Renge was still lying on the bed, held gently in Shion's arms.
The nightmare had ended, but the fear inside his heart had not completely disappeared.
Shion slowly loosened her embrace and moved back a little, allowing him to see her face.
"Hey, Flower Boy. Are you feeling better?"
Renge tried to look at her, but his eyes were still filled with tears.
He couldn't see her clearly.
Yet he could feel her presence.
He could feel her hand holding his, her warmth beside him, and her gentle voice.
Shion smiled.
"It's okay. Come on, let's go back to sleep."
Renge remained silent.
"If you want, you can hold me while you sleep," she said. "I don't mind."
She paused, noticing his hesitation.
"But if that makes you uncomfortable, that's fine too. Just lie down and rest. It was only a nightmare."
Renge slowly nodded.
It was only a nightmare.
He repeated those words inside his head.
Nothing happened. I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about.
He slowly lay down on the bed.
Shion followed him, settling beside him and wrapping her arms around his body.
"Good night, Flower Boy."
Renge stared at the ceiling.
He could hear her breathing. He could feel her arms around him.
For a moment, the horrible images of the blood-covered field began to fade.
But then—
His right eye suddenly changed.
The white of the eye turned completely black.
The iris became a deep, glowing red, and a thin black line appeared through the red pupil, forming a strange pattern.
The Eye of Laligros had awakened.
Renge didn't notice the change immediately.
A sudden burning sensation spread through his right eye.
"Ah…!"
He winced and closed it.
Shion was already falling asleep beside him, unaware of what had happened.
Inside Renge's subconscious mind, a familiar voice echoed.
The voice of the Blood Demon.
You should take better care of the girl beside you.
Renge froze.
Your friend. Your little brother. Your love. Your family.
The voice sounded almost amused, as though it were mocking him.
Protect all of them carefully. Make sure you don't lose everything because of me.
Renge clenched his fists beneath the blanket.
The Blood Demon continued.
After all, we're two souls living inside the same body now.
A brief silence followed.
Then the voice spoke again, its tone becoming sharper.
And don't summon me again. No matter what happens. Even if you're about to die.
Renge's breathing grew heavier.
If I come out again, you'll lose everything. Your friends, your family, and the girl you love.
The words sounded like a taunt.
But somewhere beneath that mocking voice was a warning.
The Blood Demon wasn't simply threatening him.
It was reminding him of what could happen if he lost control.
Renge stared into the darkness of his subconscious.
You think you can take everything away from me?
His expression hardened.
Go to hell.
He refused to bow his head.
You won't be able to do that. And if you think you can, then come and try.
The Blood Demon said nothing.
Renge opened his eyes.
The strange pattern in his right eye slowly faded, and the burning sensation began to disappear.
He turned his head toward Shion.
She was still sleeping peacefully beside him, holding him as though she had no intention of letting him go.
Renge quietly reached for her hand.
I won't let anything happen to you.
The room became silent again.
And somewhere deep within Renge's consciousness, another presence remained awake.
Meanwhile, in another part of the multiverse—
The mysterious Masked Man had finally arrived in Japan.
Tokyo International Airport was crowded with travelers arriving from different countries. Bright signs hung from the ceiling, announcing international arrivals, baggage claim, transfers, and exits.
People were walking in every direction.
Some were pulling suitcases, some were checking their phones, and others were waiting for family members.
Then—
The entrance doors opened.
A dark silhouette appeared.
The Masked Man stepped into the airport.
He wore the same clothes as before: a white T-shirt beneath a jacket, dark trousers, gloves, and a mask covering his face.
His hair was dark and slightly messy.
And behind him, on the polished airport floor, his shadow stretched unnaturally far.
The shadow resembled the mysterious figure in the image: a silhouette with spiky hair and an enormous, strange aura spreading around him.
For a moment, the airport seemed to grow quieter.
Several travelers turned their heads.
A few airport martial artists stopped walking.
Even ordinary people moving through the terminal possessed some degree of spiritual aura. In this world, martial arts had become so deeply integrated into everyday life that even airport personnel had received martial arts training.
But the moment they noticed the Masked Man—
Something felt wrong.
His aura was strange.
Dangerous.
Almost impossible to understand.
One airport martial artist narrowed his eyes.
"Who is that guy?"
Another person looked toward the floor.
"Wait… what's happening to his shadow?"
The Masked Man continued walking, completely unaware of the attention he was attracting.
Then he noticed several people staring at him.
He stopped.
"Hmm?"
He looked around.
"Why are these people looking at me?"
He glanced down at his shadow.
The enormous silhouette stretched across the airport floor, its strange outline surrounded by a faint, dark aura.
The Masked Man tilted his head.
"Hmm…"
He slowly looked back at the people staring at him.
"Don't tell me…"
His voice suddenly became serious.
"Am I about to experience a Shibuya Incident?"
