There was nothing after the explosion.
No sound. No movement.
Just empty space where Isshin had been.
For a few seconds, no one reacted.
Rune stood still, staring forward. The paper bag over his head hid his face, but dark spots slowly spread across it. He didn't move.
Karin dropped to her knees.
The tears came out before she could stop them.
He was gone.
It didn't feel real. They had just started. Everything they planned, everything ahead of them—it ended here.
All that remained was a torn piece of cloth, drifting in the wind.
The sect eventually arrived.
People gathered, but no one spoke loudly. Even those who didn't know Isshin understood something had happened. Elders stood in silence. Disciples lowered their heads.
A grave was made in the center of the sect.
Karin stayed there.
Through the rain. Through the sun. Days passed, and she barely moved. Rune stayed nearby, but not close. He didn't interrupt. There wasn't anything to say.
On the fourth day, he walked up to her.
"I'm leaving," he said.
Karin didn't respond at first. Then quietly, "Where?"
"I have something to do. I've been waiting for it." He paused. "I can't explain it yet."
Karin looked at him. Her eyes were tired. "I might go home."
Rune nodded.
That was enough.
He left at sunrise.
Karin stayed.
Until she heard a voice behind her.
"Princess… it's time."
She didn't turn. "There's nothing to go back to."
A woman stood behind her, dressed in black. Only her eyes were visible. Her presence alone was heavy, even though she was holding back.
Karin's hands tightened. "You were there. Why didn't you help?"
The woman lowered her head. "I didn't expect that technique. Final Flow… it shouldn't have been possible for him to use."
Karin shook slightly. "I don't care."
The woman didn't argue.
She stayed there.
Eventually, Karin stood up.
They left together.
Back to the empire.
The Heavenly Demon Empire.
Her real position.
Princess.
When she returned, people noticed immediately. But something felt off. Too quiet. Too controlled.
She didn't stop anywhere.
She went straight to Gale.
He was in his study, going through documents like nothing had changed.
"I want to see my father," Karin said.
Gale looked up slowly. "You can't."
Karin frowned. "Why?"
"He sealed himself inside your mother's room," Gale said. "No one can enter."
Karin froze. "What?"
"He left a message," Gale continued. "He said only you could open it. That you need to see something."
Karin's expression changed.
Her mother…
She walked away immediately.
Ignoring Gale, ignoring everything else.
She reached the room and started banging on the door.
"Open it! Say something!"
Nothing.
The door didn't move.
Her guard tried to stop her, but Karin pushed her away. She tried to break the seal herself.
It didn't work.
Eventually, her strength gave out.
She collapsed.
Crying.
Later, the guard returned to check on her.
She was gone.
Far away, in the South Desert Kingdom, Rune stepped off a carriage.
Heat filled the air. Sand moved through the streets.
He paid the entry fee and walked into the city.
He didn't look around much.
He found a small tavern and sat down.
While drinking, he overheard a group nearby.
"I heard the Death King is planning something big," one of them said.
"Keep your voice down," another replied.
"Something about attacking the Virtuous Murim Alliance…"
Rune listened quietly.
Another voice spoke. "There's internal problems too. But if he fixes that, he'll move soon."
Rune leaned back slightly.
He didn't say anything.
But he understood.
Everything was moving.
And now, it mattered to him.
More than before.