The Soulreaver collapsed under Zekai's hands, its body tearing apart as the last of its form faded into nothing.
The fight ended, but the burning in his eyes and the weight in his body didn't fade.
His muscles still trembled, and his breathing refused to slow down. But none of that mattered. There was something worse.
Zekai bent down and picked up the black stone card from the ground. It felt heavier than before, as if it carried everything that had just happened.
His fingers tightened around it instinctively.
"Mr… Ze…kai…"
Aron's voice shook as it reached him. Zekai turned immediately.
Aron was lying on the ground.
For a moment, Zekai's mind went blank.
Then everything hit at once.
"No… no…"
He rushed toward him and dropped to one knee beside Aron.
His knee slammed into the ground hard, but he barely felt it.
He carefully lifted Aron's upper body and rested his head on his lap.
Aron's body felt light… too light. Like something inside him had already been taken before Zekai touched him.
"Aron...!"
[ CRITICAL STATE — SUBJECT: ARON ]
Vital Integrity: Collapsing
Soul Presence: Unstable
Survival Probability: 3%
Time Remaining: Indeterminate
---
'Only 3%… this is bad. I don't believe it'
If the system says it's impossible, it just means he hasn't found the answer yet.
He didn't know what to do.
[ SUBJECT STATUS — ZEKAI ]
Mental State: Destabilizing
Emotional Suppression: Failing
Primary Emotion: Panic
Secondary: Denial
---
Aron looked at Zekai the same way he always did—with a calm, gentle smile.
"Mr. Zekai… am I going to die?"
Aron's voice was quiet, but his eyes told the truth. He was in pain.
"No. Don't say that," Zekai said quickly.
But even as Zekai spoke, he knew something was wrong.
[ SOUL DETACHMENT DETECTED ]
Progress: 41% → 63% → 78%
Reversal: Not Available
---
"Ah… I can feel it," Aron whispered. "My soul… it's slowly leaving me."
His voice felt distant, like it wasn't coming from his body anymore.
'No… no… if this continues, he'll die.'
If direct recovery is impossible… then Zekai needed something outside the system.
"No… please… don't talk like that."
"This isn't your time," Zekai said, shaking his head.
"I'll find a way. I'm not done with you. We'll get out of here together."
Aron didn't reply. Panic rose in his chest.
"There has to be something…"
[ COGNITIVE OVERLOAD ]
Decision Clarity: Degraded
Rational Processing: Impaired
---
Zekai looked around desperately, searching for anything that could help.
There was nothing left except the shattered remains of the Soulreaver and the empty ruins around them.
No way forward. No help. Only the card in his hand.
Zekai looked back at Aron.
Aron slowly raised his blood-covered hand and touched Zekai's cheek.
Aron's fingers were cold in a way that didn't belong to someone still alive.
Too cold.
"I guess… this is goodbye, Mr. Zekai."
"No."
"I'm not letting you go."
"You gave me something," Aron continued softly. "Something I won't forget."
"Don't talk like that," Zekai said, his voice breaking.
"Don't keep it yourself…"
Aron voice trembled—barely there.
"It will kill you…"
For a second, his eyes focused on Zekai. Crystal clear… like he was seeing him properly one last time.
"Thank you… for every—"
His voice cut off.
He couldn't finish the sentence. Then—His chest rose once—then stopped.
[ TERMINATION CONFIRMED — SUBJECT: ARON ]
Vital Signs: Null
His hand slipped from Zekai's face.
"Aron?"
No response. His fingers twitched once—like his body tried to hold on—then went still.
Soul Signature: Lost
Status: Deceased
---
His eyes stayed open, The light in his eyes faded—not slowly, but all at once.
But whatever was looking back at Zekai… was gone. Silence.
The air felt empty—like it had lost something with him.
"Is that really it…? Is a life only worth this much?"
For a moment, even the wind stopped.
It felt like the world itself didn't know what to do next.
Zekai's grip slipped slightly against the blood on Aron's clothes, but he held on tighter. Too hard.
If he held on long enough, maybe something would come back.
"Oii… Aron…"
Zekai's vision blurred.
"Say something."
[ SUBJECT STATUS — ZEKAI ]
Emotional State: Collapse
Primary Emotion: Grief
Secondary: Guilt
Suppression: Offline
---
"Please…"
"Just once... look at me."
Nothing. No movement. No breath. No life.
His chest tightened as something inside him broke.
The air shifted. Subtly. Then—wrong. A thin crack spread across the ground beneath his knee.
"Why… him…?"
Not anger. Not yet. Just… confusion.
Aron wasn't weak… he was just kind. And the world chose him first.
"I left you alone…"
The word came out before Zekai could stop it. His hands trembled as he held him.
"I'm sorry… Aron."
That was all he could say. The words barely left his mouth before his voice broke.
Warm tears slipped down his face before he even noticed them.
✦ End of Chapter 22 — Loss ✦