The wind swept across the vast, empty field, rustling the tall grass in waves. The sky above was a patchwork of storm clouds, heavy with the promise of rain. Kuro stood alone in the center of the field, his posture calm, his expression unreadable. His dark hair swayed in the breeze, and his purple eyes glowed faintly, a sign of his active ability.

Above him, the familiar hum of the transporter's engines grew louder. The massive vehicle broke through the clouds, descending slowly. He recognized it instantly—the same transporter he and his friends had used countless times to travel to missions, to fight side by side, to survive together. Now, it was here for him.

The ramp lowered, and one by one, they jumped. His friends—Blaze, Aqua, Terra, and the others. They landed around him in a tight circle, their abilities crackling in the air like a storm about to break. Their faces were hardened, their eyes filled with determination, but Kuro saw the hesitation behind their resolve. They didn't want to do this. None of them did. But orders were orders.

Kuro's gaze swept over them, his expression unchanged. He had always known this moment would come. The bonds they'd shared, the missions they'd endured, the laughter and the pain—it all led to this inevitable confrontation.

For a long moment, no one moved. The silence was deafening, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder.

Finally, Kuro spoke, his voice steady but filled with an unshakable weight.

"We were never meant to be sealed."

The words hung in the air, a truth that struck deeper than any weapon could. His friends flinched, their resolve wavering. But the transporter loomed overhead, a silent reminder of their purpose.

Kuro straightened his stance, his aura rippling as gravity bent the air around him. He didn't want to fight them, but he wouldn't run. Not anymore. If freedom meant standing against the only family he'd ever known, then so be it.

The storm broke, rain falling in heavy sheets as the field erupted into chaos.