The chains surrounding Miyuki pulsed like living veins, tightening with every beat of Akira's heart.
Her screams cracked through the void, shattering Akira's composure piece by piece.
"MOM! STOP— DON'T—!"
But the chains were merciless.
Varek stood behind her, hands behind his back, smiling as if admiring artwork.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he whispered.
"Your greatest fear… sculpted to perfection."
Akira's aura exploded around him. Yamitsurugi tore out of its pendant form in a swirl of black light, the blade manifesting in his hand with a sharp cry.
"VAREK! I WILL—"
The swordsman raised a finger.
"Careful," he murmured.
"Your rage tightens her chains."
Instantly, the runes burned deeper into Miyuki's skin.
She cried out — a soft, painful sound that broke Akira's soul.
He froze, trembling.
Masahiro's voice shook inside the pendant.
> "Akira — calm down. He's using your emotions as fuel. If you lose control, she dies."
Akira squeezed his eyes shut, shaken, breath uneven.
Varek exhaled as if bored.
"You know, I'm actually disappointed. I expected a little more from Masahiro's reincarnation."
Akira's eyes snapped open — dark, furious, but controlled by sheer will.
"I am NOT Masahiro," he growled.
"But I WILL destroy you."
Varek chuckled.
"Oh, you're getting there. Slowly… painfully… beautifully."
Akira moved.
Viel Step.
His blade slashed forward—
And hit a wall of chains that materialized instantly, forming a barrier shaped like a twisted cage.
Yamitsurugi screeched against them — but it didn't cut through.
Masahiro hissed:
> "Those chains were forged from your own memories — that's why your blade hesitates."
Akira's jaw clenched.
His mom wasn't screaming now.
She was staring at him — eyes empty, hollow, broken.
"...Aki…ra…?"
Her voice quivered.
"Why… why didn't you save me… earlier…?"
Akira staggered backward.
"No… Mom, I—"
Varek smirked.
"Guilt is such a delicious weapon."
The chains loosened for a moment — and Miyuki stepped forward, almost floating.
Her head tilted, her expression shifting into something… wrong.
Her lips curled upward.
"Akira… come here."
Akira didn't move.
Her smile widened — too wide.
Too sharp.
Varek didn't have to explain — Akira knew.
She wasn't calling him.
She was luring him.
Masahiro shouted:
> "Akira — she's under Varek's complete control! Don't go near—"
A shockwave cut Masahiro's voice off.
The void trembled violently.
Akira raised his blade again.
But then the world cracked.
A fissure ripped open behind him with a burst of blinding light.
Akira spun around—
"RINA?!"
Rina stumbled onto the void floor, holding her head, eyes widening as she took in the nightmarish space around her.
She looked terrified.
"W–What is this place?! Akira, where are we—?!"
Akira rushed toward her—
"Rina! Don't move! You shouldn't be—"
But the moment she appeared, the entire void reacted.
The chains screamed — tightening, vibrating.
Miyuki's body jerked violently, her head snapping toward Rina with unnatural speed.
Her hollow eyes widened.
"...her…"
Her fingers twitched.
"...she's… she's the one… who… stole… you…"
Akira's blood turned to ice.
"No… No, Mom, stop—"
Miyuki's arms cracked with shadow-light.
Her body contorted unnaturally.
She stepped forward.
One chain unraveled like a serpent…
And shot toward Rina's throat.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Akira roared, sprinting—
Varek watched with bright, hungry eyes.
"Now this…"
He smiled wider.
"…is the reaction I wanted."
Rina screamed as the chain lunged—
And Miyuki — Akira's mother — moved with murderous intent, fingers extended like claws—
And the chapter ends before the chain reaches her.