The rain fell harder.
Cold. Relentless.
The Underlord walked through the empty streets, untouched by the storm, his presence bending the silence around him. Cars were abandoned. Lights flickered. Even the air felt heavier.
Freedom.
That's what he called it.
But something… wasn't right.
A sudden pause.
He stopped walking.
His hand twitched.
Just slightly.
"…What is this?" the Underlord murmured.
A voice.
Faint.
Broken.
But there.
Inside—
Darkness.
Endless.
Silent.
Kai stood alone.
Or at least… what was left of him.
Bruised.
Tired.
But standing.
"So… this is where you hid me," Kai said quietly.
The darkness didn't answer.
But it moved.
The Underlord's voice echoed through the void.
"You should not exist anymore."
Kai smirked faintly.
"Yeah… I get that a lot."
Outside—
The Underlord's body froze.
His eyes flickered.
Red… then darker… then red again.
Inside—
Kai stepped forward.
Every step heavy.
Like he was walking against something trying to push him back.
"You think you won?" Kai said. "You think I'd just disappear?"
The darkness shifted violently.
"You are weak," the Underlord replied. "Broken. You lost everything."
Kai stopped.
For a moment—
Silence.
"…Yeah," Kai said softly.
"I lost my powers."
"I lost my freedom."
"I almost lost my friends."
He looked up.
"But I didn't lose myself."
Outside—
The Underlord clenched his fists.
The ground beneath him cracked.
"What… are you doing?" he growled.
Inside—
Kai took another step.
Then another.
Faster now.
Stronger.
"You said this body is yours?" Kai said.
He laughed slightly.
"…You forgot something."
The darkness trembled.
"I built this," Kai said. "Every fight. Every scar. Every choice."
His eyes lit up—
Not just red.
Brighter.
Warmer.
Alive.
"You don't get to take it from me."
Outside—
The Underlord staggered slightly.
For the first time—
He stepped back.
"No…" he said. "…this is impossible."
Inside—
Kai ran forward.
Straight into the darkness.
Straight into him.
A clash.
Not physical—
But something deeper.
Will.
Identity.
Existence.
"THIS IS MY BODY!" Kai shouted.
Outside—
A shockwave burst out.
Windows shattered.
The rain scattered violently.
The sky seemed to shake.
The Underlord screamed—
But this time…
It wasn't just his voice.
Inside—
The darkness cracked.
Light broke through.
Kai stood in the center.
Breathing hard.
Shaking.
But standing.
"…I'm not done," he said.
Outside—
The glow in his eyes flickered wildly—
Dark.
Red.
Then—
Stable.
Kai dropped to one knee, gasping.
The storm around him calmed slightly.
The pressure… gone.
Axel and Leo, watching from a distance, froze.
"…Kai?" Axel whispered.
Kai slowly lifted his head.
His eyes—
Normal.
With just a faint red glow deep inside.
"…Yeah," he said quietly.
"I'm still here."
The Underlord's presence…
Wasn't gone.
But it was silent.
Buried.
Watching.
Waiting.
Kai stood up slowly.
Weaker.
But stronger in a different way.
He looked at his hands.
"…Guess we're sharing now," he muttered.
Axel ran forward, relief hitting him all at once. "You idiot… don't ever do that again!"
Leo followed, a small smile breaking through. "You actually took control… that shouldn't even be possible."
Kai looked at them.
Tired.
But real.
"I told you," he said.
"I'm not going anywhere."
But deep inside—
In the silence—
A voice whispered.
"…This isn't over."