Snow continued drifting slowly across the shattered plaza while the last remnants of the crimson eclipse faded from the heavens above, taking with it the suffocating madness that had consumed the city for so long.
The scar carved by Toki's final punch stretched across the capital like the wound of a dying world.
Collapsed streets.
Split towers.
Rivers of broken stone buried beneath white snow.
At the center of it all stood two broken figures facing each other beneath the fading light of evening.
Toki could barely remain conscious.
His shattered arm hung uselessly beside him while blood continued dripping from torn muscles and exposed bone. Every breath felt wet and painful inside his ruined chest. The world around him swayed violently, his vision blurring in and out as though reality itself could no longer fully hold him together.
Yet even through the haze clouding his mind—
he saw Rindal moving.
Slowly.
The ancient king took one step forward.
Then another.
The movement alone looked unnatural now.
His body was no longer functioning properly. The force of Toki's final attack had destroyed him from the inside out. Organs had liquefied beneath the impact. Bones no longer properly supported his frame. The strange power that had kept this borrowed body together was beginning to unravel.
And yet—he continued walking.
Bernard immediately tensed.
"Stop!"
He forced himself forward despite the blood still pouring from his own wounds, instinctively placing himself between Toki and the approaching king.
But before he could move further, Smith's hand settled firmly onto his shoulder.
The old captain's expression remained calm.
"Leave him."
Bernard looked at him sharply.
"What?"
Smith's tired eyes remained fixed on Rindal.
"…I can't feel even the slightest intention to kill from him anymore."
Snow gathered quietly across the old man's coat while his voice softened almost imperceptibly.
"And besides…"
His gaze shifted briefly toward Toki.
"…that boy deserves answers."
Bernard's jaw tightened.
For several seconds, he looked ready to ignore the warning anyway.
Then slowly—his body relaxed.
Not because he trusted Rindal.
But because he trusted Toki.
Across the ruined battlefield, Toki remained frozen in place as Rindal approached him.
Not out of fear.
His body simply refused to move anymore.
Pain spread through every nerve with each passing second while the destruction inside him worsened continuously. The fight was over. One wrong movement now could destroy what little strength he still possessed.
But even so—his eyes never left Rindal.
The eclipse had disappeared completely now.
For the first time since the nightmare began, sunlight touched the capital again.
Golden rays passed through the drifting snowfall, causing every snowflake to glitter softly like countless diamonds floating through the air. The ruined city no longer looked like a battlefield beneath that light.
It looked peaceful.
Beautiful.
Rindal finally stopped directly in front of him.
Only one step separated them now.
The two men stared silently into each other's eyes.
Identical golden eyes.
The same gaze.
The same strange warmth hidden somewhere deep inside them.
Neither understood why their hearts recognized the other so instinctively.
And somehow—that only made it hurt more.
Slowly, Rindal raised his trembling hand.
His fingers gently touched several strands of Toki's blue hair.
For a moment, the ancient king simply stared at it quietly.
Then a faint smile crossed his bloodstained face.
"When you were born…"
His voice sounded weak now.
"…I expected that your hair would be red like mine. Or perhaps white like your mother's."
His fingers moved softly through the blue strands.
"But both of us were surprised to see it was blue."
A faint laugh escaped him.
"In those difficult times… it felt like a miracle."
His golden eyes trembled slightly.
"To be honest…"
His voice grew quieter.
"…it was already a miracle that you survived that day at all."
Toki's breathing caught.
Something deep inside his chest tightened painfully.
"Your birth gave us hope."
Snow drifted gently around them.
"That's why we wanted to name you Nozomu."
The name lingered quietly between them.
Hope.
Rindal lowered his gaze slightly.
"But…"
His smile became smaller.
"…I have no right to force that name onto you now."
His hand trembled faintly against Toki's hair.
"I have no right to appear after all these years and expect you to see me as your father."
Toki's lips parted slightly.
But no words came out.
Because suddenly—he couldn't breathe properly anymore.
All his life, there had only been questions.
Why was he abandoned?
Why did nobody stay?
Why did he always feel unwanted no matter how hard he fought to protect others?
And now the man standing before him—the monster feared across history itself—was looking at him like he was the most precious thing in the world.
