The fight was not physical. It was something deeper.
Every strike of Abathy's sword was not made of steel. It was made of words.
"You are nothing." Swords clashed.
"You'll never be enough." Haru blocked.
"No one loves you." Blood—not real blood. Memory blood.
Haru fought. But every blow weakened him. Not because Abathy was strong. Because the words were true. Or at least... they felt true.
Abathy laughed. "See? You can't defeat me. I am you."
Haru fell to one knee. The sword hovered above him.
Then—a whisper. From somewhere far.
"Haru... I'm sorry... I found you... I finally found you..."
Joceka's voice. Crying. Calling him.
Haru's eyes widened. He heard it. Through the gray void. Through the pain. Through everything. Joceka was calling him. Joceka wanted him to come back.
Abathy screamed: "Don't listen to him! He's not real! Only I am real!"
Haru slowly stood up. Blood dripping from wounds that didn't exist. But his eyes were different now.
He looked at Abathy. And said: "You're right. You are me."
He stepped closer. "Every word you said... I said them to myself first."
Another step. "Every pain... I carried it alone."
Another step. "But I am not just pain."
Abathy's form began to tremble. Haru raised his sword. Not to strike. To touch. He placed the flat of the blade against Abathy's chest.
And said: "You are part of me. But you are not all of me."
The void shook. Abathy screamed—not in anger. In release. His body cracked. Light poured through the cracks. And he whispered: "Finally... you understand..."
The monster dissolved. Into light. Into memory. Into Haru himself.
The gray world began to collapse. And Joceka's voice became clear.
"Haru!"
Haru smiled for the first time. And said:
"I'm coming."