"I am still so dreadfully weak..."
In a surge of overwhelming frustration, Reina hurls his katana forcefully to the ground. The metallic clash of the blade meeting the cold floor reverberates throughout the room, a cacophony of emotions made audible, capturing the attention of his teammates in an instant. In the throes of his turmoil, he releases an unrestrained scream, a torrent of anguish and torment that tears its way from the depths of his soul. His knees give way beneath the weight of his emotions, his form collapsing onto the floor as his clenched fists strike the ground with a desperate force.
"I did nothing! Nothing at all!" His voice reverberates with raw emotion, each word a declaration of his inner turmoil, a damning indictment of his perceived inadequacy. The echo of his scream hangs heavy in the air, like a tempestuous storm threatening to engulf everything in its path. His words resonate as a stark reminder of his struggle, a relentless battle against the limitations he feels so acutely.
Sayuri, her heart aching for her friend, instinctively places a hand over her chest, her breath hitching as her eyes well up with unshed tears. The tremors of Reina's fury send ripples through her own being, a testament to the empathy she feels for the tumultuous storm within him. At the same time, Osamu stands at the fringes of this emotional tempest, a witness to the unraveling of a soul tormented by its own doubts. He recognizes the depth of Reina's pain, and his presence is a steady anchor amidst the turmoil.
With a quiet determination, Osamu steps forward, helping the wounded Raiden to stand up. His voice is a gentle reassurance, a gesture that speaks of camaraderie and solidarity, "Reina," he addresses him, his voice steady and compassionate, "it's not your fault." His words, delivered with unwavering conviction, carry a weight of understanding that seeks to lift the weight from Reina's shoulders. "None of us had the power to stand against them. Blaming yourself won't change the reality we faced."
But his words cascade into the abyss, unheard against the backdrop of Reina's all-consuming rage. It is a tempest that eclipses the feeble attempts at consolation, a torrent of emotion that roars with a ferocity far greater than mere words can contain. His screams reverberate through the room, a symphony of pain and anger that echoes against the walls, an anguished melody that drowns out all else.
Reina's fury knows no restraint. His right hand becomes a weapon, a merciless force that strikes the unforgiving ground. Each punch is an exclamation of his torment, a testament to the anguish that has taken hold of him. But the floor offers no respite; instead, it yields to his blows, absorbing the violence with an eerie silence that seems to mirror his inner turmoil.
"I wasn't able to do a damn thing!" His voice reverberates with a guttural intensity, the words a vehement indictment of his perceived failures. With every utterance, his fist crashes against the floor, each impact a collision of desperation and helplessness. His gaze remains fixated on the crimsoned ground, as if seeking solace in the very blood that mingles with his own pain.
"Master Kaeya is dead! Raiden is half-baked! Kira is going to die again after finally finding him! And Nobu's freaking losing it!" Each name is an invocation of the suffering that has amassed within him, a litany of tragedies that weigh heavily upon his shoulders. His voice trembles with a raw emotion that seems to have been festering beneath the surface, erupting like a dormant volcano into a torrent of lava and ash.
"Damn it! God damn it!" His breath is a storm, fierce and unrelenting, a fierce exhalation that carries the weight of his shattered resolve. The words are a damning curse, a fervent declaration that reverberates through the room, a testament to the torrent of emotions that have been trapped within him for far too long. His fury is palpable, a force that demands to be heard, to be acknowledged, to be felt.
"I hate myself! I freaking hate myself! How weak can I actually be?!" As his hand continues to collide with the ground, the crimson tide of his own blood flows freely, a visceral symbol of the pain that courses through his veins. The room is shrouded in the intensity of his emotions, his friends bearing witness to the raw vulnerability that he bears in this moment of unbridled catharsis. The cacophony of his screams and the sound of flesh striking against the floor seem to merge, creating a dissonant symphony that reverberates through the very fabric of their shared reality.
As Reina's clenched fist hovers on the precipice of another collision with the unyielding ground, an unexpected touch halts his descent into his own tempestuous emotions. A hand, gentle yet ashen, intercedes, catching his wrist in its fragile grasp. His widened eyes lift, locking onto the sight that materializes before him – Kira, standing beside him amidst the fragments of his crumbling form. A mix of surprise and disbelief paints Reina's features, a tension gradually diffusing from his stance as Kira's voice pierces through the tumultuous air.
