The Zodiac Ruins Base—a grand yet worn-down sanctuary that once held all twelve Zodiac warriors but now houses only Aelius, Leonis, Kael, Orion, and Zephyr.
They sit in their common room, a mix of tension and amusement in the air. A massive screen—linked to magical surveillance—shows Ryuta clashing with Negative Joker.
Aelius leans forward, arms crossed, his fists clenched. "Tch. That guy's getting all the action while we sit here watching?"
Leonis scoffs, swirling a golden drink in his hand. "Hmph. He's strong, no doubt. But let's see if he has the pride to truly crush his enemy."
Kael smirks, her gaze sharp and calculating. "Negative Joker… what a fascinating creature. A shame I wasn't the one to break him."
Orion stretches his arms lazily, yawning. "All of you are acting like we're missing out. The dude's literally fighting a monster born of chaos."
Zephyr tilts his head, intrigued. "Look closer. This isn't just a fight. This is the moment that changes everything."
Ryuta vs. Negative Joker.
A war of chaos and control.
Aelius sat at the edge of his seat, arms crossed, his fiery red hair illuminated by the screen's glow. "This bastard just won't die." His voice carried a mix of frustration and admiration.
Leonis, swirling a drink lazily, exhaled. "Hmph. It's not about strength anymore… it's about control."
Kael smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "Oh, this is beautiful. I thought Negative Joker was nothing but a mindless force of destruction. But look—he's hesitating."
Orion stretched, his bow resting beside him. "Tch. The fact that Joker's hesitating means Ryuta's already won."
Zephyr, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke. His voice was calm, almost amused. "No. It's not hesitation."
The others turned to him, waiting.
Zephyr's silver-blue eyes gleamed. "It's manipulation."
They looked back at the screen.
Negative Joker, once a chaotic force of pure destruction, was pausing. His attacks became slower, his laughter less frequent.
And Ryuta?
His expression was unreadable. His stance calm, patient, and deliberate—as if he had already predicted every move his opponent could make.
Then it happened.
Negative Joker launched forward, aiming to tear Ryuta apart—
Only to stop mid-motion.
His own energy recoiled against him.
His movements, once free and unpredictable, now felt guided, constrained… controlled.
Kael's smirk widened. "No way… he's forcing Joker to follow his script?"
Leonis set his drink down, eyes narrowing. "He's not just fighting him—he's rewriting him."
Aelius clenched his fists. This wasn't just a battle of raw power. This was something much deeper.
Orion whistled. "Damn. Ryuta's treating this like a stage play."
Zephyr folded his arms, nodding slightly. "That's because to him, it is. He's not fighting a monster. He's breaking a concept."
The battle continued, but now… it was one-sided.
Negative Joker was still attacking, still laughing, but his laughter sounded different now—distorted, like a puppet forced to dance.
Ryuta stepped forward, untouched, unshaken.
His voice, clear and absolute, echoed even through the screen.
"You don't exist without me."
And for the first time—Negative Joker stopped laughing.
---
In the Zodiac Ruins Base, the silence was deafening.
Aelius exhaled sharply. "…We need to talk to Lucian."
Leonis stood, his golden aura flickering. "I don't like it, but this fight just changed everything."
Kael chuckled darkly. "Oh, I love this. Ryuta, what exactly have you done?"
Orion grabbed his bow, stretching. "Yeah, yeah. But the real question is…" He turned to Zephyr.
"If Ryuta can manipulate him, what's stopping him from manipulating us?"
Zephyr didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Because deep down—they all felt it.
Something was shifting.
And they weren't sure if they liked it.