[10th Round of Ragnarok]
[Duration: 11 minutes and 25 seconds]
[Winner: Okita Souji]
The tenth round of Ragnarok had concluded. Susano'o, the God of the Sword, was defeated by the Demon of the Sword, Okita Souji. The arena was almost completely destroyed due to the intense battle, but even with the victory, the young man remained lying on the ground, motionless.
Kondo: SOUJI!
Okita (thoughts): Kondo-san... I hear your voice...
Kondo and the other members of the Shinsengumi ran toward the arena to assist the injured boy. Upon arriving, Kondo held Okita in his arms as the others gathered around.
Kondo: Souji, hang in there! He... he's not breathing...
Okita (thoughts): Kondo-san... sorry... I can't breathe or move...
Shimada: No... it can't be!
Heisuke (desperate): Okita-san! Hey, Okita-san! You just defeated a god, you know that? Open your eyes and wake up!
Okita's mind began to fade; a white void dominated his thoughts. His life was slipping away, but then...
Mysterious Voice: ONOGORO!
Suddenly, Okita's mind was filled with a bright light. He began breathing again, gasping for air.
Okita: A... a...
Kondo: SOUJI!
Shinpachi: He's breathing again!
The Volund dissolved. Skamold, lying next to Okita, was also injured, but her wounds were nothing compared to the boy's critical state. Slowly, she opened her eyes and sat on the ground, staring at Okita in Kondo's arms.
Skamold: Okita-sama...
Izanagi (sadly): Forgive me...
The Shinsengumi members looked at Izanagi, confused. Why would he apologize after saving their comrade?
Hajime: Why do you say that?
Izanagi (exhausted): All I could do was save the valkyrie and grant him more time. In a few minutes, he will die...
Those words fell like thunder.
Shinpachi (yelling): WHAT!?
Skamold: Shinpachi-kun, wait!
Ignoring Skamold's warning, Shinpachi grabbed Izanagi by the collar, completely disregarding that he was a god.
Shinpachi: You're a god, aren't you? WHY CAN'T YOU HEAL HIM? SPEAK, WHY?!
Izanagi, visibly exhausted, did not react to the attack. His response was calm but heavy with sorrow.
Izanagi: I had to stabilize his soul before his body. This power is extremely draining, even for me, as it involves the death of both the body and soul and the threads of fate.
Shinpachi, still holding Izanagi, slowly stepped back as he processed the words.
Izanagi: I focused on the most crucial part—preventing his soul from detaching. But it wasn't enough to save the body. Forgive me. I couldn't save him or honor Susano'o's death.
In an unexpected gesture, Izanagi knelt before the humans, asking for forgiveness. The entire audience fell silent, shocked by the sight of the supreme god of the Japanese pantheon bowing.
Okita (with difficulty): Kondo-san... everyone...
Kondo: Souji...
Tears streamed down Kondo's face. For the first time, he cried over Okita's death, unable to do anything to save him.
Okita: Kondo-san... how was my fight?
Kondo (emotional): It was the battle of a true samurai, Souji... A true samurai!
Okita smiled at Kondo, then looked at his companions, who were also crying. Hajime clenched his fists while Shinpachi punched the ground in frustration.
Okita: It's okay, everyone. This is what I wanted... to die as a samurai, with a smile on my face. I loved every battle I fought in my life.
Kondo (sobbing): It's okay, Souji. You don't have to fight anymore. You'll rest somewhere, and I still feel we might meet again someday.
Okita then turned to Skamold.
Okita: Mold-chan... You risked your life because of my selfish desire. I'm glad you'll be okay.
Skamold: Okita-sama, I wouldn't have minded dying by your side. You were the greatest swordsman I've ever seen. It's not fair for you to leave alone...
Okita: Don't worry... I won't leave alone...
He placed a hand on his heart, tears streaming down his face.
Okita: I no longer feel the Onigo with me. It has already left, and I must follow it, as I promised.
Kondo embraced Okita tightly, whispering his final words to his adoptive son.
Kondo: You did well... Truly, Souji, you did very well. You don't need to fight anymore.
[Kondo looked into Okita's eyes, now almost completely white. His voice, once firm, had become barely a whisper. Even on the brink of death, there was something Okita still needed to say.]
Okita: I thank you... and everyone in the Shinsengumi... for being my friends... and my family. You were what motivated and guided me... my entire life. I dedicate this... my final fight... to all of you.
[The silence on the battlefield was broken only by the murmurs of sadness from his comrades.]
Hajime: Damn it, Souji...
Heisuke: Okita... no... no...
Shinpachi: Souji... you were the best captain of the First Division we could have had.
[Okita closed his eyes for a moment, breathing heavily. When he opened them again, his voice, still weak, called out once more to the commander.]
Okita: Kondo-san...
[Kondo leaned in slightly, listening to each word as if they were the most precious.]
Okita: Tell... Toshi-san... that I can see him from here. And that he was... the best friend... I ever had in life.
[Kondo felt his eyes welling up but stayed strong. He nodded, promising to fulfill Okita's last wish.]
Okita: I... love all of you... everyone.
[Okita's final words echoed as a definitive farewell. Even in his last moments, he showed the strength of a true samurai, dedicated to those he loved until the end.]
[With his blurred vision, Okita felt his eyes closing slowly. When they finally shut completely, his awareness of the surroundings vanished. There was no smell, touch, or sound. He was immersed in complete and utter darkness.]
Okita: ...
[Suddenly, a discomfort in his eyes brought him back. Despite feeling weak, he forced himself to open them.]
Okita: W-what...?
[He could see again. However, the ceiling above him was completely unfamiliar. He tried to sit up quickly, but an excruciating pain shot through his body.]
Okita: ARGH! Damn it!
[His chest, arm, and left leg hurt intensely. He noticed they were bandaged. He was clean, unlike the deplorable state he had been in after the battle, and wore brown pants that replaced his torn ones.]
Okita (thinking): Did I... die? No... wait... where is this place?
[He looked around, noticing the room he was in. It was luxurious, with architecture that didn't resemble Japan or Valhalla. Bright light came through the window, and he realized it was the sun, irritating his eyes.]
[Despite the pain, Okita stood up, staggering, and walked to the window. Looking out, he saw a vast, flawless lawn that seemed to stretch infinitely. He frowned, confused, and kept searching for any boundaries to the place. That's when he noticed two figures—a black-haired boy dressed as a butler speaking with a silver-haired girl.]
Okita: Who are they?
[As he observed, the boy looked directly at the window and saw him. Okita froze for a moment before quickly closing the curtains, breathing heavily. With difficulty, he began hopping on one leg back to the bed, only to fall and sit on it.]
Okita (thinking): Alright... I have so many questions. Who are these people? Where exactly am I? And...
[His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps and the door opening. Two feminine voices echoed in the room.]
???: It seems he's awake, doesn't it, sister?
???: Yes, sister. The unexpected guest will have much to explain, don't you think?
[Okita, still weakened, stood with effort and assumed a guarded stance. Despite the pain, his expression was serious and distrustful.]
Okita: Who are you?
[The tension in the air was palpable, but the two women remained calm, as if they