Chapter 63: Chapter 48: The Escape
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The void realm was collapsing.
Fractures split across the blackened sky, shards of glowing energy raining down like falling stars. The prison, once endless and eternal, was unraveling in the wake of Yuki's breakthrough.
"Everyone—move!" Ren shouted, wind forming a protective barrier around Himari and Aiko.
Aiko stumbled to her feet, still dazed from the sudden flood of energy. She looked at Yuki—his form radiant with fused power, standing firm in the chaos. "Yuki… is this really you?"
Yuki turned briefly, his expression softening just for her. "I'll explain later. Right now—we're getting out of here."
Haru moved beside Yuki, a spark in his eyes. "So what's the plan, golden boy?"
Yuki didn't answer with words. Instead, he raised both hands, fingers glowing with void energy laced with threads of warped light—reality rippling at his touch. He pulled them through space itself, tearing a path open with precision and control he never had before.
A rift burst open.
A portal—but not like the one that brought them here. This one was stable. Directed. It led home.
But not without resistance.
The realm screamed. A creature—a towering, malformed guardian of the void—descended from above, shrieking through the cracks in space. It moved fast, twisted limbs striking toward the group.
Ren raised his arm. "Yuki—get them through! I'll hold it off!"
"No," Yuki said sharply. "We do this together."
Nogitsune stepped in beside him, expression calm. "I'll keep it distracted. You keep the path open."
Without waiting for a response, Nogitsune surged forward, shadow exploding around him. The creature met him mid-air, darkness against darkness, while Ren unleashed a barrage of wind to scatter debris and shield the others.
Aiko clutched Yuki's hand tightly as the portal stabilized. "Come on!"
One by one, they leapt through—Himari and Haru vanishing in light, Aiko close behind. Ren gave Yuki a final nod before slipping through, battered but smiling.
And then Yuki turned.
Nogitsune hovered mid-air, bleeding shadow, his opponent screeching in rage.
Yuki stretched out his hand. "Let's go."
Nogitsune's eyes flicked to his. For the first time—he smiled.
In one clean movement, Yuki pulled him through space.
The portal sealed behind them.
And the realm collapsed.
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They landed hard—in a forest blanketed in moonlight.
Breathless. Exhausted. But free.
Ren stood, helping Himari steady herself. Haru sat cross-legged on the grass, eyes closed in quiet reflection. Aiko fell to her knees beside Yuki, both relieved and overwhelmed. Nogitsune, leaning against a tree, silently watched the stars above.
And Yuki stood in the center of it all—his new power humming softly, the world around him beginning to feel the ripple of his return.
But something stirred in the distance.
Something that noticed his awakening.
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The world was quiet, but the silence was a lie.
Something ancient was coming.
And Yuki… has to be ready to meet it.
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Yuki stares at a floating number above his head.
"What the… 40 power stones?! Are those edible? No? Whatever they are, thanks!"
Ren shakes his head. "You're hopeless."