Frey and the others watched in horror as the Ultras closed in and a deluge loomed above.
Phoenix clenched his teeth as the tidal wave threatened to swallow them whole.
With a devastating punch, he unleashed the full force of the Eternal Flame technique—
A blazing inferno shot upward, clashing head-on with the torrent.
Fire and water collided in a battle of titanic forces, each pushing to consume the other.
The tide kept coming, and Phoenix kept countering, locked in a grueling struggle.
Then—
"Let's fight!!"
Snow roared, drawing Vermithor, ready to charge into battle.
But a thunderous shout from Phoenix stopped him cold.
"NO!!!"
Phoenix was barely holding back Beatrice's assault.
But what truly terrified him were the Lords and Hollows who had yet to make their move.
"The backup plan! Do it now—Selena!!"
He knew it—fighting the Ultras head-on meant death for everyone.
That's why they had prepared a contingency.
Selena immediately understood what Phoenix meant.
