The elite V.I.P.E.R. unit, controlled directly by Commander Toma, was specially structured by the government itself and comprised 300 soldiers, all trained from birth. Each soldier was a master of soul energy, wielding unique abilities. They were the government's strongest tools, deployed only for dire emergencies.
Takumi, one of the highest-rated soldiers in the association, graduated from the academy with a joint-highest score of 997/1000, matched only by two others, including Itsuki. Frequently called "The Genius," Takumi was the formidable foe facing the Assassin's Code, backed by the 300 soldiers of the elite V.I.P.E.R. unit.
"Archer Saiten, you're coming with me!" Takumi declared, hurling an energy ball toward the Assassin's Code.
Unfamiliar with their new foe's abilities, the Assassin's Code instinctively dodged the energy ball, fleeing in different directions.
"Explode," Takumi commanded, and the energy ball erupted into a massive explosion, sending the group flying uncontrollably.
Archer, unable to dodge quickly enough, was flung the farthest.
From a distance, Takumi watched the Assassin's Code scatter in different directions.
"I'll go after Archer. You take care of the remaining members of the Code—they must not leave here alive," he signaled to the V.I.P.E.R. soldiers as they closed the distance to the other members.
"Archer Saiten... I hope you'll satisfy my craving for a good fight," Takumi said, walking toward the direction where Archer had been thrown.
Meanwhile, Hayate and Itsuki were locked in what would be their final battle.
"I have a clear advantage over Itsuki. My speed and damage far surpass his," Hayate thought, swinging all ten of his Yūrei no Tsubasa blades in every direction as a guard to keep Itsuki at bay and create more distance.
"It's unlike you to play defensively," Itsuki remarked, dodging the swords Hayate hurled his way.
"Ultra Shock!" Itsuki unleashed a massive shockwave to create an opening in Hayate's defense of soul blades.
The pulse knocked four blades in front of him backward, but Hayate instantly covered his front with four of his remaining blades, sending two more toward Itsuki.
"Left and right, huh?" Itsuki noted, recognizing the pattern in Hayate's attack and defense.
"Don't worry, Hayate, this fight won't last long," Itsuki declared, maintaining his own pattern of attack to probe for an opening in Hayate's defense.
It was almost habitual for Hayate to control the blades Itsuki sent flying to the ground before launching two toward Itsuki from the left and right. The remaining two blades stayed grounded for barely half a second, while the other four returned to his front in even less time, with the last two, unaffected by the attack, guarding his back.
In that process, Hayate's rear guard weakened for just a quarter of a second, with only two blades protecting it—the only opening Itsuki would get to break Hayate's defenses.
He patiently waited for the perfect moment when Hayate would blink during the process of repositioning the blades knocked back by Ultra Shock.
The moment came. Hayate blinked.
In that instant, Itsuki leaped faster than ever toward Hayate's back, opening his palm.
"Shock Spiral!" he shouted, unleashing a coiled wave with a concentrated center that could pierce through 72 lined-up whales effortlessly.
Hayate smiled.
Within that quarter of a second, Itsuki heard Hayate say, "You fell for the bait, Itsuki," with a grin.
Itsuki's eyes widened as he realized Hayate had sent only one blade toward him before the leap. Scanning for the second, he tried to jump back, realizing he had been played.
A soul blade pierced Itsuki from behind, straight through his chest.
Itsuki collapsed, weakened and bleeding, unable to move as Hayate's Yūrei no Tsubasa blade drained his soul energy.
"It was fun having those fights with you, Itsuki," Hayate said with a bittersweet tone.
"I guess you win, Hayate, 6-4," Itsuki coughed, blood spilling as he prepared for his final breath.
"Let me just say this, Itsuki: of all the men I've met, you intrigued me the most," Hayate said, his face downturned as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Are you crying?" Itsuki asked as the tear fell onto his arm.
"Maybe in another life, Itsuki, we could've been on the same side."
"But in this life, you were my best frie—"
Hayate's words were cut short as his head was severed from his body by an explosion.
Itsuki froze, traumatized, as blood splashed across his face.
"I can't believe you lost to this loser, Itsuki," Takumi said, wiping Hayate's blood from his hands.
Hayate's body collapsed in front of Itsuki's empty eyes.
"Takumi... I'll kill you," Itsuki declared, his vacant gaze replaced by eyes blazing with vengeance and rage.
"Are you feeling sympathy for this man? You're truly pathetic, Itsuki," Takumi sneered with disgust.
"Take him back to headquarters and get him fixed," Takumi ordered the V.I.P.E.R. soldiers.
"Archer escaped, Itsuki, and so did some other members of the Assassin's Code. But we took care of a fair number of them, including their number two, Hayate. The Assassin's Code is dead," Takumi told Itsuki, who ignored him.
"You'd better let me die here, because if I get healed, you'll be just as dead as the Assassin's Code," Itsuki vowed, his eyes burning with vengeance and determination.
"If you want to fight, I'll let you fight me whenever you're ready. I'll even do you the favor of letting you continue your fight with Hayate in the afterlife. But that'll be after I find Archer Saiten. Do whatever you want until then, but don't tag along and slow me down."
"You should always keep in mind: the mission always comes first," Takumi said as he walked away to pursue Archer Saiten.
"Huh? What's going on?" Archer said, confused.
"It's about time you woke up," Hina said, reading a newspaper beside the bed where Archer lay.
"Where's that guy who was after me? Where are we?" Archer asked, touching the bandage wrapped around his forehead.
"Don't worry about him. He won't find us anytime soon," Hina replied, folding the newspaper.
"We're in another world—the 5th Earth."