The world was quiet now. The scorched earth smoldered in silence, the ashes of
Ryouma's domain scattered into the air like faint embers.
Klaus staggered, Fushigiri slipping from his grip and clattering against the broken stones.
His vision blurred, his knees buckled.
The toll of Yashariku's Spirit burned through his veins like molten fire, devouring the last of his strength.
He collapsed.
"Klaus!" Sofie rushed forward, dropping to her knees beside him.
Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, pulling his head gently onto her lap.
Tears welled in her eyes but this time not of fear, but of relief.
Her fingers threaded through his hair, trembling as she caressed him.
Tears slipped from her cheeks and landed softly on his face, glistening in the fading light.
Slowly, Klaus's eyes fluttered open.
He blinked against the glow of the sky above, where streaks of orange and red painted the heavens in the aftermath of their battle.
And then he saw her.
"…Sofie." His lips curved into the faintest smile. "Guess I'm not dreaming after all."
Sofie choked back a laugh between her tears, her voice shaking.
"You idiot… you almost scared me to death."
Klaus reached weakly, his hand brushing against her arm. "But you're still here."
She nodded, lowering her face closer, her voice a whisper.
"Always."
For a moment, she leaned down, her lips hovering just above his, hesitation trembling in her breath.
Her tears fell warm against his cheek as she closed her eyes, leaning in.
Klaus tilted his head slightly, meeting her halfway.
Their lips brushed softly, a fleeting kiss under the quiet sky tender, unhurried, filled with everything words couldn't carry.
When they parted, Klaus chuckled weakly, his gaze lingering on her.
"…You look different."
Sofie blinked, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Different? Like how?"
Klaus narrowed his eyes playfully, as if trying to place it. "I don't know… your aura. It's stronger now than before."
Sofie puffed her cheeks, pouting as she raised a tiny fist in mock annoyance.
"So that's a bad thing, huh?"
Klaus widened his eyes dramatically, pretending to recoil.
"N-No! Not at all! Strong is… beautiful!"
For a heartbeat it was silent.
Then Sofie broke into laughter, the sound bright and genuine.
Klaus joined her, their voices mingling with the wind, filling the ruined battlefield with something it had never known peace.
In that moment, nothing else mattered.
As Klaus steadied his breath, letting Sofie's warmth ground him, a familiar low voice stirred inside his chest.
Ashborn.
"Tch… romantic, are we? I nearly had to gouge my ears out from all that mush."
Klaus's eyebrow twitched.
"Don't act like you didn't enjoy almost fainting into her lap like some tragic hero. That pout she gave you? Absolutely priceless. I should've carved it into your soul."
Klaus groaned inwardly. Why do you sound like you're enjoying yourself too much?
"Because, boy, you keep giving me material. Do you know how rare it is for an immortal shadow like me to be entertained? Consider yourself blessed."
Klaus rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, "Annoying old ghost…"
"I HEARD THAT."
Sofie tilted her head, confusion flickering across her face. "Klaus? Who are you talking to?"
He quickly coughed. "Uh—nobody. Just… the wind."
From within Sofie, a different presence stirred, her voice echoing like crackling embers.
The Phoenix.
"He's lying. Something is berating him."
Sofie blinked, then smirked. "Oh?."
Klaus chuckled, finally pushing himself to his feet. He extended a hand, and Fushigiri leapt from the ground into his grip.
The blade pulsed.
A storm of dark crimson and white light burst from it, spiraling upward, tearing across the ruined mountain.
Its presence was overwhelming like it had swallowed the essence of death itself and bent it to Klaus's will.
Even Sofie, wrapped in the Phoenix's aura, shivered. "So… you finally achieved it, huh?" Her voice was quiet, reverent. "Immortality."
Klaus stared at his palm, then at the blade, his expression caught between awe and disbelief.
He squeezed his hand tight around the hilt, testing the weight of what it meant.
