For a moment after the Star Collector's final words, neither of them moved.
The ruined street around them remained sealed beneath the mountain of debris that Toki had deliberately created. Collapsed walls leaned dangerously inward, forming a crooked corridor of broken stone and splintered beams. Dust drifted slowly through the dim light of the eclipse above, turning the air into a gray veil that dulled the outlines of everything it touched.
The world outside the barricade was still fighting.
Toki could hear it faintly in the distance—steel striking steel, the roar of dragons circling somewhere beyond the capital's broken skyline, the distant thunder of thousands of marching cultists. But here, inside this narrow graveyard of ruins, those sounds felt strangely far away.
This place belonged to them alone.
Two men.
Two survivors.
Two players who had reached the end of a very long game.
The Star Collector watched him with the same amused curiosity he had always carried, though something deeper flickered beneath the surface now. His green eyes were sharp, attentive, calculating every small movement of Toki's body.
Toki rolled his shoulders once, slowly.
His muscles were already burning.
Not from fear.
From anticipation.
"Show me, Toki."
The words had barely left the Star Collector's lips when both men moved.
They launched forward at the same instant, crossing the distance between them with explosive speed.
The air cracked as their bodies cut through it.
Toki's fist shot forward first, aimed directly at the Star Collector's face. His knuckles were wrapped tightly, every muscle in his arm coiled with enough force to shatter bone.
But just as before—
The punch stopped.
Not because Toki slowed down.
Not because he hesitated.
It simply… stopped.
His fist froze in midair only a few centimeters from the Star Collector's nose, as though the space between them had suddenly become solid glass.
Toki felt the familiar resistance pressing against his knuckles.
For a fraction of a second, the Star Collector's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
Exactly the opening he had been waiting for.
His free hand flashed forward.
A thin dagger appeared between his fingers as if it had always been there, the blade glinting faintly beneath the dim eclipse light.
The movement was quick—almost casual.
The blade slid across Toki's cheek.
A thin red line appeared instantly.
Toki didn't cry out. He didn't even flinch.
But he did step back.
Three quick steps carried him out of striking distance, boots scraping lightly across broken stone.
The Star Collector did not pursue.
Instead he watched quietly as Toki lifted a hand to his face.
Blood clung to his fingertips when he touched the cut.
Warm.
Fresh.
For a moment Toki simply stared at it.
Then he slowly licked the blood from his fingers.
The taste of iron spread across his tongue.
He sighed softly.
"For an ability that perfect," Toki said calmly, "you have a surprisingly poor fighting style."
The Star Collector raised an eyebrow.
Toki wiped the last trace of blood from his lip and continued.
"Now I'm certain."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"You weren't the one who decapitated me that night."
The words hung in the air like a blade.
The Star Collector tilted his head, studying Toki with mild curiosity.
"I thought we agreed to focus on the present," he replied lightly. "If you spend all your time reminiscing about old deaths, you may not live long enough to see tomorrow."
Toki shrugged.
"Don't flatter yourself."
His posture loosened slightly as he rolled his neck.
"In the end, you're far less impressive without the pack of monsters you usually hide behind."
The Star Collector's smile thinned.
"Well," he said quietly, "we'll see whether your abilities are enough to keep you alive."
Without another word, he rushed forward again.
His movements were sharper this time.
Faster.
More aggressive.
But Toki was already prepared.
The moment the Star Collector closed the distance, Toki dropped low.
His body folded forward with fluid precision, one leg sliding across the broken ground.
Then he planted his foot.
The muscles in his leg compressed like a coiled spring.
For a fraction of a second everything became still.
BOOM.
The ground beneath Toki's foot cracked as he launched himself forward.
The sonic burst exploded through the narrow street, scattering dust and fragments of stone outward like shrapnel.
The impact struck the Star Collector squarely in the chest.
Even with reflection absorbing the direct force, the sheer momentum of Toki's charge sent him flying backward.
His body slammed into the side of a half-collapsed building.
Stone shattered around him.
The wall caved inward, swallowing him beneath a cloud of rubble and dust.
Toki stood where he had landed, breathing steadily.
He didn't move.
Because he already knew what would happen next.
A faint shifting noise came from the rubble.
Then a hand pushed lazily through the broken stone.
The Star Collector rose slowly from the wreckage.
