The new Gate opened without warning.
No siren this time—just a sudden tear in reality above a quiet park near Yoyogi. Purple-black mist poured down like ink in water. Trees bent backward. Streetlights flickered and died. People screamed and ran.
Haruto was already there.
He had felt it before the tear even appeared—the same pull from the Abyss Echo Gate. The same echo of Nox's laugh in his blood.
He stood at the edge of the park, black coat billowing in the unnatural wind. Civilians fled past him, phones out, filming.
He ignored them.
The Gate stabilized—fifteen meters tall, edges jagged like broken teeth. Inside: endless darkness. No floor. No sky. Just void.
**[Instant Analyze – Gate Scan.]**
**[Gate Status: A-rank (Forced Variant). Type: Void Whisper. Monsters: Void Wraiths Lv.20–28 (x20+), Nox Echo (Boss Candidate) Lv.35. Warning: High risk of soul interference. Memory resonance detected.]**
Haruto's red eyes flared.
"Nox…"
He stepped forward.
The mist parted.
He crossed.
Darkness absolute.
No ground beneath his feet—he floated. Gravity optional.
Whispers immediately assaulted him.
Not his sister this time.
Nox's voice—deep, mocking, familiar.
"You came back, little warrior. Pathetic."
The void rippled.
Figures formed—ghostly versions of his old enemies. Nox's lieutenants. Beasts from the Purge. All translucent, eyes glowing purple.
They lunged.
Haruto moved.
**[Judgment Blade – Lv.3 (upgraded).]**
Silver arcs cut through three wraiths. They dissolved with screams.
More came.
**[Black Chain Curse – Lv.3.]**
Chains exploded outward, thicker now, tipped with crimson flames. They wrapped, crushed, dragged the echoes into nothingness.
EXP surged.
But the whispers grew louder.
"You failed them all."
"Your sister died screaming your name."
"You were never enough."
Haruto's jaw clenched.
"Shut up."
**[Aura Fear – Lv.3.]**
The pressure wave rolled out—stronger, darker. The ghosts recoiled, flickering.
Then the boss emerged.
Nox Echo.
Not the real Nox.
A twisted copy—taller, broader, skin like cracked obsidian, purple flames for eyes. The same arm that had split him in two in the old world.
It spoke.
"You think this world will save you? You're still the same failure."
It raised its arm.
Purple-black energy gathered—Infernal Slash reborn.
Haruto didn't wait.
**[Dragon Variant – Crushing Sky Dragon (partial).]**
Scales erupted over his arms and chest—deep crimson. Wings of shadow unfurled briefly. Speed tripled.
He charged.
The slash came.
Haruto dodged—air exploding behind him.
He closed the distance.
**[Crimson Flames – Lv.3.]**
Fists ignited. He drove them into the Echo's chest.
Flames devoured shadow.
The Echo staggered.
But laughed.
"You can't erase me. I'm part of you now."
It countered—claws raking forward.
Haruto blocked with chains.
They shattered.
Pain lanced through his arm.
**[HP: 4200/8500]**
He gritted his teeth.
"Part of me?"
He raised his palm.
**[Tenebrae – Lv.2 (Selective Devour – Max Charge).]**
The black sphere formed—larger than before. Edges sharp. Hungry.
"I devour parts."
He hurled it.
The sphere struck the Echo's core.
Darkness expanded—fast, merciless.
Purple flames flickered out.
The Echo screamed.
"You can't—"
The void swallowed the scream.
The core shattered.
The Echo dissolved into wisps.
**[Boss defeated.]**
**[EXP +2500]**
**[Level Up! Level 9 → Level 11]**
**[Memory Fragment 3 Unlocked: The Mark of Nox.]**
The Gate trembled.
Haruto stood in silence as the vision came.
Nox's arm in his chest. The final strike.
But this time—he saw the mark.
A faint purple rune on Nox's wrist.
The same rune that had glowed when the divine voice intervened.
The same rune that now pulsed faintly on his own palm.
Haruto stared at it.
A scar he hadn't noticed before.
The Gate collapsed.
He stepped out.
Back in the park.
Rain poured.
No one around—civilians long gone.
But someone watched from the treeline.
A figure in white—long silver hair.
Miya.
She stepped forward.
"You cleared it. Alone. Again."
Haruto didn't look surprised.
"You followed."
She nodded.
"I felt the resonance. It was… personal."
She looked at his hand—the faint purple scar glowing softly.
"What is that?"
Haruto closed his fist.
"A reminder."
He met her eyes.
"I'm not done."
Miya stepped closer.
"Then let us help finish it."
Haruto was silent for a long moment.
Then he nodded—once.
"Fine."
The rain kept falling.
But the whispers had quieted.
For now.