The sky burned like dying embers.
Rengoku Hayate stood upon a plain of blackened stone, the wind howling across a wasteland that once belonged to gods. The air shimmered with faint golden sparks — the last remnants of divine grace scattered through ruin.
He exhaled slowly, gripping the golden feather in his hand. It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat. The weight of what he'd learned in the Hollow Sky pressed against him — that he wasn't just a mortal blessed by chance. He was the Devouring Star, a being feared by gods, born from cycles of destruction and rebirth.
And yet… he still felt human.
He still wanted to be human.
[System Notice: Core Stability – 72%. Emotional variance detected.]
Hayate scoffed. "Yeah, no kidding."
The System's voice had softened since its awakening, almost as if it had begun to adapt to his tone.
He wondered sometimes — was it growing with him, or remembering him from before?
The ground trembled. He looked up.
Far beyond the horizon, a monolithic structure rose — a broken cathedral half-buried in ash and bone. Pillars of molten light flickered within it, glowing faintly like the last breath of a dying world.
[Objective Updated: Investigate the Ruins of Saint Kael.]
Hayate's eyes narrowed. "Saint Kael…"That name whispered through his mind like a memory just out of reach.
He began walking. Each step echoed like a heartbeat against the hollow wasteland.
As he neared the cathedral, the ash underfoot shifted — forming trails, symbols, faintly glowing lines that pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat.
Something in the ruins recognized him.
Inside, the air was heavy with grief. Statues lay shattered, their wings torn, halos cracked and buried under soot.
At the center of the hall, a massive statue — or perhaps a corpse turned to stone — knelt beneath the weight of broken chains. The figure's face was hidden behind a hood, but faint blue light glowed from within the cracks along its body.
Hayate felt an ache in his chest. "You… look familiar."
He stepped closer.
The ground quivered. The faint blue cracks pulsed — once, twice — then the statue's head turned slightly.
"…You returned."
The voice echoed like a memory through eternity.
Hayate froze. "Who—?"
The statue's hand moved, scattering centuries of dust. As the light expanded, the stone flaked away, revealing a man — tall, gaunt, his silver hair falling to his shoulders. His eyes burned like dying suns, filled with sorrow and recognition.
"Rengoku Hayate… or whatever you call yourself in this age. You walk again among the living."
Hayate took a step back, sword half-drawn. "You know me?"
"Once, I did. I was your shield, your sword, your brother-in-arms. They called me Kael, the Saint of Ashes — the last who believed you could be saved."
The name struck him like thunder. Kael. Saint Kael
.He wasn't just some myth.
Hayate lowered his sword slowly. "If that's true… then why are you here, like this?"
Kael's expression darkened. "Because of you."
Silence.
"You don't remember, do you?" Kael continued, his voice cracking. "The last time you awakened, you burned through every divine realm — searching for the truth. You said you wanted to break the cycle. But in the end…"
He raised his hand. The world around them trembled, showing echoes of the past — skies torn apart, divine palaces collapsing, and at the center of it all stood Hayate — eyes like eclipses, body wrapped in cosmic fire.
"You killed me, Hayate. And I thanked you for it."
The images shattered.
Hayate staggered back. "No… that can't be—"
Kael's gaze softened. "It wasn't your fault. The Devouring Star feeds on everything — even mercy, even memory. I stayed behind in this ruin to guard what was left of your humanity… but you never came back. Until now."
Hayate clenched his fists. "Then why help me? Why not destroy me?"
Kael's cracked lips curled into a faint smile. "Because I still see it — the part of you that fights the hunger. The boy who still wants to protect, even when the universe calls him a monster."
Hayate's throat tightened. "That boy's barely holding on."
"Then let me help you hold on a little longer."
Kael reached out, pressing his palm against Hayate's chest. Light surged between them — searing, cleansing, ancient.
[System Alert: Foreign synchronization detected.]
Analyzing… Compatibility: 98%.
The light exploded, enveloping the ruins.
When it faded, Kael's form had stabilized — no longer stone, but flesh and spirit intertwined. A faint sigil of ash glowed on Hayate's hand.
[New Bond Acquired: The Saint's Echo – Passive Link Established.]
Effect: Temporarily enhances stability of Devouring Core. Emotional corruption reduced.
Hayate exhaled shakily. "You're inside me now, huh?"
Kael chuckled softly. "Not the worst thing I've done for you."
They stood in silence for a while, the wind whispering through broken glass.
Finally, Kael said, "She's watching, you know. The goddess."
Hayate's gaze darkened. "Good. Let her watch. The next time she sees me, I'll be the one standing above her throne."
Kael's expression turned grim. "You'll need more than fury. The divine pantheon fractured when you fell. She's rebuilt her army using echoes of us — corrupted saints, half-gods twisted by her will. If you're going to challenge her…"
"I'll devour them too," Hayate said, his voice cold and steady. "And free whoever's still trapped in her shadow."
"Then your path leads east — to the Sea of Silence. That's where the next seal lies. Break it, and the rest will awaken."
Hayate nodded. "The Sea of Silence… sounds poetic enough for a death trap."
Kael smirked faintly. "Still making jokes before the apocalypse. You really haven't changed."
For the first time in what felt like ages, Hayate smiled.
Maybe he was a monster. Maybe he was the Devouring Star. But at least he wasn't alone anymore.
They stood side by side at the cathedral's entrance, staring toward the horizon where storm clouds twisted like serpents.
[Quest Updated: The Saint's Pact – Travel to the Sea of Silence.]
Hayate tightened his gloves. "Then let's see what kind of gods are left for me to devour."
As he turned away, Kael's faint whisper echoed behind him.
"Just remember, Hayate… every god you kill brings you closer to becoming one."
Hayate didn't look back.
"Then I'll make sure I'm the last."
Lightning flashed. The wind roared.
And beneath that dying sky, two figures — one human, one saint — began walking toward destiny.