"Here's how the story went, Kenshin. Now, show us the end." The shadow disappeared instantly. Kenshin had fully grasped the truths behind the shadow's story. His mother's death, the cult, Kesh and Gor, and his father—all were products of this shadow. With the shadow gone, Kenshin looked at the two swords standing before Yu. What should he do? Did they still need the chosen ones? It wasn't necessary. People had taken steps toward a new life, and darkness had been vanquished. But what about Yasushi? He couldn't save him without the swords. Then again, did the swords have the ability to bring back the dead? Would the power of the gods be sufficient for that? After all, Katsu was the god of life, but Kenshin hadn't heard any stories about his ability to resurrect the dead. Perhaps the dead should remain dead, even if the gods had the ability, they might have chosen not to bring them back. As much as Kenshin was saddened, he preferred to leave the swords here. Humanity was now stepping into a new era, and there was no place for these swords and the chosen ones in this age.
"Take them." Kenshin was startled by the voice he heard. It was Masaru speaking. How could this be? Kenshin had brought Masaru to his end. He had won his feud with Masaru. "Why are you here?" Masaru placed his hand on Kenshin's shoulder. "I know you won. I shouldn't exist anymore..." Masaru passed through Kenshin and turned his face towards him. "This is your right after enduring so much pain. Was all this for this? You defeated the darkness. These should be your reward."
"We don't need a reward. All of this was for true peace within Seiren."
"Do you think people won't succumb to evil even if the darkness is gone?"
"There are new systems in place for that. These swords and chosen ones are no longer needed."
"But what if evil people become too numerous, and this system fails? What will you do then? You know people, they take the easy way out and only think of themselves. Evil might be balanced now, but we can't know if that balance will be disrupted in the future-"
"I said we don't need those swords, Masaru." Kenshin's voice was angry. He knew Masaru was thinking of themselves, but he couldn't do that.
"We can be heroes, Kenshin... we can control all the evils. We can hold the entire system in the palm of our hands."
"No, I don't want that."
"I understand, you don't want to control and manipulate people, but think about it, you take these swords and do nothing. If darkness starts spreading again, you swiftly eradicate it. If you see people in need, you offer them healing and vitality with Katsu. I know we're already the most powerful beings in this realm, but why don't you take the power you deserve, Kenshin."
"Why are you pushing this so hard, Masaru? We've discussed this many times, and I won. Why are you opposing my decision?"
"BECAUSE I CAN'T TURN A BLIND EYE TO YOU NOT TAKING WHAT YOU DESERVE... that's you, Kenshin, I couldn't turn a blind eye to you making such a foolish decision. Did our mother die for this, Kenshin? Did I shoulder all the pain for this? You're a chosen one, and these swords, this power, is rightfully yours."
"I'm sorry, Masaru, but I have to tell you again, thank you for always being by my side, but I can't do this. I don't need power, you know that." Kenshin slowly turned away.
"Please do this for me... I just want the best outcome for you, Kenshin." Masaru knelt down on his knees. "And don't forget, what I really want is to bring our mother back with these swords. After all, the decision is yours..." and Masaru vanished. Kenshin was crying. Could he really bring his mother back? Should he follow his decision? The chosen ones weren't needed. That idea remained the same, but Masaru's last words had diminished his distance from the swords. He could be the most powerful person in this realm now, but there was still something his power couldn't achieve. If he took the swords, he could bring back Yasushi and reunite with his mother's warm embrace. The swords he had abandoned because of Masaru now shimmered as a glimmer of hope.
He knelt before the swords and began to reach out his hands to them. "I'll save you, mother..." as he grasped the swords, his mind began to darken.
"Greetings, Kenshin." The voice of that shadow echoed in his mind. "If you hear me, it means you have taken the swords into your hands." Kenshin saw the memories of all the chosen ones before Yu's memories. Everything was happening too fast, but he could hear and feel everything. He could hear the screams of the people killed by the Shi owners, see the images of the darkness they destroyed; he could feel the smiles of the people healed and revitalized by the Katsu owners, and he could inhale the peaceful scent of all the natural creations they had made.
"You have taken up the swords and chosen this end." When memories shifted to Yu's, they slowed down. Kenshin began to suffer. He was screaming, but his voice couldn't echo in that dark void of his mind. He was astonished by the pain Yu endured. It felt like his flesh was burning, burning, burning. This pain seemed like an endless agony to him. He was tasting Yu's struggle with the shadow fully. "Now, I'm leaving you a message from the past, Kenshin Okumi." The pain subsided. He was filled with astonishment when he looked at the scene before him. "Yes, you must be thinking about it now. How can this shadow see the future? Am I right?" Kenshin was trembling with shock and fear. This entity was terrifyingly accurate in its predictions. "Let me simply answer that. I don't see the future. I shape the future. Yes, you're worried about what will happen now. I can predict that. Isn't it sad that Master Shen didn't mention to you about this ability of the swords to carry this moment? After all, he's quite old, but I won't blame him, although I'd like to mention it. Now, look at the bright side, you'll hear the unknown parts of my story from me. It turns out, the entity didn't always know. It didn't belong to this universe. It just couldn't accept this truth. When the entity began to accept the truth, it realized. It wasn't just this universe, there were many universes. When the entity started to accept the truth, it realized. It wasn't just this universe, there were many universes. The entity decided to put an end to the story of this universe and go back to where it belonged." Kenshin couldn't understand anything the shadow was talking about. What did the universe, universes mean? What was the shadow talking about?
