As Zodiac and Daru prepared to confront Ancho in his titan, Daru cracked his neck and knuckles while Zodiac searched for a weapon. He spotted a corpse clutching a longsword. Approaching the body, Zodiac kicked the blade, sending it flying into the air, and caught it with a swift motion.
Zodiac: This should suffice.
Ancho: (Laughing) Are you ready to surrender those swords?
Zodiac: Come and take them, then…
Ancho: I will demonstrate the power of this titan. NOW DIE!
With that, Ancho aimed the titan's right arm at Zodiac, transforming it into an automatic machine gun. Ancho opened fire, but Zodiac deftly deflected and dodged the bullets. Seizing the opportunity while Ancho continued to shoot, Daru charged in from Ancho's left side.
Ancho: Oh, I have something special for you!
Ancho activated the missile launcher on his shoulders, firing multiple small missiles at Daru. Undeterred, Daru ran straight through them, punching each missile and causing them to explode harmlessly.
Daru: (Smiling) That tickled.
Ancho ceased firing at Zodiac and shifted his focus to Daru. Noticing Ancho's distraction, Zodiac seized the chance to close the distance. A few of Ancho's thugs spotted Zodiac rushing in from behind and ran to assist their boss. The thugs approached, guns drawn.
Thug 1: (Running) HELP THE BOSS!
They quickly surrounded Zodiac.
Zodiac: Move out of my way.
The first thug brandished a pistol and began firing. Zodiac dodged the bullets, seized the thug's weapon, and shot him in the head. Just then, another thug lunged at Zodiac from behind, attempting to stab him with a knife. Zodiac spun around and swiftly decapitated him. Two more thugs with assault rifles then advanced, opening fire. Zodiac executed a technique known as sudoshi, dashing past both and stabbing their hearts at full speed. He flicked the blood off his blade.
Zodiac: I warned you to stay out of my way.
Zodiac finished dealing with the thugs while Daru continued to withstand all the missiles Ancho was firing. Ancho stopped shooting, beginning to feel anxious.
Ancho: How are you still alive after all those missiles?!
Daru dusted off his clothes.
Daru: (Smiling) Because YOU'RE NOTHING!
Ancho grew increasingly angry.
Ancho: Okay, you think you're tough? Then handle this!
Ancho fired the giant missile on his back directly at Daru.
Daru: (Smiling menacingly) NOW THIS IS A FIGHTING FESTIVAL!
As the missile approaches, Daru extends his hands, catching it with his bare hands. He pushes back, leaving a trail on the ground from the impact. Daru halts the missile's momentum and performs a 360-degree spin, sending it hurtling back toward Ancho. Ancho's eyes widen as it approaches him.
Ancho: Oh shi...
The missile strikes Ancho's titan, resulting in a massive explosion that shakes the area and fills it with smoke.
Daru: How was that for something special?
As the smoke clears, a barrier surrounding the titan is revealed, prompting Ancho to laugh.
Ancho: Did you really think I would allow one of my own missiles to hit me?
Daru: (Smiling) No, but I'm glad because I want to fight MORE!!
Zodiac walks up beside Daru.
Zodiac: This dude has a barrier? What a pain.
Ancho: You're fighting a battle you can't win. Now do me a favor and perish!
Ancho combines both of the titan's arms to form a beam cannon. He charges it up and fires a large beam toward them. Daru sidesteps as Zodiac retrieves one of his dual blades and slices through the beam, splitting it in two. One half strikes a building in the arena, demolishing it, while the other heads toward Gram and the others still battling the thugs. As Gram tends to the injured, he looks up and sees a beam heading toward Himitsu and Kono.
Gram: HIMITSU, KONO! GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Himitsu and Kono both look up, noticing the beam approaching. Kono pushes Himitsu out of the way.
Himitsu: Ahh! Kono!
Kono pulls a gun from her back pocket.
Kono: (Smiling) YOU'RE MINE!
Kono aims the gun at the beam, which transforms into a vacuum-type weapon.
Gram: What is that?
Kono presses the trigger, and the gun begins to draw in air just as the beam is about to impact. Kono's gun absorbs the beam.
Kono: (Jumping up and down) OHHH! YES!
Himitsu: (Eyes wide) WHOA, THAT GUN IS AMAZING!
Kono: (Eyes closed and smiling) I know; I made it myself.
Gram: I thought you were going to die!
