The entire crew being shielded by the light magic barrier felt violent gusts of wind assaulting them. The light magic barrier extended all across from one end of the room to the other end, preventing any remnants of the dark magic emitting from the demon to escape past them.

The two layers of barrier covering the demon had been completely broken. Fortunately, it was enough to absorb the impact of the explosion, hence, the room was still intact. Alas, the dark magic spread out and lingered all around the room.

Due to the dense dark magic exploding out, all the crew could see was a swirling void before them, the darkness was impenetrable, making it impossible for them to even peek through it to search for Xue or Rugi.

"Those two crazy bastards!" Haru yelled out, a panicked look on his face. "I did not come this far just to--argh!"

"Captain!"

"Haru!"

"Hold on to something, or it's going to blow us all away as well!" Yun advised.

All of them tried to catch Haru who was being blown away, except for Hana who was trying her best to maintain the barrier. K'xug rushed over to Haru, using his wings to boost his speed and he caught Haru before he crashed into the wall of the corridor behind him.

K'xug released Haru, placing him down on the ground. Haru had his eyes closed, wincing as the wind really hit him hard.

"Damnit," Haru cursed out, wincing and he opened his eyes, glancing up at K'xug. "Aren't you the least bit worried for Xue?"

K'xug gave him a slight smile, patting him on the shoulder.

He'll be fine.

Both of them will be.

Since they are the same person after all.

The person who once ruled over the two powerful realms.

Kiyae, Ryo and Yun were either pressed up against the wall behind them, holding onto the edges of the doorway. Hana was still in front of the barrier, light magic still flowing out of her as she made a whining noise.

The barrier was starting to crack.

"K'xug! I think...I think it's going to break!"

K'xug rushed over, after tossing Haru over to Kiyae and the others.

They caught their captain, who was still wincing from the impact of being blown away like a ragdoll.

Meanwhile, the entire time, Cecil was having a conversation.

"Hey, you can use light magic, don't you?"

[ ... ]

"Don't pretend to ignore me, or not hear me."

"I clearly heard the words that day, when I encountered the demon. He said he sensed light magic from me, when I purchased the armour from your so-called points shop."

[ ... ]

[ The Points Shop is no longer available. ]

"..."

"I take it that I can never get any benefits from you any longer."

"I bet it's some rule set by the "Transmigration World System" or whatever it is you are calling it."

[ Yes. ]

[ It is our Creator after all~ ]

"..."

That was the first time Cecil had heard of such a word.

Since she herself was a mortal, Cecil couldn't offer any support other than taking care of herself. She joined the others in pressing up against the wall, squeezing her eyes close due to the wind growing more violent.

The dark magic surrounding the place wasn't dying down any time soon.

"K'xug! Are you telling us we are supposed to hide here and accept the deaths of our friends?!" Ryo exclaimed.

K'xug glanced behind at Ryo, before looking over to Cecil and the others.

"...they'll be fine, right?" Hana questioned beside him, her voice concerned. "I'm sure they will be, somehow! Rugi is part of Xue after all!"

Hana ducked her head down, her hands still stretched out and holding up the barrier along with K'xug.

"Somehow, I can't explain why but..." Hana lifted her head up, smiling. "I've known since long ago, Xue is really strong! So strong that something like this won't defeat him!"

K'xug turned back to give the others a silent nod of encouragement. After which, he looked back at Hana with a soft smile.

That's right, he is.

His soul and powers may be weakened, but not the weapon he possessed.

Just then, within the midst of the lingering dark magic, a line of white light pierced through from where Xue stood. The white light wasn't bright enough to make them squint their eyes, thus, everyone watched with bated breaths.

The white light expanded and burst out, reaching to every corner of the room. It nullified the dark magic wherever it touched, dispelling the ominous aura. Eventually, their vision cleared and they saw a handsome ash blonde-haired man standing in the centre of the room, his kimono was shredded with bloodied wounds covering the parts that were shredded.

On his face, there was a cut on his cheek, a drop of blood sliding down. The spear in his right hand was shining brilliantly in a white light with a hint of blue, pulsating.

K'xug witnessed this entire scene with a smirk on his face.

"The absorption gave me enough power to imbue my energy into my spear," Xue muttered out, wiping the blood from his cheek. "Fortunately."

He glanced at his spear, which started to quell down as if on command. Gradually, it no longer pulsated and the white light dissipated.

"Xue!" Cecil exclaimed, rushing forward.

K'xug hastily stuck his arm out, blocking her way. He shook his head disapprovingly at Cecil, a deep crease on his forehead.

Cecil gasped, looking back and forth between Xue and K'xug.

"Haven't used this in a while," Xue closed his eyes, smiling slightly. "It feels like I'm training myself all over again--"

Xue widened his eyes, pain throbbing throughout his body and he knelt on the ground.

Cecil couldn't wait any longer, snapping her eyes towards K'xug. He lowered his arm quickly and allowed her to move out of the barrier.

She dashed towards Xue, kneeling down beside him as she gasped, her hands caressing his cheek.

"Why did you run out like that?" Xue spoke tiredly. "There might be dark magic still lingering about and it is potent to any of you, that was what K'xug was afraid of."

