The figure holds the jagged crystal between them, its obsidian core pulsing with crimson energy like a trapped heartbeat. Kairos stares at it—his reflection fractured in its shifting, glasslike shell. A name lingers on his tongue before he even realizes it.
"Eschaton." (A whisper—but the artifact thrums in response.)
("End of all things." Fitting.)
("Beginning of his revenge.")
The figure tilts their head, studying Kairos with an unreadable gaze.
"Before this path becomes irreversible..."
"...I must ask again."
"Is this truly what you desire?"
Kairos doesn't hesitate. His fingers tighten around Eschaton, its dark energy licking at his skin like embers.
"I've never been more certain of anything in my life."
The figure exhales—slow, deliberate—as if savoring the moment. Then, with a voice like gravel and smoke:
"Then may you be as unbreakable as the artifact itself."
A beat of silence. The air hums between them.
Kairos smirks, but there's no humor in it—just hunger. The kind that doesn't fade until it's fed.
"Good answer." (A mocking echo of Tenjo's earlier words.)
Without another word, the figure turns and strides into the shadows of the prison corridor, their form dissolving into darkness. Kairos remains standing there—Eschaton pulsing in his grip like a second heartbeat. The faint crimson glow casts eerie reflections across his face, etching sharp lines of resolve and something far darker beneath the surface.
For a moment, there is only silence. Then—
"Time to hunt." (A whisper lost to the void.)
He steps forward... and vanishes into shadow.
Shift – A World Away, A Fractured Reunion
Serenia City – Sunlight and Lingering Shadows
Ryo's house, cluttered with training gear and halfread reports. He barely registers the knock at first—too absorbed in scribbling notes on Seishu energy circulation. Then it comes again, firmer this time.
He yanks the door open, ready to snap at whoever's interrupting—and freezes.
Yua stands there, hands clasped awkwardly in front of her (since when did she ever look unsure?). Her ears twitch once under that loose hoodie she always wears (a nervous habit he remembers too well). She doesn't meet his eyes at first.
"Hey." (Too quiet.)
"Can we... talk?" (Like she hasn't spent weeks avoiding him.)
Ryo stares at her, fingers tightening around the doorframe. His first instinct is to shut it in her face—but he doesn't.
Instead, he steps aside wordlessly (not an invitation, just… avoidance of another argument). Yua takes it as enough and slips inside, hovering near the entryway like she's afraid to touch anything. The silence stretches—thick with everything unsaid.
Finally, she speaks:
"I... wanted to apologize." (Genuine but strained.)
"For how things ended last time." (Meaning: For pushing you away when you needed me most.)
Ryo crosses his arms. "Why now?" (Not accusatory—just tired.)
Yua fidgets with the edge of her sleeve before forcing herself to look up at him. "...Because I have something for you."
Ryo raises an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity breaking through his guarded expression.
"What could you possibly have that I'd want?"
It's half a challenge, half question. His voice is carefully flat, betraying nothing. Yua hesitates. Then she reaches into the pocket of her hoodie and pulls out a small box wrapped in paper.
"Will you let me explain after you open it?" (As close to a plea as she'll say)
Ryo stares at the box, suspicious.
He takes the box (more because he knows there's no way out of it) and carefully unwraps the paper. It reveals a small, black velvet jewelry box.
He flips it open… and his breath catches in his throat despite himself.
Inside sits a necklace—a beautifully carved amulet of dark onyx set with an intricate pattern that seems to shift and spiral when he looks away.
Yua hesitantly comes closer, fingers curling at her sides as if she wants to touch it… but can't bring herself to.
Ryo stares at the necklace, unable to tear his gaze away. His fingers brush the cool surface of the amulet (almost reverently). Then he looks up at Yua—and something in his expression makes her breath catch (and his heart clench, though he'll deny it later). She clears her throat, looking anywhere but him.
"It's... a traditional amulet. It should, um." She falters, then continues (stronger): "It should help you harness your Seishu power better." (A peace offering.)
Ryo swallows hard, the weight of the gift—and what it means—settling between them. He doesn't say thank you, but his fingers close around the amulet all the same. Yua lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"There's... more." (She shifts on her feet, ears twitching.)
"I want to show you something in Serenia City." (A peace offering of her own.)
"...If you're willing to come with me?"
Ryo studies her for a long moment before finally tucking the necklace into his pocket (not rejecting it, not accepting it—just keeping it safe for now.)
"Fine." (He grabs his jacket off the couch.) "But no cryptic shit this time."
Yua nods, relief flashing across her face. Neither speaks as they leave the apartment, the tension still a palpable thing between them. The streets of Serenia City are quiet, shadows stretching longer in the late afternoon light.
Yua breaks the silence as they walk (almost awkwardly):
"It's not far." (Her voice sounds too high.)
"Just... just a few more blocks."
The silence falls again—thicker this time.
Ryo walks beside her, hands tucked into his pockets. Despite their strained silence, there is an unconscious rhythm to their steps—old habits resurfacing despite everything.
