( Chapter unfolds:32)
The silence that followed Rey's words was terrifying. Even though Izuma and Sai were facing a complete stranger, the sheer pressure of the energy radiating from him was draining their strength.
"Whoever you are... your path ends today. You must answer for every wrong you have committed here," Izuma said, tightening his grip on his sword.
"Answer...?" Rey looked at them with pure disdain. "This world itself is a lie. I have no need to give answers to puppets who have come to protect that lie. Those toys in your hands... they can do nothing to me."
Hearing this, Sai's rage boiled over. Forgetting his pain, he stepped forward.
"Toys?!!! It seems you know nothing about us. We were born to eliminate slaves like you!"
At those words, Rey broke into a mocking laugh.
"Haha... Is that so? I wasn't aware. Born to die, then? First, look at your own sword. My mere presence is dragging the fear out from within you."
Rey looked down at his palm, where a thick, blue mist was beginning to coil and rise.
"Before you even think about killing me, make sure your own breath doesn't stop short."
"Don't measure your strength with words alone," Izuma countered. "If we are standing here before you, it is not without reason."
But to Rey, none of it mattered. He slowly waved his hand through the air, the blue mist dancing between his fingers like a living thing.
"True... you are not ordinary. You are the first sacrifices for my new world. I have no personal grudge against you, nor do I desire a war. But do not stand as obstacles on the path to my goal. It is my habit to annihilate anything that stands in my way."
He took a single step forward. At that movement, the ground itself seemed to shudder.
"I don't need to know your names or your duties. Because... I have no interest in remembering the names of the dead. Look into my eyes... this will be the only truth you see from now on."
He began to walk slowly toward them. With every step he took, the blue mist spread across the ground like a creeping poison.