Jin raised his blade defensively—the blue glow reflecting in his eyes.
**"Stay behind me,"** he commanded softly—not to the girl,
but to Ming Ji.
**"I'll handle this."**
Ming Ji paused, surprised.
*"…are you sure?"*
Jin tightened his grip on the sword's hilt—then looked back.
**"It's my fight. I started it, I'll end it."**
"Fine," Ming Ji said quietly—but didn't move back.
Instead, he stepped slightly to the side—shoulder still in line with Jin's.
Not behind. Not ahead.
***Beside.***
A silent promise:
*"I won't take over… but I won't let you face this alone."*
Jin exhaled—just once—and turned back to his dying reflection.
The shadow-Jin smiled wider, eyes hollow with centuries of regret and rage.
***"You think standing tall makes you strong?"***
He raised both hands—
and the ground *split*, black vines of corrupted energy surging upward like thorned serpents from forgotten graves—
crushing buildings,
tearing up earth,
screaming with voices not their own…
