Kael turned.
His hands burned with green vital force as the air around him distorted.
"Yellow Dash."
ZZNGH—!
THUD!
Yarau intercepted.
Kael staggered.
Then—
ZZNGH!
THUD!
Neraxis appeared in front of him like a phantom, his fist crashing into Kael's chest.
Kael's eyes widened.
The sound vanished.
The world went silent.
The Principal stumbled forward, his hand trembling.
"Was Neraxis… pretending to be running out of vital force?" he murmured, horror creeping into his voice.
Kael's heartbeat stopped.
Neraxis coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips as he smiled.
Mirror shards tore out of Kael's body—
Slash.
Crack.
Rip.
His body was torn apart into pieces, limbs severed, flesh shredded—
only his head remained untouched.
Neraxis collapsed onto the ground, barely breathing.
"I only had… a really low amount of vital force left," he muttered weakly.
"Enough… to heal one hand… and use one Yellow Dash."
The battlefield fell completely silent.
Except for Neraxis' broken, maniacal laughter.
"You truly surpassed me, Kael."
He coughed again, blood staining the ground.
"You truly were the strongest."
His voice softened.
"Until now… nobody ever came close."
"You nearly ended me."
He forced his eyes open.
"Draven Kael… I will never forget how you almost defeated me for the first time in two thousand years."
Kael's Last Thoughts
He stood atop a high tower.
Below him—humanity.
Every city. Every life.
Watching.
"I'm sorry," he whispered calmly.
"I gave this fight everything."
My heart.
My power.
My brain.
My soul.
"I lost."
His voice trembled.
"I'm sorry… I wasn't supposed to fail."
"I failed anyway."
"I'm sorry… to everyone."
The strongest… reduced to nothing.
White light flooded his vision.
A figure appeared.
The girl he once loved.
She smiled gently.
"Kael," she said softly.
"It's been a long time."
She stepped closer.
"Thank you for coming here."
"Now I can finally touch you."
Her hand reached his.
"I love you."
A tear slid down Kael's face.
Back to Reality
Kael's scattered body lay motionless.
Blood pooled across the shattered street.
Neraxis forced out his final words, his voice barely a breath.
"I don't think… I'll ever find someone as strong as you again."
He smiled faintly.
"Goodbye."