Kono: Me? Not a chance! (smiles)
Gram, Himitsu, and Kono share a laugh until Himitsu spots more thugs running toward them.
Himitsu: There are more! (Points)
Gram and Kono turn to see additional thugs approaching, armed with guns.
Kono: Gram, stay behind me and Himitsu. We've got this!
Gram: You don't need to tell me twice.
Gram positions himself behind Himitsu and Kono as they advance.
Gram: (sarcastically) Oh, thanks for the protection.
At that moment, he hears a female voice behind him.
Girl: Put your hands up!
Gram feels a surge of fear.
Gram: Don't shoot! Please don't shoot. I don't want to die.
Girl: Well, that sucks for you. Now drop everything you have.
Gram: Okay, okay, just don't shoot.
He cautiously reaches into his pocket.
Girl: Now, don't do anything stu—
Before the girl can finish her sentence, Gram throws dirt in her face and runs away.
Gram: AHHHHH!!
Girl: You jerk!! Get back here!
The girl begins to chase after Gram, who attempts to get Himitsu and Kono's attention.
Gram: (jumping and waving) GUYS!! OVER HERE!!
Kono and Himitsu are unable to hear him over the chaos of the fighting.
Girl: There you are!!
Gram: Ahhh!! Stay away!
Girl: Or what?
Gram: Umm… Or I'll have to use my secret weapon.
Girl: Secret weapon?
Gram: Yes… and trust me, you don't want me to use it because I can hurt you very badly.
Girl: Oh really?!?
Gram: Yes! So don't test me.
Girl: I think you're full of shit.
The girl begins to advance toward Gram as he steps back.
Girl: I'm sorry it has to be this way, kid, but your time is up.
As Gram retreats, he trips over a lifeless body holding a gun. When he falls, his elbow accidentally triggers the weapon, shooting the girl's arm and causing her to drop her firearm.
Girl: Ahhh!!
Gram: What the—OH YEAHHHH!!! SEE, I TOLD YOU NOT TO TEST ME!!!!
Girl: (grunts) My arm!!!
Gram: Oh wait, does it actually hurt?
Girl: I just got shot, you idiot! Of course, it hurts!!
Gram: I'm sorry!!
Feeling remorseful, Gram approaches her to offer assistance. When he reaches her side, he prepares to heal her, but then he gazes into her eyes. He removes her hood and realizes she is the girl from the lineup he had fought.
Gram: What!? You're the girl from the lineup!
The girl retaliates by kicking Gram's legs out from under him, causing him to fall to the ground.
Girl: (holding her arm) Yes, and you're still an idiot.
Kono spots Gram on the ground with the girl standing over him.
Kono: GRAM!!
Kono sprinted toward the girl just as she became aware of his presence and began firing at her.
Kono: AHHHHH!!!
The girl deftly dodged all the bullets and then fled as Kono prepared to strike.
Kono: Damn… She got away.
Kono knelt down to assist Gram.
Kono: Gram, are you okay!?
Gram: (With a dazed expression) I—I.
Kono: I what?! I WHAT!!
Gram: I think I'm in love.
Kono: Oh, you have to be kidding me.
Meanwhile, the confrontation between Zodiac and Daru continued, while Ancho grew increasingly frustrated.
Ancho: (Shouting) WHY WON'T YOU GUYS DIEEEE!
Ancho fired at both of them as Zodiac and Daru advanced together. Daru leaped into the air, aiming a punch at Ancho's head. In response, Ancho raised his barrier once more for protection.
Ancho: Hah, nice try!
Daru: (Smiling menacingly) WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT!?!
Daru pressed his fist firmly against the barrier.
Daru: AHHHHHH!!!
Daru shattered the barrier completely and landed on Ancho's titan, delivering powerful punches that cracked its armor. As Ancho observed this, fear began to settle in. He transformed his right arm into a claw and seized Daru from the titan.
Daru: What th—
Ancho: How do you like that!
While Ancho held him, Daru smiled and gripped the claw, exerting all his strength.
Ancho: (laughs) You genuinely think that's going to work?
As Daru continued to squeeze Ancho's claw, his hair flickered purple, and his veins bulged, turning purple as well. He ultimately broke free, shattering Ancho's right arm. At that moment, Zodiac appeared on the left side of the titan, targeting its left arm. His hair flickered white as he jumped and severed it.
Ancho: NO, NO, NOOOOOO! THIS CAN'T BE! I WILL NOT LOSE!
