The battlefield was silent. The wind had stilled, as if mourning the destruction left behind. Smoke curled from the shattered earth, embers flickering in the air. A crater y at the center of it all—scorched, broken, and steeped in the aftermath of a battle between monsters.

  Two bodies y across from each other.

  Shigure was still, motionless. The gaping hole through his stomach was unmistakable—no one could survive that. He was

  Akira, slumped forward on his knees, had colpsed under the weight of his own power. His arm—the spectral lightning that had emerged in his final moment—had vanished. He looked just as lifeless as Shigure.

  Further away, barely within the battlefield’s reach, Ren y unconscious. His breath was shallow but steady. Unlike the other two, he was clearly still alive, though distant—separated from the wreckage.

  Then—a shadow slithered through the ruins.

  At first, it was barely noticeable, moving like an ink stain bleeding through the battlefield. Then, it stretched upward, forming the shape of a man.

  Ryuko.

  He stepped forward, surveying the carnage. His sharp eyes flickered across the bodies, taking in every detail—the cracked earth, the splintered trees, the faint scent of blood and ozone. A slow, frustrated sigh left his lips.

  “Tch. You’re telling me this happened, and I wasn’t invited? I should’ve stolen a health potion before Kuroda hoarded them all. My recovery took damn long.”

  His fingers twitched slightly at his side, his annoyance visible. He took another step forward, boots crunching against the debris. His gaze settled on Shigure’s corpse. His eyes traced the gaping wound, the sheer devastation of it, and after a long moment, he let out a low chuckle.

  ”…On second thought.” He tilted his head. “Maybe it’s better I wasn’t a part of it after all. No health potion fixes that.”

  Without another word, Shigure’s body began to sink. The shadows beneath him rippled, pulling him under, swallowing him whole as if he had never been there to begin with.

  Ryuko watched as the corpse vanished, his expression unreadable. Then, his gaze shifted to Akira.

  Unlike Shigure, this one wasn’t confirmed dead. But his body was beaten, wrecked—he wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon.

  Ryuko’s eyes flickered to the distance. Ren. Still unconscious. Still breathing.

  He exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. Then—he smirked.

  ”…Guess I can’t leave you two here either.”

  The shadows beneath Akira and Ren pulsed.

  Then—they sank.

  Just like Shigure, they disappeared into the abyss, swallowed by the creeping bckness.

  Ryuko let the silence settle. Then, stretching his neck, he exhaled. A grin tugged at the corner of his lips.

  “I think it’s time for a new pyer to finally enter the game.”

  And with that—he vanished.

  The battlefield y empty.

  No bodies. No survivors.

  Only ruins remained.

  CUT TO BLACK.