Johan suddenly rises and stretches his body briefly.
"I don't know if we'll meet again," he says as he turns away.
DUK!
He begins walking slowly toward the exit.
DAK!
"I don't know what awaits ahead."
DUK!
A long sword with a slender hilt stands against the wall beside the doorway.
DAK!
"I don't know whether I'll be able to face that new person," Johan says.
DUK!
"Heh."
He lets out a brief laugh.
DAK!
"Or whether they'll be able to face him."
SWAAKKK!
Johan swiftly reaches out and grips the hilt of his sword.
DUK!
"Hey, hey, hey. I didn't expect you to take it that seriously," Light says.
"Hmm?" Johan hums.
BRAAKKK!
He stops walking and turns back, waiting for Light to continue.
"Especially..." Light begins.
He lowers his head and immediately meets Johan's gaze.
A broad grin spreads across his face.
"...I never thought you'd indulge your sword with blood—"
His smile widens with excitement.
"—ON THE BATTLEFIELD!" he shouts.
DUK!
Johan resumes walking toward the exit.
SWING—SWAANGH!
He swings his sword and takes a short breath.
DAK!
"Huft..."
He exhales slowly.
WRUK—WRAK!
Stretching the back of his neck, he places a hand over it and smiles faintly.
"Here it is," he says.
DUK!
His brow furrows, his lower eyelids rising slightly as a cynical smile forms.
"The show."
DAAKKK!
---
Leon continues to press forward.
Again.
And again.
His arm draws back, ready to swing forward—
However—
DAGG—DUGGG!!!
"AAAAARKGHKHT!"
Jiza lets out a loud scream.
His entire body jolts violently.
The pain crashes back all at once.
CKTKHAAAAAAHMHH!
Leon immediately leaps away.
His face tightens. The anxiety and fear that have been buried now resurface.
SLSHHHH—SWASHHH!
His feet drag across the ground before coming to a stop.
CRAK—KRAK—WRAK—CTAK!
"BLUARK—!"
Blood bursts from Jiza's mouth.
His body immediately collapses downward.
Both elbows support him atop his thighs as he nearly falls. His head hangs low.
Leon grits his teeth.
His gaze never leaves him.
Trying to assess the situation.
Trying to suppress his fear.
DUK!
He begins walking closer.
His own body staggers as well.
His soul energy is nearly exhausted.
"Hah—huh... hah—huh..."
Jiza's breathing turns rough and frantic.
His face twists in agony.
"THE PAIN—"
DAK!
Leon gets closer.
His steps become increasingly unstable.
Jiza grits his teeth.
The veins in his neck tense.
"—IT'S BACK?!"
DUK!
"Hah... huh... hah..."
Leon continues walking.
One step.
After another.
KRRKKK!
Jiza clenches both fists tightly.
His body trembles as he endures the suffering.
DAK!
Leon keeps approaching.
"Huh—hah... huh..."
Jiza forces himself to regulate his breathing.
Even as his lungs feel as though they are burning.
DUK!
Leon keeps walking.
Even while staggering.
Jiza draws a long breath.
DAK!
"Huft..."
He slowly exhales.
His gaze rises forward once more.
DUK!
Jiza forces his body upright.
His muscles tighten.
DAAKKK!
His head finally lifts.
His eyes meet Leon's, who has stopped walking.
Then—
He smiles.
WAASHHH—WUUHSHH!
"Let us end—"
STCKWHAAAAAHMNH!
Jiza charges.
Pouring every last bit of strength into the attack.
Holding nothing back.
Leon stands still.
His head lowered.
His gaze fixed emptily upon the ground.
"This false life."
PCKTHAAAAAHMNHH!
Jiza leaps briefly into the air.
Leon remains motionless.
Not moving in the slightest.
"Farewell—"
WRUK—WRAKKK!
His hips twist.
Bones shift with a harsh crack.
"—In the afterlife."
His arm bends.
His hand pulls far back.
The finishing blow.
One strike to end everything.
Leon remains still.
"...My brother."
Jiza says softly.
Then—
He thrusts forward—
"EHMPH?!"
DAK—
The sound of footsteps.
DUK—
From the distance.
DAK!
Jiza's eyes immediately widen.
SCKHWAAAHMNH!
He presses against the ground and instantly launches backward.
Leaping far away from Leon.
His body spins.
His gaze turns alert toward the source of the sound.
BRUUUKKKK!
"UHUH?!"
Jiza immediately turns back.
Toward Leon.
BRUUKKK!
Both of Leon's knees crash into the ground.
His body begins to collapse.
"EGHK—"
Jiza's breath catches briefly.
BRAAAKKKK!
Leon falls.
Motionless.
Not moving.
Jiza grits his teeth.
Frowning.
"Jiza."
Someone calls out softly.
SWAAKKK!
Jiza immediately turns his head.
DAK!
The figure continues walking closer.
DUK!
Jiza stares without blinking.
Trying to make sure.
DAK!
"Ehm—"
His body stiffens.
"ALBERT?!"
DUK!
Albert keeps walking.
Slowly.
His gaze briefly lowers.
Then rises again.
DAK!
Jiza furrows his brow.
"What is it?"
No answer.
"Why are you here?"
DUK!
Albert remains silent.
His eyes close briefly.
His jaw twitches.
As though holding something back.
"Jiza..."
He calls again.
DAK!
In front of his abdomen,
both hands tightly hold someone he is carrying.
DUK!
Albert keeps approaching.
"Who are you carrying?"
Jiza begins to grow uneasy.
No answer.
DAK!
"Your opponent?"
Still silence.
Albert finally lifts his head.
His eyes stare straight ahead.
DUKK—DAAKKK!
He stops.
"Jiza..."
His voice trembles.
Tears stream down his cheeks.
Jiza freezes.
For a moment.
Albert lowers his head.
Looking at the figure in his arms.
Then the face becomes clear.
Loki.
His brother.
Pale lips.
Empty eyes.
No life remains within them.
"IMPOS—"
Jiza's breath cuts off.
His body instantly goes limp.
"—SIBLE—"
BRAAAKKKK!
Both knees slam into the ground.
Hard.
His head tilts upward.
His gaze turns vacant.
Unable to believe it.
Unable to accept what he is seeing.
Loki is gone.