Yuki stands—barely conscious, breath shaky—as the last echoes of the Eidolon's raw power fade into the ruined space beyond the sealed door. Aiko rushes forward, calling his name through tears, nearly collapsing into him. Himari follows, silent tears trailing down her face as she places a hand on Yuki's back, feeling the unsettling stillness in him.
But then…
A pulse.
Not from outside—but within Yuki.
A black flame flickers in his eyes—then vanishes. Standing next to him is a boy, no older than 12. His presence is wrong, ancient, and familiar. The same energy as the Eidolon, but… more focused.
> "You really kept me waiting, Yuki..."
The boy smiles—hollow and eerie.
Nogitsune's expression hardens.
This isn't over.
Not yet.
He steps forward, just as the sealed realm begins to quake again.
Another presence—far darker, far stronger—slips in. But this one… doesn't speak. It just watches. And the moment it's felt, Nogitsune knows:
He has to act.
Now.
Before the others can even react, Nogitsune vanishes—throwing himself into the collapsing dimensional rift that births this new threat.
> "Protect them, Yuki," his voice echoes faintly.
Yuki collapses to his knees, clutching his chest. The 12-year-old version of the Eidolon quietly sits beside him, eyes scanning the others.
And then silence.
A war is coming. But not today.
Today… they rest.
And wonder what their protector is facing beyond the fold.
The group finds themselves back in the spirit-tempered forest, far from the ruins of the sealed door. The sky above is a twilight canvas—violet, soft, and full of stars. Time feels slower here. Safe.
Kai's already set up a fire. A pot of ramen simmers quietly.
Yuki lies on his back, eyes on the sky. His body aches. But the real weight is inside—the presence of the boy who is now curled up beside him, sleeping like he belongs. No one can sense the danger, but Yuki knows it's still there. Watching.
Aiko walks over, placing a blanket over Yuki, then sits beside him.
She doesn't speak at first. Then:
> "You scared me."
"...I scared myself," Yuki mutters, his voice dry.
Himari lies on his other side, resting her head on his shoulder.
The moment is peaceful, but there's a strange tension in the air—like they're waiting for the next wave to hit.
Still, they smile.
Then… Ren. Of course.
He casually plops down near them, biting into grilled fish.
> "So, which one of you two is gonna marry him first?"
Aiko chokes. Himari turns red.
Yuki jerks upright—"HUH?!"
Everyone laughs.
Even Kai, from the firepit, calls out:
> "Don't worry, Yuki. If they both fight over you, I'll cook the wedding dinner."
---
Later that night, Yuki falls asleep under the stars, and his dreams are… weird.
He's in a garden surrounded by glowing petals, both girls pulling at his arms, asking who he'll choose.
> "Yukiiii~"
"Yukiii~!"
He wakes up sweating.
They're still sleeping beside him—peacefully.
And Ren is grinning from the shadows, clearly having heard everything.
> "Dream something romantic, did we?"
"SHUT UP, REN!!"
---
The chamber trembled—not from the Eidolon, but from him.
Velar.
His presence distorted the sealed realm. The walls cracked inwards, space bent unnaturally, and time itself trembled as though resisting his arrival.
Yuki lay unconscious, the silver-haired boy curled peacefully beside him like a shadow of forgotten power. The boy—the Eidolon reborn—was quiet now. Contained. For the moment.
Ren lifted Aiko onto his back, glancing toward the growing rupture in the space where Velar stood.
> "We have to move—now!"
Himari clutched Yuki, tears still fresh on her cheeks. "We can't leave Nogitsune…!"
> "He's not planning to follow," Haru said grimly, watching the battlefield unfold with clenched fists. "He's going to buy us time."
—
Elsewhere in the fractured realm…
Nogitsune stood alone.
Velar hadn't spoken, but his intention was clear: destroy the vessel, shatter the seal, and reclaim what was his.
> "You waited for him to awaken," Nogitsune muttered. "But you underestimated what he's become."
Velar raised a hand.
A single swipe tore through reality itself.
Nogitsune dodged effortlessly—but the air behind him imploded. Even his illusions were falling apart in Velar's presence.
> ("This isn't a fight I can win... not now.")
But he had to fight anyway.
With a sudden roar, Nogitsune's aura ignited—void and flame entwined. He rushed forward, exchanging blows that cracked through dimensions, his movements faster than thought. Every step was a gamble. Every strike, a defiance.
Velar didn't even flinch.
Still—
> ("Just buy them a little more time… Yuki. Grow strong. Survive.")
---
Back at the escape point…
Aiko clutched Yuki's hand tightly as Ren and Haru forced open a path.
The silver-haired boy suddenly opened his eyes.
> "He's still fighting, you know," the boy said softly. "Your brother."
Himari turned to him. "…You can feel him?"
The boy nodded.
> "I am him. The fear. The pain. The seal. The dream. I remember everything."
He looked at Yuki, unconscious and still, but peaceful.
> "He's not gone… he's just resting. For now."
"If you're enjoying the ride, don't forget to leave a power stone or a comment—it really helps this grow!"