**Paras City – Night Glow on the Bridge**
Paras City glowed like a living jewel under the velvet night sky.
Streetlights cast warm golden halos on the wet roads, turning puddles into shimmering mirrors of neon pinks, blues, and violets. Neon signs from cafés, shops, and arcades reflected in every surface, making the city feel alive and magical. Cars moved slowly along the glistening streets, their headlights cutting gentle paths through the light mist left by the earlier rain. The air was cool and fresh, carrying the faint scent of wet asphalt, street food from late-night vendors, blooming night jasmine, and the distant sweetness of cotton candy. Laughter and soft music drifted from open restaurants and rooftop bars, mixing with the gentle hum of the city that never truly slept.
On the graceful arch of the bridge overlooking the river, Yuki and Honokage stood together, hands lightly linked.
The fireworks bloomed in the distance, painting the dark canvas with bursts of gold, crimson, and violet. Their reflections danced on the river surface below like scattered stars. The cool night breeze carried the faint scent of rain-kissed flowers and distant street food.
Yuki leaned her head gently against his shoulder, a soft, content smile on her lips as she watched the colorful explosions light up the sky.
Honokage's voice was quiet, almost reluctant, but warm in a way that made her heart flutter.
"The date isn't ended yet."
Yuki looked up at him, eyes widening with surprise and joy.
"Really?? But what can we do now?"
Honokage smiled faintly — a rare, genuine curve of his lips that made her heart skip.
"Let's spend some more time together. If you want then."
Yuki's smile brightened like the fireworks above, her hand squeezing his a little tighter.
"Of course…"
They began walking slowly along the wet streets, hands still linked.
Vehicles passed them occasionally, their lights painting fleeting patterns on the glistening pavement. The city lights reflected in every puddle, turning the ground into a mirror of color.
Honokage now looked at her more openly — not moving far, his gaze lingering on her face, her smile, the way the city lights caught in her hair.
Yuki noticed and felt a warm flutter in her chest.
"Hono-kun…"
Honokage's voice was soft.
"Yes?"
Yuki tilted her head, voice playful yet sincere.
"What do you like most to eat?"
Honokage thought for a moment, then shrugged lightly.
"Hmm… I don't have taste… I can eat anything that you give me."
Yuki pouted cutely, squeezing his hand.
"You don't have your favorite?"
Honokage shook his head.
"Nothing is favorite for me. I eat for being alive, not for joy."
Yuki smiled gently.
"Okay, we eat sushi. You might like it."
Honokage sighed.
"I am full… I don't want to eat anymore."
Yuki smiled, undeterred.
"Then we eat later… Let's go somewhere else?"
Honokage nodded.
"Okay."
They kept walking, the city lights dancing around them like silent spectators.
But somewhere else in the shadows of the city —
A hand erupted from the ground.
Then the body.
Jin arrived.
His time power seemed far weaker now. His dress was torn and burned. His halo was cracked. Half of his skin was scorched, still smoking faintly.
He shouted into the night, voice hoarse but filled with mad determination.
"You idiot Astra! You think I will burn under your fire like this fast!? I am the judgment of time itself! I will destroy you!"
Jin looked toward the bridge.
He narrowed his eyes.
"There… They are on there."
He rushed forward, a broken but dangerous shadow moving through the night.
Honokage suddenly felt something — a dark, distorted presence.
He teleported in front of Yuki protectively.
"Yu… Stay there."
Yuki looked worried, gripping his hand tighter.
"But why?"
Honokage narrowed his eyes, voice serious.
"The danger came back again…"
He was about to go.
Yuki held his hand tightly, eyes full of fear and love.
"Wait! Don't go alone! Let me join—"
Honokage looked at her, eyes softening for a brief moment.
"I promise I'll come back safe… I don't let the date get ruined… So please don't join the fight."
Yuki loosened her grip slowly, eyes filled with worry and love.
"Please… come safe…"
He turned toward the sky and teleported away in a crackle of black lightning.
Jin dashed toward him with insane speed.
They rushed at each other high above the city.
Jin stopped time around them.
