Atom wiped the blood from his cheek, breathing heavily. Even after exploding into nothing, Anzi's body stitched itself back together. Bone, flesh, skin, like time itself was moving backward.
A wet, cracking sound echoed as Anzi's neck reformed and his eyes snapped open, glowing red with hatred.
"You screamed death…" Anzi grinned, a twisted smile returning to his face. "But in this land, death does not answer you."
Atom stood tall, placing his sister gently on the forest floor, wrapping her in his cloak. The trees around him bent and twisted as if reacting to the energy in the air. Even they were alive… and regenerating.
"Stay asleep… just a little longer," he whispered to her.
He turned back.
This time, he wasn't angry—
He was empty.
And that was worse.
Anzi took a step forward, dragging his sword on the ground. "Blasphemous… why fight? This island won't let you win."
Atom raised his hand slowly. His fingers curled like a claw.
"Maybe the island regenerates…" Atom whispered.
"…but I don't need to kill you."
The aura around him burst—white, divine, and violent—shaking the soil.
"I just need to erase you."
Anzi's smirk finally faded.
For the first time… he looked terrified.
The forest wind stopped.
Even the regenerating vines froze.
A sound echoed—low, vibrating—the sound of something ancient waking up inside Atom.
The darkness across the world trembled.
The giant feather swallowed the forest in a thick white haze.
No one could see—only hear the panicked footsteps of warriors swinging blindly at the air.
Atom held Ana tightly against his chest.
Her breathing was shallow… too shallow.
"Stay with me," he whispered, running through the fog as fast as his legs allowed.
Behind him, Anzi roared.
"Running again? You think a trick like that can stop us?!"
His men stumbled out of the cloud, coughing, wiping their eyes. But the regeneration spell had made their bodies stronger, their senses sharper… and the moment they adjusted—they started chasing again.
Atom stopped.
He gently placed Ana against a tree carved with glowing runes. The moment her body touched the bark, the tree reacted—its roots wrapped softly around her like a cradle, keeping her safe.
Atom stood up.
The white feather haze slowly dissolved.
The swordsmen surrounded him again.
Anzi stepped forward, his grin wider than before.
"Blasphemous… you cannot win here. The island itself rejects you."
Atom lowered his head.
His breath turned cold.
His grip on the sword tightened.
"I don't need to win," Atom whispered.
Anzi frowned. "What?"
Atom raised his head—and his eyes were no longer human.
Blazing white.
Divine.
Merciless.
"I just need to end the spell."
The ground beneath him cracked.
Wind spiraled upward.
Even the regenerating warriors hesitated.
The island went quiet.
No breathing.
No heartbeat.
No movement…
Except Atom.
And Ana.
"Now," Atom whispered, raising his sword toward Anzi—
"you can die."
Atom slid back, boots digging into the dirt as he stopped Anzi's blow. The clash of their swords echoed through the forest like a scream. His arms trembled—not from fear, but from fury.
Ana lay behind him, still unconscious. She breathed lightly, unaware of the chaos around her.
Anzi tilted his head, grinning with bloodlust.
"Found you, blasphemous! Running away? How boring. Fight me. SHOW ME what the gods fear."
Atom didn't answer. His eyes glowedwhite, sharp, and divine.
He pushed Anzi's blade away and grabbed Ana with one arm, pulling her closer, shielding her with his back.
"Enough…" Atom whispered.
But Anzi wasn't listening. He rushed in again, laughing crazily,
"FIGHT! OR SHE DIES FIRST!"
Their blades collided—CLANG!—the shockwave shook the trees.
Atom staggered. He was strong, but fighting someone who couldn't die was pointless.
Yet something clicked in Atom's mind.
Regeneration. Unlimited. No end. This power…
And then another answer surfaced:
Someone found it. Someone USED it.
The power of Lord of the Lords himself...
Anzi lunged again, but this time Atom's aura erupted—white light burst out of him like fire.
"Don't touch my sister."
Anzi grinned wider.
"Or what? KILL me? I'll just come back—"
Atom's sword moved faster than sound.
SHRRRING!
Anzi's head flew—
—then instantly reformed.
His body pulled itself together like liquid.
He wiped his mouth.
"See? Useless. You can't win."
Atom exhaled slowly.
His eyes sharpened.
"I know."
He sheathed his sword.
Anzi paused.
"Huh?"
Atom lifted his hand, placing Ana gently on the ground.
Then he stood up, aura rising like a storm.
"But someone like you… someone tied to THAT power…"
His aura exploded—
white wings of energy spiraled behind him.
"…can be sealed."
For the first time, Anzi's smile faded.
Atom raised his hand.
Anzi stood up again.
The mad grin returned.
"You finally moved, Blasphemous…" Anzi wiped blood from his mouth. "This is fun."
Atom didn't reply.
He stood in front of Ana, shielding her with his body as if she were the last spark of light left in the dying world.
Anzi took a slow step forward, dragging his sword across the ground, sparks flying.
"Why… why won't you fight seriously?" he asked.
This time, his voice wasn't mocking. It was trembling. Curious. Almost desperate.
Atom stared back.
Anzi froze.
For a moment—just a second—the laughter stopped.
But the dryness in the air shifted. A pulse of dark energy burst out from him.
Anzi's smile widened unnaturally. "Blasphemous… you know NOTHING!"
He lunged.
Atom blocked—CLANG!
The force launched him back toward a shattered tree. Atom flipped mid-air and landed on one knee, shielding Ana again.
Anzi's shadow twisted, splitting into three—each one stepping out like living darkness.
All three pointed their swords at Atom.
"You're not leaving," they said together.
"We are ordered to keep her. The Above Order wants her. And YOU…"
He pointed at Atom with a twisted grin.
"…they want you erased."
Atom gripped his sword tighter.
His breath slowed.
A faint whisper followed, vibrating through the forest.
"Lord Almighty…"
The aura around him flickered—white, thin, unstable.
He couldn't use it properly while protecting Ana.
He couldn't fight three regenerating monsters.
He couldn't let them touch her again.
And yet—
He stepped forward.
Not away from the danger.
But through it.
"I warned you once," Atom said, his voice cold.
"If you touch her again…"
The aura erupted—blinding white like a star cracking open.
"...I will end every one of you. Regeneration or not."
The shadows charged.
Anzi lunged with madness in his eyes.
And Atom raised his sword!
"I said, fight me!" he yelled. He was furious now, even desperate for Atom to strike back.
Atom finally snapped. His eyes burned, his voice shaking with rage:
"Don't you dare touch my sister, you filth!"