———
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
– Izayami Tsukihiro
———
Skies thundered with a voracious fury, chains of lightning crashing down as the rain poured in its wake. The earth trembled violently, jagged spikes lancing upward from the ground. From the rifts, thorned roots and colossal vines surged forth. In the storm's heart, hurricanes of fire twisted into form, tearing buildings apart in their blazing wake.
The sky tore itself apart as blazing winds swept Yurina away from the rest. "HYAAAA!!" her voice echoed through the clouds as she struggled with the air currents.
"YURINA!" Izayami tried reaching his hands only to be greeted with dust.
Landmasses scattered apart, leaving deep ravines carved across the land. From the shattered ground, vines erupted and seized Haruto. "Shit-" He cursed under his breath as the vines dragged him into the open cavern.
Izayami turned to the Apostle of Elements with a piercing gaze. "YOU BASTARD!" With a single motion, his scythe disappeared as he thrust his hand forward
[Molecule Control - Hydrogen Blaze]
Flames of pale blue erupted, dancing between his fingers. Then, it erupted from his palm, blazing straight at the Apostle's face.
The Apostle took the sudden attack unharmed. "Seriously?" He dusted off his shoulder and let out a laugh. "KHHHHHH - HAAAHAHAHAHAAA! You should probably know by now." he summoned a bow made of lightning. "Elemental attacks won't work on me." He spoke with arrogance before aiming his bow toward Izayami.
Izayami stared at him with disbelief. "And you think…" He cracked his knuckles before continuing. "…that's enough for you to win against me?"
The Apostle grinned as he shook his head. "Ahh~ that's cute." With a flick of his fingers, he released an arrow made of lightning.
[Absolute Aim – Activated ]
[Multi-shoot – Scatter]
The single arrow split mid-flight, multiplying into a dozen spectral bolts that hunted Izayami relentlessly.
Izayami took off skyward, dodging the death arrows while the ground while jagged earth erupted beneath, clawing at him from below. "I'LL COME BACK FOR YOU!" he shouted before flying away.
The Apostle itched his head. "I hope you won't…" he watched Izayami getting further and further. "You are the most bothersome insect I had ever faced." he mumbled to himself before going to the opposite direction.
Minutes of relentless dodging had begun to wear him down. "THIS IS INSANE! It's getting faster than before." he muttered, his breath sharp, until a thunderbolt speared down just inches from his chest.
"Shit!"
He thrust his hand forward. A vortex spiraled into existence, distorting the very air around him.
[Fictional Devour – Activate]
The stormfire froze mid-descent, pixel by pixel unraveling as if reality itself was being consumed. Fragments of luminous data flickered in the air before dissolving into him—glowing shards of stolen power drifting like embers.
[You have acquired: Lightning Skill – Thunder Strikes.]
Izayami sighed. "That was too close…" The storm faded from his arm as he scanned the battlefield for the Apostle.
———
🔥Storm of the Five Calamities
Elsewhere, Yurina was trapped inside a blazing hurricane. "If not for these scales, I'd already be ash in this storm." her wings weren't strong enough to fight the air currents.
A familiar red orb drifted its way towards her after its sudden disappearance. Yurina noticed a faint crack running across its surface. The moment her fingers brushed it, the orb shattered into glowing particles—reshaping itself into a lozenge-cut jewel blazing with ancient runes.
That transformation brought hope upon her powers. Mana poured from the jewel into her veins. With a single powerful beat of her wings, she managed to break free from the heart of the storm.
Her escape went unnoticed as the Apostle's eyes wandered across the land of destruction he caused. "Now there's no more insect in my way…" he murmured, lowering his guard down. "…I need to find that Toťęm."
Then his eyes caught Haruza, crawling desperately from the ruins. "I found you…" vines lashed out, coiling around Haruza and dragging him helplessly toward the Apostle.
Haruza struggled against the vines. "I won't give you anything!" he shouted, breaking one arm free.
The Apostle chuckled, sculpted ice spearing from his arm. "Oh, you will." a devilish smile spreading across his face.
