Ryu remained still.
For several seconds, he simply stood in the middle of the ruined celebration.
Around him, the Architects lay motionless.
The tables that had once been covered in food were overturned. Plates and cups were scattered across the floor. Pieces of the decorations hung from the walls, swaying slightly in the air.
Nexus stared at him.
He couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
His eyes remained fixed on Ryu.
The man he had known for centuries.
The Founder.
The man who had once stood at the head of the Architects and promised to protect them.
And now—
He stood among them with blood on his hands.
Ryu slowly reached down.
His fingers wrapped around the hilt of the sword resting against his waist.
He drew it.
Shing.
The sound echoed throughout the ruined hall.
Ryu lifted his gaze toward the sky.
"Association."
A voice immediately answered through the communication device.
"Yes, Sir?"
Ryu looked upward.
"Use the Beam."
There was a brief pause.
"Understood, Sir."
Ryu lowered his hand.
He didn't explain.
He didn't need to.
Several seconds passed.
Then—
The sky changed.
At first, it was almost impossible to notice.
The clouds above the Architects' Domain began moving in the wrong direction.
The air became unnaturally still.
Then the clouds parted.
Something enormous emerged from above them.
A massive aircraft slowly descended through the clouds.
It was so large that its shadow swallowed the castle.
Then the surrounding land.
Then nearly the entire Domain.
Kural looked upward.
His expression slowly changed.
"...What the hell is that?"
Mao stared at the enormous machine.
She didn't answer.
Neither did Nexus.
At the center of the aircraft, a circular structure began opening.
Light gathered inside it.
A small glow at first.
Then brighter.
And brighter.
Until the entire sky around the weapon was illuminated.
A low vibration traveled through the ground.
The castle walls trembled.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
The Beam was charging.
The voice from Ryu's communication device returned.
"It's going to take a while, Sir."
Ryu looked toward the aircraft.
"Alright."
His expression remained completely calm.
As if none of this concerned him.
Then he turned toward the remaining Architects.
"Send in the Red Corps Commanders."
A pause.
"Understood."
Ryu began walking.
One step.
Then another.
His sword remained lowered at his side.
He didn't look back.
But before he could take another step—
"Ryu."
He stopped.
The entire battlefield seemed to become quieter.
Ryu slowly turned his head.
Nexus stood behind him.
His old body was battered from the previous confrontation.
His breathing was uneven.
Yet he remained standing.
His eyes were different now.
There was no hesitation in them.
"Do you really think I'll let this go unresolved?"
Ryu stared at him.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Ryu answered.
"Of course not."
His hand tightened around his sword.
Nexus lowered his stance.
The air between them became heavy.
Ryu slowly raised his blade.
The instant the sword left its sheath—
Crack.
Space fractured.
Thin cracks appeared throughout the air.
They spread outward like cracks in glass.
Nexus's eyes widened.
Ryu disappeared.
No movement.
No sound.
One moment he was standing several meters away.
The next—
A blade was already coming toward Nexus.
Nexus twisted his body.
The sword passed within inches of him.
He felt the wind of the attack cut across his face.
He barely had time to breathe.
Ryu vanished again.
Nexus turned.
Too late.
Ryu appeared behind him.
The sword came down.
SLASH!
Nexus was struck and thrown across the hall.
His body slammed into the ground.
The impact cracked the stone beneath him.
He coughed sharply.
A thin trail of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then his fingers twitched.
Nexus slowly pushed himself upward.
Ryu watched him.
"You've become slower."
Nexus wiped the blood from his mouth.
"And you've become arrogant."
Ryu's expression didn't change.
"Perhaps."
Nexus suddenly disappeared.
Ryu's eyes shifted.
CLANG!
Their swords collided.
The impact exploded through the room.
Nexus pushed forward.
Ryu stepped backward.
Another strike.
CLANG!
Another.
CLANG!
Their blades moved faster.
Nexus swung toward Ryu's shoulder.
Ryu deflected.
Nexus immediately reversed his grip and struck from below.
Ryu leaned backward.
The blade passed over his chest.
Ryu twisted.
His sword came around.
