One piece: Without a system, I have to survive!

Zephyr's attack had demolished the dock behind me. If I had been even a second slower, I would've been a smear on the broken planks.

This is bad.

I steadied my breath, my body still aching from the fight with Bloodfang Krieg. Fighting an Admiral in this state? It was suicide.

But I had no choice.

Zephyr took a slow step forward, his massive mechanical arm gleaming under the moonlight.

"You still have a chance," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Surrender now."

I wiped the blood from my lip and grinned.

"Yeah… not happening."

⚔🔥🔥🔥

The Admiral sighed. "So be it."

Then he moved.

I barely saw it. A blur of motion.

Before I could react, a massive fist slammed into my stomach.

BOOM!

My entire body exploded backward, crashing through the remains of the dock and slamming into a nearby warehouse.

Pain shot through me as rubble collapsed around me. My lungs screamed for air.

But I had no time to recover.

He was already there.

Zephyr launched forward, his mechanical arm gleaming as it descended toward me like a hammer.

Damn it! Move!

I pushed my body to the limit, rolling away just in time as his fist shattered the ground where I had been lying.

The entire warehouse trembled.

I jumped back onto my feet, flames bursting to life around my fists. My breathing was ragged, my vision slightly blurred.

This is impossible.

Even if I was at full power, I wasn't sure I could take on an Admiral. And right now?

I was fighting on borrowed time.

🔥🔥🔥

Zephyr stood tall, his stance unshaken.

"You have strong willpower," he admitted. "But your body won't last much longer."

I wiped the sweat from my forehead. "Then I'll make every second count."

And I attacked.

I ignited my flames to the max, launching forward with everything I had left.

Zephyr's eyes narrowed.

Our fists collided—

BOOM!

The shockwave rippled across the battlefield, sending debris flying. My flames exploded outward, but Zephyr barely budged.

He absorbed my attack completely.

Then—

His arm moved again.

I saw my death coming.

⚔🔥🔥🔥

But before he could finish me—

"Rankyaku!"

A sharp blade of wind sliced through the air, forcing Zephyr to dodge.

I barely had time to register what had happened before a figure landed in front of me.

"You're pushing yourself too hard, kid," Smoker muttered, arms crossed.

Selene and Shira appeared at my side, weapons drawn.

"You really think we'd let you die here?" Selene smirked.

I let out a weak chuckle. "Took you long enough."

Zephyr exhaled, looking at all of us.

"So... you all choose to stand against me?"

Smoker lit a cigar. "Tch. Looks like it."

Zephyr nodded. "Very well."

His aura surged—stronger than before.

The real battle was about to begin.