What is death like?
For some, death is a sorrowful yet inevitable passage, something that should not be resisted but accepted with quiet dignity, as life continues to move forward regardless of our wishes. Life is long and short at same time, and whether for our own sake, for those who remain, or in memory of those who are gone, we are expected to keep walking.
For others, death carries a sacred weight, intertwined with faith and the unseen, taking on forms that differ across cultures yet share a common essence.
There are those who believe in eternal rest within a divine paradise, transforming death into a moment of release, even joy, while others envision endless suffering, a fate that inspires either fear or grim satisfaction depending on one's beliefs. And then there are cycles, reincarnation, where death loses its finality and becomes nothing more than a transition, another turning point in an endless wheel of existence that neither begins nor ends.
Finally, there is the most absolute interpretation of all, the cold, biological end, where nothing awaits beyond the final breath. No soul, no continuation, no second chance; only silence, as existence itself fades into nothingness and time erases even the memory of one's name. By all accounts, this is the harshest conclusion, a void that strips away meaning and leaves behind only the fear of being forgotten, of never having mattered at all.
Luki had already died once… or at least, that was what he believed, he could've just changed body. From his perspective, shaped not by experience, death was nothing more than the end of a story.
The process itself might be painful, terrifying even, no one welcomes the end willingly, but once the inevitability of it settles in, fear begins to lose its grip, replaced instead by a strange, quiet acceptance that lingers in the back of the mind.
If death could not be avoided, then it only made sense to focus on what came before it. A final conversation, a fleeting memory of joy, a moment of warmth shared with someone important, these were the things that truly mattered in the end.
And now, living a new life completely different from the previous one thanks to something or someone he doesn't yet know, Luki found himself clinging to a single, stubborn desire: to make this second chance mean something, no matter how it ended.
He had already lived once, experienced its triumphs and regrets, its fleeting happiness and lingering emptiness.
This time, he wanted to shape his own path, to act without hesitation, to don't worry if the end is today or tomorrow and just live without worries. Whether that meant carving his name into history, protecting something worth dying for, or simply living without regret, it did not matter, as long as, in his final moments, he could look back and smile.
And deep within his heart, whether he realized it or not, Luki had already accepted the end. When death came for him again, he would not resist it. Something he already did more than one time but survived in the end.
But what if death did not come for him?
What if, instead, it reached for someone else… someone he could not bear to lose?
What if all he could do was stand there, powerless, as their life slipped away before his eyes, without a final word, without a proper farewell?
…What would that feel like?
— AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAHHH!!! — Luki screamed, his voice breaking as he held Lili's lifeless body. His hands trembled, his grip desperate, as if refusing to accept the cold stillness that had taken her place.
The answer was pain. A suffocating, unbearable pain that crushed his chest and turned every second into agony, leaving nothing behind but despair.
…
In the depths of the abyss, a tragic scene unfolded. A young man cried over a love that had barely begun, while another woman, equally important to him, stayed by his side, offering silent comfort.
In another place, the world might have paused for grief, allowing silence to honor the dead. But not here. In this place, there was no time for mourning, only the constant struggle to survive.
SHIIIIIN!
As if to prove that, a sudden glow burst in the distance, bright enough to momentarily illuminate the darkness like day… before vanishing just as quickly.
Lost in his grief, Luki didn't notice. Not even his instincts reacted.
Hestia, however, did.
She quickly raised her head, her eyes locking onto the distant point where the light had appeared.
'What was that?' she wondered, staring into the thick darkness ahead, as if it concealed something, the silence that followed only made it worse.
thump… …thump…
The sound echoed from the depths, slow and heavy, vibrating through the ground at a pace that made it seem like footsteps. Hestia tensed immediately, her gaze fixed ahead as the noise grew closer.
— Luki, we need to move. — She grabbed his arm and pulled, urgency clear in her voice, but he didn't react.
His body remained still, now whimpering silently. She tried again and again, screaming desperately in his face as she tried to get him to move.
THUMP… THUMP…
It was coming closer.
Her grip loosened. For a brief moment, she hesitated…
— Whatever, screw it… do whatever you want! But don't blame me if you don't like what you see later. — Her voice came out frustrated but firm, looking as if she had just made peace with something deep inside. — I will protect my family, no matter the cost.