Rindal slowly raised his other hand.
Then gently pulled Toki forward until his head rested weakly against his chest.
Toki's entire body froze.
Rindal's voice became softer above him.
"You have every right to hate me."
His fingers slowly brushed through Toki's hair.
"But I don't want to leave you in the darkness anymore."
Toki's eyes widened slightly.
That word alone felt heavy.
Because darkness was all he had known for most of his life.
Rindal closed his eyes briefly.
"I remember…" he whispered, "…you asked me a question."
Toki's throat tightened.
"…What question?"
Rindal smiled faintly.
"After how long does a man stop being human?"
The snowfall deepened around them.
For several seconds, Rindal remained silent.
Then he answered.
"To be human...means protecting what you love."
Toki's breathing trembled.
"As long as someone continues hoping… as long as they keep moving forward to protect what belongs to them…"
Rindal slowly tightened his arms around him.
"…then there is no one and nothing capable of taking away their humanity."
His voice cracked slightly.
"Toki…"
Rindal sounded afraid.
"You are no less human than anyone standing here."
Toki's vision blurred instantly.
Tears began spilling silently down his face before he even realized he was crying.
All this time…
He had feared becoming something monstrous.
Feared the violence inside him.
Feared the blood on his hands.
Feared the growing feeling that he no longer belonged among ordinary people.
Rindal continued gently stroking his hair.
"There are so many things I should tell you…"
His voice weakened further.
"…but we no longer have time."
Blood slipped quietly from the corner of his lips.
"So instead…"
His arms tightened slightly.
"…I'll tell you what matters the most."
Toki's fingers slowly clenched against Rindal's torn clothes.
Rindal looked toward the fading sunset.
"After spending so many years alone…"
Pain entered his expression.
"…I imagine you must have wondered at least once if I abandoned you."
Toki's body stiffened slightly.
Rindal lowered his head slightly.
"I will only say this once."
His voice trembled.
"So carve it deeply into your heart."
He pressed his forehead gently against Toki's hair.
"You are loved, Toki."
The moment those words reached him—something inside Toki broke apart completely.
His shoulders began trembling violently.
Not from pain.
But because a weight he had carried his entire life finally disappeared.
Tears poured uncontrollably from his eyes now while he struggled desperately to steady his breathing.
Rindal smiled weakly.
"I was just as lost as you."
His golden eyes drifted toward the ruined horizon.
"I tried protecting those who couldn't protect themselves. I gathered as many people as I could and created a kingdom of light…"
A faint laugh escaped him.
"Luminith… or perhaps it was Lumireth…"
He shook his head slightly.
"…it doesn't matter anymore."
The wind moved softly through the snow.
"I had twelve children with twelve different women in order to create heirs."
His voice carried no pride.
Only regret.
"I tried to love them."
Pain darkened his eyes.
"But the truth is…"
His fingers tightened weakly.
"…I only loved what they could offer me."
Toki remained silent.
Then Rindal smiled again.
"Then I met your mother."
For the first time since speaking—warmth truly returned to his expression.
"Everyone feared her."
His eyes softened completely.
"She had such a gentle soul… but people hated her because of her ability."
Bitterness entered his voice.
"What stupidity…"
Snowflakes melted against his skin.
"She never asked to be born that way. She never deserved that hatred."
His breathing weakened further.
"And for the first time in my life…"
He smiled faintly.
"…I fell in love."
Toki listened silently.
"She became the person I wanted to protect most."
Rindal's eyes drifted somewhere far away.
"When we learned she was pregnant, both of us were terrified."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"Until then, I had never feared the birth of a child."
His voice trembled.
"But suddenly I found myself afraid of everything."
What if you hated me?
What if the world hated you?
What if I failed you?
Rindal closed his eyes.
"But all those fears disappeared…"
His lips shook faintly.
"…the moment you grabbed my finger for the first and last time."
Toki's breath stopped.
"We hadn't even spent one hour together…"
Tears rolled down Rindal's face now.
"…and already I knew I would spend the rest of my life trying to protect you."
The sunset illuminated the falling snow around them.
"That clear spring day…"
His smile became painfully beautiful.
"…was the happiest day of my life!"
