Smith slowly drew his sword.
The blade emerged from its sheath with a cold metallic sound, its surface glowing with a deep dark-blue light.
Around him, the other members of Organization X lay scattered across the ground, injured from Junyu and Katsa's combined attack.
Dust drifted through the underground cave.
The faint glow of the energy ores reflected across the walls.
Junyu looked down at his hands.
His breathing had become heavier.
He checked his NIT energy.
His expression changed.
"Damn... I'm losing more energy than ever."
He clenched his fist.
"I won't even last five minutes like this."
Junyu looked toward Smith.
"I have only five minutes."
Smith suddenly disappeared from his position.
His sword swept toward Junyu.
Junyu leaned away.
The blade passed inches from his face.
Smith immediately followed with another slash.
Junyu stepped backward.
Another.
He ducked.
Another.
He twisted his body sideways, allowing the blade to pass through empty air.
Smith kept attacking without giving him a chance to breathe.
The sword moved so quickly that each swing seemed to cut through the air itself.
Junyu suddenly sprinted toward the wall.
Smith followed.
Junyu planted one foot against the stone.
Then another.
He began running along the wall.
Smith jumped after him, bringing his sword down.
Junyu suddenly stopped.
He pushed away from the wall and flipped backward.
For a moment, he disappeared behind Smith.
Junyu appeared directly at his back.
His fist shot forward.
But before it could connect—
Something pulled Junyu away.
"!"
Lucia.
She had recovered from her injuries.
Dark energy surrounded her body as her wounds began healing through her magic.
She slowly raised her hand.
The entire underground ground beneath them began glowing.
A massive circle of strange symbols spread across the floor.
Junyu looked around.
"What...?"
A barrier suddenly erupted around him.
WHOOOM.
Dark-purple energy rose into the air, sealing Junyu inside.
Katsa tried to move toward him.
A second barrier appeared around her.
"Junyu!"
Junyu turned toward her.
"Katsa!"
The ground began to shake.
Then—
Hands emerged from beneath the darkness.
One.
Then another.
Then dozens.
The bodies of the dead began rising from every direction, surrounding Junyu.
The entire chamber slowly changed.
Purple light flooded the cave.
Black energy crawled across the walls like shadows.
Lucia stood at the center of it all.
She smiled.
"FINAL TESTAMENT: RISING CORPSES."
The corpses rushed toward Junyu.
He moved instantly.
He struck one aside.
Another came from behind.
Junyu ducked beneath it and spun around, but three more surrounded him.
He pushed them away with an energy burst.
But more kept coming.
Lucia watched calmly.
"I never thought I would have to use the full extent of my power..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"But we don't have enough time."
Morgan, still injured, watched from the ground.
Even he looked surprised.
"I think this is the first time you've used something like this."
Lucia smiled.
"Yes."
Her eyes remained fixed on Junyu.
"All the cravings I have for humans are reflected in this."
She slowly raised her hand.
"I just want to eat you alive, Junyu."
Morgan's expression became thoughtful.
Final Testament...
It's a power many possess, born from their deepest emotions.
Mine came from my father.
But hers...
He looked at Lucia.
Hers comes from lust and the pleasure she takes in it.
Final Testament isn't the same for everyone.
That's what makes it unique.
You have to accept yourself... and accept what you truly are.
Inside the barrier, Junyu was being overwhelmed.
He knocked one corpse away.
Another grabbed him.
He tore himself free.
Two more rushed toward him.
Junyu's energy exploded outward, forcing them back.
But they kept returning.
His breathing became heavier.
"Five minutes..."
His body was beginning to slow.
Lucia suddenly stepped forward.
The darkness around her expanded.
She entered the barrier.
A massive black wall rose around the entire battlefield.
No one outside could see what was happening anymore.
INSIDE THE BARRIER
Complete darkness.
Junyu stood surrounded by the rising corpses.
He tried to push them away.
One after another.
But there were too many.
His arms became heavier.
His energy continued disappearing.
Junyu looked upward.
Lucia descended from the darkness above him.
Her silhouette slowly became visible.
Junyu raised his hands.
Lucia reached him.
The darkness surged forward.
Junyu's body began sinking beneath the mass of shadows and corpses.
His hands struggled against the darkness.
Then his arms disappeared.
His shoulders followed.
His entire body was slowly swallowed.
Lucia watched from above.
The last thing visible was Junyu's face.
Then—
Darkness.
The entire barrier became completely black.
No sound came from inside.
No movement.
Nothing.
Outside, Katsa stared at the barrier.
"Junyu..."
And for the first time since his transformation—
Lacod Junyu had disappeared.