The moment Ryou stepped back into Sera's apartment, the weight of the atmosphere hit him like a physical blow. The air felt heavy—tainted with despair and dread—and even without looking, he could feel Sera's energy trembling like the final flicker of a candle.
Nathan lay sprawled on the couch, his face pale as parchment. Beads of sweat clung to his forehead, his breathing shallow and uneven. The medics worked furiously, their equipment and energy glows scattered around him, but their hurried movements betrayed their helplessness. Their stern, professional tones only made the reality sink deeper.
"The poison is spreading too quickly," one medic said, his voice clipped and steady despite the gravity of the situation. "It's more like a curse than a venom. We've tried extracting it with our energy, but it's rejecting us. It's something we've never encountered before."
"What do you mean?" Sera's voice was raw with desperation. "Please don't tell me you can't save him…"
The lead medic's expression was unflinching as he turned to her. "We're not giving up. But our energy isn't strong enough to purge this. It's beyond us."
Sera felt the devastation of those words sink into her bones.
"No," she whispered, her voice a broken breath as she turned to Nathan. "No… please, Nathan, please don't leave me…"
Ryou's golden eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. The poison radiated off Nathan in jagged pulses, a sickly, dark green aura seeping into the air. It was alive in the worst way—like a parasite clawing and twisting deeper into its host. He stepped closer, his presence commanding yet silent, and the medics instinctively moved aside. Sera looked up at him, her tear-streaked face pleading for something—anything—to be done.
"Ryou…," she choked, her voice cracking as her hands trembled on Nathan's limp arm.
Ryou knelt beside Nathan, his expression unreadable as he placed a hand lightly on Nathan's chest. His golden energy flickered to life, illuminating the dark veins spreading under Nathan's skin. The poison—malevolent, relentless—squirmed like serpents beneath the surface, resisting even his touch. It wasn't natural; it was like a cursed sickness, a darkness that devoured life itself.
Ryou hesitated only for a moment before he started to channel his golden energy into Nathan. It wrapped around the poison like strands of light, pushing deeper to absorb it into himself. Slowly, carefully, Ryou tried to draw it out, his brow furrowing as he fought against the poison's resistance.
"Stop…" Nathan's voice was a hoarse rasp, barely audible, but his hand shot up to grab Ryou's wrist. His grip was weak, trembling, yet it was enough to make Ryou pause. Nathan's eyes fluttered open, cloudy and distant, but his gaze was steady as it met Ryou's.
He somehow understood what Ryou was trying to do, feeling the sting inside his veins starting to flow out from him into where Ryou's hand was. Ryou was transferring the cursed poison into his own body, making himself the host.
"What are you doing?" Nathan coughed, his lips curling into the faintest, bitter smile. "You… you can't… You're the one who… has to survive."
"Be quiet," Ryou growled, his voice a low, dangerous whisper. His energy flared brighter, golden light weaving against the poison's dark tendrils. "If I don't do this, you'll die."
Nathan was about to reply, but it ended in a pained cough. Blood flecked his lips, but his eyes—dim and distant—still held clarity. "And what if… what if you die instead? Then what?" His chest rose and fell in shallow, stuttering breaths. "Who's going to protect Sera…? Protect this world?"
Ryou froze, his energy faltering for the briefest moment. Nathan's gaze bore into him, unwavering despite his frailty.
"She needs you," Nathan murmured, his voice trembling but resolute. "Not me. You're the one who's strong enough to fight for her… to fight for this world."
"My people could take my place…" Ryou began, but Nathan cut him off with a faint shake of his head.
"No," Nathan whispered, his breaths slowing as the poison clawed deeper. "I'm just… a guy. I can't fight monsters. I can't do anything about this, see. I don't have… your strength." His grip on Ryou's wrist loosened as his energy waned. "Sera… and this world needs you more than me."
Ryou's chest twisted painfully as he stared down at the boy who had stupidly risked everything, despite knowing his own powerlessness. The knot of guilt, anger, and respect tightened until it felt suffocating. This wasn't supposed to happen. Nathan didn't deserve this.
"Take care of her," Nathan whispered, his voice barely audible now. His eyes drifted toward Sera, who knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face. Her hands clutched his bloodied hand as though holding on could anchor him to life. "Promise me…"
Ryou didn't respond at first, his jaw tightening as his golden eyes dimmed. Finally, he nodded, his voice low and steady. "I promise."
Nathan exhaled slowly, the faintest trace of a smile on his lips. "Don't cry so much, angel…" His voice was a fragile breath. "See you… in heaven… okay? But don't rush… to follow me."
"No, no, Nathan… don't," Sera sobbed, she placed her head on his bloodied chest, clutching to him. "Don't leave me… please…"
Nathan's hand made its way to her head, caressing her hair one last time before it stilled as his eyes slipped shut. His chest fell with one last exhale—soft and final. Sera could feel his heartbeat, already weak, cease entirely. His warmth still lingered, and she tried to cling to it like holding on would keep him here a little longer.
The room fell into an aching silence, broken only by Sera's ragged, broken cries.
Ryou rose slowly, his golden energy fading entirely as he looked down at the lifeless boy—the boy who had given everything, not for himself, but for her. He turned his gaze to Sera, her body trembling as she wept, her sobs cutting through the air like shards of glass.
It was his fault.
Ryou stepped onto the balcony, the night air sharp against his skin. He leaned against the railing, his fists clenched so tightly they trembled. The sickly glow of the extinguished rift still lingered in his mind, mingling with the memory of Nathan's final words.
"She needs you."
Those words echoed endlessly, searing into him like a brand. Nathan had died because of him—because of his failures, because the dangers of his world had touched someone innocent. He had promised to protect Sera, yet all he had done was bring death and sorrow to her life.
Ryou lifted his golden eyes to the dark sky, his heart heavy with guilt and grief. The wind carried Sera's sobs through the night, each one like a blade carving deeper into him.
"Rest in peace, stupid kid," he murmured, his voice hoarse and low. "I'll protect her. Even if it costs me everything."
But even as he spoke, the weight of his promise felt unbearable. The one thing he had sworn to prevent had already happened—and now, all he could do was carry the guilt with him into the darkness.