LOVEAGAIN**
----
CHAOS**
The ground split with the Kugutsu's first step. Each impact from the monster reverberated in waves that cracked walls, shattered windows, and crushed the hope of Chagas's few survivors. The city trembled, not just from fear, but from the presence of the impossible.
Ezra swallowed hard. The stench of rot that once emanated from him now mingled with the miasma of Zeke's Kugutsu—it was as if hell had opened a portal amid the ruins. The mouths scattered across the creature's face whispered in dead tongues, invoking forgotten curses. The dozens of eyes stared at the Kanji with hunger.
Zeke advanced, his red eyes burning like embers. His body vanished between blows. A dry thrust from the black spear rent the air and nearly pierced Ezra's chest, who leaped at the last moment, using a broken pillar as a springboard. But the Kugutsu's black shield followed him like a living wall, crushing the very wall Ezra landed on.
Ezra rolled in the air, a mouth bleeding, and upon touching the ground, he extended his hands, instantly rotting the rubble into smoke.
— Your monster is large — he grunted —, but let us see if it is fast enough!
With insane speed, Ezra reappeared behind Zeke and punched his ribs. The sound of bone breaking echoed as Zeke flew through three houses, demolishing walls and exploding furniture into wooden splinters.
But he got up. He spat blood, wiped his lips with the back of his hand. He smiled.
— That was a caress compared to what the king will feel.
The Kugutsu roared in fury. One of its mouths let out a violent roar, and its arms moved like deadly shadows. The black chain whipped like a serpent and coiled around Ezra's ankle. Before the Kanji could react, the scythe descended in an arc, cutting his shoulder and opening a grotesque wound.
Ezra screamed—not in pain, but in ecstasy.
— YES! YES! THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE!
The blood flowed and was absorbed by his own body. Tumors sprouted again, larger, pulsating like demonic hearts. Ezra stomped on the ground, and the earth beneath him rotted in a ten-meter radius. The Kugutsu sank partially, its left leg dissolving on contact. A mouth on the monster howled in agony, and Zeke staggered, feeling the spiritual bond vibrate. Ezra appeared at his side, smashing his fist into Zeke's face with brutal force. Zeke's jaw cracked, but he did not fall.
On the contrary. He grabbed Ezra's fist.
— Now... it is my turn to show you *Rupture*.
A blue-white aura exploded around Zeke's arm. Ezra tried to pull away, but it was too late. The technique was not in the sword as usual; it was in Zeke's hand. The blow detonated like a focused earthquake, a dimensional rupture, a punch capable of shattering rock.
Ezra flew like a missile, crashing through two houses and landing on the street like a discarded corpse. Zeke fell to his knees, nose bleeding, eyes watering—*Rupture* had cost him dearly. Yet, he laughed.
— You rot everything you touch... but what if I am the rot?
Gotier appeared moments later. His entire body was a living blade, his veins pulsing like metal wires. He was in a frenzy—the image of his wife and daughter burning in his memory like embers.
— Ezra... your name dies here.
He advanced. Each step cut the air. His right leg extended in a spinning arc, slicing a nearby wall as if it were butter. Ezra, still rising, barely had time to dodge. Gotier appeared above him, his body spinning like a whirlwind of blades, the dagger driven into his forearm.
Ezra screamed, and Zeke's Kugutsu seized the moment—driving the black spear into Ezra's thigh, pinning him to the ground. The Kanji was wounded. Exhausted. Yet, he still smiled.
— I have killed better than you... — he spat, blood. — But I admit... you are beautiful when you bleed.
Zeke took a step forward. His face covered in sweat and blood, his eyes burning like fires.
— You said killing Gotier's family was better than sex for the king? Now... I am going to make you have an orgasm of pain.
Zeke raised his sword. But before delivering the final blow, he looked at Gotier, then at the Kugutsu behind him—still leaking tumors. And he screamed:
— I AM FROM THE FUBA CLAN!!!
***
Ezra, still pinned by the Kugutsu's black spear, tried to smile. But the smile faltered. Blood trickled from his teeth like corrupted wine.
— No matter what you do... the king will... — he coughed up a thick clot — ...swallow you just as he did all of them.
