The portal behind Raien pulsed like a living wound.
Its energy reached across realities—pulling at fabric, at time, at fate itself.
"You're too late," Raien said. "This is the Void Nexus. Once opened fully, it erases what was… and remakes what should be."
Kaito stepped forward, sword drawn.
"What you think should be. A world ruled by fear. By you."
"No," Raien said calmly. "A world without your weakness."
He raised his blade—Vantablade, forged in the heart of a dying god.
Kaito responded with Nightcleaver.
And time froze.
---
Their swords met.
Not just in steel—but in memory, spirit, and blood.
Every clash sparked visions: moments from childhood, from war, from betrayal.
They were once brothers—now, reflections of diverging paths.
"You abandoned the empire," Raien snarled.
"I saved its soul," Kaito growled.
They moved faster than thought, blades singing, air cracking, floor splintering beneath them.
Kaelyra and Isha fought Voidspawn around the chamber, keeping the nexus from feeding more chaos.
But Kaito and Raien… fought for the future.
---
At one point, Raien whispered a spell—and time fractured.
They fought through alternate versions of themselves:
– Kaito, corrupted and dark.
– Raien, broken and repentant.
– A world where neither were born.
– A world where they ruled together.
Through it all, Kaito pressed forward.
Refusing to be undone by what-ifs.
---
With a cry that shook the tower, he disarmed Raien—then pressed his blade to his brother's heart.
Raien smirked. "Do it. Be the Emperor again."
Kaito stepped back.
"No. That's not who I am anymore."
Then he turned to the portal.
And thrust Nightcleaver into its heart.
---
The Nexus shrieked.
Reality bent—and the Voidspire collapsed from the top down.
Kaelyra grabbed Kaito's hand. "We have to go!"
They ran.
Behind them, Raien vanished into the void—laughing, or screaming. No one could tell.
---
Outside, the sky cleared.
The realms realigned.
And the blade… dimmed.
---
The war was over.
But the story wasn't.