Chapter 1 – The Star That Wouldn't Die
The two figures clashed in the endless void.
Black and silver magic collided again and again, sending violent waves across the silent universe.
Matt moved first.
His tall body cut through space like a shadow. Dark magic burst from his palm as he swung his arm. The energy roared toward Ignes like a storm of death.
Ignes moved lightly.
His white hair drifted behind him like silver threads as he stepped aside. The attack passed him and exploded in the distance, swallowing a dying star in darkness.
Ignes lifted his hand.
Silver light gathered around his fingers and flowed outward, washing away the remaining black magic like gentle rain purifying poison.
The battle continued.
Strike.
Counter.
Explosion.
Light against darkness.
Matt's blue eyes burned with cold cruelty as he watched the man in front of him.
Then he smiled.
A dark, twisted smile.
"My love."
The words sounded disgusting in his mouth. There was no warmth in them. It was not the way someone called their beloved.
It sounded more like a hunter looking at prey.
More like someone talking to an insect he was about to crush.
Matt tilted his head slightly.
"You again."
He laughed softly.
"How many times have I killed you already…?"
He pretended to think for a moment.
"Ah… I kind of forgot."
His smile widened.
"Yes… this will be the third time I kill you."
Ignes said nothing.
His red eyes remained calm and quiet, as if he had not heard a single word.
Or perhaps he had.
Perhaps he had simply grown used to hearing it.
After all…
This was the one of the three soul fragment strongest fragment of Matt's soul that had killed him.
The other two had killed him far more times.
Matt slowly raised his hand.
He placed it gently over his own heart.
Black magic gathered beneath his palm.
Then—
A flower bloomed.
A dark flower made entirely of death.
Its petals were deep black, shining like obsidian. It was strangely beautiful.
But the moment anyone looked at it, an overwhelming fear crawled into their heart.
Death.
Despair.
Hopelessness.
All of it lived inside that flower.
Matt smiled softly.
"Let's end all your suffering."
He flicked his finger.
The flower shot toward Ignes.
Ignes moved instantly.
He dodged once.
Twice.
Three times.
But the flower followed him like a curse that could not be escaped.
No matter how he moved…
It kept coming.
Until finally—
The flower struck his chest.
For the entire battle…
Ignes had not spoken a single word.
The black flower sank into his heart.
For a moment the universe fell silent.
Then something strange happened.
The terrifying dark aura surrounding Matt suddenly vanished.
His expression froze.
Shock spread across his face.
Disbelief filled his blue eyes.
He stepped back slightly.
"No… no… no…"
His voice became shaky.
"That… that should not work on a heartless creature like you…"
Ignes finally spoke.
"Idiot."
His voice was soft.
Gentle.
There was no anger in it.
Anyone who heard that single word could feel the deep affection hidden within it.
It did not sound like someone speaking to the person who had just killed him.
It sounded like someone speaking to the person they loved the most.
Ignes suddenly appeared in front of Matt.
In a flash—
He hugged him.
"Calm down," Ignes said softly.
Silver light slowly spread from his body.
His power expanded across the battlefield, repairing the damage left behind by their fight.
Broken stars reformed.
Space cracks closed.
Everything Matt had destroyed was quietly restored.
Ignes always fought this way.
His enemy or the place or battlefield he fight. He always gentle no harm or damage happened.
If the battlefield really get damage by his opponent he always restore the place how it use to be
And
No matter how much destruction Matt caused—
Ignes would always fix it.
Matt's body trembled.
"Love… stop…"
This time the word love sounded completely different.
It was not cruel.
It was not mocking.
It was broken.
Full of guilt.
Full of pain.
"You're already disappearing," Matt said desperately. "If you keep using your power… it will happen faster."
His voice cracked.
"Please stop."
"I'm sorry… I didn't know… if I had known you would become like this… I would never have done it…"
His arms tightened around Ignes.
"I don't want to lose you a second time…"
Ignes smiled faintly.
"Come to think of it," he said softly, "I really did work hard to make myself how I used to be."
"But it was all useless."
Then Ignes gently bring his face to Matt's.
He leaned forward.
And kissed him.
"This time," Ignes whispered, "I will destroy it."
Matt's eyes widened.
"The Deadbloom cannot be destroyed."
Ignes stepped back from the hug and created a small distance between them.
"Who said I was going to destroy the Deadbloom?"
He smiled gently.
"What I will destroy… is the thing that made me normal."
Matt's face turned pale.
Seeing his expression, Ignes added softly,
"Don't worry."
"I built it once."
"I can build it again."
Ignes's heart suddenly began to glow with brilliant silver light.
His body slowly started breaking apart into shining particles.
"I love you, baby."
"Let's meet again."
And then—
Ignes disappeared.
His body scattered into countless particles of light, fading into the endless universe.
Leaving Matt alone in the silent void.