his chest.
Udo, not willing to give up, shakily pushed himself to his feet and rushed in for another grapple, his hands reaching out in a desperate attempt to lock Volker down.
But once again, Volker's body was like iron. With a simple twist of his torso, Volker broke free and slammed an elbow into Udo's ribs, causing the wrestler to gasp and stumble backward.
Volker followed it up with a brutal knee to Udo's stomach, knocking the wind out of him, sending him crashing to the ground in a heap.
The martial arts specialist stood amidst the chaos, his figure unmoved and unbothered as his bloodied opponents writhed at his feet. His gaze held nothing but contempt, and his expression remained as cold and unreadable as ever.
"You Dove hosts are weak," Volker said, his voice filled with disdain. He sighed, a breath of boredom mixed with faint disappointment. "And to think I once wanted to become one of you."
With slow, deliberate steps, Volker moved toward Udo, whose bloodied face was barely visible through the shattered fragments of his mask. There was no hurry in his gait; he strolled as if savoring every moment of their defeat.
"There's nothing I enjoy more than putting you guys in your place." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, chilling murmur. "Show yourself."
Volker reached for Udo's mask, prepared to finally unveil the face beneath. But before he could pull it away, Udo's hand shot up, gripping Volker's ankle like a vice. Volker's eyes flickered with surprise—a rare emotion on his otherwise stoic face.
Before he could react, Udo shifted, maneuvering himself to his feet while maintaining his hold on Volker's ankle. With an explosion of strength and fury, he whirled Volker around, spinning him like a ragdoll. With a final roar, he released his grip, hurling Volker through the air like a bullet. The impact was bone-rattling as Volker crashed meters away, tearing through the earth and debris.
Udo panted, blood trickling from the gaping cracks in his mask, pooling at the edges of his mouth. His shoulders heaved, but his eyes burned with relentless determination. "I have to get him back…I will get him back…" he muttered, his voice raw with desperation. "I don't care what rank host I am. I don't care who's in front of me… For what I did to Kenny, for what I did to Bowen…for what I did to Mum…I will redeem it…I will redeem everything."
He roared, his voice echoing like a war cry. "Troy! Trevor! Get up! Let's settle this! Now!"
From the ground, Trevor stared, bloodied and broken, but the fire within him refused to die. With grit and pain etched into every movement, he slowly pushed himself up, his muscles trembling but his resolve unyielding.
Troy cackled, a wild glint flashing in his eyes as he too forced himself to stand. Blood smeared his face, but he grinned, a reckless edge to his words. "That's what I'm fucking talking about."
Together, they trudged to Udo's side, their bodies battered, their spirits unbreakable. One last stand. One last fight.
Udo's voice was low, but his resolve carried in every word. "One last go. We need to put everything into this. We know our roles. The only difference is, this time, we will give it…everything we've got."
"You don't have to tell me twice," Troy said, determination hardening his features.
Trevor's eyes narrowed, focused. "Do you have a specific plan for this final attack?"
Udo remained silent, his gaze fixed on Volker. The venom in his eyes spoke volumes.
As Volker strolled back to the battle site, his steps unhurried and his body emanating an aura of unshakable confidence, something caught his eye—a lone figure standing amidst the wreckage. Steam poured from the figure's body in thick, swirling waves, obscuring his features.
Volker's brow furrowed, a flicker of intrigue momentarily crossing his expression. "Hm? Who's that?" he murmured.
The steam parted just enough to reveal Troy, his eyes blazing with an intensity that bordered on madness. He was utterly focused, and every breath he exhaled seemed to ignite the air around him.
"Is that…" Volker's voice trailed off. Recognition flashed, followed by a faint smirk—barely perceptible, but there. "Now we're talking."
In the blink of an eye, Troy vanished. One moment he was there, the next he was gone, his speed quadrupled. Volker's eyes darted, straining to track him. "Huh?"
Suddenly, Volker's head snapped forward, the force of a boxing glove crashing against the back of his skull. His body jerked with the impact. Before he could regain his footing, another blow struck—this time to his stomach, driving him back a step.
Then another, a crushing punch to his cheek. The assault continued relentlessly. Troy flickered around him like a phantom, delivering stinging punches from every angle. Volker's impenetrable body absorbed each strike, but the marks—small, red imprints left by Troy's accelerated force—told a story of their own.
Volker's eyes narrowed. "This guy…he's increased his temperature so much I can barely perceive him. Even his punches…my Benedi is the only thing stopping them from being deadly." He paused, feeling the rapid vibrations of Troy's movements. His fists clenched as he prepared. "But all I need…is one."
Troy darted in again, a blur of motion as he launched another barrage of punches aimed at Volker's chest. But this time, Volker anticipated it. He shifted just slightly, a subtle movement that created a split-second opening.
