Blood stained the ground.

  Zaraf knelt in the middle of the battlefield, motionless.

  For a moment—

  Everyone froze.

  Bell’s eyes trembled as she looked at him.

  A memory from that day suddenly flashed in her mind.

  Her body began to shake.

  Her lips parted, but no words came out.

  Then instinct took over.

  She ran toward Zaraf.

  Meanwhile, Shin stood still, unable to speak because of the sudden turn of events.

  Rough remained frozen for a moment.

  Then his grip tightened around his sword.

  Rage burned in his eyes as he turned toward Shadow.

  “I thought you could handle that… yet it’s the same again!”

  Bell heard those words.

  Her emotions exploded into fury.

  Light began to shine from her body as if she was about to unleash something.

  But before she could—

  Shin suddenly landed between them.

  Lusy quickly stepped forward and grabbed Bell’s arm.

  “Bell! Stop!”

  At the same time, Ben walked toward Zaraf.

  He slowly reached out his hand.

  But before he could touch him—

  “Stay away from him.”

  Shin’s voice was firm.

  “We don’t know who he is right now.”

  Ben froze.

  After a moment, he pulled his hand back.

  Bell’s anger only grew stronger.

  “He is Zaraf!” she shouted.

  Her voice trembled but remained confident.

  “He just stopped Shadow!”

  Shin looked at Zaraf.

  He was still kneeling.

  Still unmoving.

  Shin took a deep breath.

  Then he slowly walked toward him.

  “Who are you?” Shin asked coldly.

  But Zaraf didn’t answer.

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  Shin’s voice softened slightly.

  “What’s happening inside your body… Zaraf?”

  Inside Zaraf’s Mind

  Shadow stood alone in the familiar dark room.

  He looked around.

  Nothing.

  Silence.

  “I thought he stopped me… but he isn’t here?”

  He began walking.

  Step.

  Step.

  Then—

  A presence appeared behind him.

  Shadow slowly turned around.

  A half-open door stood there.

  Moments later—

  Zaraf walked out.

  His eyes were clear.

  Sharp.

  Determined.

  Shadow smiled.

  “Well… look who decided to come back just to lose again.”

  He stepped closer.

  “So tell me… how did you manage that?”

  Zaraf remained silent.

  Then he lifted his gaze.

  “I thought giving you the body was the right choice.”

  “I was drowning in my own darkness.”

  He paused.

  “But then I started looking into you.”

  “Just like you looked into me.”

  Shadow’s eyes narrowed.

  “And I found something interesting.”

  Zaraf’s gaze sharpened.

  “Are you angry at me?”

  “Because after coming to the Imaginary World… I forgot about you?”

  Shadow froze.

  Silence filled the room.

  Then he laughed.

  “Angry?”

  “At you?”

  He slowly circled Zaraf.

  “Maybe.”

  “But not really.”

  His eyes darkened.

  “I’m angry at the world.”

  “The world that chains people with something they call responsibility.”

  His voice grew colder.

  “They praise sacrifice… because they want someone else to suffer for them.”

  Shadow leaned closer.

  “You protect them.”

  “But tell me something.”

  “How many times did they protect you?”

  Zaraf didn’t answer.

  Shadow continued.

  “You call it kindness.”

  “I call it begging for approval.”

  Zaraf’s expression tightened.

  For a moment—

  Shadow’s words echoed in his mind.

  Memories surfaced.

  Moments of betrayal.

  Moments when he stood alone.

  Maybe…

  Shadow wasn’t entirely wrong.

  Zaraf lowered his gaze.

  Silence passed.

  Then he took a deep breath.

  And lifted his eyes again.

  “Even if that’s true…”

  “I still won’t abandon them.”

  Shadow stopped moving.

  Zaraf continued calmly.

  “Yes. Responsibility can feel like chains.”

  “But those chains are the reason I’m still human.”

  Shadow’s smile faded slightly.

  Zaraf stepped closer.

  “You want to destroy everything that hurt us.”

  “But I refuse to become something worse.”

  Shadow stared at him.

  Then he laughed quietly.

  “You really are pathetic.”

  He leaned forward.

  “Those people you cherish?”

  “They’re your weakness.”

  “They hold you back.”

  Zaraf slowly steadied his breathing.

  “I won’t let you hurt them.”

  “Even if I don’t deserve them.”

  Shadow smirked.

  “How?”

  “Even if you regain control of the body… I’m still here.”

  “I’ll return again.”

  “And again.”

  “So tell me…”

  “How long can you hold that body?”

  Zaraf suddenly smiled faintly.

  “I’ve already made my decision.”

  Shadow tilted his head.

  “Oh?”

  “Let’s hear it.”

  Zaraf placed his hand on Shadow’s chest.

  “I don’t need to worry about you returning.”

  Shadow narrowed his eyes.

  Zaraf’s voice became steady.

  “Because once I regain control…”

  “I will kill myself.”

  Silence.

  Shadow stepped back in shock.

  “…You think you can do that?”

  Zaraf walked toward him.

  “I need to protect them.”

  “If accepting responsibility means sacrificing myself…”

  “Then I’m ready.”

  Shadow suddenly laughed.

  “You think this is noble?”

  “I was born the moment you decided you couldn’t trust anyone!”

  “I was there when they abandoned you.”

  “I was there when you realized kindness means nothing!”

  Shadow’s voice sharpened.

  “I exist because of YOU.”

  Zaraf closed his eyes for a moment.

  Then opened them.

  “I know.”

  “And that’s why I must stop you.”

  Outside

  Shin was still waiting.

  Then suddenly—

  Zaraf stood up.

  Everyone looked at him.

  “I am Zaraf.”

  Bell’s eyes lit up.

  She ran forward and grabbed his hand.

  But suddenly—

  A wind blade appeared in Zaraf’s hand.

  Shock spread across everyone’s faces.

  Zaraf raised the blade.

  And pointed it at his own chest.

  “I’m sorry for the trouble,” he said quietly.

  “But now… I must take responsibility.”

  He prepared to strike.

  Bell’s hands trembled.

  But suddenly—

  Zaraf’s arm stopped.

  His body shook violently.

  Inside—

  Shadow struggled for control.

  “I hated you for being like this!”

  “For letting people use you!”

  “Why do you still help them?!”

  Zaraf answered softly.

  “Because it hurts me… to turn them away.”

  “And helping them is the right thing to do.”

  Then—

  A violent storm exploded.

  BOOM!

  Wind burst across the battlefield.

  Everyone jumped back.

  Shin’s eyes widened.

  Shadow was already moving.

  He walked toward the mirror.

  Shin rushed forward—

  But his hand passed through Shadow’s body like wind.

  “ROUGH!” Shin shouted.

  Rough attacked instantly.

  But Shadow slipped past him.

  And jumped into the mirror.

  At the same moment—

  Bell vanished.

  Shin and the others rushed to the mirror.

  Two figures stood there.

  Side by side.

  Both identical.

  Both silent.

  No one could tell—

  Which one was Zaraf.

  Which one was Shadow.

  Or…

  If they had become something else entirely.