(Edited Version)
The rain did not stop.
It poured endlessly, washing over the shattered ground, over the fallen soldiers… over him.
Kai stood at the center of the destruction, unmoving.
His chest rose and fell slowly, but his breathing was uneven.
Heavy.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
Around him, the air trembled.
Dark energy twisted like living shadows, rising from his body and spreading into the rain like black smoke.
Every drop that touched him seemed to vanish… consumed.
"Kai…"
Lina's voice was soft—almost too soft to hear beneath the rain.
But he heard it.
He always heard her.
His glowing crimson eyes slowly turned toward her.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
There was hesitation.
Then it disappeared.
"Don't come closer."
His voice was low.
Colder than before.
Lina didn't stop.
She kept walking toward him.
Each step felt heavy, as if the air itself was resisting her.
The ground beneath her feet cracked slightly, reacting to Kai's unstable power.
"I'm not afraid of you," she said.
Kai's expression darkened.
"You should be."
A violent surge of energy erupted from his body.
The force pushed the rain away in a wide circle, leaving a hollow space around him.
The ground shattered further, deep fractures spreading outward like spiderwebs.
Lina paused—
But only for a second.
Then she continued walking.
"Why?" Kai asked suddenly.
His voice trembled beneath the coldness.
"Why won't you just stay away from me?"
No answer.
Only the sound of rain.
Then—
"I tried to."
Kai froze.
Lina's eyes met his.
For the first time since everything happened…
They weren't cold.
They weren't distant.
They were filled with pain.
"I tried to stay away from you," she continued, her voice shaking.
"But I couldn't."
Kai's hand clenched into a fist.
Dark energy surged violently around him once again.
"Stop lying!"
The explosion that followed shook the entire area.
The ground split open between them, forming a deep crack that separated Kai and Lina.
"You don't get to say that!" Kai shouted.
"You don't get to act like you care!"
His voice broke.
"You're the one who destroyed everything!"
Silence fell.
Even the rain seemed to quiet down.
Lina didn't move.
She stood at the edge of the crack, staring at him.
"…I know."
Those two words struck harder than any blow.
Kai's body trembled.
"Then why…?" he whispered.
"Why did you do it…?"
For a moment—
Lina said nothing.
Then she took a step forward.
Closer to the crack.
Closer to him.
"Because if I didn't…"
She hesitated.
"…you would have died."
Everything stopped.
Kai's eyes widened.
"What…?"
Before Lina could say another word—
"ENOUGH."
A new voice cut through the rain.
Cold.
Authoritative.
Both of them turned.
At the far end of the battlefield stood a man in a long, dark coat.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Behind him stood more soldiers.
But these were different.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
"The situation has escalated beyond expectation," the man said calmly.
His eyes locked onto Kai.
"…so this time, we will eliminate you properly."
Kai's gaze hardened.
"Try."
The man raised his hand slightly.
"Unit Three."
The soldiers behind him stepped forward in perfect sync.
Their bodies glowed faintly with energy.
"Engage."
They moved instantly.
Faster than the ones before.
Kai reacted—
But this time…
It wasn't easy.
One appeared behind him.
Another from above.
Another from the side.
BANG!
Kai blocked the first attack—
But the second struck him directly.
His body was thrown backward, sliding across the broken ground.
Rain mixed with dust as he crashed to a stop.
He coughed.
Blood spilled from his lips, mixing with the rain.
"…Stronger…" he muttered.
The dark energy around him flickered.
Unstable.
The man watched silently.
"Your power is impressive," he said.
"But unstable."
Kai slowly pushed himself to his feet.
His body trembled.
"…Then I'll just make it stronger."
His eyes burned brighter.
Pain increasing…
Power output rising…
The shadows around him exploded outward.
Larger.
Wilder.
The air screamed.
Lina's eyes widened.
"Kai, stop—!"
Too late.
Kai charged.
Faster.
More violent.
He clashed head-on with the soldiers.
No hesitation.
No fear.
CRASH!
Energy collided violently.
The ground shattered again.
Kai moved like a storm—
Unpredictable.
Destructive.
But with every second—
He was losing control.
Inside his mind—
That voice returned.
Yes… this is what you are…
A being born from pain…
"No…"
Let go…
"NO!"
Kai roared.
His power surged again—
Even stronger than before.
But his body—
Couldn't handle it.
Cracks of dark energy spread across his skin, as if something inside him was breaking free.
Lina saw it.
"…He's going to collapse…"
The man in the coat raised his hand once more.
"Finish it."
All the soldiers attacked at once.
A final strike.
Everything converged on Kai.
And in that moment—
He couldn't move.
His body froze.
His power spiraled out of control.
System overload…
"…Is this how it ends…?" he thought.
Then—
A hand grabbed him.
Warm.
Familiar.
"Kai."
His eyes widened.
Lina stood in front of him.
Facing the attack.
"Don't give up," she whispered.
And for the first time since everything began—
Kai's power…
Stopped.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The attack struck.
A massive explosion swallowed everything.
Rain.
Light.
Darkness.
All disappeared.
And at the center of it—
No one knew what remained.
To Be Continued…
If you're enjoying the story, please support it with Power Stones and share your thoughts. Your support keeps the story going.