Chris's hands clenched into fists as he stepped through the wreckage of the city streets. Maya walked beside him, pale but determined, keeping pace. The air smelled of smoke, metal, and chaos.
"Chris… what's happening now?" Maya whispered, fear in her voice.
Chris's jaw tightened. "Someone else. Worse than anything we've fought so far."
From the shadows, a figure emerged. Tall, composed, his expression unnerving. Hajime Tanaka. The air seemed to warp around him, subtle, disorienting, as if reality itself hesitated at his presence.
Chris froze, anger flashing in his eyes. "You… you're one of them. One of the ones who abuses and destroys."
Hajime's lips curved into a smirk. "You're… angry. Good. Anger is useful. Let's see how far it carries you."
Chris's katana gleamed in the dim light. "I don't care about your tricks. I don't care about your powers. You're going down."
Hajime raised a hand, and a ripple ran through the air. Nearby shadows twisted unnaturally. The ground trembled. His influence tried to manipulate minds, twisting fear and hesitation into doubt.
Maya flinched. "Chris… he's… he's trying to—"
Chris roared, slashing the air with his katana. "I don't care what you do! I won't let you hurt anyone else!"
From above, Jade Emperor and Buddha hovered, watching, ready to intervene.
Buddha's calm voice cut through the tension. "Chris… focus. Don't let him manipulate your mind. His power is dangerous, but not absolute."
Chris's eyes narrowed. "He's a predator. And predators die."
Hajime activated his own strange machinery—a hybrid of psychic energy and mecha enhancements, glowing faintly as it hummed with corruption. Chris's katana glinted. Maya clutched her bag, watching the first sparks of battle ignite.
The fight was about to begin. Not just of steel and energy—but of willpower, rage, and the refusal to let evil walk free.
The air trembled around them. Hajime Tanaka stood tall, smirk fixed on his face, the faint hum of his psychic machinery surrounding him like a sick aura. Shadows bent unnaturally around his form, twisting the world as if the forest itself obeyed him.
Chris's fingers gripped the katana. "I don't care what tricks you have. You won't hurt anyone else."
Hajime laughed softly, a sound that made Maya shiver. "You think your blade can stop me? I control minds, fear, hesitation. Your little friends above won't help you."
Jade Emperor's hands glowed with divine energy, floating at Chris's side. "He's strong, but he underestimates you. Focus, Chris."
Buddha hovered silently, radiating calm pressure. "His mind games won't hold. You already know what evil looks like."
Hajime raised his hands. Shadows exploded outward, slamming into Chris like invisible fists. The ground trembled. Trees bent as if alive. Maya screamed, stumbling backward.
Chris's eyes burned. He activated Katana Zero, energy coalescing around the blade. He slashed forward, cutting through the psychic tendrils that tried to bind him. Sparks of light scattered across the forest.
Hajime staggered, surprised at the force behind Chris's attack. He fired psychic blades from the machinery on his arms—faint blue energy cutting toward Chris like lightning. Chris twisted, slashing each one midair, sending shards of energy scattering.
"You think this stops me?" Hajime hissed, voice low and dangerous. "I've controlled dozens before you. You're just another pawn."
Chris's eyes narrowed. "No. Not today."
He lunged forward, speed blurring. His blade struck Hajime's machinery, severing control lines. Sparks exploded. Hajime screamed, energy backfiring and throwing him into the air.
Maya gasped. "Chris… you—"
Chris turned, gripping Maya's hand. "Stay behind me. Don't look, don't interfere."
Hajime rose, arms trembling but determined, trying to rebuild psychic control. "You can't stop me… I control reality itself!"
Buddha raised his hand. A calm, blinding sphere of energy formed, God of Destruction power flowing outward. The sphere collided with Hajime, sending shockwaves through the forest. The ground cracked. Trees splintered. Hajime's psychic energy shattered like glass.
Jade Emperor moved forward, summoning divine chains that wrapped around Hajime, holding him immobile. "This ends now."
Chris stepped forward, Katana Zero glowing. He struck Hajime's core machinery with precision. Sparks, smoke, and broken circuits rained down. Hajime's eyes widened, horror flooding his face.
The last pulse of psychic energy faded. Hajime Tanaka collapsed, restrained by divine chains and the remnants of his broken machinery. His influence over the forest and shadows vanished.
Maya staggered forward, breathing heavily. "It's… over?"
Chris shook his head, katana lowered but ready. "For now. But this… is only one predator. There are worse things coming."
Jade Emperor looked to the horizon, eyes narrowing. "He was just a beginning. Something bigger waits."
Buddha exhaled calmly. "Then we'll face it. Together."
The forest lay silent, scorched by the clash of wills and machines. Shadows receded. And for Chris and Maya, the war against evil had only grown larger.