Nexus blocked.
The force of the impact sent him skidding backward.
His shoes carved lines through the stone.
Ryu appeared in front of him.
Nexus raised his blade.
Too slow.
Ryu struck.
BOOM!
Nexus was launched through several ruined pillars.
Kural's eyes widened.
"Nexus!"
Ryu turned toward him.
Kural immediately raised his hand.
"Box!"
A massive barrier formed around Ryu.
For half a second—
Nothing happened.
Then Ryu moved.
He swung his sword once.
SHING!
The barrier split.
Then split again.
And again.
Hundreds of fractures spread across the Box before the entire construct shattered into countless pieces of energy.
Kural stared.
"...You're kidding."
Ryu stepped forward.
Mao raised her hand.
"Enough."
Chains erupted from the ground.
They wrapped around Ryu's arms.
Then his legs.
Then his torso.
The chains tightened.
Ryu looked down.
He sighed.
With one motion—
SLASH.
Every chain surrounding him was severed.
Mao's eyes widened.
Ryu looked toward her.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Nexus's voice came from behind them.
"Kural."
Kural turned.
Nexus slowly emerged from the rubble.
His clothing was torn.
His breathing was heavy.
But he was still standing.
Kural looked at him.
"What?"
Nexus pointed toward Mao.
"Get her out of here."
Kural hesitated.
"But—"
"Now."
Nexus looked directly at him.
"GO!"
Kural gritted his teeth.
He looked at Ryu.
Then at Nexus.
Then Mao.
"...Fine."
Nexus turned back toward Ryu.
The old man slowly closed his eyes.
His breathing became steady.
Ryu watched him.
"You intend to continue?"
Nexus opened his eyes.
"I intend to end this."
He lowered his sword.
Then he began to chant.
"O Gods of this world..."
The air around him trembled.
Ryu's expression finally changed slightly.
Nexus continued.
"Bestow upon me my youth of ever so glory."
Energy gathered around his body.
The ground beneath his feet began to crack.
"That I may strike down my foe."
The air grew heavier.
Time itself seemed to hesitate.
Nexus raised his head.
"I, the Overture..."
The energy surrounding him exploded outward.
"...command my youth!"
A tremendous wave of power erupted.
Dust swallowed the battlefield.
Kural raised his arm to shield his eyes.
Mao's hair and clothes whipped violently in the wind.
The entire Domain shook.
For several seconds—
There was nothing but dust.
Then—
A silhouette appeared within it.
Someone stepped forward.
Nexus.
But he was no longer the old man they knew.
His gray hair had returned to its original dark brown.
His glasses were gone.
His posture was completely different.
A watch rested around his wrist.
A blade hung at his waist.
And surrounding his body—
Time itself was breaking.
Blue clock faces appeared and disappeared around him.
Fragments of moments floated through the air.
Seconds.
Minutes.
Hours.
All moving at once.
Nexus slowly opened his eyes.
His expression was calm.
"Let's end this, Ryu."
Ryu stared at him.
Then smiled.
"Indeed."
He raised his sword.
"This will end in your demise."
Nexus reached for his blade.
"Then come."
For one second—
They stood completely still.
Then both vanished.
BOOM!
The collision shook the Infinite Realms.
Their blades met in midair.
The shockwave tore through the battlefield.
Nexus disappeared.
Ryu turned.
CLANG!
Nexus appeared behind him.
Ryu blocked.
Nexus vanished again.
Ryu followed.
CLANG!
Another collision.
Then another.
And another.
The two moved so quickly that the battlefield could barely keep up with them.
Every collision sent another shockwave through the Domain.
Walls cracked.
The ground split.
Fragments of stone were thrown into the air.
Ryu struck.
Nexus blocked.
Nexus countered.
Ryu vanished through space.
Nexus followed through time.
For a brief moment—
It seemed impossible to tell who was winning.
Then Ryu appeared above Nexus.
His sword came down.
Nexus crossed his blade over his head.
BOOM!
The force drove him into the ground.
A crater formed beneath him.
Nexus gritted his teeth.
Ryu pushed his sword downward.