"Are you kidding? How can I not run to you when you look like this?" Cecil burst out, her eyes wandered around his body, biting on her lip. "You are bleeding all over, and your face is so pale!"

Xue knew if it was Cecil in his position, he would rush towards her with no careful consideration about his safety as well.

Cecil brushed her fingers over one of his deeper wounds, making him emit a wince. She flinched back, her trembling fingers hovering all over him, her expression showing nothing but worry.

"It must be painful, you idiot. If Rugi wasn't there, it would have been..." Cecil mumbled out, sighing. "The two of you..."

Xue couldn't help but smile fondly.

His lover that he cherished was showering him with such worry, as if he was the only thing that mattered.

How could he not smile?

Xue shifted forward, wrapping his arm around Cecil's waist and resting his forehead on her shoulder.

"Take good care of me then."

"I will, even if you tell me not to." Cecil responded, her voice firm.

Xue let out a short, breathy chuckle, his arm tightening around her waist.

Upon seeing that Cecil was perfectly fine, he gestured for Hana to relax and the barrier was removed. Hana and K'xug ran over to the couple, Hana flailing her arms in a panic, questioning Xue's condition.

K'xug folded his arms across his chest, his expression relaxed.

Meanwhile, Haru and the others trudged over. Their expressions reflected their wretched state, and something urged Xue to lift his head up, despite how fatigued he was from trying to stop the devastating explosion.

"He's...gone, isn't he?" Haru asked quietly, his expression incomprehensible.

"Tsurugi..." Yun sighed, covering his face with his hand.

"Yet another one," Ryo lowered his head, clenching his fists. "Again and again."

Kiyae was unusually quiet, biting on her lower lip harshly.

"At least, one of you idiots made it out," she said, her voice shaking. "The two of you are real idiots, I guess you share more than the resemblance in your appearance...tch."

Unable to bear it, she spun around and didn't dare to look back again.

Xue watched them with an indifferent expression.

He had encountered this situation a few times, where it concerned the disappearance of his soul fragment.

He never imagined the day where people would be devastated like that. Devastated over a part of him vanishing from their life.

When he himself had been banished from the heavenly and demon realm, there wasn't anyone who mourned over his disappearance. One realm detested him because he made friends with their eternal enemy, while the other realm detested him since the Supreme God was always their nemesis.

All of a sudden, a sentence rang in his mind.

"Though half of the world may stand against you, somewhere in the other half, there will be people who will stand with you."

A small voice within Xue's heart started to wonder.

Maybe somewhere within the two realms, there were people who mourned my disappearance.

I just wasn't there to witness it since I couldn't.

He scoffed inwardly, feeling bitter.

He couldn't believe something like that would exist.

Hana straightened herself, walking towards Kiyae and hugging her with a sad expression. Kiyae wrapped her arms around Hana's shoulders, her body trembling.

K'xug raised his hand, patting on the shoulders of Ryo and Haru.

Haru threw his arm around Yun, hanging his head low.

Hana and K'xug threw a glance towards Xue, knowing that Rugi was actually existing within him.

Their friend did not actually disappear.

He was just a part of Xue.

"Xue," Cecil whispered out. "What do you want to do?"

Xue focused his attention back on Haru and the crew, his chin resting on Cecil's shoulder. He was still hugging her happily.

How annoying.

Despite the words in his mind, his expression softened ever so slightly.

In his mind, he kept remembering the time in the coliseum where all of them rushed in to save him, Cecil and Ryo. Moreover, they scolded Cecil for sacrificing herself when she should have pulled them along to her deaths.

Xue: "Oi, I know you are awake now."

Kai: "That's right, look at them, chief!"

Zasiok: "At this rate, they will cry over your death for months."

Leonaut: "You are a beloved chief, huh."

Alric: "Th-this is so sad..."

Sid: "Very sad..."

Kai: "Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?"

Shin: "Big brothers...and big sister Kiyae..."

Isleif: "Too sappy. Stop crying. It's pathetic, you vermin."

They started to beat Isleif up once again.

Rugi: "..."

Rugi: "The only way...would be to tell them. You know that, right?"

Xue: "You have known them longer than me."

Xue: "I..."

He recalled the memories he had with all the soul fragments he had encountered, his expression softened even further this time.

Xue: "I trust myself."

He closed his eyes, exhaling heavily.

Xue: "So tell them yourself."

Xue: "They already know who I am anyway."

The soul fragments who had known Xue longer were flabbergasted at his words and actions. The image of the bitter and cold-hearted man they knew was starting to crumble away.

Without giving Rugi a chance to retort, he called Rugi out. However, before he called Rugi out, he moved away from Cecil.

"No, wait, I am not ready to--" the ash blonde-haired man started to speak out as he recoiled in shock, stopping abruptly with wide eyes. "I am...already brought out, it seems."

Haru and the rest were confused at the sudden change in Xue.

Cecil withdrew back, immediately recognising the change in Xue. Hana and K'xug blinked in surprise, not expecting Xue to come to such a decision.

