The Demon Tower's grand hall loomed like the heart of an ancient cathedral—dark, wide, and silent but for the hum of cursed energy in the air. Columns of obsidian lined the chamber, and red torches flickered with an unnatural flame that cast long, warped shadows on the polished floor.
Xzavier stepped in first, his eyes scanning the grand, corrupted beauty of the room. A chilling pressure settled in his chest—but he kept moving. His golden aura, faint and dormant, pulsed softly.
And then—he felt it.
That murderous intent.
He turned—and there stood Yagumi.
The two locked eyes across the black stone floor.
Yagumi's hands twitched. The air around him distorted with rage. His blood boiled at the sight of the man who had once destroyed everything.
"You…" Yagumi hissed, stepping forward.
Xzavier tilted his head, calm but curious. "Do I… know you?"
Yagumi clenched his fists.
"You bastard… You really don't remember?"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about—"
"You killed Mizuki! You tore my soul apart. You took the only light I had left!" Yagumi's voice cracked, eyes blazing with pain and fury. "You stole a piece of me that day."
Xzavier stepped back, stunned. "Mizuki…? I—who's Mizuki?"
Yagumi's eyes narrowed. "Tch. Of course. You don't remember. But I do. Every scream. Every drop of blood. Every second of that hell."
He raised his right hand, dark energy swirling in his pupils.
"Then let me help you remember."
His Reaper Eyes flared to life—deep black sclera, crimson irises glowing like twin eclipse moons. A pulse of cursed memory surged out, striking Xzavier square in the chest.
Xzavier gasped, stumbling as his mind was forcefully pulled through time.
He saw it all.
The other timeline.
The war. The betrayal. Mizuki screaming. Xzavier's blade piercing her chest. Her eyes wide… not in fear, but betrayal.
His own hands—shaking.
The way Yagumi had fallen to his knees, cradling her body.
And how Xzavier, filled with guilt, had walked away without a word.
Back in the present, Xzavier collapsed to his knees.
Tears streamed down his face as he whispered, "I… I'm sorry. I didn't want that. I was blinded… I wasn't myself. Yagumi… I'm—"
"Save your apology for someone who wants it!!" Yagumi roared, his voice thundering across the chamber. "I'll never forgive you, you piece of shit!"
He unsheathed his Twin Reaper Blades, obsidian black with blood-red veins glowing down their length. They screamed with cursed intent as they tasted open air.
In a blink, Yagumi lunged, blades slicing toward Xzavier with pure, focused rage.
Xzavier barely rolled aside, summoning a fragment of Jiyū's energy just in time to block with his arm bracer.
Across the throne high above the hall, Gimori watched.
His posture was relaxed, a leg hanging over the arm of the throne. Shadows danced around him like sentient mist. His Aku no Eye glowed a deep violet, feeding off the chaos with delight.
"Good…" Gimori whispered to himself. "Let hatred blossom… Let blood spill. Break each other."
He leaned forward, eyes locked on the two chosen ones.
"And when you're both crawling... your blades will be mine."
The clash of destiny had begun.