Chapter 129 – The Guardian of the White Universe
The endless void shimmered in pure white. No sound, no wind—just silence stretching forever.
Shen floated at its center, his aura flickering faintly blue. Cracks ran across his arms; his body was breaking under the strain of the realm itself. Before him towered a being made of pure cosmic light—its face hidden, its form shifting endlessly.
The Universe Guardian.
Its voice was not heard but felt, echoing through every atom around him.
Guardian: "No mortal may tread in this place. Leave, or be erased."
Shen tightened his grip on his twin blades, his breath heavy.
Shen: "I didn't come here to leave. I came to prove… that even mortals can defy fate."
He charged. The blades tore through the air, releasing arcs of blue and black magic. But the Guardian raised one hand, and an entire galaxy formed from its palm, spinning toward Shen like a storm of stars.
The impact threw Shen backward. His armor shattered, his aura flickering violently.
Then—he heard a voice.
Lare (distant): "Remember what I taught you, Shen. Dominion isn't about power… it's about will."
Shen closed his eyes for a moment. The Supreme Lord Eye ignited—burning brighter than ever before.
Shen (growling): "Then I'll make this universe obey my will!"
His aura burst outward, mixing with the collapsing light of the White Universe. Space itself bent around him as he unleashed his ultimate spell:
"Dark Mage Mastered Form – Infinite Collapse!"
A tidal wave of blue-black energy crashed into the Guardian. The two forces collided—light against darkness—tearing open the White Universe's core.
---
Meanwhile, outside the rift…
Kenya and Eliz stood in the flaming ruins of the city. The Arcane General, half-melted and still roaring, lunged for one last strike.
Kenya (furious): "You're not getting back up again!"
His flames spiraled into a fiery tornado—Fire Demon Ultra Form: Infernal Devastation!
The attack engulfed the General completely, consuming it in pure flame until nothing remained but ashes. Kenya dropped to one knee, exhausted, sweat and blood running down his face.
Eliz (panting): "It's… over…"
Kenya looked up at the torn sky, his gaze serious. "Not yet. Shen's still fighting somewhere beyond that light…"
---
Back in the White Universe.
The explosion had ended. The Guardian's light was fading. Shen stood at the center, his body dissolving into fragments of blue dust.
Shen (weak smile): "Looks like I won, huh… Lare."
Lare appeared beside him, his robes torn but his eyes calm.
Lare: "You did more than win. You changed the balance of this realm."
Shen looked down at his fading hands. "Then… why do I feel like I'm vanishing?"
Lare placed a hand on his shoulder.
Lare: "Because you are. The power you unleashed surpassed your mortal form. Your body cannot remain."
Shen's expression softened. "Heh… figures. Tell Kenya and Eliz… they'd better keep fighting."
Lare's gaze turned distant. "We can't go back—not in body. But… as souls, we can still drift."
White light surrounded them both. Their bodies disintegrated completely, leaving behind only two blue souls drifting into the void.
As the White Universe collapsed behind them, Shen's voice echoed faintly:
Shen (voice fading): "A Drifter never dies… he just keeps moving forward."
The light closed. Silence.
---
Outside, Kenya and Eliz felt a sudden surge of wind brush past them—gentle, warm, familiar.
Eliz (quietly): "That aura… Shen…"
Kenya clenched his fists. "He's out there somewhere. I can feel him."
The sky turned clear for the first time in days. But far above, two faint blue lights floated together—Shen and Lare, now souls, drifting between worlds.