"You're still trying to protect them."
Nexus stared upward.
"Of course I am."
Ryu's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Nexus smiled faintly.
"Because they're my family."
Time exploded around him.
Nexus pushed Ryu away.
The two separated.
Kural watched from a distance.
His expression tightened.
Another shockwave struck.
His barrier appeared around himself and Mao.
CRACK.
Kural looked at it.
Another crack appeared.
CRACK.
His eyes widened.
"It's useless!"
He turned toward Mao.
"We need to escape!"
Mao looked toward the battle.
Nexus and Ryu collided again in the distance.
The entire Domain shook.
Mao lowered her umbrella.
"...You're right."
She extended her hand.
"Touch my hand."
Kural grabbed it.
Mao closed her eyes.
A rift opened.
In an instant—
They vanished.
They reappeared at the entrance of the Architects' Domain.
Kural stumbled forward.
He immediately turned around.
The battle was no longer visible from where they stood.
But they could still feel it.
The ground trembled beneath their feet.
Kural breathed heavily.
"We need help."
Mao remained silent.
Kural looked at her.
"Mao?"
She stared toward the Domain.
"There is no way Nexus will beat Ryu."
Kural frowned.
"Why are you so certain?"
Mao slowly opened her umbrella.
"Because Ryu is the Sword Saint."
She paused.
Then looked at Kural.
"And he's one of Tar's vessels."
Kural's expression hardened.
"Tar..."
Mao thought for several seconds.
Then her eyes widened.
"I know someone."
Kural looked at her.
"Who?"
"The Sage."
He stared.
"You think the Sage can defeat him?"
"No."
Mao shook her head.
"But she can most definitely hold him off."
Kural considered it.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
Mao opened a rift.
"Let's go."
They stepped through.
On the other side, they found themselves in a quiet forest.
The contrast was almost unsettling.
No explosions.
No screaming.
No destruction.
Only wind moving gently through the trees.
Mao looked around.
"We need to find her."
They walked deeper into the forest.
Kural occasionally looked behind them.
The distant rumbling from the Domain was becoming quieter.
Then—
Mao stopped.
"There."
Kural followed her gaze.
A woman sat beneath a tree.
Calmly.
As though nothing in the world could disturb her.
Mao approached.
"Hello, Great Sage."
The woman opened her eyes.
"We have come here for your assistance."
The woman looked at Mao.
"Greetings."
Then—
Her eyes widened.
"Mao?"
She immediately stood.
A smile appeared on her face.
"It's been so long."
She took a step toward Mao.
"How have you been?"
Mao stared at her.
Confusion filled her expression.
"I'm sorry..."
She tilted her head.
"But we've never met before."
The smile on the woman's face slowly disappeared.
She didn't speak.
She simply looked at Mao.
And understood.
It had happened again.
Mao had forgotten.
For a moment, something painful passed through Oyuki's eyes.
Then she hid it.
"...Yes."
She forced herself to smile.
"You're right."
Her voice was quieter now.
"What is it that you need?"
Mao bowed slightly.
"In the Architects' Domain, the Sword Saint Ryu is fighting one of our Architects."
"We need your assistance."
Oyuki raised an eyebrow.
"We?"
She looked around.
"But you are the only one here."
Kural nervously stepped out from behind the tree.
"H-Hello, Great Sage."
He bowed.
"I am the Architect of Force."
Oyuki looked at him.
There was a brief silence.
"Ah."
She nodded.
"Very well."
She looked toward Mao.
"I shall assist the both of you."
"Thank you."
Mao extended her hand.
"Grab my hand, please."
Oyuki took one hand.
Kural took the other.
Mao opened a rift.
The three stepped through.
They returned to the Architects' Domain.
And immediately—
They stopped.
The peaceful forest was gone.
The Domain had become a battlefield.
The castle was partially destroyed.
The ground had been torn apart.
Smoke and dust filled the air.
Mao's eyes widened.
Kural froze.
Then he saw him.
"Nexus..."
Nexus lay motionless on the ground.
His youthful form was still active.
But barely.
His clothing was torn.
His body was covered in wounds.
