The white light slowly faded, revealing what remained of the Citadel. The battlefield had become almost unrecognizable, with enormous gaps where buildings and streets had once existed. Reji, Dracula, Seiyan, and Judas stood scattered across the ruins, their bodies exhausted from constantly fighting against Yoshiro's overwhelming power. Seiyan's Horizon Breaker had almost completely disappeared, and Dracula's breathing was becoming heavier after repeatedly pushing his speed beyond its limits, while Reji's hands trembled from maintaining his chains. Judas remained standing between them, but even her restoration energy had begun to weaken.
Yoshiro walked through the ruins.
Not a single piece of rubble touched him.
"You're still alive."
Reji slowly raised his head.
"Unfortunately for you."
Yoshiro smiled.
"No."
He stopped.
"Fortunately for me."
Judas immediately understood what he meant.
"Everyone, move!"
Yoshiro raised his hand.
There was no explosion.
No enormous wave.
No visible attack.
Instead, the world around Reji suddenly became silent.
Reji looked down.
His chains were still there.
His body was still there.
But something felt wrong.
"...What did you do?"
Yoshiro stared at him.
"I didn't erase your body."
Reji's eyes widened.
"I erased the connection between your body..."
Yoshiro slowly moved his fingers.
"...and your existence."
Reji suddenly dropped to one knee.
Judas rushed toward him.
"Reji!"
His body remained completely intact, but his energy began disappearing.
Judas immediately activated her restoration.
Nothing happened.
Her eyes widened.
"...Why isn't it working?"
Yoshiro laughed quietly.
"That's the difference."
He pointed toward Reji.
"You can restore what was damaged."
His eyes became cold.
"But what happens when there's nothing left for you to restore?"
Judas froze.
Reji struggled to breathe.
"So..."
He looked at Judas.
"...you finally found something you can't fix."
Judas clenched her fists.
"Don't say that."
She placed both hands over him and pushed more restoration energy into his body.
Reji's energy returned for a moment.
Then disappeared again.
Judas stumbled backward.
"Again..."
She tried again.
Nothing.
"Again!"
She forced even more energy into him.
Reji's body began stabilizing.
But Yoshiro simply raised one finger.
The connection disappeared again.
Judas stared at him in disbelief.
"...You're erasing the restoration itself."
"Exactly."
Yoshiro smiled.
"That's why I've been watching you."
Dracula suddenly appeared behind Yoshiro.
His fist was already moving.
Yoshiro turned.
The punch stopped inches from his face.
Dracula's eyes widened.
Yoshiro grabbed his wrist.
"You're next."
White energy spread across Dracula's arm.
Dracula immediately accelerated.
For a fraction of a second, everything around him became almost motionless.
He pulled himself free and appeared several meters away.
His arm was shaking.
"...That was close."
Seiyan raised his hand.
"Dracula, get behind me."
"You're almost out of energy."
"I know."
Seiyan looked at Yoshiro.
"But I still have enough for one more."
Energy began forming around him.
Yoshiro looked toward him.
"Another Horizon Breaker?"
Seiyan smiled faintly.
"No."
He looked around the battlefield.
The remaining energy lines began connecting together.
"This time..."
"...I'm changing the entire pattern."
Yoshiro's expression became serious.
Judas looked toward Seiyan.
"Seiyan, don't overdo it."
"I won't."
Seiyan's eyes remained fixed on Yoshiro.
"I just need one opening."
Reji slowly stood again.
His body was still unstable.
But he raised his hand.
One chain appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Dracula stepped forward.
Electricity surrounded his body.
Judas stood behind them.
Despite everything...
They were still together.
Yoshiro looked at the four of them.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he smiled.
"You really don't know when to give up."
Judas answered quietly.
"That's because we're not fighting for ourselves."
Yoshiro's smile disappeared.
Seiyan's energy lines suddenly illuminated the ruins.
Reji's chains spread across the ground.
Dracula disappeared.
Judas raised both hands.
The four moved at the same time.
For the first time since the battle began...
Yoshiro was forced to take a step backward.
His eyes widened slightly.
Then he smiled.
"Interesting."
The Citadel shook again.
And the battle between erasure and existence...
Entered a completely different stage.