The void trembled like a dying heartbeat.
Akira stood face-to-face with the monstrous silhouette of his mother —
Miyuki, twisted by Varek's corruption, bound by chains that cut into her soul.
Her eyes were empty… until they weren't.
Every few seconds, a flicker of who she once was blinked beneath the darkness.
"Mom…"
Akira's voice cracked.
It didn't sound like the voice of a warrior.
It sounded like a child — lost, afraid, breaking.
Miyuki's head jerked violently, her limbs twitching as though torn by two wills.
Behind her, Varek's black chains glowed, sinking into her spine and ribs like venomous hooks.
Varek stood calmly a few meters away, hands in his pockets, smiling faintly.
"Go on, Akira," he murmured.
"Save her. Or lose her. Your choice."
Akira's throat tightened.
Rina stood behind him, trembling.
She had seen shadows before — but THIS?
This was horror.
Ryozen was still nowhere in sight.
Akira turned to Miyuki again.
"Mom… stop. Please… stop…"
Miyuki snapped her head toward Rina, her eyes turning pitch black.
A low, animalistic growl escaped her throat.
Then she launched forward — a blur of shadow and agony — straight toward Rina.
"RINA—!!"
Akira moved instantly — Veil Step — placing himself between them.
He swung Yamitsurugi just in time, creating a barrier of black light.
But Miyuki's corrupted speed was too much.
The impact sent Akira sliding back, his boots scraping against the void's surface.
Rina stumbled behind him.
"Aki…ra… she's going to kill me…"
Miyuki's jaw cracked open unnaturally, tendrils of darkness leaking from her mouth as she raised her hand for another strike.
Akira shook his head violently.
"No… no no no… I can't hurt her… I can't—"
Varek's voice cut him like a blade.
"You ALREADY lost her, Akira. What stands before you is only a puppet.
A corpse held up by my chains.
A weapon… made from your pain."
The chains wrapped around Miyuki's limbs tightened, and she convulsed — shrieking.
Then she dashed again — faster — claws out.
Straight at Rina.
There was no time.
No other option.
No saving her.
Akira screamed.
"STOP—!!"
Yamitsurugi ignited in his hand — black and white flames swirling violently.
Masahiro's voice echoed faintly:
> "Akira… if you hesitate, she will die."
And then…
Akira moved.
The world blurred.
The blade cut through the void, leaving a trail of silver-black destruction in its wake.
As he swung downward, a sound echoed —
sharp, metallic, cracking through the void like thunder:
CLINK.
The chain-release sound.
Varek had let go.
Miyuki's body fell forward — unrestrained —
right into Akira's blade path.
His eyes widened in horror.
"NO—!!!"
But it was too late.
Yamitsurugi sliced through her chest.
Black light exploded outward like a star collapsing.
Fragments of her soul scattered like snow, floating in the air… then dissolving.
Time slowed.
Miyuki's face — twisted moments ago — relaxed.
Her eyes flashed human for one, single heartbeat.
"...Aki…ra…?"
Her voice was soft.
Warm.
Motherly.
The kind of voice he thought he'd never hear again.
He reached toward her face, tears choking him.
"Mom… mom, please— please don't—"
But the void pulled her away.
Her final particles flickered like dying fireflies—
and vanished.
Gone.
Completely erased.
No body.
No shadow.
No soul.
Nothing.
Rina fell to her knees, covering her mouth.
"Akira… I'm so… so sorry…"
Akira didn't hear her.
His sword slipped from his fingers and clattered onto the void floor.
He collapsed onto his knees.
Silent.
Emotionless.
Broken.
Varek chuckled quietly — soft, pleased, almost delighted.
"This… is priceless," he whispered.
"You should've seen your own face, Akira.
Absolutely beautiful."
Akira didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Just stared at the empty space where his mother once stood.
Then —
a flash of gold ripped the void apart.
Ryozen arrived, landing hard, eyes wide with terror.
"AKIRA—!!!"
He sprinted forward — but stopped dead —
when he saw the fading particles.
He froze.
He looked at Akira — kneeling, empty.
Then at the dissolving fragments.
Then at Yamitsurugi, stained in soul-light.
Ryozen whispered, voice breaking:
"...Miyuki…"
The weight of the truth crushed him.
He had known her.
He had failed to arrive in time.
He had failed Akira.
Ryozen's fists trembled with rage and grief.
"You… monster…" he hissed at Varek.
But Varek only tilted his head, smirking lightly.
"I didn't kill her," he said calmly.
"He did."
The smile widened — eyes gleaming with sadistic fascination.
"And now…
he's exactly where I want him."
He stepped backward into a swirling vortex.
"Try to save him, Ryozen.
Because after this…
Akira won't be the same again."
The vortex snapped shut.
Silence.
Deep, crushing silence.
Ryozen slowly approached Akira.
"Kid… Akira… look at me—"
Akira lifted his head.
His half-black eye glowed violently.
His expression empty.
His aura freezing cold.
There was no grief.
No tears.
Only rage.
Pure, perfect rage.
The kind that destroys worlds.
Ryozen whispered, terrified:
"…Masahiro's reincarnation has awakened."
Akira stood up.
Slowly.
Silently.
Yamitsurugi floated into his hand, called by his aura.
His voice was barely human — empty, cold, terrifying:
"I will kill Varek."
Everything around him cracked.
The void shook.
Even Rina felt it — the soul-piercing chill.
This was not the Akira they knew.
This was the shadow of the swordsman who once sealed the Twelve.
This was the beginning.
The point of no return.