The black aura had completely vanished.
And as the last thread of it faded, Amon was startled by Kim's fist lightly hitting his shoulder:
"Idiot… were you worried about me?"
But Amon didn't answer.
He looked at the glass in front of him and saw something he never expected:
His real body.
His features as they were—no distortion, no darkness, no curse splitting his chest.
He whispered in disbelief:
"How…? I took your body."
Then, in a more broken voice:
"I… hated this face."
Kim suddenly turned toward him, fear trembling at the edge of his lips:
"What are you talking about?"
But Amon immediately turned his head away, as if he had spoken something forbidden:
"I didn't say anything."
And to change the topic… he kicked him lightly, in a mocking tone but with a strange warmth:
"And first of all… I wasn't worried about you.
It wouldn't be fair to take your body in this condition.
So don't worry… I'm fighting you to take over you anyway."
Kim smiled bitterly:
"And despite my weakness… you're still here."
A sincere smile—like those who once left him, yet he never left anyone.
"Amon… you're not just a tool to me.
You're… my friend."
Amon froze.
The word friend was heavier than any weapon.
Faces of those who once called him the same word—while planning to seal him and kill him—flashed in his head.
He whispered weakly:
"Friend…? And what benefit do you gain from me to be your friend?"
Kim replied without hesitation:
"Benefit?
I heard you hate some people from your past… isn't that right?"
— Amon: "Yes…"
— Kim: "Good. I'll help you."
Amon stumbled:
"How? Will you avenge me?"
Kim shook his head:
"No.
Revenge… is yours alone.
Whether you kill them or forgive them… that's your choice.
As for me?
I'm with you only… to help you find a path for your future."
That sentence pierced him like an arrow.
For the first time…
The very first time in his life…
Amon smiled sincerely.
A smile that wasn't a mask… not a cover… not anger.
It was the birth of something that resembled peace.
He stepped closer and placed his hand on Kim's neck—he wanted to erase the Doomsday Curse from him so he would never forget anything from his past, because the past, though painful, is what makes us live to change.
Strange marks began to glow.
Kim asked:
"What are you doing…?"
Amon replied calmly:
"Don't be afraid… I was just healing you."
— "H–Healing? But I'm fine!"
Amon laughed a little:
"Alright… are we leaving or not?"
Everything around them began to fade…
The ground…
The sky…
The memories…
Even Jack's body lying beside Kim.
Kim shouted as he rushed toward him:
"My friend…!"
He reached out toward Jack's corpse, his voice trembling as if his heart were about to explode:
"Don't be scared… and don't be sad…
I never forgot you.
Even though I want to bring my family back to life…
But listen to me carefully…"
He leaned closer, as if speaking to a living brother, not a dead one:
"If you can hear me…
It's not just my mother and my lover, you idiot…
You are also my family."
His voice quivered:
"I will bring you back to life… I swear it.
And if I can't… then I will come to you lying down, whether you're in heaven or in hell.
And I will pray… that you're in bliss."
He took a deep breath, then continued in a fractured voice:
"And if you're in hell…
Then I'm ready to go instead of you… instead of my mom… instead of my love.
I will carry all your sins… all of them.
I'll be in hell alone…
But you will be fine."
His voice rose as the world collapsed around him:
"My friend… no… my brother…
No matter how much time passes…
I feel like you're beside me.
And I will remain your friend… forever."
Jack's body disappeared…
But his words remained hanging in the air.
Amon stood behind him…
And something inside his chest shattered.
For the first time…
Amon cried.
He didn't understand why…
But he cried for someone who was willing to die—and live—for others.