His white clothes were now covered in gray dust, though the fabric itself remained perfectly intact. He brushed the debris from his sleeves with an almost irritated expression.
Not a single injury marked his body.
Not even a bruise.
He exhaled quietly.
"You know," he said, "no matter how hard you hit me… it won't make a difference."
He looked up at Toki.
"I'm practically invincible."
Toki smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
He stepped forward slightly, dust crunching beneath his boots.
"But even an invincible defense has a weakness."
The Star Collector tilted his head.
"Oh?"
Toki pointed at him lazily.
"You rely on support too much."
His voice was calm.
"That's why you don't have any real attack of your own."
For the first time, a small flicker of annoyance crossed the Star Collector's face.
"I simply don't enjoy getting my hands dirty," he replied.
Then his smile returned.
"You can keep trying if you want."
His eyes drifted briefly to Toki's legs.
"But eventually you'll get tired."
He shrugged.
"That part never changes."
The Star Collector's gaze sharpened.
"I can already see you trembling."
He took a step forward.
"You don't have many of those attacks left."
Toki sighed.
"You're making the same mistake I did in every loop."
The Star Collector stopped.
Something about the tone of Toki's voice had shifted.
Toki raised a finger toward the sky.
"The eclipse light is too weak to be absorbed."
He gestured toward the shattered buildings around them.
"That means you can't turn transparent."
Then he tapped the ground with his foot.
"And this entire district is saturated with mana interference thanks to the Dragon King."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You can't summon anything either."
Silence filled the corridor.
Toki's smile slowly widened.
"And despite all that… you still came here relying on only one precaution."
His voice softened.
"I guess you forgot just how stubborn I can be."
He pressed his foot into the ground again.
The stone cracked beneath the pressure.
Then he launched forward once more.
BOOM.
The second sonic burst was even louder than the first.
Toki slammed into the Star Collector like a living cannonball, driving him deeper into the collapsed ruins.
Stone exploded outward.
The Star Collector's body struck the broken wall again, sending another wave of debris cascading down around them.
For the first time—
He staggered slightly.
Not from the impact.
But from something else.
His vision blurred for a moment.
Sweat trickled down the side of his face.
He blinked.
What…?
A strange heat was spreading through his body.
Why is it so hot?
Toki's voice drifted through the dust like a quiet mockery.
"My lady taught me something interesting once."
The Star Collector turned his head toward him.
"When a body reflects light," Toki continued calmly, "some of that energy converts into heat."
The Star Collector's eyes widened slightly.
"And since the Dragon King's interference prevents energy from dispersing back into the environment…"
Toki stepped forward again.
"…all the energy from my attacks is turning into thermal buildup."
The Star Collector's voice cracked.
"But that would affect you too!"
Toki smiled.
"Oh, it does."
He flexed his fingers slowly.
"My legs feel like they're on fire."
He lifted one hand slightly.
"My arms are barely holding together."
His smile widened.
"But there's one small difference between us."
The Star Collector stared at him.
Toki's eyes darkened.
"I've experienced more pain than you."
For a moment the ruined street was completely silent.
Then Toki lowered his stance again.
"So now I'm curious."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Which one of us will collapse first?"
BOOM.
He moved again.
The third impact shook the corridor.
The Star Collector's body slammed against the wall once more.
Blood burst from his nose.
BOOM.
Another collision.
This time crimson spilled from the corner of his mouth.
BOOM.
The next strike drove the air from his lungs.
Blood splattered across the broken stone.
Finally—
Toki stopped.
His body trembled violently.
The world around him had begun to blur.
Every tendon in his legs screamed in agony.
His lungs burned.
His muscles felt like they were tearing themselves apart.
Even standing upright felt like trying to balance on shattered bones.
Across the rubble, the Star Collector slowly pushed himself to his feet.
Every step looked like a battle against unconsciousness.
His once immaculate appearance had vanished.
Blood covered his mouth.
Burn marks crawled across his skin.
His breathing came in ragged, uneven gasps.
Yet somehow—
He kept walking.
One step.
Then another.
He stopped a few meters away from Toki.
For a moment he simply stared at him.
Then his voice cracked.
"I… don't want to die."
His hands trembled.
"I don't want to die like a dog."
He raised his fists.
The stance was clumsy.
But determined.
"If I'm going to die…"
His breathing shook violently.
"…then I'll do it the way I choose."
