"Someday… someone will make you lose," Ten-Kai managed to say before his transformation into solid gold was complete.
"Hey, Ichigo, wake up!" Pit shook Ichigo's limp body, trying to rouse him. Ichigo had passed out after his humiliating defeat at the hands of Shinji.
"Ugh… did I win?" Ichigo groaned weakly.
Pit sighed. "If I said yes, would you get up and walk?"
"(Coughs) No way. I think I broke something… and not the usual things you break for me. This one's worse. You're gonna have to carry me." Ichigo winced.
Pit rolled his eyes. "Just my luck. First, your so-called girlfriend takes off the second Shinji pounds you into the ground, and now I have to haul your sorry self on my back. Curse my luck!"
"Wait… Rice Cake Girl is gone?" Ichigo mumbled, looking around in a daze.
"Oh yeah. And you should see this—Ten-Kai's worth just skyrocketed. He's been turned into a 24-carat golden statue. Talk about an expensive way to get defeated," Pit scoffed.
"What?! Ten-Kai lost?"
Pit adjusted Ichigo on his back and began carrying him. "Not just him. His master lost. Akitsugu lost. Yu? Lost. The mayor? Lost. This entire town is a lost cause. We should rename it Lost Port Town because we have no heroes left."
Ichigo barely listened. His eyes locked onto Ten-Kai's golden form before shifting toward the distant sea. He could just make out the ship disappearing beyond the port's edge. A sinking feeling settled in his gut. Would he ever see Rice Cake Girl again?
"Hey, what was your girlfriend's name anyway?" Pit asked, amused.
Ichigo's face twisted in horror. "…Her name…?"
A deep, guttural roar of despair erupted from him. How could he forget something so important?!
As the ship sailed away, Daizen stood at the stern, surveying the devastation left in their wake. Buildings lay in ruins. The docks were scorched. The entire town bore the scars of his battle with Ten-Kai. A smirk tugged at his lips.
"I found it," Katsuo called from behind.
Daizen turned to see Katsuo holding a chest.
"That's it? The Fist of the Nine Snakes?" Daizen asked.
Katsuo nodded. "According to everything I've read, this is it. With this power, you'll be unstoppable."
Daizen took the chest, examined it briefly, and then—without hesitation—flung it overboard.
Katsuo, Kento, and Payne all stared in shock as the chest splashed into the sea, sinking into the abyss.
"Good," Daizen said, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "Now I know for certain—nothing can stop me."
He turned back toward the deck, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
"Now… let's go conquer Japan."