"Now, I must leave you to your fate as the hero. Unfortunately, you have chosen the ending you least love. What a pity." The pain returned. This time the pain was multiplied by many folds. Kenshin, struggling with pain, opened his mouth. "I'm sorry..." his voice could finally come out, but he couldn't even hear it himself. "I'm sorry, mother..." As Kenshin struggled with agony, he was exposed to the images of hundreds of innocent people dying. He shouldn't have indulged in the dream of bringing his mother back. He shouldn't have done this. His mother wouldn't want this. Kenshin had succumbed to his own desire. The blood was increasing with each passing moment. The shadow had caused a massacre in Yu's body. Even if Kenshin closed his eyes, the image wouldn't disappear. The level of endless suffering was increasing.
"I'm sorry, Kenshin." It was Masaru's voice. "I didn't expect to drag you into this pain." Masaru was crying. "I... I just wanted our mother back." Despite wanting to cry with him, Kenshin's current situation didn't allow for it. "As my apology, let me bear all this pain." Kenshin didn't allow him. "PLEASE, I'M THE ONE WHO CAUSED YOU PAIN. LET ME... at least let me fulfill my duty again." Kenshin continued to resist giving up control, no matter how much the dosage of pain increased. He was no longer the coward who would hide in the dark.
"Now, do you know what we'll do, hero? I'll make the move that will lead you to the end of this universe." The shadow's voice had unnerved Kenshin. And he faced that scene, his mother was alive. When Kesh and Gor kidnapped her, they didn't kill her right away. His mother was still alive at that time, and he was away from his mother. This time all his courage was shattered. His mother screamed with every stab she received, her arms were cut off and reattached, her heart was removed and put back in her chest, her body was torn into thousands of pieces and restored to its former state. Kenshin could see how his mother endured so much pain. His mother was a true hero, but Kenshin wasn't a hero like his mother, not as determined and brave as his mother. With this scene, he gave up. His heart was shattered. He relinquished control to Masaru, leaving himself to an endless darkness along with his failure.
Masaru watched helplessly as his mother endured the torture until she died. His heart was as shattered as Kenshin's. And finally, he saw the person who had inflicted all this torture. That person was Kazou. Masaru filled with rage. "I'll kill you, I'll kill you, I'll kill you, I'LL KILL YOU." Once again, his father had reignited all his pains. "Now it's time to wake up." Masaru lost consciousness with the voice of the shadow.
When Masaru opened his eyes, he could feel the power surging within him. He was filled with anger, and the power of the gods was in his hands. "Kenshin..." Kenshin was no more. He had completely immersed himself in darkness. Now, Masaru was the only truth. Although saddened by this situation, as he felt the power flowing through the gods, his sorrow faded away. His anger returned. The reason for Makoto imprisoning him in darkness had returned. "HAHAHAA FINALLY, EVERYONE WILL PAY THE PRICE." His father's images and what he had done to him clouded his vision. He looked at Yu lying beneath him and crushed his head. Yu seemed to breathe his last breath before he could reach out to him.
Masaru leaped into the sky and began to observe Seiren. Kenshin was no more. If Kenshin was gone, he couldn't be sad. Masaru smiled and leaped to the city where his father was. With the impact of the jump, a great tremor and collapse occurred on the ground. Masaru had jumped into the city square. Many people nearby had either lost their lives or been severely injured. The tremor was quite severe. Without caring about any of the people on his way, he tore them all to pieces. Without understanding what was happening, all the people were being torn apart. Masaru was truly very fast. When he arrived at his father's house, his father was standing in front of the giant gate.
"Please-"
Before Masaru could even speak, he tore Kazou apart and quickly reassembled him. He was rapidly cutting him and healing the wounds just as fast. "DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU DID TO MY MOTHER, KAZOU? DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID TO ME, KAZOU?" Kazou couldn't find a chance to speak. All he could feel was drowning in pain rapidly and struggling to rise above it. Masaru relentlessly continued to cut Kazou with his sword and heal him back.
When Kazou finally lost consciousness, Masaru leaped back and landed where he used to give speeches. "Please gather here, everyone." He could reach everyone with his voice. The power of the gods was immense. Masaru smiled as he looked at the large crowd gathered in front of him.
"Kenshin..." The crowd couldn't believe Kenshin would do such a thing.
"No, no, no, it's Masaru..." Anton stepped forward and looked at Masaru. Despite Kenshin saying he wouldn't return, Masaru, whom he believed in the future, stood before him.
"Hey, Anton." Masaru smiled at Anton and lifted Kazou into the air. Holding Shi in his hand, he thrust it into Kazou's chest. His own final act that would shatter everyone's hopes had now become a reality. The crowd began to panic and flee. Masaru didn't allow any of them to escape, ensuring the final breath of every person in the city.
