Mina couldn't help but feel stunned at the person standing beside her. That woman had a face identical to hers—as if they were two drops of water. The same straight nose, the same beautiful features. The same jet-black hair that made her pale skin stand out even more.
If not for the small mole beneath her eye—the only difference—Mina would have thought she was looking into a mirror.
The woman wore a simple kimono, yet it was no less elegant and radiant. Her irises were a reddish-orange, and her smile was gentler than Mina's. Like a warmer version of herself.
While Mina was shrouded in a dark, sinister, almost otherworldly aura that only non-human beings could perceive—This woman felt entirely different.
She introduced herself as Murasaki Kamakiri. The very first matriarch of the Kamakiri clan. The one who began the matriarchal lineage that had continued until today.
Mina had heard stories about her before. She had even seen sketches of her. But she had never imagined she would resemble her this much.
So what was all of this?
Did that mean her father—and this woman as well…
…were both just spirits?
Perhaps only Shana was perceptive enough to realize that Duyen had done something in that brief moment when no one was paying attention. Duyen quietly closed her hand. Her eyes, which had been a misty indigo like fog, returned to normal.
Even Amuro had not anticipated that this would happen.
So the ancestors of the entire Kamakiri clan had gathered here. It was truly a once-in-a-thousand-years situation—bizarre beyond words.
Even ordinary people like Dao and Nayeon could clearly see the two spirits as if it were broad daylight. Dao trembled as she grabbed Nayeon's hand.
"Why does she look so much like Mina!? Oh—look!" Dao jerked in fright.
"They… they don't have legs!?"
And indeed, just as she said—Neither Hwang nor Murasaki had visible legs. They were truly spirits.
Ousa, in particular, was overwhelmed with terror and confusion upon seeing Murasaki. She turned to look at him. The gentle smile she had before vanished instantly.
"Father…"
"Impossible…" Ousa muttered.
"So all this time… your soul has been inside that ring?"
Ousa stared at Murasaki in fear, despite having absorbed countless souls. It was clear that even back then, his ambition had first been directed toward his own daughter.
But someone must have tried to save Murasaki. She had managed to escape in time, while the Kamakiri family had already been almost completely manipulated by Ousa. All except the Sawada clan.
Ousa had hunted her relentlessly, just as he had done with Shana. Wherever he went—death followed. Yet Murasaki had completely vanished. The only thing left behind…
Was the Kamakiri command ring, lying in a pool of blood.
Murasaki spoke, her voice choked with emotion as she recounted the past:
"…The Kamakiri clan carries immense karma. I already knew that the day the Kamakiri would fall was only a matter of time. That is why, when I suddenly became the youngest clan head, the first thing I wanted to do was change the very core of the clan—so that never again would this karma fall upon my descendants. And because of that… the blessing of the goddess Ama left us…"
Mina seemed to hold her breath, listening to Murasaki's confession. It felt as though she herself was speaking those words. Meanwhile, Ousa deliberately avoided Murasaki's gaze.
As if… he too felt guilt.
Murasaki continued, a cold pressure lacing her voice:
"But everything I tried to rebuild was destroyed once again… when my father returned like a ghost, with his horrifying ambition…"
Her burning gaze locked onto Ousa. It carried a weight that forced him to face it. The light in her eyes radiated righteousness so intense that even Ousa felt fear.
"…Fortunately, I managed to escape before he could carry out his vile intentions. But I had already reached a dead end. That was when I knew my death was inevitable."
Her eyes drifted toward the ring in Mina's hand.
"…Knowing I would die, my greatest regret was that I could not warn future generations about my father's deeds. So I prayed to the goddess Ama. And that was the first—and last—time I saw her with my own eyes."
At the mention of Ama, Ousa visibly jolted. He hurriedly asked,
"You… you really saw the goddess Ama!? You were actually able to communicate with her!?"
But Murasaki looked at his eagerness with ridicule—even contempt.
"Father, why do you care about that? The goddess will never forgive you anyway."
Hearing that, Ousa fell silent. Murasaki's reproach made him uneasy, unable to meet her eyes. She glared at him and continued:
"You want to know what the goddess told me? Listen carefully—everything about the so-called 'chosen child' is a lie."
Those words struck directly at Ousa's ego. He glared back immediately.
"That's impossible! According to the prophecy, that child will exist—and will help me rule the world!"
Murasaki could not even hold back her laughter.
"Then who made that prophecy? What is it based on?"
"From—!"
Ousa seemed about to say something—But the words would not come out.
From… who?
A vague image surfaced in his mind—of a graceful man with long black hair, his face indistinct. Even the name of that person was distorted, like static. Something in his mind was blocking it.
Why?
Murasaki observed him slowly, her voice sharp:
"…And because of that, you did not hesitate to sacrifice me, my mother, and your own descendants for your filthy ambition. Father, even now—you still refuse to repent?"
Those words struck Ousa's pride deeply. He lashed out violently, even twisting the blame back onto Murasaki.
"What's wrong with you following me!? Can't you sacrifice yourself for me!? What I did—what part of it was wrong!? I am still your elder! You should obey whatever I say!"
His manipulation and twisted logic shocked everyone present and filled them with fury. At that point, Murasaki no longer grew angry. She simply sighed softly.
"Yes… I should have expected you to say that."
Then she turned to Mina, who was still confused. Murasaki reached out and held her hand, ignoring the dark aura surrounding Mina. Her light did not fade. Instead, it blended with Mina—becoming warm and ethereal.
"Kamakiri Mina, this is my request."