They reach a quieter section of the city, buildings giving way to trees. The air smells like smoke and earth; the faint scent of pine.
Yua slows by a particularly gnarled oak, looking up at its twisted branches. Her expression—normally so hard to read—seems almost wistful.
Ryo pauses beside her, glancing up at the old oak. He recognizes it instantly—the same one from weeks ago, when they'd trained here together before everything went wrong. The bark is still marked with faint scorch scars (his own failed fire technique) and deep claw grooves (Yua's impatient slashes).
He exhales sharply through his nose. "Why here?" (His voice is rough—but not angry.)
Yua's fingers trail along the trunk before she turns to him.
"...Because I thought maybe you could use a reminder."
"Of what you're capable of." (What we used to be.)
The words hang between them like an unspoken bridge neither dares to cross yet. Then—
"...And there's someone who wants to see you."
Ryo freezes. "Someone...?" His eyes narrow—wary, but intrigued despite himself.
Before Yua can respond, a figure steps out from behind the tree's massive trunk—a presence so sudden that Ryo nearly flinches. Instinctively, his Seishu flares to life along his knuckles (ready to fight). But then—
Recognition.
That unmistakable black messy hair.
Those coldly arrogant eyes.
The lazy smirk that instantly makes Ryo's blood boil hotter than any technique ever could.
Kyou Ren leans against the bark, arms crossed (as if he owns the damn city). "Honestly," he drawls, unfazed by Ryo's defensive stance or bristling energy. "I expected you to be faster." (A mock sigh.) "Disappointing."
Yua stiffens at Ryo's side (too late to backtrack now) as everything in his posture goes from curious to murderous in half a second flat—
Ryo stalks forward, fingers tightening around Seishu-fueled fists. The air thrums with the tension of it—like the very atmosphere is preparing for a coming storm.
"What are you playing at?" His voice is a low, dangerous growl.
Kyou Ren just arches a mocking eyebrow, unimpressed. "Calm down. I didn't come to fight."
Kyou Ren smirks, rolling his shoulders lazily as if the tension in Ryo's stance is nothing more than background noise.
"We already know how that would turn out anyway," he drawls, eyes glinting with amusement—the bastard.
Ryo's jaw locks tight, Seishu flaring hotter along his skin (like a fuse seconds from detonation). He takes another step forward—close enough now to feel the static crackle of Kyou's energy in response. But before he can lunge—
Yua cuts between them with a sharp step (always the mediator), arms outstretched like she's bracing for impact.
"That's enough." (A rare edge in her voice.)
"Both of you." (And since when did she sound so exhausted?)
Ryo's fingers unclench slightly, Seishu still simmering beneath his skin—but the rage falters for just a second.
"Tenjo was right about one thing," he thinks bitterly (because damn if that isn't annoying to admit). "We're not so different after all."
His eyes flicker over Kyou's carefully constructed arrogance—the too-casual lean, the smirk that doesn't quite reach his eyes. And for once… he sees it. The cracks. The same ones he knows are in himself (loss, anger, something hollow eating at them both from the inside).
He exhales sharply through his nose and lowers his fists—but doesn't back down.
"Fine." (Gritted teeth.) "Talk."
"But make it quick." (Because patience has limits.)
Kyou studies him for a long moment (surprised? impressed? impossible to tell) before shrugging.
"Finally learning some selfcontrol," he muses—less mocking now. Almost… thoughtful.
Yua releases a breath she didn't realize she was holding (thank god they didn't rip each other apart this time) as Kyou finally pushes off from the tree and straightens.
Then: "I need your help with something."
Ryo blinks—stunned silent for half a second before narrowing his eyes again.
"…You what?"
Kyou Ren looks away (almost embarrassed) as he crosses his arms, still keeping that irritatingly nonchalant persona.
"I…" He clears his throat (actually looking vaguely awkward?) before meeting their gazes again, more defiant now.
"I want to be friends."
Ryo just stares, utterly thrown. Yua looks as surprised as he is, eyes wide—but she seems to recover faster, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"And rivals."
Ryo stands there in shock and so does Yua.
Kyou Ren shrugs, trying to brush off his own embarrassment.
"We can both get stronger by sparring with each other." (Almost begrudgingly.)
Ryo hesitates, still surprised—but can't deny the strategic sense behind it.
"Fine. On one condition."
Kyou crosses his arms, curious despite himself.
"And what would that be?"
Ryo's smirk returns—sharp and knowing.
"No holding back." (A challenge and a promise rolled into one.)
Kyou actually laughs—short, genuine, like he didn't expect that answer.
"I wouldn't dream of it." (His grin is all teeth.)
"Try not to fall behind." (The old taunt—but this time, it feels different.)
Yua watches them with something close to relief—and cautious hope. This fragile alliance won't be easy… but it might just be worth the chaos.
🌀 End Of Chapter Thirty Seven