Toki straightened his broken posture.
Blood spilled from his mouth as he spat onto the ground.
Then a smile slowly spread across his face.
For the first time since the fight began—
There was genuine excitement in his eyes.
"At last," he murmured.
His fists tightened.
"The real fight is about to begin."
For a moment the two men simply stared at one another.
Then, almost at the same time, they stepped forward.
Their fists moved.
Two punches flew through the air.
Toki felt his knuckles connect first.
The impact was weak.
Far weaker than any strike he had thrown earlier in the fight. His muscles were exhausted, his tendons stretched beyond their limits.
But the moment his fist touched the Star Collector's body—
A strange warmth spread through his chest.
Not pain.
Something else.
Excitement.
Because for the first time in their battle, there was no invisible barrier between them.
No untouchable defense.
Just flesh.
Just a real fight.
Toki let out a breath that almost sounded like laughter.
Before the Star Collector could step away, Toki grabbed his arm and tried to pull him closer.
"Come here."
The Star Collector reacted instantly.
He twisted his body and lashed out with a low kick.
His heel struck Toki's leg just above the ankle.
The blow forced Toki to stumble sideways as pain shot through his already exhausted body.
The Star Collector pulled his arm free and stepped back slightly.
Then he tilted his head with a crooked smile.
"Isn't it unfair," he said lightly, "to fight someone who only has one arm?"
Toki blinked.
"You really never change."
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Even now… even standing at the edge of death… the Star Collector still refused to lose that theatrical arrogance.
Their fight continued.
But now it looked completely different.
Their movements had slowed.
Their punches lacked the explosive power from before.
Each strike landed with dull thuds instead of bone-shattering force.
From a distance, they might have looked ridiculous.
Two bruised men throwing clumsy punches in the middle of a ruined street.
Like children fighting over a piece of candy.
But between each strike—
Between each stagger and desperate breath—
Both of them realized something unexpected.
They were enjoying themselves.
After all the manipulation.
All the schemes.
All the hidden traps.
This was the first time they were truly fighting each other.
Just two stubborn men refusing to fall.
The Star Collector threw a slow hook.
Toki barely ducked it.
Toki answered with a weak jab.
The Star Collector blocked it clumsily with his forearm.
They stumbled past each other and turned again.
Toki slowly raised his fist again.
His arm trembled.
"Let's end this."
The Star Collector raised his own fist.
"Arrogant bastard."
But there was no hatred left in his voice.
Only something close to respect.
They began walking toward each other again.
Slowly.
If their fists had not been raised, they might have looked like two old friends meeting after many years apart.
The distance between them shrank.
Step by step.
Dust swirled around their feet.
The faint light of the eclipse shimmered across the ruins.
Toki's thoughts drifted for a moment.
A strange memory surfaced in the back of his mind.
His lips moved slightly as he whispered it.
"To become a star…"
He stepped forward again.
"…you must first burn."
The Star Collector's eyes widened slightly.
For a brief moment, he understood.
Understood the irony.
Understood the cruelty of fate.
A man who collected stars…
And a man who had learned how to become one.
The final moment arrived quietly.
Toki moved first.
His fist shot forward in a straight line toward the Star Collector's chest.
It wasn't fast.
But it was faster than the Star Collector's exhausted body could react.
The punch landed.
The impact echoed through the ruined corridor.
The Star Collector's eyes widened.
Then his body lifted from the ground.
The force launched him backward into the unstable pile of rubble behind him.
For a split second the stones held.
Then the entire structure collapsed.
Wood snapped.
Stone shifted.
The rubble poured downward like a collapsing wave, burying the Star Collector beneath it.
The noise rolled through the ruined street before fading into silence.
Dust rose slowly into the air.
Toki stood there .
His legs trembled so violently he could barely remain upright.
But eventually—
He forced himself to walk forward.
Step by step.
The rubble towered before him.
Fragments of broken beams and shattered bricks lay scattered across the ground.
One thing protruded from the debris.
A hand.
The Star Collector's remaining hand.
Toki crouched slowly beside it.
For a moment he simply looked at it.
Then he gently moved the hand so it rested outside the rubble.
He placed the severed hand next to the one sticking out of the ruins.
Almost as if giving its owner one last piece of dignity.
He stood up again.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Then he placed his hand over his chest.
A quiet warrior's salute.
"Good fight."