She stepped forward without looking back, placing herself in front of him, her small frame standing as the only barrier between Luki and what was coming. The sound stopped completely, and Hestia fixed her gaze on the darkness ahead, tense and unyielding.
For a moment, nothing moved… then the shadows began to recede. Blood-red scales, golden slit eyes, curved horns, rows of fangs, claws that scraped against the ground, and a long tail swaying slowly behind it.
fwoosh… crackle- crackle- crackle-
A low flame ignited within the dragon's half-open mouth, growing just enough to illuminate its jaws. The heat spread instantly, as it stared oppressively directly at them, the fire pulsing as if ready to burst at any second.
Hestia didn't move. Her eyes remained locked onto the creature, unwavering, carrying the resolve of someone who would stand her ground no matter the outcome.
But before anything could happen.
— You…
A deep, guttural voice broke the tension.
Both of them turned.
Luki was no longer the same. Tears still streamed down his face, but something else had taken over, something darker.
His expression twisted, muscles contorting in a way that didn't look natural, his teeth grinding so hard it echoed faintly. His eyes burned, both literally because of the sky-blue flames that burned intensely at the side of his eyes, and because of the hatred, a hatred so raw it felt almost alive, tangible, completely drowning the grief that had consumed him just moments ago.
He slowly rose to his feet, still holding Lili's cold body tightly against his chest, as if letting go was no longer an option. Step by step, he began to move forward, dragging himself toward the dragon, his voice low at first, trembling… but growing in intensity.
— You… — he muttered. — This is your fault…
Another step.
— This is your fault…!
His voice rose, choked with emotion, anger overflowing uncontrollably as his entire body was enveloped in a familiar blue light that leaked out like raging flames.
— Luki, wait! — Hestia called out, reaching toward him, alarm breaking through her composure.
— THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!
The scream tore through the abyss, violent and unrestrained, cutting her off completely as something inside him finally snapped.
— I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THIS!!!
And in the next instant, he moved.
Luki appeared in front of the dragon in an instant, so sudden that the creature barely had time to react.
BOOOOM!!
His body twisted mid-air as his leg slammed straight into its chest, a brutal flying kick that shattered scales on impact, sending fragments scattering as the sheer force launched the massive beast backwards.
— GRAAAAH!! — a pained roar tearing from its throat as its massive frame skidded violently and dragged through the stone.
Hestia froze, her eyes widened in pure shock, unable to process what she had just seen. That speed… that power… it didn't match the man from moments ago. It was something else entirely.
And Luki…
His face was devoid of hesitation. No tears now, only a raging, suffocating fury. His expression was tight, eyes locked forward, jaw clenched as if he was holding back something.
The dragon hadn't even fully recovered when Luki, who barely touched the ground, launched himself again.
— AAAAHHH!! — he screamed with all his might and fury.
CRAAASH!!
A brutal axe kick smashed into the dragon's head, driving it straight into the ground with overwhelming force. The impact cracked the stone beneath it as the beast's skull slammed down, its body jerking violently.
And he didn't stop.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Luki's legs became a relentless storm. Kicks and stomps rained down one after another, fast, heavy and merciless. Each strike crushed scales, forcing the dragon deeper into the ground.
BOOM! CRACK! BOOM!
Side kicks, a knee to the chin, a heavy stomp on the ribs, spinning blows, he didn't give it space to breathe or even a moment to react. His movements were savage, driven by pure rage, as if he intended to tear the creature apart.
— GRAAAAH!! — With a violent roar, the dragon snapped back.
SWOOOSH!!
Its massive claws tore through the air, slicing toward Luki with enough force to shred stone.
Luki stomped hard against the monster's body and launched himself backward, he completely avoided the blow, almost as if he had foreseen it.
But he didn't retreat, the moment he touched the ground he surged forward again, not giving the creature a single breath to recover.
THUD! CRACK!
A kick to the jaw. He twisted mid-air, flipping over a sweeping and came down inverted, driving another strike straight into its head. He used the momentum to spin away, landing lightly before rushing in again, ducking beneath a bite and countering with a sharp upward kick to its throat.
