The silence after Daniel's transformation was heavy.
Black eyes.
A calm stance.
And then movement.
Daniel exploded forward like a bullet, striking Jerry across the face before he could blink. The older teen spun midair, crashing into a wall with bone-rattling force.
Zack stared, stunned. "Daniel…?"
But Daniel didn't answer. He was in Ultra Instinct again his body moving on its own, detached from emotion, fueled by instinct and fury.
Jerry got up slowly, blood dripping from his nose. He smiled.
"Heh… reminds me of Jake."
His vision blurred for a moment as a memory surfaced.
Flashback
Jerry stood on a rooftop with Jake Kim, leader of Big Deal.
Jake had one hand on his shoulder. "You're strong, Jerry. But strength without purpose is pointless."
Jerry clenched his fists.
"I won't lose again. Not until you're back. That's a promise."
Jake smiled and turned to walk away. "Then keep it."
Now
But in the present, Jerry was already losing.
Daniel's body was a blur a ballet of brutal precision. Every strike Jerry threw was deflected, dodged, or countered. Zack tried to jump in, but Daniel sidestepped him without looking and elbowed Zack into the dirt.
Jerry gasped for air as Daniel's palm smashed into his chest.
"Can't… keep up…"
And just as fast as it began it ended.
Daniel stood still.
But something flickered in his eyes.A swap from black to white. A pulse of weakness. A cost to his borrowed power.
Jerry, bloodied and limping, grinned.
"Looks like it has a time limit."
Then with a roar, Jerry charged again and this time, Daniel didn't react fast enough.
Jerry's fist crashed into Daniel's jaw, staggering him.
Another punch, this time to the ribs.
A third Zack tried to help but caught a hook that sent him crashing into a broken crate.
Daniel fell to one knee his UI finally fading.
Jerry stood above him, panting, victorious.
He looked down, disappointed.
"Jake… I broke the promise. But I still stood in the end."
Daniel and Zack, bruised and unconscious, were dragged into the main chamber of Hostel's beach headquarters, their hands bound.
Around them, Vin, Vasco, Jay, and others from J High were already there captured.
Logan sat in the corner, and Jay pretending to be half-asleep. He opened one eye.
Jace, bandaged and sitting beside Jay, frowned. "They got all of us. This… might be our chance to fight back."
And far away, Jalen Creed got a text from Daniel
"They've all been gathered."Jalen said
He smiled.
"Showtime."