The world froze — cars suspended mid-motion, fireworks hanging in the sky like frozen sparks, raindrops paused in mid-fall.
But Honokage adapted instantly and punched through the frozen time itself.
The punch landed — breaking the clock-like illusion into shattering glass.
Jin spilled blood mid-sentence and crashed through the forest below, trees exploding in his wake.
Honokage dashed after him and punched again.
Jin raised his hand and blocked it, smiling through the pain, but the force still cracked his halo further.
Honokage backed off and shot a lightning strike.
Jin used his weakened time power to slow down the attack, then reflected it with his cracked time clock.
The nearby area exploded violently — buildings shaking, windows shattering, people below screaming and running for cover.
Honokage grabbed him by the throat and threw him away.
Jin crashed through several buildings, debris flying everywhere, concrete and glass raining down on the streets below.
Jin stood up, breathing heavily, blood dripping from his mouth.
He could feel it — he was weaker now.
The long fight with Astra had taken its toll.
Jin laughed bitterly.
"You fought well… Honokage… But you aren't… strong enough."
Jin raised his hand.
Time slowed down around them.
He shot a barrage of distorted time attacks — waves that aged everything they touched into dust while rewinding other parts into raw chaos.
Honokage closed his eyes for a moment.
The attacks were about to hit.
He raised his hand.
Massive lightning erupted —
And copied the time power!
Honokage snapped his fingers.
Time slowed down around Jin.
Thunder erupted violently.
It hit Jin directly.
A massive thunder eruption consumed him.
Jin's scream echoed across the night sky before fading into silence.
Honokage breathed heavily, dress torn, body covered in injuries.
His eyes glowed slightly with exhaustion.
He was about to fall.
But Yuki appeared, catching him and gently sitting down with him on the ground.
Yuki's voice was soft, full of relief and love.
"Hono-kun… Thanks for protecting me…"
The night started fading slowly.
Sunlight appeared on the horizon — dawn breaking in soft pinks and golds.
Yuki looked at the sky, eyes shining.
"This is beautiful…"
---
**The Fight – Extended & Full Power**
But the fight with Jin was far from over.
Jin rose from the crater, half his body scorched, halo cracked, but his eyes still burned with insane determination.
He laughed maniacally, voice echoing across the sky.
"You think a little lightning can end the judgment of time!? I am eternal!"
Jin raised both hands.
The sky above warped.
Time itself bent — waves of temporal energy crashed toward Honokage, aging everything they touched into dust while rewinding other parts into raw chaos.
Honokage dashed forward, black lightning exploding around him like a storm.
He punched through the first wave — his fist shattering the time distortion like glass.
Jin teleported behind him and unleashed a barrage of time-accelerated punches — each hit landing with the force of centuries compressed into a second.
Honokage blocked most, but several connected, sending him crashing through a skyscraper.
The building collapsed in slow motion behind him, debris raining down on the streets below as people screamed and ran for cover.
Honokage rose from the rubble, blood on his lips, eyes glowing brighter.
He roared.
Black lightning erupted in a massive dome.
He copied the time power again — now fully adapting to Jin's ability.
Honokage snapped his fingers.
Time slowed around Jin.
Honokage appeared in front of him in a blur and unleashed a devastating combo — punches, kicks, tail strikes — each one empowered with copied temporal force.
Jin blocked frantically, but the impacts cracked his halo further.
Jin screamed and reversed time on himself — healing his wounds instantly — then countered with a massive time-stop blast.
Honokage was frozen for a split second.
Jin punched with all his remaining power.
The hit sent Honokage flying across the city skyline, crashing through multiple buildings in a trail of destruction.
People below screamed and ran as debris rained down.
Honokage stopped himself mid-air, breathing heavily.
His suit was torn, body covered in cuts and bruises, blood dripping from his mouth.
He looked down at the city — at Yuki waiting on the bridge — and his eyes hardened with resolve.
He wouldn't let this fight ruin her night.
Honokage roared again.
His aura exploded — black lightning mixed with crimson energy.
He teleported back to Jin and grabbed him by the throat.
"Enough."
Jin laughed weakly.
