The Same Eyes
Three weeks had passed...
Three weeks since Kaizen's fall.
And three weeks since Thalen had fallen into a coma.
Although the capital had begun to regain a part of its former life...
The remnants of Yami no Enma were still scattered across the world.
Because of that...
Gaia dispatched a squad from Kyoketsu no Hikari to eliminate one of Yami's remaining cells.
The intelligence reports confirmed that a high-ranking commander was leading the group.
...
Yorlis stood before the squad.
"According to our intelligence, he's no ordinary opponent."
"Don't underestimate him."
He turned his eyes toward Jinsu.
"And you..."
"Don't disappear like you always do."
Jinsu gave no reply.
He simply stared into the depths of the forest.
Then...
He vanished.
Yorlis let out a sigh.
"I told you not to disappear..."
He shook his head.
"Let's catch up to him."
Deep within the forest...
A man in a black cloak stood atop a fallen tree trunk.
His crimson eyes slowly scanned the surroundings.
"So... you came."
He spoke without turning around.
Behind him...
Jinsu appeared.
"You're their leader."
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The Yami smiled.
"And you..."
"The monster who defeated the King."
He slowly drew his sword.
"I've wanted to see you with my own eyes."
Jinsu closed his eyes.
"Then attack."
BOOOOOOM!!
The ground exploded.
The Yami disappeared.
In the next instant...
He appeared behind Jinsu.
His sword came crashing down with all his strength.
But...
Jinsu had already vanished.
The Yami froze.
"Where...?"
A strike landed from behind.
His body slammed into the ground.
He rolled away immediately and leapt backward.
A grin spread across his face.
"Good."
"So you're not just a rumor."
He stretched out his hand.
Dozens of black chains burst from the earth.
They surrounded Jinsu from every direction.
But...
He cut through every single one with a single swing of his sword.
Without even changing his expression.
The Yami's eyes widened.
"That easily?!"
He shouted.
Dozens of illusionary copies rushed toward Jinsu.
But Jinsu...
Recognized the real one at a single glance.
He appeared directly in front of him.
And slammed the hilt of his sword into the Yami's stomach.
The Yami choked.
Then came a second blow.
A third.
A fourth.
Until he collapsed onto his knees.
He tried to raise his sword.
But Jinsu's hand was faster.
The blade stopped against his neck.
Silence fell.
...
The Yami slowly raised his head.
His breathing was uneven.
For the first time...
He felt fear.
The fear of death.
He looked into Jinsu's eyes.
Waiting for the final strike.
But...
It never came.
Jinsu lowered his sword.
And simply continued looking at him.
The Yami's lips trembled.
"Why...?"
Jinsu did not answer.
He only kept looking at him.
Then...
In an incredibly calm voice, he said,
"Don't be afraid."
The Yami froze.
"What...?"
Jinsu took one step closer.
"The fight is over."
The Yami's eyes widened.
He couldn't understand.
This wasn't what Gaia's soldiers did.
He kept staring at Jinsu.
As if trying to determine whether he was mocking him.
But...
All he found was calmness.
The Yami slowly lowered his sword.
And for the first time...
He began to believe him.
...
Suddenly—
"JINSU!!"
Jinsu turned around.
Yorlis and the squad had arrived.
At that exact moment...
Yorlis saw that the Yami was still holding his sword.
"Get away from him!"
He rushed forward at full speed.
And shoved Jinsu aside.
Jinsu immediately screamed,
"No!!"
But...
The sound of clashing blades drowned out his voice.
Every member of the squad charged the Yami.
He tried to defend himself.
But he was exhausted.
One stab.
Then another.
Then a third.
Until his body collapsed onto the ground.
He kept looking at Jinsu...
As though he wanted to say something.
Then...
The light faded from his eyes.
Silence.
Jinsu stood before the corpse.
Without moving.
Without saying a word.
Yorlis approached while sheathing his sword.
"Hm?"
He looked at him.
"Listen..."
"Did you say something a moment ago?"
Jinsu continued staring at the body.
Then, without raising his head, he answered,
"...No."
"I didn't say anything."
He turned away.
"Let's go."
He began walking.
But Yuna...
Remained where she was.
She looked at the corpse.
Then at Jinsu's back.
She had heard his scream.
She had heard the word...
"No."
But she couldn't understand...
Why?
On the way back...
Everyone talked about the battle.
"That Yami was a real nuisance."
"Good thing we arrived in time."
"If we'd been any later, he might've tried to trick Jinsu."
But Jinsu...
Didn't say a single word.
He walked alone.
His head lowered.
...
That night...
He stood alone before the window of his room.
He remembered the Yami's face.
He remembered the fear in his eyes.
And whispered,
"He was afraid..."
He lowered his gaze toward the floor.