Bang!
The door was slammed violently against the wall, the hinges letting out an overburdened creak.
Daemon clenched his fists, his face flushed red, and fury almost erupted from his eyes.
He had been crouching behind the cold wall outside for a long time. Every word of the conversation between Ada and Shun was like a red-hot iron, searing his heart.
Especially when he heard "removing Senrigan and Omnipotence," the blood in his entire body seemed to freeze, and he could no longer hold back.
"What are you trying to do to my sister?" Daemon roared through gritted teeth, his teeth clattering.
The Shinjutsu Reflection stirred faintly within his body, emitting a bone-chilling aura. He suddenly exerted force with his feet and spread his arms, wanting to push Shun away violently and completely isolate him from his sister.
"I will never allow you to hurt my sister! Stay away from her!"
Shun offered no further explanation, merely casting a downward glance at the boy rushing toward him. His gaze focused, and invisible Chakra erupted instantly like a dense, pale-golden light net. At the moment Daemon lunged before him, it precisely and firmly imprisoned him.
Daemon's limbs were tense, every muscle straining, and the veins on his temples became increasingly prominent, yet he couldn't move even a fingertip.
Ada hurried forward, reaching out to tightly grasp Shun's arm. "Daemon, stop it. Shun is doing this for my own good."
She turned to look at Shun, hoping he wouldn't hold it against her younger brother.
"He just wants to destroy you! He'll use you and then throw you away like trash! Sister, don't be fooled by him!"
Daemon twisted his neck desperately, trying to wake up his "blinded" sister. He didn't believe his sister's words at all. In his eyes, Shun was ruthless and must have used some secret technique to force his sister to compromise.
A gentle golden light slowly emerged from Shun's palm. He lightly patted her hand that was holding his arm, signaling her to be at ease.
"I will restructure your body's cells, remove Reflection, and also modify your memories. Forgetting all of this is for the best, for both you and your sister."
He knew Shibai's methods all too well. That was an existence that would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Daemon's pure and intense hostility would become a handle for the other party to manipulate the siblings, and he might even be forcibly controlled to become a blade that harms Ada.
Once utilized, the consequences would be unimaginable. He couldn't take this risk, nor could he let Ada endure the pain of being harmed by her brother. Even if he would be hated by Daemon, he had to completely sever this hidden danger.
As his voice fell, golden light completely enveloped Daemon, wrapping up all the hostility around him. Like warm water, it smoothed the restless aura, restructuring the implanted Otsutsuki cells bit by bit and purging the dark power within them.
The mark of Reflection was slowly stripped away. Daemon's struggles gradually weakened, the resentment in his eyes faded, replaced by blankness and confusion, as if he had forgotten why he was angry. Finally, his eyelids closed heavily, and he lost consciousness entirely, falling into a peaceful sleep.
Next, Shun restructured Ada's cells and stripped away the Shinjutsu marks. He preserved all the warm memories for Ada—the starry skies they walked under together, the small moments of companionship and tenderness, the instances of protecting each other—only erasing the dark past and marks of Kara and Shibai.
Having finished the processing, Shun waved his hand. Golden Chakra enveloped the siblings' figures, sending them to the Pure Land of Earth he had prepared long ago.
Gazing in the direction where the two disappeared, he remained silent for a long time.
Next would be to completely sever the ties of the past and clear all obstacles for the final battle.
He turned and walked out of the room. With a flash of his body, he appeared in the sky above the Kara Base, the Chakra around him instantly becoming cold and sharp.
He traversed every corner of the Kara Base. Toward the other members in the base, he showed no warmth, his gaze cold as frost.
With a movement of the Chakra in his palm, he imprisoned them, forcibly stripped the Shinjutsu marks from their bodies, erased all memories related to Kara and Shibai, and finally restructured their body cells to completely clear any residual dark power.
Finally, he provided everyone with basic living supplies, seeds, and tools, allowing them to start anew as ordinary people, without interfering with each other and far from conflict.
This was the last chance for life he could give to these people who had been manipulated and trapped in darkness, and also his final settlement of past bonds.
Having done all this, Shun stood in the empty base and looked around.
A blazing golden light rose from his palm as the solar power surged out. With a resolve to incinerate everything, it instantly enveloped the entire base. Ultimately, the entire base was reduced to scorched earth, even the ashes scattering with the wind into the Universe.
—
Inside the palace, it was warm and cozy. Lanterns hung from the carved pillars, their candlelight flickering and casting long shadows of everyone, creating a scene of peace and harmony.
The air was filled with a faint scent of tea and flowers—the familiar scent of home that belonged to him.