This time, Volker's fist shot forward with terrifying speed and force, punching straight through the side of Troy's abdomen. Blood sprayed across the forest floor as Volker's hand tore through flesh, leaving a massive, gaping wound. Troy gasped, his body seizing with pain, and dropped to one knee.
For a moment, it seemed as though the battle was over. But then, a defiant smirk spread across Troy's bloodied face. Through gritted teeth, he muttered, "Got you."
Volker's eyes narrowed in confusion—just as Udo appeared behind him, his powerful arms locking around Volker's torso in a crushing grip. With a primal roar, Udo hurled himself backward, slamming Volker headfirst into the ground with a thunderous suplex. The impact shook the earth, sending leaves and debris flying.
As Volker's body hit the ground, Udo didn't waste a second. He planted his hands on Volker's torso, the air around him suddenly turning deathly cold. Ice began to form beneath his palms, crawling up Volker's body and pinning him to the ground. Frost coated the dirt, and steam hissed as the sudden drop in temperature clashed with Volker's residual heat.
Volker's eyes widened, fury mixing with shock. "Frozen Vibration!?"
Flashback
Udo's voice was calm but urgent as he spoke to Troy and Trevor, their battered forms gathered in a secluded grove. "This is the only way we're going to get even a chance. High risk, high reward."
Trevor's jaw clenched. "Explain."
"Troy," Udo said, his eyes meeting his friend's. "You'll push your temperature to its absolute peak. Move faster than he can react, hit harder than he expects. Your job is to keep him off-balance."
"And you?" Troy asked, his gaze wary.
Udo exhaled slowly. "I'll lower my vibration to the extreme. I won't be fast enough to catch him unless you can distract him. But if I can get close…" He paused, his hand clenching into a fist. "I'll make it count."
Back to the Present
Udo's muscles strained as he kept his grip on Volker, his teeth gritted against the biting cold radiating from his hands. Ice continued to spread, locking Volker's limbs in place. Udo's breath came out in frosty puffs. "You're not going anywhere," he growled.
Volker's eyes burned with rage and disbelief.
Udo shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing through the forest. "Your turn, Trevor!"
High above, a figure descended with terrifying velocity—Trevor, his arm completely shrouded in steam, the heat distorting the air around him. Blue flames licked at his sleeve, and his expression was a mask of fierce determination. Volker's eyes, wide with a mix of disbelief and fear, followed Trevor's rapid approach. He barely noticed as Udo, moving with desperation, dragged Troy out of the blast zone.
Flashback
"The final blow…" Udo had said, staring Trevor in the eyes. "It's up to you. Realistically, you're the only one with enough power to finish him off." He paused, his voice low and grim. "You'll need to use Explosive Vibration."
Trevor's brow furrowed, doubt flickering in his eyes. "That's too risky. I've never—"
"It doesn't matter," Udo cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This is our only shot. Volker is too powerful. If you don't deliver the final blow, we'll all die."
Trevor had nodded, understanding the weight of what was being asked of him. "I'll do it."
Back to the Present
Volker's mind raced, calculating his next move. He glanced down at the ice still encasing his body, creeping over his torso and pinning him to the ground. Panic gripped him as he stared at the blazing meteor that was Trevor, descending with unstoppable momentum.
"D-do I try to melt the ice by increasing my vibration temperature…?" Volker muttered, his usually composed demeanour cracking. "Or do I lower my temperature and try to tank the hit…?" He shook his head, dread pooling in his gut. "No… I won't be able to do that… I've never seen someone who punches as hard as him…"
He could feel sweat freezing on his brow. "I need to melt the ice. I need to melt the ice!" He willed his vibration temperature to rise, to shatter the icy chains that held him—but something was wrong. His face fell.
"I… I can't feel my hands… or my legs…" His voice trembled as realization hit. "He hasn't only frozen my limbs… he's frozen the vibration within those areas as well. It's over…"
Above, Trevor let out a primal scream. "Arghhh!"
And his punch descended, striking with an earth-shattering impact.
a blinding explosion erupted, swallowing everything in its path. The ground quaked as a monumental tornado of blue fire roared to life, obliterating half-smashed trees and reducing the earth to molten rubble. The heat, the sound, the sheer force—it was all-consuming.
When the chaos finally subsided, Trevor stood at the edge of a massive crater, his chest heaving and legs trembling beneath him. He stumbled forward, his eyes scanning the destruction. There was no trace of Volker.
Udo, shivering so hard that he could barely speak, managed to croak out, "D-did w-w-we g-g-et him?"
Trevor shook his head slowly, exhaustion pulling at every fiber of his being. "I… I don't know." His body gave out, and he crumpled to the ground.
Udo's gaze blurred, watching his fall. With the last reserves of his strength, he forced himself upright. He staggered to Trevor, lifting him with one arm, then reached for Troy. He hoisted both of them onto his back, every step a battle against the cold that threatened to consume him.