Vareon's voice trembled as he staggered back, his body still knitting itself together from the brutal assault. "W–what just happened?" he muttered, his tone a mix of disbelief and fury. His crimson eyes locked onto Kazuki, who stood calmly, his breathing steady despite the searing aura of spiritual force that rippled around him.
Kazuki exhaled slowly, his gaze unwavering. "So basically…" He raised his hand, the faint glow of spiritual energy dancing like sparks between his fingers. "While I could have unleashed my speed to levels far beyond yours by channeling my spiritual force, my foresight ability revealed something critical. According to the law of Time Travel Restriction, if I had exceeded the natural limitations placed on living beings, my body would have collapsed. My existence itself would have been erased."
Vareon narrowed his eyes, trying to hide the unease spreading in his chest.
Kazuki continued, his voice steady but edged with cold precision. "Had I gone slower, my speed would still have surpassed yours—but your battle experience would have anticipated my strikes. On the other hand, if I had shifted my spiritual force into strength or other attributes, I would have lost the balance to fully focus on speed. I'm still new to this… infinite spiritual force glitch." His words carried the weight of danger, a secret he had only begun to grasp himself.
"The truth is…" Kazuki's expression darkened as he glanced at the scars forming across his arms, "even while fighting, I was constantly regenerating from the damage caused by my own power. Just releasing spiritual force beyond my body's refinement was tearing me apart. So I kept my strength and speed just on par with yours—no more, no less. You grew accustomed to my rhythm, to the idea of my limits. But when the moment came, I shifted everything."
He clenched his fist, recalling the decisive strike. "I forced all my force into speed. You couldn't predict me. And when I appeared beside you, I split that energy into speed and strength together—just enough to pierce your demonic skin. That's how I tore you apart, forced your Chaos force to regenerate. Now…" His gaze sharpened, cutting deeper than any blade. "…you're left helpless."
Silence hung thickly in the air. Even the shadows seemed to recoil from Kazuki's calm explanation.
Vareon's chest rose and fell sharply as the demonic aura faded. His monstrous form melted away, leaving behind the battered frame of his human shape. His pride had been shattered along with his defense.
At last, he looked up, his voice cracking between a whisper and a roar. "Tell me… TELL ME!" His fists slammed against the ground, leaving fractures in the stone beneath. "What was your motive in coming here? Why plot all these schemes against me? Why fight me with such resolve? And…" His eyes burned with a mixture of pain and desperation. "…what is it you truly want from me? Speak, because now I have lost—and I demand to know!"
The battlefield stilled, as though the world itself awaited Kazuki's reply.