Zeke approached, breathing like a beast about to devour. His Kugutsu followed, the monster's steps sinking into the charred earth. The creature's mouths opened and closed as if salivating.
Gotier intercepted him.
— This end is mine.
Zeke stopped. His eyes met Gotier's. There stood not the brutal assassin the king had created... but the father. The broken man. Zeke nodded silently.
Gotier walked slowly to Ezra, his feet dragging on the ground, leaving metallic trails. Each step made his body vibrate, his hands trembling not with fear, but with tension. The dagger in his right hand seemed alive—pulsating with his hatred. He stopped just inches from the Kanji. He looked down.
— You... killed my daughter.
Ezra just smiled, spitting more blood on the ground, his eyes defiant.
— You... raped my wife. You... served the king like a dog, licking the blood of innocents.
Gotier lowered his head. When he raised it, tears were streaming down his face. Yet, his mouth was smiling.
— Now... you will serve as a warning.
In a single motion—too fast for ordinary eyes—Gotier drove the dagger into Ezra's jaw and pushed it upward—splitting his face in two, opening it like a ripe fruit. Ezra's scream echoed like a dying demon.
But it was not the end. Zeke's Kugutsu advanced. One of its mouths roared, and chains coiled around Ezra's arms, suspending him like a crucifixion. The other weapons glowed—the black sword, the scythe, the spear... all pointed.
Zeke raised his hand. His arm trembled. *Rupture* coursed through his veins.
— For all the dead of the Fuba clan... for every sacrificed child... For my island... for my soul.
Then he lowered his arm. The Kugutsu attacked with all its weapons at once.
Ezra was torn apart. Not killed. *RENDERED*.
His body was shredded into dozens of pieces in milliseconds. Some parts fused with the chains; others evaporated under the power of the final *Rupture*. His last sounds were nothing but noise—meaningless. Just the end.
When it was over... only a crater remained. Boiling blood. Putrid smoke spiraling into the air.
Zeke fell to his knees. Gotier remained standing, panting, the dagger still trembling in his hand. Zeke's Kugutsu retreated, its mouths whispering in agony—as if it had tasted a piece of hell.
Silence fell over the ruined city. But before the chapter closed, Gotier looked up at the sky that snowed blades, the light of the Golden Tree still hovering on the horizon. And he whispered:
— The king remains...
Zeke, though near collapse, laughed softly.
— And I have not even shown him my true hell yet.
Luna X Yuzuki - LOVE AGAIN**
The Golden Tree... Its branches brushed the clouds as if whispering to the gods. The light it shed pierced the night, bathing Pangea in a splendor that defied fear, hatred, and death. There, where everything seemed to be crumbling, it still flourished. It was more than a tree—it was hope. It was life.
Meanwhile, on the fields where chaos reigned, Luna and Jade trembled—not from the cold of the falling snow, but from the terror of what was to come:
— *Yûgô... They can fuse...* — Jade murmured, her voice nearly inaudible.
Luna clenched her fists. Sweat mingled with the snow on her skin. Her eyes turned to Yuzuki, who was rising slowly from the crater where he had been sealed. The *Dankai* seal... no longer held him. The golden glow of the book around him began to fade. Silently, Yuzuki tucked it inside his robes with a speed beyond ordinary sight. But not beyond Luna's.
— *That book...* — she said, her voice trembling.
Her gaze met Akari's. In that instant, they both understood. And in that brief second, Luna realized she had lost control of the battle.
Zyon retreated, moving toward Akari.
— You fought well, daughter... — he said with a weary smile.
She returned it, as if that exchange was all that mattered.
— I will heal you... But my physical form will not hold. I will have to return inside you.
— It is okay — Akari replied, tenderly. — Yuzuki is here. We will figure it out. Communicate with me, guide me. You saved me, Zyon. I owe you everything.
He stroked her hair gently... and vanished. Akari was healed—but she still felt pain. She was tired. Exhausted. Yet, she remained standing.
Yuzuki approached alongside Kaien, who now moved with an unusual majesty. Yuzuki knelt before the dragon and stroked its head.
— You were incredible... A true Guardian. Now go. Take Akari far away and protect her with your life. I will handle this.
Kaien let out a low growl. Then, almost humanly, he smiled and licked Yuzuki's hair.