Toki finally broke completely.
A broken sound escaped his throat as he buried his face deeper against Rindal's chest.
Because for the first time—he understood.
He had been loved from the very beginning.
Rindal held him tighter.
Then slowly—his expression darkened again.
"But now I realize...that sacrifice was simply the easier path."
His voice weakened further.
"Fate tore you away from me… and I couldn't bear the thought of you suffering the same fate as me and your mother."
His body trembled.
"So I ran."
Silence fell briefly.
Then Rindal's voice cracked completely.
"I'm so sorry."
Toki froze.
"For the nights you had nightmares and nobody was there to hold you."
Tears fell steadily from Rindal's face.
"For the moments I wasn't there to wipe away your tears."
His arms tightened weakly.
"For the memories we never had."
Blood continued dripping quietly from his ruined body.
"For condemning you to such a painful life."
His breathing broke.
"I'm sorry, Toki."
Toki could no longer even respond.
He only cried silently while clutching Rindal's torn clothes like a child afraid of being left behind again.
Then Rindal smiled softly.
"Your mother and I…"
His gaze trembled warmly.
"…are so proud of you."
Toki's eyes widened.
"You've come so far."
Rindal gently touched his cheek.
"You've accomplished so much."
His smile deepened.
"And now…"
His eyes shifted briefly toward the others watching nearby.
"…there are so many people who love you."
Bernard lowered his head quietly.
Utsuki covered her trembling lips.
Even Smith closed his eyes.
"You deserve happiness."
Rindal's voice became firmer.
"So never believe anything else."
"You will accomplish great things."
A faint laugh escaped him.
"And not because you're my son."
His golden eyes met Toki's one final time.
"But because you never give up."
Rindal stepped backward.
One step.
Then another.
Toki's eyes widened slightly.
"…What are you doing?"
Rindal turned around.
The sunset illuminated his broken body from behind while snow drifted around him like white ashes.
"Now…"
His voice sounded strangely peaceful.
"…it's time for me to leave."
Silence followed.
Then Rindal smiled faintly over his shoulder.
"So before I go…"
He slowly raised one hand.
"…I'll teach you how to make the perfect cut."
Toki blinked weakly.
"…What?"
Rindal tilted his head slightly.
"Take your sword."
Toki looked around instinctively.
But there was no sword beside him.
Then suddenly—a blade flew through the air.
Toki caught it automatically despite his exhaustion.
He turned slightly.
Utsuki stood several meters away with tears in her eyes after throwing him the weapon.
Their eyes met briefly,she smiled .
Toki looked back toward Rindal.
The ancient king chuckled quietly.
"She's just as beautiful as your mother."
A faint grin crossed his face.
"You inherited my taste in women."
Toki laughed weakly.
"…Right now," he muttered painfully, "this is a pretty difficult thing to do."
Rindal nodded softly.
"Then let's do it like it's your first time."
His voice became gentle again.
"Grip the handle firmly."
Toki slowly obeyed.
"But not with your little finger."
Rindal demonstrated weakly with his own trembling hand.
"Raise the sword directly above your head."
Toki inhaled shakily.
"Focus."
The world became quiet.
"And when you're ready…"
Rindal closed his eyes.
"…strike."
Toki slowly raised the sword.
His hands trembled because he understood now why Rindal had turned his back.
Toki's breathing shook violently.
He fixed his gaze on the target before him.
Snow drifted quietly between them.
Then he took one long breath.
And swung.
The blade descended.
Rindal slowly turned his head one final time.
A large smile spread across his face.
"Follow your dreams, Toki."
The sunset illuminated the tears in his eyes.
"We love you."
The sword passed through him.
BOOOOM.
The force of the strike split Rindal's body cleanly in half.
A shockwave erupted outward across the frozen plaza while blood scattered softly across the falling snow.
Toki stood silently among the ruins while blood continued dripping from his destroyed arm. His breathing still came unevenly, each inhale painful inside his shattered chest, but his golden eyes remained calm now.
Behind him, Bernard slowly lowered himself onto a broken piece of stone with a weak groan, barely conscious after everything his body had endured. Harold remained beside him to keep him from collapsing completely while Smith silently lit a cigarette with trembling hands.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody knew what to say anymore.