Kaguya sat upright on a cushioned chair. Her features naturally carried a sense of detachment and cold elegance, yet the moment she caught sight of his figure, they softened slightly.
Yukari was bowing her head to comb the hair of her young children. Their soft red hair shimmered with a gentle light under the candlelight as she whispered instructions to the children not to be noisy.
Mikoto held a needle and thread, her fingertips flying as a flower-and-bird pattern gradually took shape, a faint smile on the corners of her lips.
Steady footsteps broke this tranquility. Everyone turned to look, their gazes converging on Shun. The coldness of the Universe and the weight of war still lingered around him, clashing with the warmth inside the palace.
The originally relaxed atmosphere instantly grew quiet. Whether it was the capable Tsunade, the cold Yūgao, or the delicate Koyuki, a trace of solemnity flickered in their eyes.
Shun walked to the main seat in the hall and sat down. His face didn't show a hint of pre-war solemnity. On the contrary, it radiated a bit of calm confidence. He raised his hand to signal everyone not to be formal, remaining as calm as if he were discussing an ordinary trivial matter.
"The time for my final battle with Shibai is fast approaching."
As the words fell, the hall instantly became silent, and even the children's breathing became soft.
The smiles on the Queens' faces faded completely.
Yukari subconsciously shielded her children at her side, her eyes full of worry.
Koyuki's eyes reddened, tears welling up but held back with effort.
Mikoto put down her needlework, her fingertips trembling slightly, her expression grave.
The children also stopped their movements and looked toward Shun in unison. Their faces were devoid of their usual playfulness, replaced by eyes full of dependence and unease. The youngest child even quietly grabbed the mother's skirt for comfort.
Shun looked up, his gaze lingering briefly on Kaguya with a silent sense of entrustment and concern, then slowly swept over Tsunade, Yukari, and the others, a look of tenderness passing through his eyes as he tried to soothe everyone's emotions.
"The scale of this battle is far beyond your imagination. My duel with him will affect the River of Time, and ordinary combatants simply cannot get close. You don't need to think about intervening, nor do you need to deploy defenses. Just look after yourselves. This battle is one I must face alone."
Tsunade frowned, and her red lips parted as if she wanted to say something more, wanting to fight alongside him, but she was stopped by a look from Kaguya.
Kaguya shook her head slightly, signaling her not to insist. She understood his concerns and respected his decision.
A faint light flickered between Shun's brows, and wisps of crystal-clear light flowed out from his forehead. Carrying a gentle power, they precisely floated toward each Queen and child, slowly merging into their brows.
As the spiritual light merged into their bodies, it brought a wonderful sense of connection, as if they were tightly linked to his soul. They could clearly sense his aura and state. This connection spanned across time and space and could not be severed.
"This is my soul's spiritual light. You will be able to sense my condition through it. No matter how the battle goes, you will know if I am well."
But this seemingly secure arrangement felt like a final farewell in the eyes of the Queens. They knew him well. If it weren't for something of great importance, he would never easily leave such a soul bond behind. This felt more like preparing for the worst outcome.
Koyuki couldn't help but speak, her voice soft but carrying an uncontrollable tremble as tears finally slid down her cheeks. "Husband, are you... going to face this alone? How can we let you face such danger by yourself?"
Mikoto echoed softly, her tone full of concern and pleading, her eyes filled with worry, "Husband, if it is dangerous, then wait a few more days, and we will find a way together."
Shun rose and walked to their side, reaching out to gently wipe the tears from the corners of Koyuki's eyes. His fingertips carried a gentle warmth.
He then patted Tsunade's shoulder to signal her to be at ease, his tone full of comfort. "Don't overthink it. I never do things I'm not sure of. Leaving this backup is merely to ensure everything is covered and to put your minds at rest."
He didn't want his family to be filled with worry for him, he only wanted to give them a steady promise.
"Since I have held up this sky for you, I will not fall easily. Look after yourselves and live in peace, that is the greatest help you can give me."
Kaguya looked directly into his eyes, devoid of extra emotion. "Husband, if you win, what will the outcome be?"
Everyone in the hall held their breath. Even the children sensibly remained silent. All eyes focused on Shun, filled with anticipation and unease, waiting for his answer.
Shun looked up at the deep starry sky outside the hall, his gaze piercing through layers of nebulae as if he could see the end of the River of Time.
"At the level that Shibai and I have reached, it is actually very difficult to truly die. If I win, the future of this Universe will be for me to decide."
His tone slowed slightly, a deep look flashing in his eyes. "Rest assured. Even if I lose, I will not die. I will sever the River of Time and reshape a world for you."
He turned back to face his family again, the confidence on his face turning into a gentle smile.