"It's okay... Reina," Kira's voice is a fragile whisper, a testament to the dwindling strength that courses through his cracked and ash-covered form. The touch of his hand upon his own chest, directly over the gaping wound, carries a strange kind of comfort, a gesture that transcends the physical and delves into the realm of the soul, "It just wasn't your fight today. You need to forge more power so you can withstand encounters like these in the future."
In the wake of Kira's words, Reina's raised hand descends slowly, the tension in his body ebbing away. His hand comes to rest gently on his thigh, an acknowledgment of the truth that has been spoken, a recognition of the path that lies ahead. The weight of his emotions begins to lift, replaced by a sense of resolve that starts to take root within him. Kira's existence, though fading, offers a beacon of wisdom, a guiding light amidst the darkness that threatens to engulf them all.
Kira's movements continue, leading him to Kaeya's lifeless form. With his back to Reina, his words continue to weave their way through the air, each syllable a balm to the wounds that Reina's soul bears. "Stay composed, just as you have been throughout this ordeal," Kira's voice is a reassurance, a reminder of the strength that Reina has demonstrated time and again, "You are the pillar upon which all of them lean, you know!"
"And who ever spoke of losing your mentor..." His words trail off as he finally reaches Kaeya's body. His legs, already tenuous, seem to dissolve into nothingness, succumbing to the relentless disintegration that has overtaken his form. His upper body touches the ground, a poignant reminder of the fragile balance between life and the inexorable march of time. A gasp escapes Sayuri's lips, a mix of terror and sorrow dancing within her eyes, as she bears witness to the somber transformation that unfolds before them.
As Kira's frail palms press against the ground, an extraordinary transformation unfolds beneath him and Kaeya. The earth itself seems to respond to his touch, a vibrant and blessed green suffusing the ground like a living tapestry. It's a spell, a manifestation of Kira's last magical spell, a symbol of his unwavering determination.
The radiant spectacle doesn't go unnoticed, capturing Sayuri's attention as she rises to her feet. Her voice trembles with a mix of hope and dread, a plea that carries the weight of her concern, "K... Kira..." Her words are hesitant, a fragile inquiry that hangs in the air like a thread poised to be unraveled, "D... Don't tell me you..."
With a calm certainty, Kira turns his head towards her, his gaze holding an emptiness devoid of the spark of life, "Yes," he answers, his voice a whisper that carries the weight of his conviction, "I will sacrifice my own soul to revive Kaeya."
The words send a tremor through the air, a realization that dawns upon Sayuri with an intensity that grips her heart. Her eyes brim with unshed tears as she pleads, her voice tinged with desperation, "W... Why? You shouldn't do this! We've already lost someone. And... And if Nono finds out about this, he'll probably..."
A knowing smile touches Kira's lips, the expression almost serene as he shifts his focus back to the spell that he's weaving, "You're not quite understanding, Sayuri," he interjects gently, his eyes now fully committed to the task before him, "In truth, you won't be losing anything. Besides, I'm already on the brink of death. So instead of departing with the weight of these burdens upon my soul, I shall attempt to lighten the load, granting a chance to those who deserve it."
"So, let me give you one last push, and I'll leave you with no regrets!"
"Blessed Magic: Cursed Blessing," his voice resonates with a strange blend of finality and hope, the incantation weaving a symphony of magic that ripples through the air. And then, as if the very threads of nature itself answer his call, vibrant and lively plants begin to sprout, forming a verdant circle around Kira and Kaeya's lifeless form.
Amidst this magical confluence, a tree emerges, its presence ethereal and otherworldly. It is a tree unlike any other, its roots anchored in the soil but its spirit reaching far beyond the boundaries of the mortal realm. From beneath Kaeya's prone figure, the tree sprouts, its growth swift and spectacular. With an almost divine glow, the tree elevates Kaeya's body, cradling it with a gentleness that transcends the ordinary.
A branch, adorned with leaves of vibrant green and delicate yellow, wraps around Kaeya, lifting him higher. The tree's ascent seems to know no bounds, each inch it climbs shrouded in an aura of godly light. As the tree extends skyward, its pinnacle disappearing into the heavens themselves, it becomes an embodiment of hope, a monument to Kira's sacrifice and his unyielding resolve.
