Smoke drifted slowly through the ruined corridor, curling like ghosts through the broken air. Dust and the metallic scent of blood lingered, thick enough to taste.
Gensu could barely stand.
His body trembled uncontrollably, every breath scraping his lungs, every muscle screaming in protest. The world around him felt distant, muffled, like he was already slipping away from it.
The silence didn't last.
A roar erupted — deep, violent, shaking the hallway to its core. Cracks spread across the walls as the air warped violently, bending like fragile glass.
Then it appeared.
The second Yami stepped forward from the distortion.
Its body was pale as death itself, smooth and unnatural, crowned with two long horns that curved toward the ceiling. Silver claws gleamed faintly, and its crimson eyes burned with cold intelligence.
Space twisted around it, the floor fracturing beneath invisible pressure.
The power it radiated was suffocating.
Behind Gensu, footsteps echoed as Yuris rushed into the corridor, only to freeze in horror.
"This… what is that…?"
The Yami attacked instantly.
The impact shattered the ground, sending debris flying like bullets. Yuris was thrown violently across the hallway, crashing into the wall as blood stained the cracked tiles. He tried to stand, but the distortion crushed any resistance.
Moments later, he collapsed, barely conscious.
The Yami slowly turned.
Toward Gensu.
Each step echoed like a countdown.
Gensu tried to move — but his legs wouldn't respond. His strength was gone. His vision blurred.
For the first time… he felt it clearly.
Death.
A quiet realization settled over him as the fear faded into emptiness.
He lowered his head slightly, breathing weakly.
"So… this is it…" he whispered.
Memories surfaced like fragments drifting through water — lonely days, silent nights, the weight of a life that never felt warm enough.
His mother's gentle smile appeared in his mind.
A bittersweet calm spread through him.
"My life… really was miserable…"
The Yami stopped directly in front of him, raising its claws slowly.
But then —
The smoke shifted.
The creature leaned closer, its crimson eyes locking onto Gensu's face as the last veil of dust cleared.
Its expression froze.
"…Ha…?"
Its pupils trembled violently.
"…My God…"
The Yami staggered back a step, its body shaking.
Flash —
An image burned into its mind.
A vast throne room swallowed in darkness.
A terrifying presence sitting upon an immense throne, radiating absolute dominance.
Ancient.
Unfathomable.
Overwhelming.
A voice echoed like thunder in the Yami's memory:
"Kneel… insect."
The memory shattered.
The Yami stared at Gensu in pure terror.
"Y-You… who are you…?"
Its claws trembled as it stepped back again, instinct screaming at it to flee.
Before anything else could happen —
The darkness behind them shifted.
A calm presence entered the battlefield.
Thalen.
He walked forward slowly, the distorted space stabilizing with each step he took. His mere existence pressed against the chaos like an unbreakable law.
The Yami turned toward him, panic still flickering in its eyes.
The battle that followed was brief — devastatingly one-sided. Every movement from Thalen carried effortless precision, each strike shattering the creature's form like fragile glass.
Within moments, the Yami collapsed, its pale body dimming as the distortion vanished completely.
Silence returned.
Thalen stepped toward Gensu and placed a steady hand on his shoulder.
"You're safe now," he said quietly.
Nearby, Yuris whispered weakly,
"I… I'm sorry… Master… Thalen…"
Then he lost consciousness.
Gensu stood motionless, heart beating slowly, mind still echoing with the creature's terrified words.
Who are you…?
Deep inside him, something ancient stirred — vast, silent, waiting.
Something that had finally been seen.