Several people nearby froze.
The Masked Man continued speaking to himself.
"Wait a minute. My shadow is spreading everywhere, and everyone is staring at me. This really does look like the beginning of a Shibuya Incident!"
A young martial artist took a step backward.
The Masked Man noticed.
He sighed.
"Ah, forget it."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"I think I've watched too much Jujutsu Kaisen. What am I even saying?"
He looked at the airport ceiling.
"Honestly, though, this really does look like a Shibuya Incident."
The nearby travelers exchanged confused looks.
The Masked Man put his hands into his pockets.
"Well, whatever. I couldn't visit Japan in my real world, but at least I can visit Japan in this world."
He looked toward the exit.
"Now then…"
His voice became cheerful.
"Let's enjoy Tokyo!"
And with that, the mysterious Masked Man walked out of the airport.
Tokyo's streets were filled with lights, advertisements, restaurants, and people.
The Masked Man stood on the sidewalk, looking around with great excitement.
"Wow!"
He turned his head from one side to the other.
"This is Japan!"
He raised both arms.
"Tokyo! Finally!"
A few pedestrians glanced at him.
He immediately lowered his arms.
"Right. I should probably stop shouting in public."
He pulled out his phone and called a taxi.
A few minutes later, he was sitting inside a taxi, looking out of the window like a tourist visiting Japan for the first time.
Buildings passed by.
Street signs flashed past.
People walked along the sidewalks.
The Masked Man pressed his face against the window.
"Look at that! And that! Oh, there's another one!"
The taxi driver glanced at him through the rear-view mirror.
"Sir, is this your first time in Tokyo?"
"Yes!"
The Masked Man answered enthusiastically.
"Actually, it's my first time in Japan!"
The driver smiled.
"Then I hope you enjoy your stay."
"I definitely will!"
The Masked Man leaned back in his seat.
First, ramen. Then sushi. Then I'll explore the streets. Maybe I'll even visit some famous places.
He grinned beneath his mask.
This is going to be amazing.
His first stop was a ramen restaurant.
The Masked Man sat down at the counter and looked at the menu.
"So many kinds of ramen…"
He stared at the pictures.
"How am I supposed to choose?"
The chef looked at him.
"Would you like a recommendation?"
"Absolutely!"
A little while later, a steaming bowl of ramen was placed before him.
The Masked Man picked up his chopsticks.
He took a bite.
Silence.
He slowly raised his head.
"…"
Then he slammed his hand on the counter.
"DELICIOUS!"
Several customers jumped.
The chef blinked.
The Masked Man immediately lowered his voice.
"Sorry, sorry. I got a little carried away."
He continued eating.
"This is incredible. Japan, you've earned my respect!"
After finishing his ramen, he visited a sushi restaurant.
Then another shop.
Then another.
By the time he stepped back onto the street, he was holding his stomach.
"Ugh…"
He leaned against a wall.
"I came here to explore Japanese culture, but I think I explored the entire menu of Tokyo."
He sighed dramatically.
"At this rate, I'll need to train for a hundred years just to burn off all this food."
A small dog walked past him.
The Masked Man looked down.
"Hey, little guy!"
The dog stopped.
He crouched slightly.
"Do you know any good places around here?"
The dog stared at him.
Then it walked away.
The Masked Man remained frozen.
"…Even the dog doesn't want to talk to me."
He slowly stood up.
"Wonderful. My international vacation is going perfectly."
As the evening approached, the Masked Man decided to explore the shopping streets.
He noticed a few girls walking together and confidently approached them.
"Excuse me, ladies!"
The girls turned around.
The Masked Man struck a pose.
"Would you mind showing me around Tokyo? I'm a very charming tourist."
The girls stared at him.
Then one of them screamed.
"KYAAAH!"
All of them immediately ran away.
The Masked Man remained standing in the middle of the street.
His hand was still raised.
A long silence followed.
"…"
He slowly lowered his hand.
"Well."
He looked in the direction in which they had disappeared.
"That went terribly."
He sighed.
"Not even one person wanted to show me around."
He began walking again.
"First the people at the airport, then the taxi driver, then the dog, and now the girls…"
He stopped.
"Wait a minute."
His shoulders dropped.
"Am I the problem?"
He looked up at the sky.
"Why does everyone in this world hate me?!"
A passerby glanced at him.
The Masked Man immediately straightened his back.
"Nothing. I'm fine."
He continued walking.
A few seconds later, the same dog from earlier appeared near the sidewalk.
The Masked Man looked down.
"Oh, it's you again!"
The dog lifted its leg and urinated on his shoe.
The Masked Man froze.
The dog finished and casually walked away.
For several seconds, the Masked Man didn't move.
Then—
"HEY!"
He pointed at the dog.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
The dog didn't even look back.
The Masked Man stared at his shoe.
Then he looked toward the sky.
"Unbelievable."
