A blast of dark blue-purple energy exploded from within the Grand Oni, obliterating it from the inside out.
Slash!
A flash of white light erupted.
When it cleared, the Grand Oni stood frozen for a moment—then shattered into fine, black dust.
Silence followed. It was heavy and wrong.
The War King dropped to one knee, his sword planted in the mud. His breath came in ragged trembles. His arm, burned and blistered, hung useless at his side. Around him, the battlefield was a wasteland of steam and ruin.
Relief should have come. Instead, the air shifted.
The War King coughed, blood spotting his lips. "We did it. We can restore the realm… We're going home."
Togi stepped forward, every movement deliberate. "Home, yes. A new world." His voice dropped to a cold, final tone. "But a new world requires a new hierarchy."
Garrick and Lyra stood behind him, their faces expressionless.
Dark energy from the fallen Oni seeped into the soil, coiling like smoke around Togi's feet. "This will do just fine," Togi said, a smirk twisting his lips. He forged a sword from condensed blue energy and drove it through the War King's chest.
The War King's head lifted slightly, his eyes burning. "What did you hope to achieve with this betrayal? Tell me—what do you gain?"
"The spell only requires your presence, not your consent."
Lyra's eyes glowed a predatory green. A sinister smile crossed her face, dark green cracks appearing at the corners of her mouth. He had never seen that smile before. Instead of being troubled by what she'd done, she seemed pleased by his pain.
Above them, a vast summoning circle began to etch itself into the sky.
"Simple. Unmatched power," Togi answered, malice dripping from his voice. "With this spell and the Oni's power, I will claim what was always meant to be ours. It wasn't enough to end you. I needed you broken, spent. It all went according to plan. Your Generals, Kaelith and Lumina… they are gone. I think it's time you joined them."
Stab!
Garrick struck, his blade cutting a deep gash across the War King's back. The War King roared, gripping his sword, his eyes flashing red as he prepared to strike back.
But Togi was faster. A precise, efficient slash severed his arm at the elbow.
Slice.
"GAHHH!" The War King cried out, blood pouring into the wet earth.
"Farewell."
He pushed himself from the cliff edge, the roar of the waterfall rising behind him.
Splash!
The world dropped away into cold, weightless silence.
As his consciousness dimmed, a voice echoed within him—ancient, resonant, absolute.
[A vow unbroken. A will unyielding. Look how the mighty King has fallen.]
"Who are you?"
[Your knowing me is not of importance.]
"Huh?"
[I can give you a second chance... to exact your revenge on those who betrayed you.]
[Your consciousness is fading. The decision is yours. Do you accept or decline the offer? Either way, let us hope this is the last time we meet.]
I was never a person of second chances, nor of giving them to my enemies. And here I am, given one… He could feel his memories fading already.
The darkness claimed him as the cold faded, and the thunder became a distant murmur. A profound silence enveloped him, broken only by the slow, heavy beat of his own heart—a drum counting down to nothing. Or perhaps, to something else entirely.
The King of War sank to the bottom of the water as darkness consumed him.
[Awaken…]
SFX: Glitch and glass breaking.
He found himself lying on a mattress, his vision swimming in blurred shapes and muted colors. Voices drifted around him, distant and worried.
His body is damaged beyond repair.
Another voice, younger and feminine, followed, desperate. There must be a way to save him… right?
The first voice answered with clinical certainty. His wounds are still fresh. I can heal the damage to the body… but I can't fix his core.
Brother… just hang on… you can't die. I haven't kept my promise to protect you.
The echo hooked into his mind, dragging him upward as light swallowed him.
---
Saturu jolted awake, gasping for air, his heart pounding against his ribs. Sweat clung to his skin. Disoriented, he struggled to separate the dream from the memory. His hands trembled as he held his face, breathing through a piercing headache.
"These memories again… Who was that person?"
Moonlight fell across the room. He stared at it for a long moment. "I must find out what happened."
---
Night gave way to daylight. Saturu adjusted the collar of his kimono and glanced into the mirror, meeting his own reflection. I still can't believe how young I am… I do miss my long hair… It doesn't matter. I'll just start again.
He brushed the feeling aside, stepped out of the sanctuary, and leaped to the roof to scan the area.
Outside, Kayon sat on a huge rock overlooking the distant view. Green trees surrounded the landscape, and birds drifted lazily through the air. Kayon opened his packed lunch—a vibrant bowl of ramen.
"I finally get a chance to eat this in peace." He bowed his head slightly. "I humbly receive." He took a bite. "That training puts a strain on the body," he muttered to himself.
A flash of memory crossed his thoughts—the face of an old friend overlapping with Saturu's. They looked almost identical, but one was older, one younger. He sighed.
"Kayon." Saturu's rough voice cut through the quiet. "How did you find me?" He added flatly, "Not that hard to spot this place."
Kayon groaned. "Ohhh… damn. I knew I should've hid somewhere."
"If you think I'm here for your old, nutritious lunch? Forget it," Saturu answered.
"I'm not that old…"
"The years don't lie."
"No, you're just too young."
Kayon sighed. "Anyway, what brings you here?"
"I came to ask you what happened that day."
Kayon exhaled, realizing it was time. He took a cup, filled it with green tea, and handed it to Saturu. Outside, the sanctuary sky shifted from clear to cloudy.
"It seems some of your memories have resurfaced. I didn't think it would be this soon."
Saturu took the cup and took a small sip. "Ah! It's bitter!" He stared at the tea, then gulped it down in one go.
---
Nozashi stepped into a darkened chamber, the door closing behind him with a muted thud.
The room was vast, its stone walls carved with faint sigils that pulsed weakly in the low light. A single hanging crystal cast long, distorted shadows across the floor.
From within those shadows, a woman's voice called out. Calm and measured.
She stood just beyond the reach of the light, her form partially obscured. "You have arrived." The figure spoke with a voice that seemed both female and male.
"As always." Nozashi bowed his head.
"If I may ask, what is this summons about?"
"I am having a certain problem that you failed to take care of."
"What?"
"Did you know that the knight you failed to kill a month ago is still alive?"
"Impossible!"
Nozashi's mind raced. He realized why he hadn't gained more power—because Saturu was still alive. His second thought was: who saved him?
"I will give you a chance to redeem yourself. I don't have another cursed item, but it shouldn't be any trouble for you. Of course, I will give you more power. Do you accept my proposal?"
"I accept."
The woman who had summoned Nozashi dissolved into dark blue smoke and vanished into thin air.
Nozashi clenched his fist so hard it began to bleed, a vein throbbing on his temple.
"You still refuse to die, my so-called half-brother."