VYYYUUUUUUMM
A thunderous punch slammed into the Apostle, hurling him across the battlefield.
Haruto cracked his knuckles with a weary breath. "Lucky I made it in time." he unsheathed his katana, slicing through the vines. "Do you hurt anywhere, chief?" his voice heavy with concern.
Haruza coughed out blood, his voice faint. "I'm fine…" his trembling hand reached into his robe, a totem carved with gold and arcane glyphs was revealed. "Take this… and run. Don't let them have it." blood trickled from his temple, his head began to bleed.
Haruto pushed it away. "But I can't just—!" he objected, his voice sharp. Suddenly, a boulder hurtled toward them. Instinctively, he drew his blade and cleaved it in two—the impact sent shards and dust spiraling upward, defying gravity itself.
DHUMMMMM…
From a distance, the Apostle's roar split the earth. "YOU WRETCHED INSECT!" Vines twisted into tentacles, hauling him skyward. "I had you trapped in the ravine." He calmed himself down as he clenched his fist.
Haruto stood firm in the midst of elemental disaster. "Try and figure it out yourself." His voice echoed in the Apostle's mind, grating on his nerves.
Out of nothingness, the Apostle conjured multiple orbs—fire, lightning, ice, earth, and wind—each swirling with destructive force. "Let nature judge your life." At his command, the storm of elemental orb surged toward them.
[Dream Cutter]
Haruto reinforced the blade with the night skies. Stars shimmered each time he countered the elemental orb—waves of explosions erupted.
———
⚔️ Duo Mortale
"JUST DIE ALREADY!" the Apostle roared, halting his assaults as the swirling orbs collided, merging into a colossal asteroid.
The asteroid loomed, vast as the moon—perhaps even greater. With a single command, the Apostle sent it plummeting down towards the collapsed city.
Overwhelmed by the sheer dread of the looming attack, Haruza collapsed into unconsciousness once more.
Haruto let out a heavy sigh. "This old man…" he fixed his horse stance, being prepared for the worst.
[True Rewrite: Conceptual Override ]
Object: Asteroid
Current Concept: Elemental enhancement
Rewrite: Unwritten
The Apostle froze in shock, unable to process what had happened. For a moment, he felt something. Is it fear? His asteroid was not only nullified but fall out of existence—particle by particle, dust, by dust.
Haruto exhaled a ragged breath he didn't realize he was holding. The weight pressing on his shoulders eased—just a little. Relief flickered in his eyes as he glanced at Izayami. Always showing up at the very brink.
Izayami descended between them, the ground cracked against his weight. "I'm not done with you yet." His eyes glowed faintly, a swirling mix of violet and dark gold devoured the chaos itself.
Haruto playfully jabbed Izayami's shoulder. "Get away… you're stealing my spotlight!" He walked past him, rolling his shoulders and loosened his arms in a lazy stretch.
Izayami smirked as his pair of wings made of pure winds collapsed as warning popped out in his vision.
[Caution: Excessive use has severely compromised your existential stability.]
['True Rewrite' will be sealed for the time being.]
"Oh, great the only ability I truly relied on." He said with a roll of his eyes.
Haruto laughed at him. "BWAHAHAHAHA! Is that all you had?" He laughed uncontrollably, hitting his thigh as tears welled up in his eyes.
The Apostle watched their childish behaviour. "SILENCE!!" His voice thundered with annoyance. "How foolish of you—to think you could ever underestimate me." He stomped the ground—earthquakes followed in his wake. "That's unforgivable!"
Haruto and Izayami staggered back, startled by the sudden quake that roared beneath them.
As the trembling ceased, Haruto shot the Apostle a mocking grin. "Short tempered like always." He folded his arms with a sigh.
———
🗡️ Banners of Astrea
Unnoticed amidst the chaos, Yurina slipped behind the ruins, pulling Haruza to safety.
High upon the hill by the shimmering lake, knights in diamond armour raised their banners and built a sanctuary for those who survived the chaos.
