A twisted grin played on Haru's lips, though his expression was not entirely his own. Shadows coiled faintly around him as a cold, distant voice echoed within his mind:
"So many… I sense them—mortals who think they can wield power they barely understand."
"A flicker here. A spark there. But none like him..."
"Katakuichi."
The name lingered like a dark promise.
"You are not chosen for your heart, nor for your courage…" the voice continued.
"You are chosen because you can survive what no other can. Most humans, even the strongest, would shatter under the strain of my essence. Only you… only you can contain it without breaking."
Haru's chest tightened, and a sharp ache ran through his body. He could barely restrain the force surging within him, the weight of Chernobog pressing against his very soul. Every second was a struggle, every breath a battle to keep the Demon King's essence locked away.
A vision surged through Haru's mind—a future of devastation. Katakuichi, eyes black as dusk, energy spiraling around him like a hurricane, stood atop a mountain of ash. Not a pawn… but a god.
"Alone, you will be unmatched."
"With me…"
"We will become the strongest force to ever walk this shattered earth."
"Together—we will not just burn the world…"
"We will unmake it."
Chernobog's eyes gleamed with fierce intensity as his voice resonated within Haru's mind:
"Katakuichi is destined to become the only vessel capable of containing my power fully. Haru struggles, but you… you can endure what he cannot. With you at my side, there is nothing we cannot unmake or reshape. The world will tremble… and from the ruins, a new order will rise."