Anton wasn't afraid of what Masaru did; he was just crying with sorrow. After killing everyone in the city, Masaru turned back and stabbed Shi into Anton's chest. "Thank you for being by my side, Anton." Anton managed to form a smile on his face before his body decayed. At least Masaru had a place for him in his heart.
When Masaru faced Master Shen, the master filled with sadness. "So, this is how it ends." Master Shen knelt without doing anything. Before he could collapse, Masaru severed his head from his body. The people in the village confronted him without fear. They all stopped their preparations for celebration and stood up against Masaru. They were angry that Masaru had killed Master Shen. Smiling, Masaru tore them all apart in an instant. The power difference was immense. After ensuring everyone was dead, Masaru turned his gaze towards the sacred mountain. Someone was still alive. Makoto was still alive.
When Masaru reached the top of the mountain, he looked at Makoto in front of Yu. Makoto stood up and fearlessly stared at him when he noticed Masaru. Masaru smiled. "Kenshin is no more. There's no reason for me not to kill you." Without saying a word, Makoto took a fighting stance. Masaru smiled. Makoto didn't stand a chance. And Masaru leaped onto her.
"NOOO!" Masaru slowed down with the voice he heard in his mind. Kenshin had returned. Masaru was losing control without being able to do anything. Kenshin was truly killing him. "NO, NO, NO, NO." As Masaru lost his existence, he realized he owed Kenshin an apology. He couldn't truly protect him. Makoto was a better guardian than he was.
Kenshin realized it was too late when he regained control. He couldn't dare to look up at what he had done. He was trembling, making everything worse. He was filled with regret. He knew he had to face the truth. Slowly raising his head, his eyes widened. A smile had formed on Makoto's lips. Kenshin couldn't dare to look up further. Makoto placed his hand on Kenshin's shoulder. "It's okay, Kenshin..." Before Kenshin could look up further, Makoto's body fell to the ground. Trembling, Kenshin fell to the ground. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He had made everything worse and hated himself. He couldn't be a hero. "Mother, I couldn't be a true hero..." he cried. He couldn't get anything right. Seiren had come to this because of his wish. He took Shi in his hand and held it to his throat. He had to die. He was now a bad person, but wouldn't his death be a reward? He replaced Shi and took Katsuyu in his hand. He looked at the lifeless body of Makoto lying on the ground. He could bring him back to life. Yes, he could do it. The power of the gods was in his hands. As he approached the sword towards Makoto, he suddenly stopped. He couldn't do this. He couldn't repeat that mistake and didn't deserve it either. Placing both swords in front of him, he charged them with his energy and began to strike them.
The strikes lasted for decades, the divine energy upon him never faltering.
"THIS WILL BE THE END!"
After decades had passed, he managed to shatter the swords. He watched as the souls of the two gods rose into the air. He lay down and looked at the decayed body of Makoto beside him. "I'm sorry... it's all my fault." The powers of the gods were now gone, and he had aged. He felt quite exhausted. With his last strength, he approached the body of Makoto and hugged him. As the last survivor in Seiren, he began to await his own death.
At times he felt cold and hungry. With the loss of the powers of the gods, his human needs had returned. He felt he was nearing death.
After a few days, he felt nudged from behind. Someone was hugging him. He quickly opened his eyes and tried to turn around, but he didn't have the strength.
"My Kenshin, please don't blame yourself."
"Mother..." Kenshin's eyes opened. He could never forget his mother's voice even at his age. Using the strength he found, he turned around. His mother looked younger now. "I'm sorry, mother... I couldn't be a hero."
"No, Kenshin... you've always been my hero." Amy smiled.
"No, no, I caused all this. I brought about the end of Seiren. I became a bad man."
"You've always been filled with goodness, Kenshin. I watched you, I saw how your heart broke with every bad deed you thought of. You never did anything bad willingly. You did everything out of necessity."
"But-"
"Shhhhh."
"Besides, you're my hero too, Kenshin."
"Makoto."
"That's right." Makoto appeared beside Amy.
"You're a real hero, Kenshin."
"Larry... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay, Kenshin."
"You're a real hero, Kenshin." The whole crowd had gathered in front of Kenshin.
"Guys, what are you talking about? You all died because of me."
"Shhh Kenshin, just surrender yourself to your mother's warm embrace. I've missed you."
"And also to Makoto's arms."
"But but-"
Before Kenshin could say anything, everyone began to hug him tightly. Kenshin had finally found peace in the warmth of his mother and Makoto. He wanted to quietly cherish this beautiful moment. Finally, he was happy with everyone. He was probably dead along with the other spirits. At least here, everyone could find peace. Especially his mother and Makoto...
As the shadow stood in front of Kenshin, who had lost consciousness, he looked up at the sky. "I wonder what you see, human? How do you feel about bringing about the end of your own universe? I gave you a choice. You chose this end for yourself. Let's see what endings other universes will choose." The shadow began to ascend. "Rest in peace, Kenshin. While I shatter the other universes, rest in peace."
Now Kenshin was completely alone in this universe. He was having his last beautiful dream before dying. The end was approaching for the last survivor of Seiren.