Kyoketsu no hikari [ English ]

Silence fell.

But that silence did not last long.

Because everyone witnessed something that should never have happened.

Kaizen...

Took a step backward.

Then another.

His hand slowly rose to cover his face.

"Impossible..."

Strands of black hair fell over his crimson eyes.

And for the first time...

Confusion appeared on the face of the King of Darkness.

As for Yuna...

She had fallen to her knees, coughing violently as she stared at him with wide eyes.

"He... heard me..."

At that moment—

Someone moved.

"Get away from him."

It was Tsukiro.

Despite losing an arm, he had forced himself back to his feet.

Then Akuro stepped forward.

Then Kaya.

Then Takeshi.

Even Levi, his body drenched in blood, emerged from the rubble while supporting himself with his sword.

Kaizen slowly turned toward them.

"..."

Gerudo frowned for the first time.

"My Lord?"

But Kaizen didn't answer.

He could still hear that voice.

"I won't let anyone else suffer because of me."

His fist tightened until blood ran down his palm.

"Shut up..."

Levi took a step forward.

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"So..."

He spat blood onto the ground.

"You're not alone inside that body."

Kaizen remained silent.

Meanwhile, Akuro slowly drew his sword.

"Perhaps..."

"This is our only chance."

Gerudo's eyes widened.

"Have you all lost your minds?!"

But it was already too late.

Akuro vanished.

Dozens of magic circles materialized behind him.

At the same time—

Takeshi charged from the right.

Kaya attacked from the left.

And Tsukiro...

Raised his remaining hand.

"NOW!!"

The entire hall trembled.

Dozens of attacks converged upon Kaizen at the exact same moment.

BOOOOOOOOOM!!

A colossal explosion swallowed the throne whole.

Half of the hall was reduced to rubble.

Dust filled the air.

Everyone struggled to catch their breath.

"Is... is it over?"

Yuna whispered.

But then...

Something emerged from the smoke.

A hand.

Then another.

And finally...

Kaizen stepped out.

A single drop of blood trickled down the side of his face.

Only one.

He stared at it for a moment before touching it with his fingers.

"..."

Silence.

The leaders' eyes widened.

Because they had realized the truth.

Everything they had done...

Had done no more than leave him with a scratch.

Kaizen slowly raised his head.

There was no smile on his face this time.

"Interesting."

He disappeared.

And in the next instant—

He appeared before Akuro.

BOOOOM!!

Before Akuro could even react—

Kaizen's fist had pierced through his shoulder.

Akuro screamed in agony.

But Kaizen did not stop.

He turned.

And drove a kick into Takeshi's stomach.

Then grabbed Kaya by the hair and hurled her across the hall.

As for Levi—

He roared and charged with everything he had.

"I WON'T LET YOU—!"

But Kaizen caught him by the face.

And slammed him into the ground.

BOOOOOOOOOM!!

The floor cracked for dozens of meters.

"Weak."

Then he raised his gaze toward everyone.

"Are you finished?"

The hall trembled.

Even the members of Yami no Inma...

Could only stare silently at their king.

But suddenly...

A small hole appeared in the wall.

Then...

A second.

A third.

Black cracks began spreading around Kaizen's body.

"...?"

He grabbed his head once more.

"No..."

---

Somewhere far away...

Within that white world—

Kaizen opened his eyes.

There was only emptiness.

No sky.

No earth.

Nothing.

Only white.

He slowly stood up.

"What is this?"

Then...

He saw someone standing before him.

A young man with black hair.

And calm eyes.

Jinsu.

Kaizen stared at him for several moments.

Then smiled.

"So..."

"You've finally decided to come out of hiding."

Jinsu did not answer.

He merely looked at him.

"You seem different."

Kaizen narrowed his eyes.

"Where is that crying child who begged me every single night?"

Silence.

Then Jinsu replied—

"He died."

Kaizen's smile faded slightly.

"Hm?"

"That person..."

Jinsu raised his head.

"Died a long time ago."

Kaizen's expression changed.

"And you think you can stop me now?"

For the first time—

Jinsu smiled.

A quiet, peaceful smile.

"No."

"...?"

"I'm not trying to stop you."

Then he added—

"I simply want to take back what belongs to me."

Silence.

"And do you know what that is?"

Kaizen asked.

Jinsu answered calmly.

"My name."

In the very next moment—

The white sky shattered.

CRAAAAACK!!

Kaizen's eyes widened.

The entire world began to break apart.

And the endless white...

Turned into darkness.

Black trees stretched endlessly across the horizon.

Waterfalls as red as blood flowed through the land.

And atop a distant cliff...

Stood a man.

Long gray hair.

A crimson right eye.

And the other...

White as the moon.

Kaizen froze.

"What..."

Then—

He felt something.

An old sensation.

One he had not felt in centuries.

"This is impossible..."

Images flooded his mind.

Memories.

Voices.

But...

He couldn't understand them.

He staggered backward.

"No..."

Then he shouted.

"These are not my memories!"

Jinsu silently watched him.

"Are you playing with my mind, boy?!"

And for the first time...

Jinsu answered with words that swallowed the entire world in silence.

"They may be real..."

"And they may not."

"But in the end..."

"What is real?"

Silence.

Kaizen continued staring at the man standing atop the cliff.

And for reasons he couldn't understand...

He felt fear.

Or perhaps...

Excitement.

In the final moments of the chapter—

The gray-haired man looked toward Kaizen for the very first time.

Then...

He smiled.

Jinsu looked down at the fallen Kaizen.

Their eyes met.

Then Jinsu spoke softly.

"Thank you, Kaizen."

"I think... I've finally realized where I truly belong."

He turned and began to walk away.

And then—

Jinsu opened his eyes.

Standing before him was a familiar face.

A face he had longed to see again.

A face that had appeared in his dreams countless times.

"Y... Yuna?"

Tears streamed down Yuna's face as she answered.

"Y-Yes... Jinsu!"