**Paras City – Skyscraper Rooftop, Dusk**

  The sun had bled into the horizon, leaving the sky bruised with violet and amber. Paras City sprawled beneath like a glittering machine—neon veins pulsing, subways rumbling far below, the hum of life never quite silent.

  On the rooftop edge stood Blu.

  Powder-blue skin caught the dying light like polished stone. White cape fluttered behind him in slow, deliberate waves. Arms folded. Glowing blue eyes—bright as twin stars—swept the streets with quiet pride.

  He raised one hand forward. Black, long nails gleamed faintly in the twilight.

  After all… he no longer looked entirely human.

  The rooftop access door burst open.

  A breathless aide stumbled out—suit rumpled, tie askew, face flushed from running up thirty flights.

  "President!!! Blu!"

  Blu's eyes shifted—cold, unreadable.

  "What now?"

  The aide doubled over, gasping. "Someone just ruined the cleanliness of the whole Paras… They dumped plastics into the sewage instead of the bins!"

  Blu's composure shattered.

  "Wait—whaaaaaat!?"

  His voice cracked—genuine horror.

  "How dare they!"

  The aide waved frantic hands. "Wait, President! Don't go—we can handle—"

  But Blu was already gone.

  A sonic boom cracked the air.

  He flew—faster than any car, faster than sound—white cape trailing like a comet tail.

  **Inside Blu's Mind**

  *Tch… I cleaned this city for a hundred years since I arrived on Earth. When I lived on Neptune, I scrubbed the entire planet alone—every crater, every storm. Even cleaning is more important than training for me. How could this happen?*

  He teleported mid-flight—space folding around him in a flash of blue.

  ---

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  **Outside Sai's Dojo – Early Evening**

  The dojo courtyard glowed softly under string lights. Yuki sat cross-legged on the engawa, Astra perched happily on her lap.

  She held a large mochi in her hands, tearing off pieces and feeding them to him. Astra gripped one with both tiny hands—even though it was bigger than his grip—chewing with exaggerated "Nom! Nom!" sounds, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk.

  Yuki giggled, ruffling his black hair. "Awww… you are so cute."

  Astra blinked up at her, mochi halfway to his mouth. "I am cute?"

  He tilted his head, genuinely confused.

  Yuki laughed harder, hugging him close. "Yes! The cutest!"

  Astra beamed—then casually tossed the plastic wrapper over his shoulder.

  It landed in the sewage drain with a soft plop.

  Sai—standing a few paces away—watched the wrapper sink. His expression tightened with worry. He knew what was coming. But he said nothing.

  Then—

  A shockwave ripped through the courtyard.

  The dojo wall exploded inward—wood splintering, dust billowing.

  Blu materialized in the center of the destruction—cape settling, eyes blazing.

  "Who the hell dares to put plastic in my beautiful city?!"

  His gaze locked on Astra.

  The boy stared back—wide-eyed, mochi still in his mouth.

  Blu's voice rose—sharp, furious.

  "So you, gremlin, did this!? Didn't your parents teach you anything!? You undisciplined child!"

  **Narrator (Flashback Whisper)**

  *Astra never learned effort on his home planet. Before he could understand "life after" hatching, the planet was destroyed by Dano. He was sent to Earth by Monika—alone, innocent, untouched by rules.*

  Flashback ended.

  Astra's lower lip trembled.

  His silver eyes filled with tears.

  He sniffed once—loud, heartbreaking.

  Yuki's arms tightened around him protectively.

  She stood—slowly, deliberately—cradling Astra against her chest.

  She walked toward Blu.

  Blu opened his mouth to speak—

  **SLAPPPPP!**

  The sound cracked like thunder.

  Yuki's open palm connected with Blu's face in a perfect, devastating arc.

  Time slowed.

  Three angles flashed:

  - Left: Blu's cheek warped inward, skin rippling like water.

  - Right: His glowing blue eyes bulged in shock, pupils shrinking to pinpricks.

  - Center: Jaw dislocated with an audible crack—bones fracturing under impossible force.

  The impact launched him backward.

  He crashed through five buildings in a straight line—concrete exploding, steel girders twisting, glass raining like deadly snow.

  Highway traffic screeched to a halt.

  Dust mushroomed skyward.

  A fifty-meter radius of the city collapsed in ruin—cars crushed, streetlights toppling, people screaming.

  Sai stood frozen in the background—hands on head, eyes wide.

  "I raised a monster… instead of a student."

  Yuki held Astra tighter, growling low—voice trembling with protective fury.

  "Don't you dare, Blue chicken, make my Astra cry. I am his big sister from now on."

  Astra peeked out from her embrace—tears still wet on his cheeks—then burst into delighted laughter. He clapped his small hands.

  "That's cool!"

  ---

  **Ruined Buildings – Moments Later**

  Dust settled slowly.

  Blu lay half-buried in rubble—unconscious, cape torn, face swollen and bruised.

  People gathered—panicked, shouting.

  "Someone hold our President!! He's fainting!!"

  Blu stirred.

  He pushed himself up on one elbow—eyes locking onto Yuki across the devastation.

  He whispered—voice hoarse, almost reverent.

  "A woman with incredible strength and energy… shouldn't exist. Or it can cause massive harm to my city."

  ---

  **Deep Space – Dano's Crashed Spaceship, Unknown Time**

  The hull was torn open like paper. Bodies littered the corridors—soldiers, officers, all dead.

  Dano lay on the cracked floor—armored chest heaving, blood pooling beneath him.

  He gritted his teeth, trying to rise—failing.

  "Tch… What have you done!? Have you any idea!?"

  A shadow fell across him.

  A figure landed lightly—arms crossed, smirk sharp and cruel.

  "Well… you destroyed the Inferno clan, right? The whole planet?"

  Dano's eyes narrowed. "Yes…"

  The figure leaned closer.

  "You know… some escaped. Besides Ares. And I am one of them."

  Behind him, a red dragon tail twitched—scales glowing faintly in the dim emergency lights.

  Dano's breath hitched. "No way…"

  The figure raised one hand slowly.

  "Well, Mr. Soft-Fur Kitty… spend half your life in hell."

  Dano snarled. "No—this can't be! I am the Emperor of Space! I can't go to hell! I will rule! Even if I die, I will come back—I will be revived!"

  Before he could finish—

  The figure unleashed a massive red flaming beam.

  It roared forward—consuming everything.

  "My Lord!!"

  Aika—barely alive—threw herself in front.

  The beam struck her full-force.

  She disintegrated into ash in an instant.

  Dano's eyes widened in horror. "No!"

  The figure's smirk widened.

  "Just pointless sacrifice…"

  He raised his other hand.

  The entire planet shuddered.

  Then—silence.

  The beam swallowed everything—Dano, Quan, the soldiers, the ship, the world.

  Dust.

  Only dust remained.

  The figure slipped his hands into his pockets.

  Smirk never fading.

  "Time for Earth."

  "That Mythical Inferno Ares… shouldn't exist."