Nearby, the split remains of Rindal's body had already begun fading into particles of pale light together with the snow.
And lying beside the fading fragments—were the final survivors pulled from within him.
The Star Collector,Rosalin and Reginald.
Toki slowly began walking toward them.
"Toki…"
Utsuki's voice trembled slightly behind him.
"Don't move anymore. Your injuries—"
He stopped briefly before turning his head slightly toward her.
A small smile appeared across his exhausted face.
"I need to say goodbye to a friend."
Friend.
The word startled even Bernard slightly.
But nobody stopped him.
Toki continued forward slowly until he finally reached the Star Collector.
The once terrifying figure now looked strangely small lying there beneath the falling snow. Cracks spread across his skin like broken porcelain while blood leaked from inside his body with every weak breath.
He was dying.
Toki slowly crouched beside him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then the Star Collector laughed weakly.
"So…"
His voice sounded distant now.
"I suppose this is the end."
A faint grin appeared across his face despite the blood covering him.
"You passed today's test."
His dim eyes slowly shifted toward Toki.
"You're terrifying, Toki."
Toki smiled faintly.
"…Yeah."
His gaze softened slightly.
"I guess you're right."
The Star Collector stared at him quietly for a moment.
"…Then why are you still here?"
His breathing trembled weakly.
"You should be with your princess."
His eyes shifted briefly toward Utsuki in the distance.
Snowflakes landed softly across his chest.
Toki lowered his gaze slightly.
"I wanted to stay with you a little longer."
The Star Collector blinked faintly.
Toki looked toward the fading sky above them.
"After all…"
A tired laugh escaped him.
"…we fought each other through so many loops...and even after everything you did…"
Toki's expression became quieter.
"…I still can't help sympathizing with you a little."
For several seconds, the Star Collector simply stared at him.
Then suddenly—he laughed.
"You're an idiot."
Toki chuckled softly.
"Maybe."
Silence settled between them again while snow drifted through the ruined plaza.
Then Toki asked quietly:
"What's your name?"
The Star Collector frowned faintly.
"…Why would that matter to you?"
Toki's answer came immediately.
"Anyone who lived and died deserves a name."
His golden eyes met the dying man's calmly.
"So I want to know yours."
For the first time since they met—pain appeared openly across the Star Collector's face.
"…I don't have one."
His voice sounded almost embarrassed.
"Nobody ever cared enough to stay beside me long enough to give me one."
Something inside Toki's chest tightened painfully.
Slowly, he reached forward and grabbed the Star Collector's trembling hand.
The dying man froze slightly at the contact.
Toki smiled gently.
"Then your name is Earendel."
The Star Collector blinked.
"…Earendel?"
Toki nodded.
"The furthest star still visible in the sky."
For a moment, Earendel simply stared at him.
Then a weak laugh escaped his lips.
"That's so unbelievably stupid…"
His smile widened slightly.
"…that I actually like it."
Toki's own smile softened.
"Nice to meet you, Earendel."
He tightened his grip slightly.
"I'm Toki."
A quiet warmth entered his voice.
"Do you want to be friends?"
Behind them, Bernard's eyes widened slightly.
Even Utsuki looked stunned.
Because nobody there could fully understand how Toki still found kindness left inside himself after everything that had happened.
Earendel stared at him silently.
Then tears slowly appeared in the corners of his eyes.
"…Sure."
His voice cracked weakly.
"Toki…"
A faint smile crossed his face.
"You'll be my first…"
His breathing shook.
"…and only friend."
Then suddenly—Earendel drove his own hand directly into his chest.
CRACK.
Utsuki gasped.
Harold instinctively stepped forward.
But Toki didn't move.
He simply watched silently as Earendel shattered his own heart apart and slowly pulled a glowing mana core from within himself.
The orb pulsed softly like a dying star.
Earendel placed it weakly into Toki's remaining hand.
"Take it…"
Blood spilled from his lips.
"Maybe this way…"
His dim eyes slowly closed halfway.
"…I'll get to keep living through you."
Toki stared quietly at the mana core glowing in his palm.
Then Earendel suddenly whispered:
"Be careful…"
His voice became barely audible.
