The flames had reached the throne room.
Fire crawled along the wooden pillars, devouring everything in its path. The air thickened with smoke, and the heat pressed down like an invisible weight.
But neither of them moved away.
Toya and Kenshiro stood in the center of the burning chamber—
Blades raised.
Eyes locked.
The first strike came without warning.
Steel crashed against steel.
The impact echoed louder than the fire itself.
Toya pushed forward immediately, his blade cutting through the air with relentless force. Every strike carried the weight of everything he had lost.
Kenshiro blocked.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then countered.
A sharp cut grazed Toya's arm.
Blood followed.
But Toya didn't slow down.
The ceiling cracked above them.
A burning beam fell—
Toya kicked it aside mid-fight.
Kenshiro stepped through the opening, his blade flashing toward Toya's neck.
Toya barely ducked.
The heat. The smoke. The collapsing room.
Everything made the fight harder.
But neither of them stepped back.
"You've changed," Kenshiro said calmly, their blades locked together.
Toya gritted his teeth.
"So have you."
Kenshiro's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…No."
Their swords broke apart.
"I've always been like this."
He moved again.
Faster this time.
Toya blocked—but barely.
The force sent him sliding across the floor.
His body was already exhausted.
Wounded.
Burning.
Still—
He stood.
"I used to think strength was enough," Toya said, breathing heavily.
Kenshiro didn't respond.
"But it's not."
Another clash.
Steel screamed.
"It's not just about winning a fight—"
Toya stepped forward, pushing through Kenshiro's guard.
"It's about what comes after!"
Their blades locked again.
Closer now.
Face to face.
Kenshiro's voice remained steady.
"…And what comes after?"
Toya's eyes burned.
"A future where no one has to live like we did."
For the first time—
Kenshiro hesitated.
Just for a moment.
That moment was enough.
Toya twisted his blade—
And struck.
The cut landed across Kenshiro's side.
Not deep.
But real.
Kenshiro stepped back.
His expression changed slightly.
"…I see."
The fire surged.
A pillar collapsed behind them.
The room shook violently.
Time was running out.
Kenshiro raised his blade once more.
"Then show me."
His stance lowered.
"Show me that your future is worth fighting for."
Toya tightened his grip.
"…I will."
They moved at the same time.
The fastest they had ever been.
Steel clashed again and again—
A storm of strikes that blurred into motion.
Toya pushed forward.
Kenshiro countered.
Neither gave ground.
Another collapse.
The floor cracked beneath them.
Flames surged between their steps.
Still—
They fought.
Toya's breathing grew heavier.
His vision blurred from smoke and exhaustion.
Kenshiro saw it.
And moved in for the end.
His blade cut downward—
A killing strike.
Toya didn't block.
He stepped in.
The blade pierced his side.
Pain exploded through his body.
But Toya didn't stop.
He swung.
His sword cut clean across Kenshiro's chest.
A deep strike.
Decisive.
Both men froze.
For a moment—
Time stopped.
Kenshiro looked down at the wound.
Then back at Toya.
"…You chose it."
Toya coughed, blood falling from his lips.
"…Yeah."
Kenshiro's grip loosened.
His sword slipped from his hand.
"…Not strength…"
He took a step back.
"…Conviction…"
Another step.
"…That's what I lacked."
The flames rose higher.
The room began to collapse completely.
Kenshiro looked at Toya one last time.
"…Go."
His voice was quieter now.
"…Finish it."
Toya didn't hesitate.
He pulled himself free despite the pain—
And ran.
Past the burning halls.
Past the collapsing walls.
Toward the hidden passage.
Behind him—
Kenshiro remained where he stood.
The fire surrounded him.
But he didn't move.
"…A future, huh…"
The flames swallowed the room.
Toya burst through the passage.
Into the night.
Into the final step of his journey.
The castle burned behind him.
But the war—
Was not over yet.