The aftermath of the siege left the temple in ruin.
Cracked stones, shattered lanterns, and scorched earth told the story of the battle. Smoke rose like black fingers into the cold night sky. The monks moved quickly, tending to the wounded and reinforcing what wards they could.
Kanji sat at the center of the sanctum, trembling. His golden eyes still burned faintly, a storm of power coiling within him.
He could feel it—calling him.
The pulse of the sword.
The roar of his father's blood.
The voice whispering through the darkness, louder than ever:
"Take it… my son. Take your legacy."
Ryou knelt beside him, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder.
"Kanji… it is time. The sword waits for you. But you must control it, or it will control you."
Kanji's small hands clenched into fists.
"I… I don't know if I can…"
A rumble shook the mountain.
Outside the temple walls, the wind twisted violently. Shadows danced across the broken courtyard. Something immense was stirring beyond the veil of reality.
Suddenly, a fissure opened in the air—a dark portal.
Through it, faint glimpses of the demon realm appeared: jagged mountains, rivers of fire, and the colossal black sword floating in a sea of ash and chains.
The chains rattled violently. The sword pulsed with energy, calling to Kanji as if alive.
Kanji's golden eyes widened.
"I… I can feel it. Father… the sword…"
Ryou stepped back, wary.
"Kanji, this is dangerous. The sword's power is tied to your blood. You must not let rage or fear take control."
Kanji stood, trembling but resolute.
"I… I want to protect everyone. I can't let Ravnos win. I can't let him hurt anyone else."
He walked toward the center of the fissure in the air. The temple trembled underfoot.
The sword reacted immediately—chains snapping, energy surging, shaking the mountain itself.
Kanji extended his hands.
Red and golden light burst from his body, intertwining, surging outward. The fissure pulsed.
The black sword moved, slowly floating toward him, chains breaking apart with deafening cracks.
Ryou shouted, "Kanji! Focus! Command the sword—do not let it overwhelm you!"
The sword hovered before him, massive and terrifying. Its obsidian blade glimmered with an ancient fire. Its edge shimmered with the echoes of countless battles. The air itself felt heavy under its presence.
Kanji hesitated.
Then, with a deep, steadying breath, he whispered:
"I… am your heir. I claim you."
The sword's chains shattered completely.
A blinding light erupted from its blade, engulfing Kanji. He screamed—not in pain, but in power, as molten energy coursed through his body.
For a moment, the temple, the mountain, and the forest beyond seemed to vanish.
Kanji floated in a void of flame and shadow, the sword hovering before him.
A voice—deep, ancient, familiar—spoke directly into his mind:
"At last… my son awakens."
Kanji felt the sword merge with his being. Not in body, but in spirit.
He could feel every strike it had ever made, every battle it had endured.
And he understood: the sword's power would obey him—but only if he mastered himself first.
With a surge, Kanji opened his eyes.
Red and gold flared together, a crown of energy encircling him.
The temple floor cracked beneath his feet, the wind howled, and shadows recoiled.
Ryou and the monks shielded their eyes.
"He… he's done it," Rin whispered.
"Kanji… he's truly awakened."
Outside the temple, the storm grew stronger.
Ravnos, watching from a distant portal, growled in fury.
"My nephew… so soon? Impossible!"
Kanji gripped the sword.
It was larger than him, heavier than anything he had lifted—but it felt natural, as if it had been waiting for his hands alone.
And as he lifted it, the air trembled, the sky darkened, and the ground shook across the valley.
A single thought filled Kanji's mind:
"I will protect everyone… no matter what it takes."
Far in the demon realm, the colossal black sword pulsed again—its chains fully broken.
The prophecy was no longer a warning.
It was happening.
The battle for the worlds had truly begun.
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