**Volume 2: Upper World**

  **Chapter 115: A Million Years**

  **(Arc: Beginning of the End)**

  July 4th, 1:35 a.m. – Shinjuku (Final Ruins)

  Josh lunged — black-red aura flaring in Cam’s stolen body — fist snapping forward like a whip. Jason ducked — slow, tired — legs heavy from fighting Ray, from bleeding out, from everything. He felt it in his bones — the weight of the last hour, the last five years, the last twenty. But he still moved.

  He kicked — boot connecting with Josh’s stomach — Josh doubled over, air forced out in a wet grunt. Jason found a glass shard on the ground — long, jagged — grabbed it without looking. Josh tried to rise — Jason stabbed — clean through the chest — blade punching out the back. Josh gasped — eyes wide — black-red glow flickering — then dimming. Jason twisted once — pulled it out — Josh dropped — body hitting the pavement with a soft thud.

  Jason sat down hard — back against a cracked wall — breathing ragged — blood dripping from his knuckles, his side, his face. The glass shard clattered from his hand. His vision blurred — head dropping forward — and he passed out — rain falling on his face — mixing with the blood.

  ---

  Taka clapped — once — sharp.

  Ray swapped places again — purple aura flickering — suddenly in Taka’s spot. Taka didn’t hesitate — sword already in hand — cut Ray’s right arm clean off at the elbow. Ray hissed — purple energy coiling — arm regrowing slow — but Taka was faster. He grabbed Ray’s wrist — aging touch flaring — purple will energy trying to age Taka’s arm to dust.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Taka yanked the sword free — cut the arm off again — the new one still forming — then kicked Ray in the stomach — Ray doubled over — Taka stabbed downward — blade through Ray’s shoulder — pinning him to the ground.

  Taka laid down — slow — sword still in Ray — breathing shallow — eyes closing — passed out cold.

  ---

  Sky stood alone now — facing Ray — light blue aura flickering weak but stubborn — blood dripping from every wound — infinite curse trying to heal but too slow, too tired.

  Ray got up — slow — purple aura flaring brighter — six arms sprouting again — eyes glowing violent.

  Sky ran — fist clenched — punched Ray hard — Ray blocked — Sky kept coming — left hook, right straight, uppercut — each hit landing with less force but more desperation. Ray ducked — countered — fist to Sky’s ribs — Sky staggered — but didn’t fall. Sky swept Ray’s legs — Ray jumped — kicked Sky in the chest — Sky flew back — hit a burning car — metal crumpling — got up coughing blood.

  Ray clapped — **Ultimate Slash** — violet lines multiplying — slashing across Sky’s chest, arms, legs — blood spraying — Sky dropped to one knee — but pushed up again — slower — shaking.

  Sky remembered everything — every death — every face — every “thank you” and “I won’t forget” — and he started punching again — harder — **Azure Flash** building — light blue aura surging to 300% — all his will energy pouring out — fist glowing bright — slammed into Ray’s face.

  Ray’s head rocked back — purple aura cracking — blood spraying — but he laughed — low, mocking — “You’re right about everything.”

  Sky walked forward — slow — wind turning cold and fast around him — hair whipping — eyes burning through tears.

  “I’ll kill you,” Sky said — voice raw, quiet — “even if it takes me a million years, Ray. I’ll find you each life. And I’ll kill you over and over again.”

  Ray’s eyes widened — purple aura faltering — hands glued to the floor by Sky’s will energy — shadows from Max’s last gift wrapping around Ray’s wrists — pinning him.

  Sky got close — boots crunching glass — looked down at Ray.

  Ray smiled — small, tired — “You really think you can?”

  Sky stomped — once — boot slamming into Ray’s chest — ribs cracking — Ray coughed purple blood — smile fading.

  “I’ll keep killing,” Sky said — voice shaking — “even if you’re reborn. The Demon Heart will be somewhere forever too… I’ll kill you all.”

  He stomped again — harder — Ray’s body jerking — purple aura dying — eyes dimming — then still.

  Ray was dead.

  Sky stood over him — breathing ragged — tears falling — wind cold and fast around him — the ruins of Shinjuku burning and quiet at the same time.

  The chapter ended with Sky alone — looking at Ray’s body — then at the sky — dawn light finally breaking through the smoke.

  To be continued…