The dragon retaliated wildly, claws, tail, and jaws moving together in a brutal storm, forcing Luki to adapt on instinct alone. He vaulted over a tail swipe, spun around a claw, rebounded off its own limb to gain height, and struck again from above, relentless, unyielding, like a blade that refused to dull.
But the dragon was relentless as much as him, his movements grew faster and precise, gradually regaining his composure and withstanding several blows with his powerful body, slowly evened things out.
— ROOOAAARRR!!! — With a powerful surge, the dragon lashed out with everything at once, finally broking the rhythm.
Luki was thrown back, absorbing the blow with the legs and at the last moment jumping along with the force of the blow.
His body slammed against the ground, dragged across the stone making two shallow trenchs before coming to a stop at a distance.
The two looked at each other, hate clear in their eyes. This long-awaited battle held great significance for both sides, and neither was willing to back down.
...
Hestia stood frozen, eyes wide as she tried to process what she was seeing.
This was the first time she had ever seen Luki like this, so violent, so relentless, completely consumed by emotion. It didn't feel human anymore, as if something inside him had snapped and twisted into something far more dangerous.
A knot formed in her chest, but this wasn't the time to hesitate.
— Luki… — She stepped forward, trying to reach him.
— GET BACK HERE, YOU FUCKER!!!
His roar cut her off completely.
— LUKI!!! — she shouted, but he was already gone, rushing the dragon again without a second thought.
BOOM! CRASH!
The fight resumed, shaking the narrow corridor as stone cracked and debris scattered. Luki was thrown back again and again, but every time, he got up and charged again, refusing to stop.
The dragon, however, fought with control. Claws, jaws, horns, wings, tail, its attacks flowed in complex, relentless sequences, almost as if he knew what he was doing.
And Luki… whether from rage or exhaustion, he wasn't dodging like before. His movements had grown rough, taking more hits as he pushed forward blindly.
WHAM!!
With a violent swing of its head, the dragon sent Luki flying, his body thrown through the air helplessly. He spun uncontrollably for a moment: then forced control back, twisting his body mid-air through sheer effort.
The dragon inhaled.
— SHHHHHH… — A deep, pulling sound echoed as its throat began to glow, a growing light building from within.
Eyes widened instantly, recognition hitting.
It was going to breathe fire.
— LUKI, WATCH OUT!!! — Hestia screamed.
— AAAAAAAHHHH!!! — Luki roared back, defiant.
Still suspended, he contorted his body, spinning again and again, forcing movement without support. His blue glow intensified exponentially, turning into a spiral of flames that strangely seemed to merge into its right leg.
The dragon's chest swelled.
— ROOOAA- FWWOOOSSHHH! — From the dragon jaws erupted a torrent of wild beight orange flames, a blazing inferno that devoured everything in its path
— AAAAAARRRGHHH- ORAAA! — Luki screamed, his voice raw and feral as he drove his leg forward, releasing everything he had gathered in a single strike.
A burst of blue energy exploded outward, a flying blade of blue flames surging to meet the incoming flames.
The two forces collided.
BOOOOOOM!!! KRRRRAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!
Fire and energy clashed violently, the impact tearing through the corridor as a massive explosion erupted, swallowing everything in light, heat and destruction.
Through the dense smoke and scattered debris, Luki's body was thrown back, spinning uncontrollably as the shockwave carried him away.
— LUKI!!! — Hestia screamed, her voice filled with panic as she immediately broke into a run, rushing toward where he was falling.
He didn't respond or shout, he just hugged Lili's body tightly as if he wanted to protect her.
His body kept descending, limp, cutting through the smoke as gravity took over, getting closer and closer to the ground.
CRRAAASH!!! SKRRRRRRRR!!!
He hit hard, the impact drove him into the floor, his body dragging forward, carving a long trench through the stone as debris scattered violently to the sides.
Only after several meters did he finally come to a stop. Deja vu?
— Ghh…!
His body twitched. Muscles tensed and released unevenly as he lay there, contorting slightly, small, pained sounds escaping his throat. The earlier fury was gone, replaced by raw pain and heavy fatigue
— Luki…! — Hestia slowed as she reached him, she dropped to her knees beside him, her hands hovering just above his body, trembling slightly.
