"Can you walk Double?" Joki asks.


    Double''s body had reached its limit, if he had continued fighting for even a minute longer, he would have reached essence burnout, just like Kairoji.


    "Somewhat, but I don''t know for how much longer. Still, I''m not resting until I find Kazu." Double says.


    Walking behind them, Reima felt her anxiety mounting with each step. Guilt weighed heavily on her heart, the nagging feeling that things could have been different had she spoken up sooner.


    "You guys...I know we''re looking for your friend, but would you like me to leave? I am of no use to you, and I in a way caused this." Reima offered tentatively.


    Double came to an abrupt stop, executing a swift pivot to face Reima. Joki''s attention shifted, a flicker of confusion crossing his features as he watched Double''s sudden turn.


    "Do you stand by the actions he committed? Can you honestly say that everything he did was truly evil in your eyes?" Double''s voice was firm, his gaze piercing.


    "...Yes, yes it was, but please, before you say any more, let me explain." Reima pleaded.


    Double swiftly seizes Reima''s arm, yanking her forward, his breath coming in rapid gasps, a testament to his depleted energy.


    "There''s nothing to explain. No one is angry at you, and no one is blaming you for anything. You have a good heart, so you can come with us. I know you don''t want to stay here." Double reassured her.


    Reima''s eyes widened, tears welling up as she followed behind Double and Joki.


    After what felt like an eternity of relentless trudging, they finally reached a standstill. The trio stood frozen in shock as they beheld the grim scene unfolding before them. In the distance, Kazu was hunched over, a glint of metal protruding from his abdomen, while Kairoji mirrored his agony, a sword buried deep within him.


    The clash between Kazu and Kairoji had concluded in a bitter stalemate, leaving both combatants ravaged and broken, their bodies bearing the brutal scars of their confrontation. Despite their fierce resolve, neither could muster the strength to continue the fight.


    "Kazu! Damn it! Joki, grab him quickly!" Double yells.


    Joki carefully removed the dagger, trying to prevent further harm to Kazu. Kazu was conscious but barely.


    "He''s still conscious. The blow didn''t hit any vital organs, but he''s in bad shape. He''s losing blood fast." Joki says.


    "It''s fine, you can heal him. You''re in better shape than all of us, right?" Double inquired.


    As Joki''s fingers brushed against Kazu''s stomach, an unexpected surge rippled through him. In an instant, his aura veered out of control, spiraling wildly. It was a consequence of neglect, a result of Joki''s relentless dedication to his work. Throughout the month spent with Double and Kazu, he had scarcely allowed himself a moment of respite. While others rested, he persisted, tirelessly refining and perfecting. And now, in that fleeting touch, the strain of his unyielding efforts revealed itself, sending shock waves through his very being.


    Alongside that, the reckless use of his abilities against Kairoji had led Joki to reach stage three of essence burnout.


    ''Everything around me, this...is this hell?'' Joki thinks to himself.


    Joki found himself utterly entranced, drifting away from the fabric of reality itself, his countenance twisted into a visage of pure terror. Before him, a phantasmagoria of his deepest fears unfolded, each haunting vision a manifestation of every conceivable misfortune that could have befallen him. Meanwhile, Double remained immobilized, his gaze oscillating anxiously between Kazu and the tormented figure of Joki.


    "Joki! Kazu! Damn it, this is the worst-case scenario. Everyone is in bad shape. We''re so far from home, and Joki can''t use his abilities anymore. I had no idea he had nothing left in the tank." Double says.


    Reima stepped forward, noticing Kairoji lying unattended. She scanned the surroundings, spotting the still-standing festival.


    "Father, you''re still conscious. These people need your help." Reima implored.


    "Father?" Double asks.


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    Kairoji tries to get up, but he can''t, as the worst case scenario for him had happened. The essence burnout his clone had suffered had transferred over to his original body, all he can do is open his eyes and look over at his daughter.


    "My child, I am sorry. I can''t help them, I can''t even help myself." Kairoji admitted.


    "Cut the shit! This festival is still standing. You still control what happens here. You can siphon off my aura and help these people..." Reima insisted.


