The sky looked like it was bleeding. Black clouds twisted into a spiraling vortex, as if someone were wringing out the horizon itself. The wind roared so violently that it tore entire trees from the ground, hurling dust and leaves into what felt like a spiritual hurricane on the verge of erupting.
Hinata slammed into the ground, veins bulging across her face with the weight of her fury. Her chest heaved, breath ragged, her spiritual wings still folded behind her. Her eyes were glossy with tears—but not of sorrow.
They were tears of pure, unfiltered hatred.
Ahead of her, Yuta flickered in and out of existence among dozens of spiritual clones drifting through the mist like silent specters.
— Hinata… please… — he tried.
But she didn't hear him.
Or rather—
She refused to hear him.
Her trust in him had shattered. Nothing else mattered.
So she attacked.
---
The First Charge
Hinata shot forward with such speed that the air detonated behind her, leaving a golden arc of light. She cut through the space between her and the clones, dissolving several with nothing but the force of her arrival.
Yuta activated everything he had left.
The clones moved in perfect synchronicity, swarming Hinata from every direction. Spiritual fists, kicks, crushing blows raining down like a coordinated storm.
But Hinata spun mid-air, extended her leg, and unleashed a circular slash of energy that obliterated half of them in a single rotation.
She launched herself straight at the real Yuta.
He backed away.
And kept backing away.
And kept backing away.
— You're running… — she growled. — You don't deserve those swords.
Yuta trembled.
Hinata saw it.
And it only made her even angrier.
---
The Severed Eyes
Hinata stretched out her hand, and ancient runes ignited across her palm. The gathered energy was so dense the ground vibrated under her feet.
Yuta's eyes widened.
— Hinata, don't—
— Soul Cut — Twin Blades!
Two tiny blades—thin as hair strands yet forged from pure spiritual energy—shot through the air like arcane bullets.
Yuta jerked his head, trying to dodge.
But Hinata had already predicted it.
The blades curved.
And struck both of his eyes.
— AAAAH!!!
His scream echoed through the mountains.
Spiritual blood streamed down his face.
Every remaining clone collapsed instantly.
Hinata smiled for the first time.
— Now you can't use your swords anymore.
But Yuta didn't fall.
He staggered…
Took two blind steps…
And then—guided by nothing but instinct—
He grabbed Hinata by the arm.
The strength in his grip was monstrous.
Hinata tried to pull away, but it was useless—he held her with the power of a titan.
— Let go of me! — she screamed.
Yuta lifted her—
And smashed her into the ground with everything he had.
The impact carved out a massive crater.
Hinata spat blood, dazed.
Yuta seized her by the leg and hurled her like a ragdoll. She burst through two trees and skidded across the earth, plowing through everything.
Even blind…
Bleeding…
Barely conscious…
He still fought.
But it wasn't Yuta anymore.
Something deeper had taken over.
---
The Calling of the Katanas
Blind, trembling, close to collapsing, Yuta extended his hand and grasped the hilts of his two katanas.
— I'm sorry… I failed you…
— But thank you for everything… my partners…
He bowed his head.
And then—
The blades answered.
— Take our eyes.
— See through us.
— We will fight with you.
Yuta froze.
— Who…?
The katanas surged with power.
Spiritual blades moved on their own, twisting like living serpents.
The hilts vibrated.
The earth trembled.
And the swords spoke louder:
— Fuse us.
Yuta brought the blades together on instinct.
The swords became one.
They became alive.
They became eyes.
A purple explosion erupted, swallowing the world around him.
Rocks flew.
The wind changed direction.
Sound itself vanished.
When the light faded—
Yuta was different.
His eyes were spiritual now.
Purple.
Glowing.
Empty of any human emotion.
He didn't speak.
He didn't think.
He had become a living weapon.
Hinata felt the surge of power and her whole body shook.
She had no choice.
---
Hinata's Divine Evolution
A golden light burst within her, like a sun igniting inside her chest.
— This feeling… — Lyra whispered from afar. — It's… divine…
Hinata opened her arms as a blast of pure magic erupted from her spine.
Two majestic wings unfolded—wings forged from liquid light.
She looked like a reborn goddess descending upon the battlefield.
— Yuta… — she whispered. — If that's how it is… then we'll fight as monsters.
She vanished.
---
The Most Destructive Battle of the Arc
Their clash defied description.
Each strike carved new craters.
Each step shattered the earth.
Every spell ripped through the air like a detonation.
Yuta cleaved reality with his dark katana.
Hinata weaved around him with divine wings, unleashing spells that burst like miniature supernovas.
They vanished and reappeared so many times that the atmosphere turned white-hot from the friction.
Rock turned to dust.
Trees to ash.
The sky tore open as if being cut apart.
Lyra watched, trembling uncontrollably.
— They… they're on the same level…
It was true.
Magic against magic.
Instinct against instinct.
But Yuta was winning.
Slowly.
Cut by cut.
Step by step.
Hinata's blood stained the ground.
Her wings flickered.
Her movements slowed.
Yuta had become a pure killing instinct.
He raised his katana for the final strike.
---
The Arrival of the Forgotten God
When the blade fell—
A shadow appeared between them.
So fast that even Hinata didn't see it.
CLANG!
Energy blasted into the heavens, tearing every cloud apart in a single instant.
Hinata fell backward, barely breathing.
Yuta stepped back—
The first involuntary step he had taken since awakening.
And in the center of the explosion—
Kael stood.
His coat shredded by the storm, purple aura swirling like galaxies, his eyes colder than the void itself.
To Hinata and Lyra, Kael looked like a god in flesh.
A being that couldn't be stopped.
Absolute strength.
And he had just saved their lives.
Kael advanced, preparing a strike that would kill Yuta in a single step.
But before the blow landed—
Everything froze.
One second of total silence.
Then—
Kael was hurled backward like he'd been hit by a planet.
He slammed into the earth, skidding across the field. He rose, coughing blood.
Hinata's eyes widened.
Lyra collapsed to her knees.
— W-Who… who could do that to him…?
A voice echoed.
Deep.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
— I did.
A colossal figure materialized behind Yuta, holding Kael's attack like it was nothing.
Dark skin.
Silver eyes.
An aura so dense it made the soul ache.
Malhar.
---
The Reverence That Changed Everything
Kael looked up at him.
And to the absolute horror of Hinata and Lyra—
Kael kneeled.
He touched his forehead to the ground.
— My God.
Hinata's heart stopped.
— K-Kael…? — she stammered. — He… he's kneeling…?
Lyra backed away, trembling violently.
— If Kael—
THE Kael—is kneeling for this man…
Then this man…
This man is something beyond everything…
Malhar gently touched Kael's shoulder.
— Stand, my child. You don't need to bow to me.
He smiled.
— We've fought side by side for ages. We are ancient companions.
The world went silent.
Hinata, pale as death, couldn't breathe.
Lyra began crying without knowing why.
Kael rose.
And Malhar continued:
— I'll explain everything. Who Yuta really is. The mistake I made when I created magic. And the reason this world is breaking.
He placed a hand on Kael's head.
— It's time for you to finally understand who you are.
A massive surge of memories exploded inside Kael.