Life For Takoyaki

The chapter picks up with Sumato and Kazumi seemingly cornered, their enemies hidden. Xavier’s playful voice echoes, "Where will I attack next?"

Sumato scans the area at light speed, spotting a small visual inconsistency, a gap in the air. He quickly deduces Xavier’s weapon must be a camouflage-based tool, allowing him and Alexander to blend into the environment. Trying not to give it away, he subtly gestures to Kazumi.

But Kazumi, caught in his thoughts trying to devise a counter-strategy, misses the signal until he notices a flicker in the background. Their eyes meet, and Sumato’s nod confirms the hunch.

Though still poisoned, Sumato steadies himself, takes a sharp breath, and blinks forward, a light-speed dash that tears through the air. In one sweeping strike, he kicks the twins apart before they can regroup.

Meanwhile, Kazumi conjures an invisible mechanism and then creates a gun-sword hybrid, preparing for Alexander’s next move. Alexander retaliates by wrapping himself in layers of bedrock and moss, launching massive thorns. Kazumi erects a towering metal spire to gain higher ground and slashes through the thorns with ease.

As this happens, Sumato continues flashing around Xavier in tight circles, not giving him a second to react. In one of his passes, he whispers into Kazumi’s ear, but the message is delayed, only delivered when the speed of sound finally catches up.

Kazumi turns to his creation: a clone working in secret to synthesize a counterpoison. It triumphantly raises a cube of glowing gas, but it's too flashy. Both twins immediately shift their attention to the light.

Sumato deadpans, "Maybe making a glowing box wasn’t the most subtle move."
Kazumi shrugs.

Before the twins can reach the clone, 20 more Kazumi clones appear, each wielding gun-swords, shouting in unison as they rain fire. Alexander throws up bedrock shields, but they shatter under the barrage.

At the climax, the clone tosses the glowing gas cube into the onslaught, causing a brilliant explosion. The gas residue clings to the twins, causing intense respiratory shock, brain oxygen loss, and eventual cardiac arrest.

As the twins collapse, the real Kazumi creates defibrillators and administers the antidote, stabilizing their vitals. He hands a second dose to Sumato, who finally exhales in relief.

The referee’s whistle pierces the air.
"Winners: Kazumi and Sumato!"

The two barely react. They sprint off shouting, "We better not miss that seasoned takoyaki!"