"You can't kill time itself…"
Honokage's eyes blazed.
"I don't need to kill time… I just need to end you."
He slammed Jin downward with full force.
They crashed into the river.
Massive waves erupted.
Honokage held him under the water and unleashed a point-blank black lightning storm.
The river boiled.
Jin's time power flickered wildly.
He managed one last desperate attack — a time-rewind blast that tried to undo Honokage's existence.
Honokage adapted again.
He copied the rewind and reversed it on Jin.
Jin's body aged rapidly — skin wrinkling, power fading — then exploded in a final burst of temporal energy.
The explosion lit up the entire river like a second sun.
When the light faded, Jin was gone — only scattered ashes drifting on the water.
Honokage floated above the river, breathing heavily, body covered in wounds.
He looked toward the bridge where Yuki waited.
A small, tired smile crossed his face.
He teleported back to her.
Yuki caught him as he landed, holding him tightly.
"Hono-kun… Thanks for protecting me…"
The night started fading slowly.
Sunlight appeared on the horizon — dawn breaking in soft pinks and golds.
Yuki looked at the sky, eyes shining.
"This is beautiful…"
---
**The Garden – Dawn**
After the fight, Honokage slowly opened his eyes.
He found himself lying in a beautiful flower garden on the outskirts of the city.
Many colorful flowers mixed together — roses, lilies, cherry blossoms — swaying gently in the soft breeze.
Wind blew softly, carrying their sweet fragrance.
He turned his head and saw Yuki lying beside him, her hand resting gently on his chest.
Yuki's voice was soft, warm, and full of quiet emotion.
"You woke up? Hono-kun."
Honokage looked around, still a bit dazed.
"Why did you drag me into the garden?"
Yuki giggled softly, her fingers tracing small circles on his chest.
"I just… like flowers. That's why I thought you might like it too…"
Then her expression turned a bit sad as she looked away.
"But… I am afraid… to lose you again…"
Honokage turned fully toward her, voice gentle.
"But why do you feel that you will lose me? I am here… in front of you."
Yuki's eyes glistened.
"You were fighting with Jin too much… He was so strong… What if you would die on that time!? Then?"
Honokage looked at himself — scratches, dried blood, injuries, a small scar near his eye.
He sighed.
"I guess… you are right… I have gone too far for the fight."
Yuki sat up slightly, voice trembling with emotion.
"A last thing… can I request from you?"
Honokage looked at her eyes directly, waiting.
Yuki smiled weakly, tears shimmering.
"Can you marry me in the future?"
Honokage stopped completely at that moment.
He thought silently.
*Do… I really deserve her to be married with her? I am just a curse after all… What if this ruins her life, herself… I can't marry her. Curses don't have emotions.*
Yuki noticed his silence.
"What are you thinking, Hono-kun?"
She touched a nearby flower slowly, then pulled out a small ring.
It was a crimson-coated ring with a shining emerald gem that caught the dawn light beautifully.
Yuki smiled softly.
"Today is your birthday… I have this gift for you."
She let Honokage wear it on his finger.
Honokage observed the ring, eyes softening.
"You remember the birthday?"
Yuki smiled, voice full of warmth.
"Yes, baka… How could I forget someone's birthday who is really important for me…"
He looked away for a moment.
Then he held Yuki's hand from behind.
Honokage's voice was quiet but sincere.
"I'd be happy to stay with you…"
Yuki giggled, eyes sparkling with happy tears.
"Hehe… I know you are shy…"
She patted his head from behind gently.
"You don't need to be shy with me… We have done adventures, fought together, enjoyed life… So it's just meaningless to hide the feelings."
Honokage didn't reply immediately.
Yuki pouted playfully.
"Hey… I am not a ghost… I still exist… Turn at me!"
Honokage rolled toward her.
"What now? I am tire—"
Yuki closed her eyes, hugged his neck, and kissed him on the lips.
His eyes widened slightly, then closed.
The wind fluttered peacefully around them.
Flowers shone beautifully in the dawn light.
A quiet, perfect moment — two souls finally allowing themselves to feel.
(End of Volume 3)