Mina was initially cautious, but Murasaki's smile quickly calmed her. Before Mina could respond, Murasaki continued:
"I will grant you a power that no one who has inherited the Kamakiri name has ever possessed. In fact… perhaps no one has ever truly inherited the Kamakiri legacy in its entirety. Not the false power built upon my father's lies—but the real one. The blessing of the goddess Ama…"
"The blessing of the goddess Ama…?"
Mina was startled by those words. At the same time, her father helped her mother to her feet. His entire body was bathed in a beautiful golden light. He gave Mina a gentle, trusting look—and nodded. As if to say:
"Mina, you can do this."
Then he turned to her mother, Miko. She leaned into him. The depth of their bond was unmistakable. Perhaps it was the first time Mina had ever seen her mother so happy.
It warmed her heart.
Mina turned back to Murasaki, whose hand still held hers, waiting for her answer. Mina nodded.
"Yes… I will."
Murasaki smiled—a bright, warm smile like spring sunlight filling the entire space. From her body, a magnificent golden light flowed into Mina's hand. It merged perfectly with her—erasing the darkness around her.
In its place, golden streaks intertwined with blood-red strands, forming an aura that belonged to her alone. Mina took a deep breath. She felt something surging within her. A vast, flowing power—like an endless spring.
Could this be… the blessing of the goddess Ama?
Murasaki smiled softly as she continued:
"The reason my father desperately searched for someone who possessed the goddess's blessing was not because he wanted it… but because he feared it. That power could completely destroy him."
The true inheritance of the Kamakiri clan was not the ring. From the very beginning—It was Murasaki's soul within it.
And this power…
At last, Ousa understood. The riddle in the prophecy he could never solve. But now—It was too late.
He burned with jealousy as he realized that it was not him—but Mina—who had inherited it. He went mad, absorbing the surrounding matter, and roared,
"DAMN IT! WHY ISN'T IT ME!? WHY!? WHY!?"
His roar seemed to shake space itself, forcing everyone to cover their ears. It was the cry of an evil man who had sacrificed centuries for his ambition—only to realize that he had been nothing more than a pawn in the gods' game of fate.
Shana crossed her arms and sighed.
"Ousa… you truly are a deluded fool…"
Murasaki and Mina watched him unleash his fury, yet the two of them remained completely calm, their expressions unmoved. Then Murasaki turned to Mina and said softly,
"Kamakiri Mina. From this moment on, the Kamakiri family will be under your control. Whether you guide it toward something better, or usher in a more brutal era—that decision is yours."
"Murasaki…"
Murasaki smiled, then pointed toward Ousa, instantly silencing him.
"And now, help me punish this wretched man. Who betrayed the family? Who betrayed the goddess Ama? Who lost all conscience and harmed his own wife and child? It was him—Kamakiri Ousa. This is my request. Help me deliver his punishment."
Her words struck like thunder—sharp and resounding—leaving Ousa shaken. Mina's gaze shifted toward him, and now her aura had changed completely.
Ousa trembled in terror, yet his rage burned even stronger. The monstrous entity merged with him. Their voices fused into one, creating a horrifying symphony. Murasaki clenched her teeth in anger and cried out,
"Mother…"
Ousa roared. His face had become grotesquely distorted. His mouth sagged, black fluid dripping from it, his voice warped and broken.
"I… will become… the ruler… of the world…!"
But Mina only glanced at him calmly as she said,
"Ambitious… but…"
She extended her arm. From it emerged a massive biological blade, glowing with shimmering red light mixed with metallic brilliance—magnificent, yet terrifying.
After fully merging with Hanna, Ousa took a stance, then lunged at Mina with lightning speed, screaming,
"YOU BASTARD!"
Mina did not even move. In a single instant—The two of them passed through each other.
Why did Ousa suddenly feel so light?
He could no longer feel the lower half of his body. With eyes capable of perceiving every motion, he realized in horror—His entire body…
Was disintegrating into dust.
Why?
Why!?
Only Mina's blade had passed through him, accompanied by a golden light that burned through his body.
In his vision, it was as if he were experiencing Mina's killing strike in slow motion—watching his own body being devoured.
So this was it…
Everything he had done over the past 2000 years—Was it all just for this?
Ousa refused to accept it. He could not accept this ending.
And then—Something caught his eye.
He saw the serpentine sword hanging at Yu's side. The weapon he thought he had lost long ago.
That's right!
That was it!
That sword would allow him to take everything back!
He could even use it to slice through Shana's neck—Kill every woman here—And devour their flesh whole!
Heaven has not abandoned me!
His arm desperately tried to reach toward Yu, to seize the sword—
Until he realized that even his fingers had already turned to dust.
What?
Ousa's body—and the soul of his deceased wife—vanished together into the air. As if they had never existed.
Everyone stood in shock at what had just happened. It felt like they had just witnessed a grand, tragic play.
Then—
From the ground beneath them, golden streams began to coil and rise into the sky.
Mina, Duyen, and Shana stood frozen, watching as the souls of the dead dissolved into golden dust and ascended. Mina could even see Haruna's soul rising among them.
Even Murasaki and Hwang looked at their own fingers as they slowly faded away. Miko broke down in tears, trying desperately to hold onto Hwang—but she could not touch him.
"Don't, Hwang! Don't leave me! Don't leave me again! Please!"
Hwang looked at her and smiled. Half of his face had already vanished.
"Miko… I love yo…"
Then Murasaki also began to fade. She managed to say her final words to Mina:
"Mina… from now on, everything depends on you…"
And then her soul, too, ascended into the sky.
At last, the souls of all the ancestors of the Kamakiri family were freed. Bringing an end to the tragedy that had spanned over 2000 years.