The spiral groaned. Not loudly. Not violently. But like something old — something ancient finally reaching its limit.
Shunya could feel it in the air.
The Uzumaki Formation was still holding, the Divine Beasts still anchoring its structure, the swarm still clawing at its edges, but none of that mattered anymore.Because the fight had narrowed to a single point.
Him. And the ancient host.
No threads. No systems interfering. No external noise.
Just two presences moving through a space that barely held together. Shunya stepped forward first. Not out of urgency. Not out of aggression. Just… because it felt natural.
The ancient host mirrored him. A quiet acknowledgment. They closed the distance
The first exchange was simple. A straight strike. Blocked. A step to the side. Countered.
But the simplicity was deceptive. Every movement carried weight. Not physical weight but intent.
