The storm overhead rumbled with an unearthly fury, lightning splitting the sky in jagged flashes that illuminated the battlefield in bursts of pale blue light. Rain continued to pour down, though weaker than before—its rhythm carrying an ominous weight, as if the heavens themselves were reluctant witnesses to the truth that was about to be unveiled.
Kazuki stood firm amidst the sheets of water, his expression calm but edged with an undeniable sharpness. His eyes, burning with cold certainty, fixed upon the trembling figure before him.
"You still don't understand the cost of what you've done, do you?" Kazuki's voice carried across the field, steady, unwavering. "Your Absolute Spirit Ability Copy… yes, it does replicate techniques. But the spiritual force it channels is not purely your own. The copy is intertwined with the Demon King himself. Every worshipper of his is tethered to his abyss, and by using that ability, they can hold as much spiritual force as he can contain. Your soul is bound to him."
Vareon's eyes widened, his breath quickening as each word sank deeper. Kazuki stepped closer, the rain striking his shoulders like falling glass.
"But here lies the problem," Kazuki continued, his tone tightening. "My spiritual force does not stop where the Demon King's comprehension ends. It far surpasses him. That is why the entire overflow of spiritual force—everything beyond his capacity—was forced directly into you. And now… your soul is no longer intact."
Vareon's body tensed. He clutched his chest instinctively, as though feeling the damage from within. Kazuki's words were merciless blades carving into him.
"All that remains of you," Kazuki declared, "are shattered fragments of the Demon King's soul. They cling to you, pitifully, giving you the illusion of life. Yes, your body still has flesh, but it is a shell. Without your true soul, you cannot regenerate. You cannot endure. The fragments will dissolve soon… and when they do, you will vanish."
The truth struck like thunder.
Vareon staggered back, his face twisted with disbelief. "No… this—this cannot be! This can't be true!" His voice cracked, carrying the desperation of a man watching his existence unravel. "And how—how in this cursed world did you manage to know that deeply? About the Demon King, his limits, his worshippers, their function… everything! How can you possibly know all that? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE , HOW IS ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE , HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT HIM"
His words turned into a shout, more a cry of denial than a demand for answers. His fists clenched so tightly that blood mingled with the rain, dripping to the ruined earth below.
Kazuki did not flinch. His gaze was unwavering, a piercing weight that crushed every flicker of hope in Vareon's eyes. For a brief moment, silence stretched between them, only the fading storm filling the air. Then Kazuki spoke, his voice low and measured.
"There are truths I cannot yet speak. Not here. Not now."
The rain had slowed into a heavy drizzle, droplets sliding off Kazuki's blade as he lowered it slightly. The battlefield seemed to exhale, but the tension between them grew ever sharper, ready to snap.
"Instead," Kazuki said, his eyes narrowing, "let us speak of your plan. Why, Vareon? Why did you not unleash your Absolute Spirit Ability Copy earlier? Why did you choose now?"
The question cut through Vareon like another strike of lightning. He stood frozen, unable to speak. His jaw tightened, his silence screaming louder than any answer could.
Kazuki's eyes narrowed further. "You hesitate because you know the truth yourself. You hide it because the reason is as damning as your failure."
Vareon shook his head violently, rage and despair mixing in his voice. "No! I won't… I refuse to answer! I refuse to listen to another word from you!"
His voice cracked with frustration, his pride breaking under the weight of Kazuki's revelations. He no longer wanted to hear, no longer wanted to believe, but the truth was already inescapable.
The rain continued to fall, though weaker than before, as if the heavens were mourning a soul already lost.