A faint glow expanded within the darkness as Kento stepped forward. He couldn't see Furi's figure yet, but he could feel his presence—somewhere, close and fragile.
"Furi… can you hear me?"
His voice echoed softly through the empty void, breaking the stillness.
For a moment, there was no response. Only silence, cold and unending.
Kento didn't stop.
He placed a hand over the emblem on his chest and let the light spread.
"We made a promise. You and I. And I still believe in it."
The light pulsed, and the darkness trembled.
A few steps away, a silhouette appeared—small at first, as if hiding behind the shadows.
Kento's heart tightened.
"…Furi?"
The figure took a hesitant step forward. Its outline was flickering, like a candle struggling against the wind.
"Kento…?"
The voice was weak and uncertain, but real.
Kento let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"Yes. I'm here."
The shadows around Furi shifted, trying to pull him back, but Kento stepped in front of him and reached out his hand.
"I'm not leaving you, no matter what."
Furi's eyes widened slightly.
"I… tried to hold on. But it got harder. Every time I remembered our promise… it hurt."
Kento shook his head. "It hurt because it mattered. But that's exactly why we have to protect it."
Furi hesitated. The chains of shadow tightened around his arms, but his hand slowly lifted—reaching toward Kento's.
"Are you… sure I haven't already broken it?"
Kento's voice was firm, steady.
"You could never break it. You are the promise."
Their fingertips touched—and the darkness around them shattered like glass.
Warm light flooded the void, engulfing both of them.
Somewhere in the distance, the Astral Devourer howled in anger as the light pushed back its influence.
In that moment, Furi closed his eyes and smiled—soft, genuine.
"…Thank you, Kento."
(To be continued…)