— Are you… are you okay…? — Her voice was strained with worry, she wanted to touch him, but fear held her back, afraid that even the slightest contact might only make it worse.
— ghh…! …kh-! Ah…! ngh… — A strained groan escaping his throat as he tried to move.
He forced himself up, inch by inch, still clutching Lili's body tightly against him. His movements were uneven, heavy, as if his own limbs no longer belonged to him.
— You… — he rasped, breath broken. — fucker… I still- cough- ain't done with you…
He tried to stand but his legs buckled.
— HNGH! — His body tipped forward, about to crash face-first into the ground, but at the last second he tore one arm away from Lili, slamming it down to support himself, before bringing it back to her.
Hestia rushed in, catching part of his weight as he barely held himself up, shaking violently.
— Luki, stop this! You can't fight him like this! We have to go, now! — She said, her voice filled with worry.
She tried to lift his arm over her shoulders, helping him up, urging him to move.
But he pulled away.
— No… — The refusal came low and strained.
— I'm not leaving… — he muttered, forcing himself upright again, unsteady. — Not until I finish this… I'll make him pay… I'll make him pay... for what they did to Lili…
— You'll die like this! — Hestia shot back, desperation creeping into her voice. — We can regroup with the others and come back lat-
— No! — He shot back strongly, then shook his head weakly. — I have to do this… I have... to...
A step forward, his legs trembled weakly just by standinh still.
— I have to… do this… myself…
Another step, his knees nearly gave out, forcing him to readjust, barely keeping himself standing.
— AAAAHH!! — He shouted, forcing something out of himself.
A faint blue glow flickered around his body and surged.
VMMMMMMM!
… before suddenly fading out.
— GHH! AAAAHH!! — He tried again. The glow flared stronger this time, rising violently around him… only to collapse once more, vanishing like it had never been there.
— COME ON! AAAAARRHHHH!!! — Desperation filled his voice as he pushed even harder. The blue aura exploded outward, wild and unstable, roaring around him as string as before.
Then died.
THUD
Luki dropped to his knees, breathing ragged, his strength completely failing him.
— Luki…! — Hestia rushed forward, placing a hand against his chest, trying to steady him, to keep him from collapsing completely as he struggled just to stay upright.
— Luki, stay with me, breathe… — Hestia said, her voice trembling as she kept her hand firm against his chest. — Breathe, please… calm down… just breathe… slowly… breathe… That's it, breathe, you can do it… just breathe…
— Hhh… haa… hhrrgh…! — The air came in and out unevenly, forced, as if his lungs were burning from the inside.
His eyes remained shut, his expression tight and strained as he tried to do something, anything, at least open them… even just a little.
But he couldn't, they felt too heavy. His whole body felt like that, heavy and broken.
It had been a long time… a very long time since Luki had felt this exhausted.
— …why… — his voice came out weak, cracking. — why… can't I…
His teeth clenched hard.
— why can't I do anything…?!
The pain was raw and clear in his voice, along with frustration and anger, but not because of the deplorable state of his body or his condition. He wasn't angry at the world, but at himself, disappointed.
— Luki, you've already done enough… you don't have to fight anymore… this isn't your fault, you shouldn't punish yourself like this… — Hestia concerned, easily deducing the reason for his emotional state..
— No… it is... — The answer came immediately, even if weak.
— It is… — His arms trembled more, barely able to hold anything.
— I promised… — his voice faltered, growing quieter with each word. — I promised I would save her… that I would get her out of here… and we would see the sun again…
With great effort, he forced his eyes open, a opening so small that it was practically impossible to discern anything, looking down at the girl in his arms.
Lili's face… still… serene… untouched… still perfect in his eyes. And yet, she wasn't, she was dead, and it was his fault, because he was the one who gave them hope, who kept fighting, he was the one who left her alone to get a damned sword, one that he lost again. He made his choice, now he has neither.
Hestia looked at Luki in silence.
There was too much in her eyes to name, fear, pain, frustration… and something she couldn't name but that tightened her chest as she watched him break apart right in front of her.