His sword lay several feet away.
Ryu hovered above him.
His blade was raised.
Nexus slowly opened his eyes.
Ryu brought the sword downward.
Then—
CLANG!
The blade stopped.
A strange force surrounded it.
Ryu looked toward the sword.
Then toward the source.
Oyuki stood several meters away.
Her hand was raised.
A faint glow surrounded her.
Ryu's expression hardened.
"Why are you here, Great Sage?"
Oyuki stepped forward.
"It seems trouble has come upon the Architects' Domain."
She looked around at the destruction.
"I have come to resolve this conflict."
Ryu stared at her.
Silence.
Then—
He slowly lowered his sword.
"I did not come here to fight you, sorceress."
He turned.
A rift opened behind him.
Ryu began walking toward it.
"Ryu!"
He stopped.
Nexus was standing.
Barely.
His legs trembled.
His breathing was uneven.
Yet somehow—
He remained upright.
"I swear..."
His hand clenched.
"I will find a way to help you."
Ryu looked over his shoulder.
For a brief moment—
He smiled.
Then the expression disappeared.
"There is nothing to save, Nexus."
He turned toward the rift.
"Move on."
He stepped forward.
Then stopped again.
Ryu looked toward Mao.
His eyes narrowed.
Mao stared back.
Ryu smiled.
"I will come back for you..."
He paused.
"...once it awakens."
Mao's expression remained blank.
She didn't understand.
Ryu stepped through the rift.
And disappeared.
Silence returned.
Oyuki looked across the ruined Domain.
Her expression darkened.
"This is such a mess."
She raised one hand.
"Reverse Recovery."
A wave of energy spread outward.
The destruction began to reverse.
Broken walls reconstructed themselves.
Cracks disappeared.
Destroyed furniture returned to its original positions.
The shattered castle rebuilt itself piece by piece.
The ruined ground restored itself.
Within moments—
The Architects' Domain looked exactly as it had before the battle.
As if nothing had happened.
Except for the people who remembered.
Oyuki lowered her hand.
She looked toward Mao.
Then toward Kural.
She said nothing.
She simply turned and walked away.
Mao and Kural slowly approached Nexus.
He hadn't moved.
He remained standing in the same place.
Kural stopped beside him.
"Nexus."
No response.
"Nexus, are you alright?"
Still nothing.
His head slowly lowered.
His hands began to tremble.
Then—
A single tear slid down his cheek.
"I'm sorry..."
His voice was barely audible.
Kural looked at him.
Nexus clenched his fists.
"I'm sorry for not being able to protect you guys."
His voice cracked.
"I was supposed to protect you."
Kural didn't know what to say.
Mao simply watched him.
For a moment—
Something flickered inside her eyes.
A feeling.
A memory.
Something she couldn't reach.
Then—
Nexus's youthful form began to fade.
The dark brown hair slowly turned gray.
The watch disappeared.
His glasses returned.
The strange fragments of time surrounding him vanished one by one.
The old Nexus returned.
He looked exhausted.
Older.
Smaller.
Mao stared at him for another second.
Then she turned around.
And walked away.
Later that night—
The Architects' Domain was quiet.
Mao lay on her bed.
She stared at the ceiling.
She couldn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes—
Ryu's voice returned.
I will come back for you...
Mao turned onto her side.
...once it awakens.
Her eyebrows tightened.
"What awakens...?"
She sat up.
The room was dark.
Moonlight entered through the window.
Her eyes wandered around the room.
Then stopped.
Her desk.
Something was sitting on it.
A portrait.
Mao slowly stood.
She walked toward it.
Picked it up.
And froze.
The portrait showed her.
Standing beside someone else.
A person she didn't recognize.
Mao stared at the stranger.
There was something about them.
Something familiar.
Something she couldn't explain.
Her chest tightened slightly.
She searched her memories.
Nothing.
Not a face.
Not a voice.
Not a name.
Nothing.
Yet she couldn't bring herself to put the portrait down.
Her fingers tightened around the frame.
She stared at the stranger for several more seconds.
Then quietly whispered—
"...Who are you?"