The broadcast, once filled with the roar of battle and the relentless struggle inside the dungeon, collapsed into nothing. Commentators fell silent. Streamers froze mid-sentence. Around the world, millions stared, unable to process what had just ended.
It took a few minutes until everyone realized and cheered up.
"He managed the impossible," one viewer said in a pub.
"His hair turned slightly gray, it looks so cool," a kid said.
"Humanities first devil is a hero," elsewhere in a living room.
Everyone was happy to see their families again, but not all of them.
Some lost their friends, families or kids.
They make Ketsu up for it, say he didn't give enough and others defend him.
But nonetheless Ketsu has given humanity a new perspective.
Somewhere else in a space unseen by the public, the creator of the dungeon lay crumpled, his form cracking apart like shattered glass.
"I couldn't complete the human sacrifice, Shinji."
His lips trembled with one final breath.
"I'm sorry."
With that, his body dissolved, and the dungeon itself disintegrated with him.
Creating separate space, needs a huge sacrifice.
So to balance it out, he put his life on the line and like the Death Game, his life ends now too.
Everyone inside the dungeon is teleported back to their original positions.
On a lonely stretch of road, Ketsu walked.
His steps were uneven, his shadow stretching long under the unforgiving sun.
Sweat mingled with blood, soaking into the dirt at his feet. Every breath came as a rasp, each inhale sharp enough to cut his chest.
"The sun… it feels heavy today," he muttered, clutching at his torso.
"My torso healed," his regeneration forcing his flesh back together. "But my arm doesn't."
Severed in the fight—remained gone. No matter how much blood coursed through his veins, it did not regenerate.
"I went beyond my limit."
He staggered forward, head hanging low. "I should go back… to Sora, to the others…" His lips twitched into the ghost of a smile. "No."
He raised his head, looking into the sky, "It's over."
Images flickered in his mind. Kouji's stubborn grin, Yuusuke's careless jokes and Ryo's mentoring and teaching, even though he was pretty bad at it back then. Moments of laughter, training, even frustration—all painted with warmth he thought he'd never feel again.
"They gave me something… even with my past." His words were rough, as if each word cost him strength. He chuckled bitterly. "It's ironic."
"They tortured me to make me into the ultimate weapon. And in the end… that exact weapon is the end of the lineage."
His steps slowed, and his eyes softened.
"…Sora."
He saw her smile. The shy way she spoke, the rare glint of boldness in her words. The warmth of her presence that had begun to chip away at his broken edges.
"I wanted… to see you happy. Wanted to go out with you… to hear you laugh more. I should have told you sooner." His knees buckled. His breath faltered. "…Guess I won't get that chance."
He stood still for a moment.
The road cracked beneath his body. His vision dimmed, and with the last strength in his voice, he whispered:
"I'll leave the rest… to y'all," as he fell to the ground.
At that exact moment, a shiver coursed through the others.
Kouji suddenly turned his head, his chest tightening, though he didn't understand why. Yuusuke frowned, sensing something off. Ryo, far away, paused mid-step, his gaze lingering on the horizon. Kagami's hand gripped her spear just a little tighter.
And Sora—her breath hitched, her body trembling. Something deep within her knew.
She couldn't wait any longer.
Now that the Dungeon is over, she should be able to do it.
Sora poured her aura into her ability. She knows that her blindness grows on every use.
But her thoughts are elsewhere right now.
Reality bent around her and in an instant she stood on that same lonely road.
Her heart dropped.
"Ketsu!"
He lay crumpled, unmoving, blood pooling beneath him. She ran forward, collapsing beside him, wrapping her arms around his battered body.
"No… no, no, no…" Her voice broke. She pressed her hand against his wounds, her aura flaring wildly. She tried to heal him once, twice, but her vision was blurred through tears, her hands trembling too much to focus.
As a result, her eyes catching a small tint of gray.
"Please! Please don't leave me—!"
His eyelids fluttered open for the briefest moment. His lips curved into the faintest smile.
"Am I dreaming" His voice didn't reach his lips. His eyes softened at the sight of her tears. "No need to cry, I'm right here."
"I wanted to make you smile, but even dreaming you cry because of me"
His head grew heavy in her lap.
"My eyes feel heavy"
His breath faded. His body stilled.
"Ketsu…!"
Her cries echoed down the empty road, raw and broken. She clutched him close, her tears falling onto his cold skin, as if they could bring him back.
Kouji and Yuusuke rushed back to the Association, urgency in their steps.
Sora carried Ketsu on her back. She's also heading back to the Association.
On their way home, Kouji and Yuusuke see articles about Ketsu everywhere.
They wanted to be happy, but deep down they had felt it, only moments ago.
Sora arrives at the Association before them and brings him to the nurses office.
They are especially good at healing and can heal the biggest wound, with enough time.
She already knew the outcome.
Ketsu is already dead.
Kouji and Yuusuke arrive shortly after, as Sora drags Ketsu through a Hallway.
Kouji froze. His mouth opened, but no sound came.
Sora's eyes were swollen, her voice rough. "…He's gone."
Kouji shook his head, almost in denial. "No… no, we need Ryo. He'll know what to do. He'll fix this, he—" He stopped mid-sentence, realization crashing down.
Ryo wasn't here.
He has gone out on a mission with Akechi.
Kouji's voice faltered, his words breaking apart as his body trembled. Yuusuke stepped beside him, placing a steady hand on his shoulder.
No words were spoken, only a deep silence.
[On his heroic and selfless act of self-proclaimed atonement through the Dungeon, Ketsu has saved over 80% of the people that were pulled in against their will, because of his progression.]
[By defeating a Devil he went down into history.]
[An anomaly among the hunters, one of a few]
[The Anomaly of Persistence ends]