"Cough... Cough..."
Although his heart desired to purge all Oni, Ryuya was struggling.
After all, he had been in this world for less than twenty years. Without the Red and White Dragon Bloodline talents, relying only on his fairy potential, how much of The Eternal Nation's power could he truly unleash?
Let alone the Lord of the End, as he didn't even have enough mana to activate it.
'Ultimately, I was still too weak.'
Thinking this, Ryuya didn't even look, relying on instinct to slay the high-level Oni attacking from both sides. His combat awareness was now deeply ingrained.
Silently watching the Oni flee from him, and the high-level Oni radiating terrifying auras, Ryuya's mind suddenly became perfectly clear.
Countless blades fell here, accompanied by the sound of thunderclaps.
Countless monsters surged at this moment, followed by countless severed heads.
"Cough..."
This cough brought up blood again.
He was tired. Ryuya was tired.
Too tired to swing his blade properly, too tired to cleanly sever enemy heads.
But he could still kill.
In his hazy consciousness, Ryuya seemed to hear Rashomon's voice.
"Enough, it's enough now. You've slain sufficient Oni. I can reseal them, protecting the human world for at least a century."
Created long ago by countless Onmyoji, shrine maidens, samurai, and others to confine the Oni and block Hell, Rashomon was simple, straightforward, pure.
It only wanted to continue its duty: sealing these Oni.
But...
"The Oni cannot be completely eradicated. Throughout Japan's history, all evil people who died become Oni here. There are too many. You need rest."
"I will send you out!"
Hearing Rashomon's voice, Ryuya's voice slowly sounded, "Cannot be eradicated? Who says they cannot?"
Stopping his advance, looking at the Oni who now feared him, Ryuya took a deep breath… an action he had performed countless times.
Swinging his sword once more, his voice continued, "Rashomon, is your purpose to seal these Oni?"
"Then what about me? What is the purpose of my existence, named Ryuya?"
"I don't know, but you shouldn't die here! You must not!" Rarely showing anxiety, Rashomon, as a holy artifact, was born to seal. But it never felt lonely.
Because it knew the torment the human world would suffer without it. It understood its purpose, and it was proud of itself.
But this person shouldn't be like it. This fairy shouldn't be like it.
Guarding this world was Rashomon's purpose, not Ryuya's.
"What 'shouldn't die here'? That's just you talking to yourself."
"The purpose of my existence in this world, I understand it myself."
As if sensing Ryuya was at his limit, finally, the high-level Oni surged forward again. This time, they didn't come one by one but chose to swarm, determined to bring this man down.
Bloodiness, gloom, fear, hatred… it was endless resentment, seeming to bury Ryuya.
Ryuya closed his eyes.
Smelling the scorching air, in this moment, he seemed to return to the battlefield, to the moment he opened the path to the Root.
He was Ryuya. He wasn't some decrepit old man, nor a puppet merely completing tasks.
He no longer saw these lives as simulated falsehoods but regarded them as absolute reality.
Opening his eyes, Ryuya saw overwhelming resentment, the very foundation within Rashomon, seemingly filling the entire world.
He smiled, a smile without regret. The blade of will in his hand bloomed with the most brilliant light.
It was the accumulation of ten years honing a single sword.
It was the final beat of his heart.
It was the thunder stored for ten years.
"Legend of the Nation of the End, The Eternal Nation!"
A flash like thunder erupted from Ryuya. The land of ancient Britain finally descended completely upon this earth.
Facing the King's presence, countless British Warriors returned once more, offering their splendid lives.
"Rashomon, I know that for sealing alone, I've long done enough."
"But if the night remains, what use is the coming dawn?"
A majestic figure illuminated Hell, as if to utterly disperse everything here.
Black eyes reflecting the radiance, Ryuya's voice resonated throughout Rashomon.
"The meaning of my existence here is so that long after, when Rashomon opens again, youkai need not fear attack."
"The meaning of my existence here is so that long after, when Rashomon opens again, humans need not fear for their right to live."
"The meaning of my existence here is so that long after, when Rashomon opens again, soldiers can reunite with their wives, children need not lack sweets."
"In the name of Ryuya, I swear this. Chiyo, your secret… I will return to hear it."
This was Ryuya's final moment!
…
A familiar figure.
Seeing the sole figure emerging from Rashomon, Souji froze.
Though long unseen, though the man was covered in filth, though he was nearly transformed into an Oni, Souji would not forget. She would absolutely never forget the man who raised her, who saved her.
"Onii... sama..."
The figure known as the fastest in this world rushed forward, embracing the man about to fall.
Looking at the blood-stained face, Souji watched as the filth covering him rapidly dissipated. The wind gently brushed past, and he returned to his former appearance.
Clad in white robes, like snow.
The ground, covered in crimson.
"Is it Chiyo?"
Though unseen for many years, the moment he returned, Ryuya sensed it. The one waiting for him was Chiyo, the girl who said she had a secret.
"Ryu-nii, it's me... it's me..."
Feeling the gradually fading warmth in her arms, Souji's hands trembled, shaking like her nearly stilled heart.
"Ah, I see. Then I've kept my promise."
As if seeing the girl's farewell when he left, Ryuya had returned.
Unable to hear anything, unable to see anything, he felt he had finally chased the scenery he dreamed of.
It's just that love borrows dawn and dusk from the mortal world… sorrow and joy are the payment.
It seemed he wouldn't live to hear her secret.