The world no longer resembled reality.
The sky was torn apart, clouds colliding violently as if the heavens themselves were at war. Lightning carved jagged scars through the darkness, illuminating a forest reduced to ruin. Ancient trees lay uprooted, their shattered trunks half-buried in flooded earth. The wind screamed endlessly, carrying ash, rain, and the stench of destruction.
At the center of it all stood Byakuya.
He did not move.
The storm bent around him, as though even nature dared not interfere. His black scythe rested loosely in his grasp, its blade humming with a low, ominous resonance—like a death knell waiting to be rung.
Opposite him, Doumar exhaled slowly. Shadows clung to his body, writhing and shifting, but his eyes remained sharp, calculating.
Byakuya finally spoke.
"So… are you ready to die?"
His voice was calm. Certain.
Doumar let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Such confidence…"
The air trembled.
Byakuya vanished.
The ground exploded beneath Doumar's feet as Byakuya reappeared before him, scythe already in motion.
"Reaper's Sixth Stage — Wraith."
The strike landed.
An overwhelming force smashed into Doumar's body, heat and pressure detonating outward. The very air ignited. For a split second, his muscles locked completely—his body frozen by the sheer weight of death itself.
Byakuya's scythe passed through him.
Clean. Merciless.
The impact sent a shockwave ripping through the forest, snapping broken trees and carving a deep trench into the earth.
Doumar staggered back, collapsing to one knee. Blood spilled from his mouth, swallowed by the rain as he coughed violently.
Such a strong attack…
Tch—he's far beyond expectations.
If I continue fighting him directly… I won't make it out alive.
Byakuya straightened, his cloak billowing behind him. His gaze was empty—devoid of hatred, devoid of emotion.
"It's over."
Doumar lifted his head slowly.
Then he grinned.
"Recovering magic… recovering eminence energy."
Dark energy surged violently from his body, pulsing like a living heart.
Byakuya's eyes narrowed.
"Recovering… huh?"
He stepped forward, scythe rising once more.
"Reaper's Seventh Stage — Soul Bind."
Chains of pale, spectral light erupted from the void, lashing forward with terrifying speed. They wrapped around Doumar's limbs, his torso, even his shadow—binding not just flesh, but soul itself. For a moment, Doumar felt something far worse than pain.
Restriction.
His very existence felt anchored, dragged toward oblivion.
Doumar clenched his teeth.
"Darkness Aura."
The shadows exploded.
A violent wave of darkness surged outward, colliding head-on with the spectral chains. The forest shook as the two forces clashed, thunder roaring overhead. Cracks spread across the chains, light and shadow tearing at one another—
Then they shattered.
Before Doumar could breathe in relief, the world changed again.
Byakuya raised his scythe high.
The storm stopped.
Rain froze in midair. Thunder died. Wind vanished.
Silence swallowed everything.
"Reaper's Eleventh Stage — Grave Silence."
Doumar's heart lurched.
An indescribable pressure descended upon him—not physical, not magical, but absolute. His limbs felt unbearably heavy. His breath refused to come easily.
It wasn't fear.
It was acceptance.
The sensation of already being dead.
This…
This feeling… it's as if my soul has already been buried…
Byakuya walked toward him, each step echoing through the void of silence. His presence alone felt like the closing of a coffin lid.
Then—
Doumar smiled.
"Shadow Illusion."
Reality collapsed.
Byakuya's vision twisted violently as the battlefield dissolved into endless darkness. The frozen rain melted into shadows, the ground vanishing beneath his feet.
He turned sharply.
"Where am I…?"
A figure stood ahead.
"There you are."
Byakuya attacked without hesitation, swinging his scythe with full force.
The blade passed straight through Doumar.
No resistance.
Byakuya's eyes widened.
"What the hell…?"
Time stretched unnaturally.
Then, like smoke dispersing in the wind, the illusion shattered.
The storm returned.
The ruined battlefield stood empty.
"Tch…" Byakuya clicked his tongue, irritation finally surfacing. "Damn him… it was all an illusion."
His gaze swept the destruction.
"Where did he go?"
Far away, Doumar stumbled through the forest, clutching his side, breath ragged.
"Tch… damn that black…" he muttered. "Running like a coward because of him…"
His legs trembled.
"I'm almost at my limit… got unlucky this time." His eyes darkened. "I'll have to leave without Khronos."
His form melted into shadow—and vanished.
Meanwhile—
At the heart of the forest, Rein, Ash, and Suzune arrived through the rain-soaked ruins.
Suzune stopped abruptly.
Rein noticed immediately.
"What's wrong, Lady Suzune?"
Ash looked up at her, confused.
"What happened, Mom?"
Suzune turned back toward the path they had come from. Her hands trembled—but her eyes were resolute.
"I'm going back to Tomioka," she said softly. "No matter what… keep living."
Rein's voice shook.
"B-but Lady Su—"
"Rein," she interrupted gently. "Watch over Ash and Star for me."
She knelt before Ash, placing her hands on his shoulders. Tears welled up, but her smile remained.
"Ash… be a good boy. Watch over your little sister. Don't cause trouble." Her voice cracked. "Live a long, happy life."
She looked up at Rein again.
"And you… become a fine Guardian Knight."
Rein wiped his eyes and nodded firmly.
"I will. Don't worry about Ash and Star… they're my little siblings."
Suzune smiled—a fragile, grateful smile.
"Yes… thank you."
They hugged tightly. Ash, Star, and Rein clung to her as if refusing to let go of time itself.
Ash's small, innocent voice broke the silence.
"Mom… come back early… with Dad…"
Suzune closed her eyes. Tears streamed freely.
"Yes," she whispered.
"I will."