Cold iron slammed shut.
Shinchan gripped the bars of the cage as dark chains wrapped around it, lifting him off the floor. The metal hummed with a strange energy, draining strength from his limbs. He clenched his teeth but didn't cry out.
Lord Umbra stood before him, calm and composed, as if this were nothing more than a ceremony.
"Take him to the meeting hall," Umbra said softly.
The cage floated forward, carried by shadow and power, until it entered the vast meeting chamber. Torches flared along the walls. The other villains were already there, seated like judges waiting for a sentence to be passed.
Ai-chan was dragged in next.
The moment she saw Shinchan inside the cage, her breath shattered.
"Shinchan…!"
She ran forward, but dark restraints snapped around her wrists and pulled her back. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled.
Umbra turned to her, his voice unnervingly gentle."Look carefully. Your husband stands before you… and today, he dies."
"No!" Ai-chan cried. Her legs gave way, and she dropped to her knees. "Please… please let him go. Take me instead. Just leave my Shinchan."
Umbra's expression hardened."Today, no one can save him."
He stepped closer to the cage and looked directly at Shinchan."Now tell me. Where are the treasures you stole from my villa? Especially the box."
Shinchan lifted his head slowly. His face was bruised, his clothes torn, but his eyes were steady."I don't know what you're talking about."
Umbra studied him for a long moment, then gestured lazily."Search him."
One of Umbra's servants stepped forward, cold hands patting Shinchan down, checking his clothes, his boots, even the chains around his wrists.
Nothing.
From inside the cage, Shinchan let out a quiet breath.
Good… Kazama has it.
Umbra's lips curled slightly."So you chose to trust your friend. Interesting."
He waved his hand dismissively."No matter. We'll find it after your death."
The other villains leaned forward, grinning.
Jokerbane laughed loudly."Look at him! The great hero in a cage!"
Voltazo sneered."Today ends the story of Kasukabe's so-called savior."
Glacira's icy voice followed."And tomorrow, his friends."
Thornfang's vines scraped across the floor."This world will belong to us."
Ai-chan screamed, struggling harder."Stop! Please stop!"
Umbra turned to her, irritation flashing in his eyes. With a sharp gesture, dark energy wrapped around her chair, locking her in place.
"Watch," he said coldly. "This is the end."
The villains rose together.
Power gathered.
Ice, lightning, shadow, poison, madness—all swirling into a single, growing mass of destruction. The air screamed as the energy compressed, glowing brighter with every heartbeat.
Shinchan closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Then he opened them and spoke, his voice clear.
"Even if I'm gone… this world will never be yours."
The villains paused.
"My friends will stand," Shinchan continued. "They'll take revenge. They'll save this world."
Laughter erupted across the hall.
Umbra raised his hand.
"End it."
The combined power surged forward like a collapsing star and slammed into the cage.
Light swallowed everything.
Ai-chan screamed his name.
And the world went silent.
To be continued…