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Chapter Ten: The Philosophy of the Apple
Rezil stepped into the chamber, the walls vibrating with residual energy. Light fractured across the space like shattered glass, and at the center, Nalou awaited—not with malice, but with a serene, almost philosophical air.
"Rezil," Nalou began, his voice calm yet piercing. "Do you understand why the world functions as it does? Why life emerges, yet so often, no one notices the consequences of existence?"
Rezil tensed. "We're not here to debate philosophy. Surrender, and this ends now."
Nalou shook his head slowly. "No… I am here to show you the truth, hidden behind every step humanity has taken. Observe."
With a graceful motion, Nalou summoned a glowing Spirit Apple into the air. It hovered, spinning gently, radiating a soft golden light.
"Do you remember the story of the apple?" Nalou asked. "The one that fell and revealed gravity to man? The simple fruit that changed perception. Humanity learned of gravity because the apple fell. But how many have noticed the souls that fall every day, the ones ignored, left to drift without guidance or meaning? These souls, like the apple, contain truth, knowledge, potential… yet the world turns as if blind."
Rezil felt a chill. "You're saying… this is your justification?"
Nalou smiled faintly. "No. Not justification. Observation. Every being is given choice, yet most remain unaware. I merely reveal what was already there."
The apple split, emitting a cascade of energy that formed shimmering visions of life, death, and decay. Every spirit that had been touched by Nalou's hands floated in the air, some trembling, some laughing, some silent.
"This," Nalou continued, "is the natural order. Humans ignore the falling souls just as they ignored falling apples before. And yet, within these fruits lies the power to create, to destroy, to awaken."
Rezil clenched his fists. "Enough! We're here to stop you, not philosophize about humanity's failures!"
Nalou's gaze hardened. "Stop me? Do you not see? I am not the source. I am the channel. These apples, these energies… they are part of the balance. Kill me, and the force I restrain will erupt, unbound. Do you dare risk that?"
Without warning, both exploded into action. Nalou moved with blinding speed, summoning torrents of energy from the Spirit Apples. Rezil countered, channeling the collective power of his team. The chamber shook violently, the air ripping apart as force clashed with force.
Blows landed with earth-shattering impact. Walls crumbled, floors fractured, and the very essence of the chamber seemed to scream under the strain. Sparks of energy tore through the air, colliding with blinding flashes, each strike echoing with the weight of destiny.
In a final, desperate surge, both unleashed their ultimate power. Nalou, channeling the apples' entire potential, illuminated the chamber with radiant energy. Rezil, summoning every ounce of Nagitsuna mastery, met him head-on.
The collision was cataclysmic. Light and shadow spiraled together, creating a vortex that swallowed everything. When the brilliance faded, silence fell. Both combatants lay motionless, their forms battered, indistinct, as if erased by the force of their struggle.
Yet in that silence, the truth remained. The Spirit Apples still floated, glowing softly, waiting for the next seeker. The energy Nalou had restrained had not vanished—it lingered, subtle, patient, eternal.
Rezil's final thought, unspoken and unresolved, lingered in the air: the reality, the truth, had always been present. All that remained was for someone to awaken it again.
The chamber was empty, the future uncertain, the balance fragile. Humanity, and the Nagitsuna, now faced the consequences of knowing—or ignoring—the power within the apples.
The story did not end, yet the confrontation was complete.
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