For a moment, she hesitated, her lips parting as if unsure of what to say.
Then… that hesitation disappeared, her expression hardened.
— If you have to do this… then do it.
Luki's head twitched slightly, his voice weak.
— But... I can't-
— You can! — she cut him off immediately, unwavering. — You're my companion. I didn't choose a weak coward who doesn't keep his promises. You said you'd get her out of here, don't you? So you will! Whether she's alive or dead. I know you can do this!
Without waiting, she reached forward, gently but firmly placing her hands over Lili's body. She pulled.
Luki resisted at first, his arms tightening instinctively but he couldn't hold on, slowly his grip gave way.
Hestia took Lili into her own arms. For a brief moment, she looked down at the girl's face… and gave a soft, gentle smile.
Then she turned back to Luki, her gaze sharp and resolute.
— Leave her to me. Focus on the fight.
Luki looked at her, exhausted, his vision heavy… but there was something in that gaze. Something that gave him strength.
For some reason, his body didn't feel as heavy anymore.
…krrr… krrk…
The sound of shifting rubble broke the moment.
Both of them turned.
In the distance, debris began to move, pieces of shattered stone rolling aside as something massive stirred beneath.
Slowly, the dragon rose from the wreckage, its body covered in broken scales and deep marks. It no longer carried the same noble, overwhelming presence as before.
— ROOOOAAARRR!!! — It roared toward the ceiling, a raw, furious sound, before lowering its head.
Its eyes locked onto them. Onto Luki.
That gaze… It was alive, burning with will, with rage with the same relentless desire to keep fighting as before.
Luki inhaled slowly.
— …hhh…
His breathing steadied, little by little. The tension in his face eased slightly, and with a quiet groan, he placed a hand on his knee and pushed himself up.
— …yeah… this isn't over yet… — he muttered, voice still heavy with exhaustion.
He raised his head, meeting the dragon's stare. The beast answered with a hot snort through its nostrils.
— Hmph… — Hestia let out a small sound, nodding once.
She stood up, still holding Lili in her arms. Her body lifted off the ground as she rose to Luki's height, leaning in just enough to press a soft kiss against his cheek.
— I'll be watching. Finish this.
Luki gave a small nod.
Without another word, Hestia pulled away, drifting back and creating distance between them.
...
For a moment… neither moved.
Luki dragged in a breath, his chest rising unevenly as he forced air into burning lungs.
He took a step forward… then another, slow, unsteady, one leg dragging slightly behind. Each movement carried weight, pain, exhaustion clinging to him like chains.
Across from him, the dragon did the same.
Its massive body shifted, claws scraping the ground as it steadied itself. It inhaled deeply, its chest swelling as a faint glow flickered within, then faded, then flickered again, unstable, like a candle.
Luki frowned, his expression tightening as he reached inward. Somewhere deep inside… there was heat, bright and formless. He didn't know what it was, nor how to describe it, but he was connected to it, just as his supernatural sixth sense connected him to the world.
— …ghh… — A low strain escaped him as a faint blue light sparked around his body only to vanish a second later.
The dragon's jaw parted slightly, a small ember slipped from its mouth, dying as it touched the ground.
— GHH! — Luki clenched his fists, a short, sharp cry tearing from him as thin strands of blue light began to flicker from his limbs. They crawled upward, whipping the air as his hair slowly shifted in color, the glow growing stronger, wilder.
— ROOOAAARRR!!! — The dragon roared in all directions, its voice shaking the corridor as adrenaline surged through its body. Its wings spread slightly, trembling, as if forcing life back into its battered form.
— AAAAARRRGHHHH!!! — Luki's voice rose, breaking into a full scream as the blue energy erupted- BOOOOM!! blazing out from his body in a surge of brilliant blue flames. The aura roared around him, fierce and alive, his wounds visiblely closing.
— ROOOOOOOAAARRR!!! FWWOOOOSHHHH!!! — The dragon threw its head back, unleashing a massive burst of fire before spreading its wings wide. For a moment, its presence returned… overwhelming, majestic and terrifying, like the true king of monsters.
— AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
— ROOOOOOOAAARRR!!!
They roared at each other, and charged.