"…Yeah." His lips curled into a slow, almost disbelieving smile. " I did."
Sofie stepped closer, her own smile soft but bright. "Then I'll make sure you don't spend eternity alone."
The two shared that silent promise, their gazes locked, as the last embers of battle cooled around them.
With Fushigiri resting against his shoulder, Klaus turned toward the path that led back.
The horizon glowed faintly where Ashina Castle stood, looming yet familiar.
Side by side, with the Phoenix's wings dimming into Sofie's back and Ashborn's chuckle echoing faintly in Klaus's mind, they began their walk.
---
Inside the silent chambers of Ashina Castle, Isshin sat cross-legged, his breath shallow.
His old hands trembled as he reached for a cup of sake, but the drink spilled before touching his lips.
The veins on his skin had turned black, his fingers withered and thin the unmistakable toll of Dragonrot.
He exhaled. So… he's finally succumbed.
That fool has turned into it.
The corrupted Ryōki's presence spread like wildfire, a suffocating aura of hatred that wrapped around Ashina like a noose.
Even the wind outside howled strangely, as if recoiling from the malice.
The sliding doors burst open.
A squad of shinobi dropped to their knees before him, foreheads nearly touching the floor.
"Lord Isshin! The corrupted aura… it's here. Our people are afraid. Please give us orders!"
Isshin looked down at his wasted hands again. For a brief moment, even the Sword Saint felt the weight of time.
Then he clenched his fist, forcing his body to rise.
"…Evacuate everyone. Women, children, soldiers, all of them."
The shinobi leader raised his head, desperation in his eyes.
"But we too can fight, my lord! If it's the Demon of Hatred—"
A sharp thrum cut him off as Isshin's aura surged. Without even glancing back, Isshin spoke in a voice like steel drawn from its sheath:
"I will handle this alone. Not one of you shall appear before it."
The shinobi swallowed hard, then lowered his head once more. "As you command, Sword Saint."
The entire squad vanished into the shadows.
Isshin turned to the corner of the room.
There, resting silently, were his garments of war.
His gaze moved first to the Odachi, its blade gleaming faintly in the dim torchlight.
Then to the Black Mortal Blade, a weapon steeped in curses, its edge darker than the void.
He sighed. "…So be it."
Deep within the dungeon, the soldiers stationed there quivered.
The torches flickered violently, smothered by waves of heat. From the thick, suffocating fog, a monstrous silhouette emerged.
The Demon of Hatred.
Its body burned with molten flame, its skeletal frame wrapped in fiery tendrils of fury.
The skull-like visage twisted, a maw of fire howling as it lumbered forward.
Horns curved like those of a devil, and each step seared the ground beneath it.
The soldiers froze, their eyes wide, their knees trembling.
One dropped his spear with a clatter.
Another stumbled back, whispering, "No… gods, no…"
The beast raised one burning arm. With a single swing, a wall of fire consumed them.
Their screams echoed, then were drowned by the roar of flame.
The dungeon walls shattered. Stones melted, timbers turned to ash.
The Demon of Hatred rampaged upward, tearing through the fortress like paper, leaving only death in its wake.
Then it stopped. Its hollow, fiery gaze turned sharply toward the castle above. It sensed him.
Isshin.
With a guttural roar that shook the skies, the Demon of Hatred surged toward Ashina Castle, each step splitting the earth beneath.
But Isshin was already waiting.
The storm gathered overhead, lightning tearing across the sky.
On the field of silver grass, the Sword Saint descended from above, robes and hair whipped by the wind.
Both hands gripped his weapons the Odachi gleaming with ancestral power, and the Black Mortal Blade radiating death itself.
The Demon of Hatred howled as their eyes met.
And then, the world collapsed around their clash.
Flames devoured the heavens, lightning split the mountains, and the earth cracked under their might.
Ashina quaked as sword and demon's fire collided, sending shockwaves of destruction across the land.
The battle of legends had begun.