"I still haven't forgotten about our appointed battle, Ryo," Rugi wore his trademark charming yet seductive smile. Alas, it wasn't the same without the mole at the corner of his mouth. "And I do agree with your words, Kiyae, but I would make the same decision any day."

"What..." Kiyae frowned.

"Crazy strong Xue?" Ryo tilted his head.

"I...don't think...that's Xue." Haru scratched his head.

"Definitely not." Yun adjusted his glasses.

"It's not the Xue you know, but it is still him," Rugi explained before pausing. "I suppose, to make things simple...I am actually Himura Tsurugi."

The bewilderment on their faces mimicked one another.

"Rugi is actually Xue, and Xue is actually Rugi! They are the same person! Ta-dah!" Hana chirped, beaming. "There's no need to be so sad anymore, and all of you look so funny!"

The bewilderment grew with their expressions twisting more.

K'xug clamped his hand over Hana's mouth, a drop of sweat rolling down his face.

Hana flailed her arms, making unhappy noises.

Cecil only looked up at Hana, smiling helplessly. Hana wasn't wrong in her explanation, but it only confounded them further.

"Well, this will take a while to explain," Rugi sighed out. "At least, I will be able to properly convey the last few words from the auction house owner about Ephert."

***

Xue opened his eyes.

He was inside of his mind, a place he knew very well. He spun around, seeing the many different versions of himself looking back at him.

"You are not as cold as I expected." Shin stated.

"You are changing!" Kai grinned.

"Fo-for the better!" Alric added on.

"Changing for the better." Zasiok nodded in agreement.

"Haha, you are growing soft," Leonaut smirked. "Who would have thought you were capable of it, Xue?"

"My saviour, this is a good change!" Sid threw his hands in the air, seated cross-legged on the couch.

"Tch, pathetic," Isleif spat out, leaning against the couch with crossed arms. "You are letting your guard down again, you are starting to trust again."

"You bastard," Kai grabbed Isleif by the collar. "You won't ever get the chance to control Xue, so leave it!"

"That isn't my intention," Isleif shrugged, glancing at the indifferent Xue. "I am just stating the truth, aren't I?"

The memories of betrayal were still fresh in Xue's mind.

He had never forgotten them.

However, they were overlapping with the happy moments he shared with Cecil, K'xug and Hana. The happy moments he shared with Haru and the rest as well.

"..."

There was an incomprehensible expression on his face.

He wandered alone for twenty-three years in the mortal realm, after his miserable time up in the heavenly realm.

Suspecting everyone, fearful for his life due to his lost powers, mistrustful and bitter. He knew that not to get backstabbed again, he had to kill whoever he doubted.

Not even an inch of his heart could hold any positive emotions anymore.

He was no longer the bright and young Supreme God.

Everything was bleak and cold.

Though it may seem short compared to the three hundred years he spent in the heavenly realm, it was the hardest part of his life.

He had no one to rely on.

Everything he experienced throughout his life turned out to be deceptive.

His world had crumbled away.

His sanity was at the edge of the cliff, and a feather-light push could topple him over.

Hatred and vengeance was all he could cling onto, to push on. Fortunately, he found out about Hana's existence, from a surprise visit from the devil that betrayed him, the person he regarded as his best friend.

Of course, he didn't believe Veau. However, just like Veau had stated.

"Deceiving you? What more do I have to deceive? You are ruined beyond recognition. The place you once called home is no more. You, are no more."

"See for yourself. What more do you have to live on for anyway? You are just a wandering soul with vengeance in your empty heart. Belonging nowhere and heading nowhere."

"Let me see what your broken self will do from here on out, Xue."

Those words stabbed right into him. He was too subdued to even contemplate those words, he could only accept them with a blank look.

Hana Katae.

The only person who stood by his side.

However, the only person he had dragged through mud with as well.

Maybe if he found her, he could regain his sanity.

He could gain back the shred of the person he once was.

However, that role never once belonged to Hana.

It belonged to the people he had met along the way.

Of course, the biggest player in this role was Cecil Lan.

If he hadn't met Cecil, if she hadn't done the things she did and stuck by his side stubbornly despite his callous and unstable self, he wouldn't be where he was now.

He wouldn't be like this now.

Whether it was a good or bad thing, he didn't mind.

Somehow, he felt inexplicably at ease.

With Cecil Lan by his side, he always felt like this. She truly understood him from the very beginning, and for that, he was eternally grateful.

He could never make up for his mistakes, but he swore to never mistreat her again.

In fact, right now, she was his one and only anchor.

Just her alone.

"You are right."

They were almost getting into a fight with Isleif, and Xue looked back at Isleif. There was no anger or resentment in his grey eyes, only calmness.

"I'm becoming soft and starting to trust others once again," Xue answered as he smiled wryly. "And now that I'm experiencing a feeling like this again..."

Xue closed his eyes.

"It isn't so bad."

***

《 start 》

Having peaceful nights without being alerted by the simplest noises.

Not being plagued by nightmares.

The awful stench of blood surrounding me.

Suspecting every single action of theirs.

I don't miss those at all.

Learning to trust.

Having people to rely on.

Knowing I am safe.

A place to belong.

A sense of who I am.

It...really isn't so bad.

《 stop 》