— Consider it done. It is my duty, and I will fulfill it with my life!
In that moment, something shifted. Between them... a connection pulsed like an electric current. A spiritual bond. A silent vow. Kaien looked around and roared with such force that the nearby trees trembled. His wings expanded, embroidered in black mist.
— I feel stronger! — he shouted. — Yuzuki and I... are linked!!
Yuzuki stepped back, astonished.
— What is this, Kaien?!
Luna and Jade froze.
— He... he is evolving... — Jade whispered.
The young dragon's body expanded, becoming a sharper, wilder version of the legendary creature described in the ancient texts of Kugutsu. Luna trembled.
— Akari is unprotected! Jade, now! **Crystal Spear!**
With an elegant spin, Jade raised her arms and danced in the air. A blue portal opened above Akari. Five ice spears plummeted like meteors. Kaien exploded in dark energy. His wings opened violently. The black mist enveloped his body. In an instant, he was gone. In the blink of an eye, he tore through the sky, flying toward Akari at a breathtaking speed.
A thunderous crash. The ground trembled. A black mist covered the battlefield. Jade's eyes widened in disbelief.
— It cannot be... It is... a Tailax!
Luna staggered, breathless.
— My God... they have a Tailax... But... what is this group?!
She looked at Yuzuki, who just... smiled. A faint, cold, and determined smile. The mist dissipated. The spears were destroyed. Akari had vanished—Kaien carrying her to safety.
And now... only Luna, Jade, and Yuzuki remained. The wind blew, carrying the scent of the Golden Tree. And with it, the promise of a new and deadly dance.
***
— Luna... you have a Tailax — Yuzuki's voice echoed, hoarse, tinged with genuine surprise. — Damn... you really surprised me.
He took a step forward, tension and memory lighting his gaze.
— Kissing you was... unique. A wonderful feeling.
In Yuzuki's mind, the dormant bond awakened. The connections returned. Mao felt it... Amok spoke:
— **Yuzuki... I am here. Let us finish this. Just say the word...**
But Yuzuki did not answer. He simply stared at Luna. Long and painfully.
— Damn it... — he murmured. — Why, Luna? You would have been the perfect ally.
Luna smiled—a sad, almost melancholic smile.
— You really liked my kiss...
She did not notice—but Yuzuki was no longer where he had been. Jade's eyes widened.
— He is faster than you, Luna...
In one instant, Yuzuki was before her. In the next, he embraced her. Luna froze, her eyes locked on his. Her body responded—but her mind... was lost in that touch.
Jade, in a panic, appeared behind Yuzuki with an ice dagger aimed at his heart. But she stopped—unable to comprehend what she was seeing.
Yuzuki held Luna's hand and raised it gently. They began to spin in an ancient, almost mythical dance. The snow swirled around them. The wind circled them. Flakes fell softly, as if nature itself bowed to the moment.
Above, the bright moon witnessed. The battle quieted. The war fell silent. And in that moment... Luna looked at Yuzuki—and kissed him. He returned it. Their lips met not in lust, but in history. Lineage. Pain. Feeling.
Luna's impenetrable mask flushed. For the first time, she felt—not power or fear—but peace.
Far away, across millions of kilometers, the Golden Tree shone brighter, as if smiling. Luna looked at its light and, for a moment, understood everything.
— *This is it...* — she whispered.
Yuzuki kissed her forehead tenderly. His eyes locked on hers—firm, deep.
— Enough of this, Luna. Just go. And I want to see you again.
Jade, who had hesitated, saw her final chance. With eyes ablaze, she aimed for Yuzuki's heart and lunged. But Luna held out her hand.
— No — the single word sounded like a decree. Jade stopped, looked at Luna, and understood. Her friend had found peace. Even if only for an instant, she had been happy.
And in that moment... the war was suspended by a kiss. Hatred silenced before the snow. The moon shone. Luna felt warmth in Yuzuki's arms. For the first time since she could remember as a warrior, she felt safe. Alive.
But as every dance must end, the embrace broke. Yuzuki released her with the same gentleness with which he had held her. Without looking back, he turned and walked into the mist where Kaien and Akari waited like distant silhouettes. With a simple wave upward, he said:
— See you around.
