Chapter 63 — Abyss
---
Kaito lay motionless on the cold crystal floor.
A gaping hole pierced his chest where the gentleman's tail had struck.
No movement.
Eyes open, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Inside his mind—
*What happened…? Ahh… I got stabbed… I'm dying…*
Pain radiated through every nerve.
His body felt heavy, broken.
*This is my destiny…? Fuck… I wasn't able to protect Mio… or her sister… I wasn't able to give more smiles to Rei… I didn't get more time to talk with Akane… Hasegawa died because of me…Mom...*
Tears welled up.
*I'm useless… Get up… Get up… I can't give up now… Get up…*
A weak heartbeat echoed in the darkness.
**Thump…**
**Thump…**
Then — something stirred.
From the hole in his chest, black and white energy began to pour out — not solid, not liquid, but like thick, swirling gas mixed with liquid shadow and pale flame.
It spread across his body, covering skin, clothes, wounds.
The gentleman walked forward — calm, tails swaying.
He stopped.
Looked back.
Through the smoke, one glowing blue eye stared at him.
The smoke cleared.
Kaito stood.
But he was no longer the same.
Tall. Monstrous. Yet eerily human in silhouette.
Pale skeletal face with sharp demonic features, long curved horns, jagged teeth, and one piercing glowing blue eye. Long, flowing black-and-pink flame-like hair and energy tendrils whipping around him like living fire. A powerful, muscular body wrapped in dark, shifting energy with glowing pink cracks running across the white skeletal structure. Swirling blue energy rings orbited his form like chains of light. The entire presence radiated raw, chaotic power — terrifying and majestic at the same time.
The gentleman tilted his head.
A hollow voice echoed from the skull mask.
**"V̴O̷R̸A̴X elha — N̴U̷L̸V̴A̷R surei dova?"**
*("Who are you.")*
Kaito said nothing.
He stood still.
Then he looked down at his own legs.
Touched them.
Stretched.
The gentleman grabbed a dead soldier with his tail and hurled it at Kaito.
Kaito dodged — the body slammed into the mech cockpit, causing sparks and electrical errors.
Suddenly, loud music blasted from the damaged mech speakers.
Heavy metal riff exploded through the chamber.
Kaito looked up.
Then charged — in a flash.
He grabbed the gentleman's head and slammed it into the wall.
**CRASH!**
Again.
Again.
The gentleman's tail wrapped around Kaito and threw him back.
Kaito landed on the wall — used the force to launch himself forward.
**BOOM!**
Boosted kick straight to the face.
The gentleman staggered.
Kaito punched — rapid, brutal.
The gentleman blocked — countered with uppercut, jab, jab, jab — many times to Kaito's face.
Then a round kick to the ribs that sent Kaito flying into the wall.
Kaito stood.
Ran toward the wall — broke two large crystal shards.
Charged back.
Stabbed the crystals into the gentleman — many times.
The gentleman stabbed back with his tails — multiple strikes.
Kaito kicked while being stabbed — then pinned both of the gentleman's hands to the wall with the crystals.
He punched — many times — into the stomach.
The gentleman vomited purple fluid from the bone mask.
Kaito kept punching.
The gentleman was driven into the wall.
But suddenly — Kaito stopped.
The black and white energy began flowing back into the chest hole.
He dropped to his knees.
---
*End*