Daru grasped the titan's legs, squeezing them together. Zodiac charged from the front, leaping and cleanly slicing off the legs. Daru caught the remainder of the titan's body.
Ancho's titan: System failure. System failure. Titan capability is now at 20%.
Ancho: NO, NOO, NOOOOO!!
With the titan in his grasp, Daru hurled it into the air and punched it upward. Zodiac utilized sudoshi to appear above him, slicing the titan in half just as Ancho narrowly escaped. Ancho plummeted toward the ground.
Ancho: Ahhhhhh!!!
As Ancho fell, Daru looked up, prepared for impact. He jumped, seized Ancho by the throat, and pulled him from the machine, landing firmly on the ground. Zodiac activated sudoshi again, positioning his blade at Ancho's neck. Both Zodiac's and Daru's hair returned to their normal state.
Ancho: WAIT, WAIT… JUST A SECOND! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME—
Daru headbutted him, causing Ancho to crash to the ground in pain.
Daru: Pathetic…
Zodiac: People like you don't deserve to live.
Ancho: (holding his face) PLEASE FORGIVE ME, I BEG OF YOU! YOU WANT GEO, RIGHT? I CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU!
Zodiac: I don't want your pathetic money; I want you dead.
As Zodiac slowly approached Ancho, Ancho began to retrieve a smoke grenade from his pocket while continuing to speak.
Ancho: You will regret this!
Ancho threw the smoke grenade to the ground, enveloping the area in smoke and obscuring Zodiac's and Daru's vision.
Daru: What… you little bastard!!
As the smoke dissipated, Ancho managed to escape without a trace. Daru glared at Zodiac.
Daru: You allowed him to escape.
Zodiac: Me? That was your fault.
Daru: How is that my fault?! You're the one with that disappearing technique!
Himitsu and Kono finally ceased fighting as all the thugs fled.
Himitsu: (exhausted) That was quite a lot of fighting.
Kono: Indeed. Oh, Gram, you can come out now.
Gram emerged from behind a dumpster.
Gram: Is it over?
Himitsu: By the looks of it, yes, it's finished.
Kono: Wait! Does that mean we won?
Himitsu: Yes, I believe so.
Kono: YAYYY!! (jumping up and down) We won, we won, we won!
Gram and Himitsu laughed as Gram noticed Daru and Zodiac engaged in an argument.
Gram: Hey, look. (points)
Himitsu: Is that Zodiac?
Kono: Yes, and Daru.
Gram, Kono, and Himitsu rushed toward them.
Zodiac: That move only works when I can actually see the person, you fool.
Daru: Then that move is useless.
Zodiac: Useless, you say? All you do is punch like a caveman.
Daru: CAVEMAN!?!? At least I fight like a real man.
As Gram, Kono, and Himitsu arrived, the argument persisted.
Gram: (hand on his face) Oh, not this again.
Himitsu: I have a bad feeling about this!
Kono: Wait, they've done this before?
Gram: Yes… unfortunately, this is how we all met.
Kono: By arguing?
Himitsu: Pretty much.
Daru: If it weren't for you, I would have ended him myself!
Zodiac: And if it weren't for you, I would have finished him in less than a minute.
Daru: Very well, Mr. Speedy… You know what? I'm going to find him myself and kill him. It seems you like to get in my way.
Zodiac glared at Daru.
Zodiac: Go ahead, run away.
Furious, Daru stepped directly in front of Zodiac, their faces inches apart.
Daru: You wanna say that again?
Zodiac: I'd get out of your face if I were you.
Daru: Well, it looks like you're going to have to make me.
Himitsu: Oh no…
Zodiac dropped the longsword and drew both dual blades, slashing toward Daru. Daru's veins attempted to block the attack, but Zodiac sent him flying into a building.
Gram: (Shaking his head) Oh… this is not going to end well.
Kono: OH YEAH!!! THE FINAL FIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL!
As Daru crashed into the building, Zodiac turned to walk away. However, he heard laughter and halted. He turned around just in time to see a piece of the building wall flying toward him. Zodiac attempted to block it but was too slow. The wall struck him, sending him crashing into the bleachers.
Himitsu: Damn!
Kono: (Squinting her eyes) Oh!! That must have hurt.
Zodiac quickly regained his footing, visibly injured. Daru emerged from the building he had been thrown into, laughing.
Daru: (Laughs) What's wrong? Someone hurt?
Zodiac: (Talking to himself) Okay, now I'm killing this asshole!