He covered his face with both hands.
"Even the dog is roasting me now!"
He took a deep breath.
"Fine. Fine! I understand!"
He pointed dramatically at the empty street.
"From today onward, I'm officially the most disrespected person in the entire multiverse!"
A nearby pedestrian hurried away.
The Masked Man watched him go.
"…And another one."
He sighed.
"Tokyo is beautiful, but my self-esteem is being destroyed here."
Meanwhile, back in China—
The sun was shining over the city, and the international airport was crowded with travelers.
Inside the terminal, Leo and his friends were preparing for their next journey.
After their conversation at the café in the previous chapter, the group had decided to continue with their plans for the upcoming celebration.
Leo stood near the departure area with Lily beside him.
Chenwei and Yuna had come along, as had Airi Kazehana, the Wind Guardian.
They were preparing to say goodbye before Leo's next journey.
"Make sure you don't forget your things," Lily reminded Leo.
Leo looked at his luggage.
"I've checked everything."
"Your passport?"
"Yes."
"Your phone?"
"Yes."
"Your tickets?"
"Yes."
Lily narrowed her eyes.
"Are you sure?"
Leo smiled.
"Of course!"
Chenwei folded his arms.
"That's what you said last time before forgetting your bag."
Leo turned toward him.
"Why are you bringing that up now?!"
Yuna laughed.
Airi looked around the airport.
"Wow! This place is huge! Even the signs are everywhere!"
Chenwei glanced at her.
"You're a Guardian. Haven't you seen an airport before?"
"Of course I have! I'm just appreciating the architecture!"
Leo chuckled.
"Sure, Wind Empress."
Airi immediately pointed at him.
"Don't start!"
Everyone laughed.
Then Lily's gaze suddenly shifted toward the entrance.
A young woman was walking through the airport.
She had long dark hair, sunglasses resting on her head, a red-and-white cropped jersey, and blue shorts. A bag hung from her shoulder as she casually made her way through the crowd.
Lily stared at her.
"Hmm?"
She tilted her head.
"That girl…"
Leo turned.
"What is it, Lily?"
Lily's eyes widened.
"Wait a minute!"
She suddenly remembered.
"NEPALI-CHAN!"
Before anyone could react, Lily ran toward the girl.
"NEPALI-CHAN!"
The young woman turned around.
"Huh?"
Lily reached her and immediately wrapped her arms around her.
"Ah! I knew it was you!"
Nepali-chan froze.
Her face turned bright red.
"H-Hey! Wait! What are you doing?!"
Lily continued hugging her.
"I haven't seen you in so long!"
Nepali-chan tried to gently push her away.
"Please, get off me! Everyone's looking!"
Lily finally loosened her embrace.
Nepali-chan adjusted her bag and looked away, embarrassed.
"Honestly… you can't just suddenly hug someone at an airport!"
Lily smiled.
"But I missed you!"
Nepali-chan's face became even redder.
"Th-That's not the point!"
Leo, Chenwei, Yuna, and Airi approached them.
Leo looked at the young woman.
"Well, well. If it isn't Nepali-chan."
Nepali-chan looked toward him.
"Oh! Leo!"
Leo smiled.
"What brings you here?"
Chenwei folded his arms.
"Yes, what are you doing here, Nepali-chan?"
She adjusted her sunglasses.
"Well, I'm here to visit China!"
Everyone stared at her.
Airi blinked.
"China?"
Nepali-chan nodded.
"Yes! China!"
She pointed toward the airport.
"I've been living in Nepal for so long that I'm getting a little bored. I wanted to do something thrilling for a change, so I decided to spend some time in China."
Leo chuckled.
"Well, you've certainly come to the right place."
He crossed his arms.
"I'm actually going to host a party soon. If you have time, you should come!"
Nepali-chan tilted her head.
"A party?"
Leo nodded.
"Yes. A celebration with our friends."
She smiled.
"Then I'll definitely come!"
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Of course!"
Nepali-chan put her hands on her hips.
"But only if I receive an invitation!"
Leo laughed.
"Alright, alright! You'll get one!"
Lily smiled and stepped beside Nepali-chan.
"Then it's settled!"
Chenwei nodded.
"Looks like our party is going to get even more interesting."
Yuna smiled.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Airi raised her hand.
"And there better be food!"
Leo looked at her.
"You're a Guardian. Is food the only thing you think about?"
Airi grinned.
"Of course not!"
She paused.
"There's also music!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Nepali-chan looked at the group, smiling.
For a moment, the busy Chinese airport seemed a little warmer.
Leo glanced toward the departure gates.
"Well, then…"
He turned back toward his friends.
"Let's get going. We've got a party to prepare for!"
Lily nodded.
"Let's go!"
And with that, the group began moving through the airport, their laughter blending into the noise of travelers and announcements.
The chapter/story has ended, but we'll remember it someday from another corner of a new universe.