"Don't trust Leonard Maho."
Toki's eyes narrowed slightly.
Earendel's fingers trembled weakly.
"He'll watch your every movement…"
Hatred flickered faintly across his face.
"He'll lie to you…"
His breathing faltered.
"And he'll attack when you're at your weakest."
Silence followed briefly.
Then Toki smiled sadly.
"…Thank you."
His gaze darkened slightly.
"I already learned that I can't place absolute trust in anyone."
Slowly, the mana core dissolved into streams of light that flowed directly into Toki's chest.
The pressure around him shifted slightly as the power merged into his body.
Then Earendel smiled one final time.
"…Good."
And his body scattered apart into countless particles .
The snow passed harmlessly through the place where Earendel had disappeared.
Then slowly—he stood.
And walked toward Reginald.
Unlike Rosalin, Reginald refused to look at him.
His face remained pressed against the broken stone beneath him while blood pooled quietly around his body.
Shame radiated from him so heavily it almost felt physical.
Toki stopped beside him.
Then silently bent down and lifted him carefully using his arm.
Reginald immediately tensed.
"…What are you doing?"
Toki answered calmly.
"I'm taking you to the person who means everything to you."
A faint smile crossed his exhausted face.
"What else would I be doing?"
Reginald's lips trembled weakly.
"…I always wanted to hate you."
His voice cracked.
"But I never understood why."
Toki listened quietly.
"You were always kind to me…"
Reginald's eyes shut tightly.
"And somehow that only made me hate you even more."
Toki smiled sadly.
"It's alright."
Reginald's breathing shook.
"…Would you have done something different in my place?"
The question lingered heavily between them.
Toki thought quietly for a moment before answering.
"I told you once…"
His voice softened.
"…that we could've been friends in another life."
Snow drifted around them peacefully.
"We're not that different, Reginald."
Toki's eyes slowly shifted toward Utsuki.
"I was blinded by what I believed was love too."
A faint laugh escaped him.
"That's why I can't judge you."
His gaze darkened slightly.
"I've done terrible things for Utsuki."
Silence followed briefly.
"And I would've done worse if it meant protecting her."
Reginald stared at him weakly.
"So no…"
Toki slowly knelt beside Rosalin.
"…I don't hate you."
His expression grew quieter.
"I just hate that we only got the chance to talk like this at the end."
Carefully, he placed Reginald beside Rosalin.
The moment she saw him, tears immediately filled her eyes.
"Reginald…"
Her voice trembled violently.
"…is this the end?"
Her fingers weakly grabbed his torn clothes.
"We can't do anything anymore?"
Fear consumed her expression completely now.
"I'm scared, Regi…"
Tears rolled down her face continuously.
"I don't want to die."
Reginald's face broke instantly.
Slowly, he raised one trembling hand and gently touched her cheek.
"Don't worry, my love."
His voice sounded impossibly soft now.
"I'll follow you...even into the deepest depths of hell."
Rosalin buried her face weakly against him while crying softly.
Nearby, even Bernard looked away quietly.
Because in the end—they were simply two people who loved each other too much.
Toki slowly crouched beside Rosalin.
His hand gently touched the mana core still glowing inside her chest.
The light dissolved quietly into his body the moment he absorbed it.
Then Toki placed his remaining hand over his own heart.
Snow drifted silently around the dead.
"May you rest forever…"
His voice became almost a whisper.
"…my friends."
The plaza fell silent again.
A massive shadow descended slowly from above.
The Dragon King landed in the center of the ruined square with enough force to crack the frozen stone beneath him.
Yet despite his enormous size—his movements were strangely careful,almost hesitant.
The overwhelming aura of supremacy he once carried had vanished completely.
Now…
he looked at Toki with something far more human.
Uncertainty.
Almost embarrassment.
As though he feared disturbing him.
The Dragon King simply stared silently at the blood-covered young man standing alone among the dead.
"…Should we talk, Toki?"
Toki slowly turned toward him.
The wind moved softly through his blue hair while the golden sunset illuminated the exhaustion in his eyes.
Then a faint smile crossed his face.
"…Yeah."
He looked toward the fading horizon.
"Let's talk."