One figure stood at the highest point of the watchtower — likely the general — silently observing the battle raging in the distance. "Bring me my weapon," he murmured, his tone laced with vengeance. "I'll deliver justice with my own hands."
A knight standing beside him bowed deeply. "Yes, sir!" he replied, then quickly departed.
Beside the staircase, a girl in mage robes sighed, crossing her arms. "There you go again—acting on your own." She rolled her eyes, twirling a strand of her hair.
The general's jaw tightened. "Not this time." He stared out at the ruined city as if measuring it. "This time, I will take him—alive."
———
🌋 Real Fight Begins
The earth shook as lightning ripped across the ruined city, carried by roaring tornadoes that swallowed what little remained.
Izayami scoffed. "You're only wasting mana throwing around large-scale attacks." He rolled his shoulder with a smirk. "The citizens have already evacuated—knights and local adventurers took them somewhere safe."
"Yeah," Haruto said with a smirk. "How about you stop wrecking the city and fight us properly for once?" He said mockingly, a grin tugging at his lips.
Suddenly, the Apostle froze — then laughter cracked from his throat, twisted between fear and madness. "Ah… yes… I remember now. "His gaze locked onto Haruto, eyes widening in hatred. "You… the Dream Apostle, And The cursed vessel of the Dream Architect." His voice dripped with disgust, each word spat like venom.
Haruto loosened his stance, eyes steady. "So, you remember now…?" He raised his glowing katana. "…Then fuck off."
The elemental catastrophe dissolved into stillness, its chaos consumed by light. Swords of divine light shimmered, floating around the Apostle—ready to strike at his command. From the air, a radiant blade forged itself, humming with unbearable purity.
The Apostle turned his glance towards Izayami. "But you…" his voice dipped, low and unsettled. "Who are you, really?"
With a snap of his fingers, the blade obeyed—launching forth like a divine meteor, streaking straight for both Haruto and Izayami.
Haruto weaved through the strikes, deflecting each one, while Izayami circled the battlefield, waiting for a chance to counter.
"Stop running, you wretched insects!" the Apostle roared, snatching one of the radiant swords hovering beside him. "Where do you think you're going?" In a blinding flash, he vanished—blitzing straight toward Izayami.
[Omniblade – Titan's Shield]
A massive shield materialized, deflecting the Apostle's strike with a thunderous impact. Izayami braced himself but was still sent skidding backward. From above, Haruto leapt through the smoke, his katana shimmering as he struck down upon the Apostle.
The Apostle ducked swiftly, dodging Haruto's strike. Twisting his body, he countered with a fierce back kick to Haruto's stomach, sending him crashing towards Izayami.
"I have no time for this," the Apostle muttered, stretching his neck with a tired sigh. "I need to find the Toťęm." His tone dripped with irritation as his eyes narrowed at them. "You're only wasting my time."
"I… don't even know what that is," Izayami said, his breath uneven but eyes burning with resolve. "But I won't let you have it."
———
🧩 The Final Piece
Beneath the earth, the shadowy figure advanced through a narrow passage, its corner lead to another passage.
He pulled out his pocket watch, glaring at the ticking hands. "Five hours since I got here…" he muttered, before shouting in frustration, "Where is the Monarch's Sanctuary?!"
Out of anger, he slammed his fist into the ancient wall, shattering the carvings into pebbles. As the dust began to settle, a clear hall emerged behind the broken stone. He exhaled sharply. "Never mind. Found it."
Without a thought, he crossed into the silent hall. Each step guided him toward the treasure room, his instincts steering him away from unseen traps—as if he had walked this path once before.
"Ahh~ finally." He exhaled in relief as his eyes fell upon an orb floating effortlessly at the center of the room—surrounded by mountains of gold, ancient artifacts, and treasures no one believed could exist.
A dreadful mana pulsed from its core, heavy enough to make the air tremble. "Demon Core…" he whispered, eyes narrowing. "One of the three primal cores of the First Monarch." He reached out and grasped it, feeling the surge of ancient power pulse beneath his skin.
His hand trembled because of the orb's power. "With this… the manifestation shall begin."
———
📄 End of Chapter 8
———