Zodiac became serious as the chains of his dual blades began to wrap around his forearms.
Gram: What type of weapons are those?
Kono: Yes… they have chains at the ends.
Himitsu: Those blades are no joke. This means Zodiac isn't going to hold back.
Daru: (To himself) Looks like he's getting serious. Who cares? I'll just—
Zodiac utilized sudoshi, appearing right behind Daru. Daru turned just in time to see Zodiac launch a swift attack, but his veins blocked it. Although Daru managed to defend himself, he was pushed back and sustained cuts on his arm. He jumped away to regain his balance, wincing in pain. Looking at his arm, he realized he was bleeding.
Daru: I—I'm bleeding?
Gram: WOAH!! HE'S BLEEDING.
Kono: Huh? What do you mean?
Himitsu: Yes, what do you mean?
Gram: I've never seen Daru bleed before.
Himitsu: SERIOUSLY?!
Daru: (Laughing) I'm bleeding! Finally, some damage! (Smiles maniacally).
Zodiac: Why is he happy about bleeding?
Daru looks at Zodiac as his veins bulge, though they do not change color. He rushes at Zodiac, who charges back at him. As they close the distance, they clash—Zodiac wielding his sword and Daru using his fists. Zodiac attempts a slash with his two blades, but Daru catches them and pushes them back. With a headbutt, Daru knocks Zodiac off balance, then follows up with a tornado kick that sends Zodiac crashing to the ground. When Zodiac tries to rise, Daru seizes the opportunity and delivers a powerful punch to his stomach, sending Zodiac flying away. Blood pours from Zodiac's mouth as he struggles to absorb the impact.
Himitsu: Zodiac!
Daru: GET UP!! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU YET!!
As Himitsu calls out his name, Zodiac slowly rises, and the surroundings fall silent. With his head bowed, his blades begin to overwhelm him, and his hair flickers white once more.
Daru: What the hell? What's going on with his hair?
Kono: His hair is flickering!
Gram: (Talking to himself) His hair flickers just like Daru's...
Himitsu: (Talking to herself) There it is again!
Suddenly, Zodiac speeds in front of Daru and unleashes a powerful slash, catching Daru off guard. Daru is pushed back as Zodiac appears from behind, delivering another slash to his back that tears his shirt and leaves two deep wounds. Pain intensifies for Daru. He turns to defend himself, but Zodiac relentlessly attacks with unusual weapon techniques. As Zodiac lands more hits, he becomes too fast for Daru's veins to react. While Zodiac rains down blows, Daru struggles to fight back, overwhelmed by his opponent's speed.
Daru: (Talking to himself) What do I do?
A memory surfaces—something Rito once said: "Pain is key."
Daru: (Talking to himself) That's it!
As Daru continues to be struck by Zodiac and struggles to block the blows, he closes his eyes, recalling Rito's words: "Pain is key, Daru." Gradually, he calms down and takes a deep breath as time seems to slow. His wounds begin to heal. Daru then lowers his guard, ceasing to block, as Zodiac swings his two swords, aiming for Daru's head. The blades make contact.
Gram: Why did he do that?!
Himitsu: The fight is over!
Kono: No, no, look!
As Gram and Himitsu glance back, they observe Daru standing with two blades resting on his head.
Gram: What?! How is he still standing?!
Himitsu: I'm not sure!!!
Kono: The real battle begins now.
Daru opens his eyes, his hair flickering purple and veins emerging, also turning purple.
Gram: (muttering to himself) There it is again: the hair and veins.
Himitsu: Wait, he can do it too!!
Kono: OH!!! This just became serious!
Daru: (smiling ominously and taking a deep breath) NOW… IT'S MY TURN!
He pushes the blades off his head and punches Zodiac in the face. As Zodiac is about to be sent flying, Daru grabs his shirt and throws him to the ground, preparing to stomp on him. Zodiac blocks the attack with his blade, using Sudoshi to appear behind Daru. Anticipating this, Daru seizes Zodiac by the head, dragging him into the ground and creating a trail before launching him into the air. As Zodiac regains his balance, both he and Daru rush at each other, exchanging slashes and punches.
Daru: MOREE!! MOREE! MOREEEEEE!!!
Both fighters leap back as Daru charges at Zodiac. Zodiac uses Sudoshi to appear in front of him. Just as they are about to land their punches and slashes, both fighters are knocked out and collapse to the ground.