Ken's chest heaved as he stumbled through the debris-strewn battlefield. The acrid scent of smoke and blood filled his nostrils, mingling with the metallic tang of exhaustion. His body throbbed with a thousand wounds — cuts, bruises, and deep aches — but the worst pain wasn't physical. It was the gnawing realization that every reset he'd endured was changing him, fracturing who he once was.
His eyes, once clear and human, now shimmered faintly with the ominous yellow glow of the Abyss. The power had started to seep deeper into his veins, its hunger growing stronger with every heartbeat. He had fought monsters, hunters, and even himself, but now the true battle was internal — between the man he wanted to be and the dark force clawing to take over.
Ken sank down beside a shattered pillar, fingers digging into the rough concrete. Images flashed unbidden in his mind — Lena's worried face, his mentor Kaito's steady gaze, the friends he'd lost or betrayed. The memories felt distant, like shards of a broken mirror reflecting a stranger's life.
"Why does it feel like I'm slipping away?" he whispered to the wind. His voice cracked with desperation.
Suddenly, a faint rustling drew his attention. From the shadows stepped Rei — her eyes sharp, her expression unreadable. "You're losing control," she said bluntly. "The Abyss isn't just power. It's a poison."
Ken shook his head, pain flashing across his face. "I'm not ready to give up. Not yet."
Rei studied him for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Then you'll need help. And enemies won't wait."
Together, they turned back toward the heart of the ruins — unaware that watching eyes tracked their every move, and darker forces prepared to strike.