"In the tapestry of life... Woven with threads of joy and suffering," Kira's frail form shivers, his voice growing weaker with every word, yet his spirit remains resolute, "You'll find meaning not just in the brightness of the threads, but in the contrast between them."
His body, a canvas of cracks and decay, seems to shimmer as if reflecting the ethereal threads he speaks of. The room falls into a solemn hush, the weight of his words settling upon the hearts of all who listen, "Embrace the pain, for it molds you into who you are, and let love be the light that guides you through the darkest of threads." His gaze remains locked on the sleeping Nobu, his love for his brother a beacon of warmth amidst the encroaching darkness.
"For even in the depths of your suffering... Even in your darkest times... My love for you will always remain, eternally unbroken," his voice, though fragile, carries a strength born of pure devotion. The room seems to hold its breath, as if time itself pauses to honor Kira's final declaration of love.
The hushed moment stretches as the atmosphere shifts, a surreal dance of light and shadow accompanying Kira's fading existence. His voice, a whisper of tenderness, continues, a bittersweet melody that clings to the air, "Little Nobu..." The emerald light intensifies, a final surge of mana that defies the limits of his weakening body. A pillar of green brilliance pierces the heavens, a testament to the boundless power of his love.
His breath trembles, the weight of a lifetime's affection condensed into those few words. As the luminous beam descends upon Kaeya's lifeless form, a chorus of emotions surges within the hearts of the onlookers, an ache that transcends mere words. Kira's presence wanes, his form dissipating into motes of iridescent light, his essence blending with the very fabric of the universe.
And in his wake, he leaves a shining green stone, a fragment of his essence, nestled amidst the ashes he has become. Tears flow freely, unchecked by pride or restraint, for they have lost Kira forever, "Remember, my dear brother... Always remember... I love you."
The room falls into a heavy silence, save for the sound of Sayuri's sobs and the echo of her steps. All eyes are on her as she closes the distance between herself and Kaeya, the godly tree slowly dissolving into the ether. Her trembling lips and slightly runny nose betray the overwhelming flood of emotions coursing through her, her quivering form kneeling beside Kaeya's revived body. Her ear pressed against his chest, she hears the melodious rhythm of his heart once again, a symphony of life rekindled in the midst of despair. Broken bones and all, Kaeya is brought back from the brink, all thanks to the unassuming hero whose memory will stay forever embedded into the background.
"Master..." Sayuri's voice catches, choked with emotions that defy articulation. Her face pressed against his chest, her silent connection to him is profound, a testament to the depths of her feelings. Reina, his heart heavy and his emotions raw, lets out a deep sigh of both relief and pent-up tension. Summoning the strength within his battered body, he slowly rises to his feet, the pain of his bloodied fist a reminder of the turmoil that has unraveled before them.
Raiden, his own movement rekindled, gradually closes the distance, his right hand still cradling his neck, a mixture of relief and remorse playing across his features. Meanwhile, Osamu offers a simple bow in the direction of Kaeya before turning his attention to the radiant green stone left by Kira. Carefully taking it in his hand, he examines it with a discerning gaze, his brow furrowed as thoughts swirl within his mind.
"Could this be... a power rune?" His inner musings wrestle with the information at hand, his gaze flickering between the stone and the ashes of Kira. "Warhammer's powers did extend Kira's life... implying he was a demon," Osamu ponders aloud while pocketing the green stone, his voice a contemplative murmur as he unravels the mysteries that shroud their recent experiences
Amidst his thoughts, Sayuri rises to her feet, her tears now restrained by sheer determination. A serene incantation escapes her lips, "Shadow Magic: Shadow Hands," materializing two immense shadow hands – one tenderly lifting Kaeya's form, the other enveloping Nobu in a gentle embrace. Turning her gaze to Reina, her reddened eyes convey an unspoken request, and he responds with a solemn nod of understanding.
"Let's return, everyone," Sayuri's voice carries a mix of exhaustion and resolve, a call to regroup and recuperate. The team, their collective emotions still a tempest within their hearts, leaves the Sacred Forest and begins their journey back to the capital. The weight of their recent experiences etched upon them, they move forward, finding strength in their unity and purpose.