Luna remained motionless, feeling the lingering warmth of his arms, her heart racing, the sudden emptiness where that touch had been. She brought her hand to her lips, breathless—knowing that everything had changed.
Luna let out a muffled laugh, which quickly turned into sobs.
— *Waaaaaahhh!!*
Jade, who had been watching her since the end of the dance, burst into an involuntary laugh.
— *Kaaaaaaaath... that one caught me by surprise! You, crying over a kiss?*
Luna wiped her eyes, smiling through her tears. Then, she took a deep breath and spoke calmly, as if no longer afraid to admit what she felt:
— Luna... I will always be with you — Jade said, sincerely. — If this is the path you want... I will be by your side.
Luna turned to her, firm.
— You know that betraying the Lepra King will have serious consequences.
Jade shrugged.
— Everyone betrays someone in this world, Luna. But... you are not betraying anyone. You are just... choosing yourself.
Luna took a step forward, looking at the mist-covered sky. Then, with a serene smile, she added:
— This time, Jade... I am being selfish. I just want to be happy. Even if it is considered betrayal. My goals are still with me... But at the right time. Now... now I just want to feel that kiss again.
Jade smiled, pulling her hood over her head.
— Poetic and dangerous. You have always been like that, have you not?
The two began to walk, slowly disappearing into the mist. The city of Chagas, once merely in decay, was now unrecognizable. Destroyed houses. Deep craters carved into the ground. Frozen ice blades stuck in the earth. A dense mist enveloped the wreckage, swallowing memories and pain.
But amid the chaos, something new had emerged. A bond. Between two hearts that met where there should have been only war. And even with their paths diverging, fate had already sealed a silent pact between them.
***
#### **Luna's Secret Diary – After the Kiss**
📜 *I do not know exactly why I am writing this. Maybe because if I do not put it into words, I will think that kiss was just a strange dream in the middle of a battle.*
*Yuzuki.*
*How can someone turn another person's world upside down with a simple touch?*
*For years, I followed orders. For years, I was strong, precise, lethal. I never had time to feel. I never wanted to. I thought love was something for the weak, for the distracted.*
*But there, when he held me as if I were made of something precious... I understood.*
*It was not about weakness. It was about allowing yourself to live.*
*When our bodies spun and the snow fell around us, it was as if we were dancing in a place of our own, outside of time. And that kiss... I cannot explain it.*
*Yes, there was pain. But there was also hope. There was desire, but also respect. There was everything I never thought I deserved.*
*Jade looked at me differently afterward. She understood. She knows my choice will have a cost. Betraying the Lepra King will not be easy. But, for the first time in my life... I choose to be selfish.*
*I just want to be happy.*
*And, maybe, if fate is not so cruel, I want to feel that kiss again.*
— *Luna* 🌙
***
Luna stood there, immersed in silence, with Yuzuki's words still echoing in her mind. The kiss, the softness of his touch, were now part of her, like an eternal, yet painful memory. Something in her chest tightened, a mixture of longing and uncertainty.
— Luna... — Jade whispered, almost unintentionally. — What will you do now?
Luna did not answer immediately. Her eyes were fixed on the horizon, where the mist seemed to swallow everything.
— What I will do... — she murmured, more to herself. — I do not know. But I know what I no longer want. I no longer want to be the Lepra King's puppet. I no longer want to follow orders and fight without a soul.
Jade remained silent, feeling the weight of those words. She knew Luna was at a crossroads. And perhaps, as difficult as it was, that kiss had been the key that finally freed Luna from her own torment.
The mist thickened even more around them, and Luna turned to Jade, her eyes now more determined, clearer.
— I have chosen. I will not go back. I will follow my own path, even if it is lonely. I will no longer let fear guide me.
Jade nodded, a soft smile forming on her lips. She knew she could no longer control Luna's choices. And maybe she did not want to.
— If this is the path you have chosen, Luna, I will be by your side. No matter what happens.
Luna looked at the sky, where the stars were covered by the mist. But, somehow, she felt a different kind of peace there, a peace she had never known before.
— Let us go. The future awaits us.
Together, the two walked into the darkness, leaving behind the battlefield, where the echoes of war were beginning to fade, like the last breath of a lost era.