    "Hey! You alone won''t be enough to save Joki here. I can give what aura I have left to help." Double offered.


    Kairoji extends his hand, which begins to emit a radiant white glow. In an instant, the energies of both Double and Reima are siphoned, causing them to immediately lose consciousness.


    (Five minutes pass)


    Joki snapped back into reality, observing his hands. He scanned the scene, realizing everyone else was unconscious, except Kairoji, who had succumbed to his injuries.


    Though Kazu''s bleeding was stopped, Kairoji''s wounds never ceased. The remaining aura he used in an attempt to rectify the situation only hastened his demise.


    ''Damn, that old man must have done something to take me out of whatever hell that was. He can truly do whatever he wants, as long as he''s in this festival.'' Joki thinks to himself.


    With a purposeful stride, Joki approached and lifted Double onto his right shoulder, Kazu onto his left, and cradled Reima with his remaining arms. As he moved forward, his gaze fell upon the lifeless form of Kairoji, prompting a moment of perplexity.


    "Why did you save us? You had the fight won; we made the wrong decision. I''ll never receive an answer now, but perhaps in the next life, one day you''ll reveal it to me. Maybe I''ll comprehend before then, but I suppose we''ll never truly know." Joki states.


    "Touching sentiments, Joki! I''d shed a tear if I could." a voice echoed from afar.


    The voice halted Joki in his tracks, causing a momentary tremor to course through him. Instinctively, he released his hold on Double, Kazu, and Reima, his fingers closing around the hilt of his sword as he turned his gaze towards the source.


    There stood a man, a serene smile gracing his features. There was an air of tranquility about him, a countenance that seemed incapable of inflicting harm. Yet, something about him stirred a primal reaction within Joki. His grip tightened on the sword, determination flashing in his eyes, as if he were prepared to gamble everything to eliminate the man before him.


    "Whoa, whoa! What''s with all the aggression? That glare, it''s downright evil, Joki. And look, you''ve left your injured comrades lying on the ground." The man says.


    "What the hell are you doing here, give me one reason I shouldn''t..." Joki says.


    "Why you shouldn''t what? End me? Because you can''t, Joki. That''s the beauty of this situation. Right now, you''re in a bind. But address me by my name, and I''ll lend a hand," the man interrupted.


    Joki stood rooted in place, his mind swirling with tumultuous thoughts. The sheer injustice of his predicament ignited a fierce anger within him. He couldn''t bring himself to meet the man''s gaze, the very sight of him churning his stomach with revulsion.


    The man maintained his unwavering smile, coupled with an air of serene composure. It was unsettling, leaving one unable to discern his thoughts, intentions, or true nature.


    "Seikatsu, how the hell did you find me?" Joki asks.


    "Ah, you remember! And how? Well, it''s no secret. You can''t stir up trouble and expect me not to track you down eventually, right? I see you''ve also brought some friends along with you." Seikatsu says.


    "Listen...I am not here to have small talk with you. What is it that you want?" Joki asks.


    Seikatsu pointed at Double, Kazu, and Reima. Joki glanced at them, realizing time was slipping away.


    "Perhaps you''ll manage to lead the boy in the jacket and the girl to safety, but the one with the stomach wound and myriad cuts...he won''t survive unless you can get there quickly. You understand I''m the only one who can assist with that right now." Seikatsu insists.


    "Bullshit! I don''t need..." Joki says.


    Joki halted, feeling Kazu''s blood seeping onto him. With a resigned sigh, he gathered them up and approached Seikatsu.


    "So, I know you way too well. You wouldn''t just help me, what comes with this?" Joki asks.


    "I''m glad you see reason. All I want is a deal. We''ll discuss terms on the way. Agreed?" Seikatsu proposed.


    As the air thickened around them, Joki''s gaze remained fixed on Seikatsu. Despite his churning stomach, Joki knew what he had to do.


    "You''ll save them? You''ll get them back to full health when we get where we''re going?" Joki asks.


    "You have my word Joki." Seikatsu says.


    Joki glanced back at the empty festival grounds, Kairoji''s lifeless form. After a moment''s contemplation, he met Seikatsu''s gaze and moved past him.


    "Deal," Joki conceded.