Covered by the aura of ''Purity'', Orion approached Elliott, who was in utter shock by what was happening.


    After lifting his arm, he tapped the man''s shoulder.


    "I believe this is yours."


    After a few seconds, Elliott felt a strange wave of energy wrap itself around his soul.


    As if something missing finally had returned, he turned his face slowly before staring at Orion.


    "This is..."


    Vanitas vibrated inside its scabbard, seemingly celebrating the moment.


    Over his irises, a visible shimmer began to warp into shape. A green pentacle began to take form, and the power following its existence embraced Elliott.


    Passing the power Miasma stole from him a long time ago, Orion nodded to a shocked Elliott.


    "What you do with it now, it is up to you."


    The Remnant of Bravery was born anew, with his power recovered through Orion.


    Lifting his free hand, Elliott looked at it. Closing it repeatedly to get accustomed to that new energy rapidly entwining itself with his core, he nodded.


    "I can''t believe you would willingly return what''s mine without showing that enmity I am so used to."


    "People change. So can I. Let''s go drink some other time."


    Orion remembered the promise he gave to himself. The fury and hate he had for Elliott was lost, leaving both men as perfect equals.


    Shrugging lightly, Elliott smiled.


    "Sure. I haven''t done that in a while."


    As Orion removed his hand from his shoulder, Elliott''s face turned dark.


    "What do we do about this?"


    Requesting Orion''s input, he extended the hand holding the white pearl in his hand at him.


    "There are few endings you can give it."


    With an equivalent expression, Orion pointed at it.


    "You can either destroy it on the spot and be done with him entirely..."


    "Or give him a second chance. Miasma is no more, but it is up to you."


    Orion frowned slightly, recalling some events.


    —


    ''Shouldn''t we deal with Miasma now before returning home?''


    Tetra asked a question to Orion as they were walking in the ''Corridors of Time''.


    "You''re right. We should get rid of the corruption for good before another mistake happens."


    "I wouldn''t want something to happen to you ever again."


    Flirting with her slightly, he brought the dark purple pearl out of his pocket and opened his hand, making it roll inside his palm while Tetra squealed in embarrassment.


    After Orion stared at it for a moment, he stopped walking.


    ''Oh, did you leave your gift to Noah?''


    "I did. At the last second, I flicked it into the portal."


    ''Good. It would''ve been a waste not to give it to him after all the trouble you went to find one.''


    He nodded.


    "I can''t believe that place wasn''t existing at that time. It was a huge pain getting one."If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The Cape of Pearl Waters, which was a beach solely covered by broken down seashells and light pink cream-colored pearls at the top of the Eogis island, only came to be after the two lands merged.


    "Alright, give me a moment."


    ''Be careful.''


    "I will. Trust in me."


    ''I always do and always will.''


    As he closed his eyes, Orion forced his consciousness inside the pearl, where Miasma''s soul was deeply hidden.


    "..."


    Black clouds began to cover Orion as his mind sank deeper into the layers of the purple core.


    Nothing happened to his physical body, but his mind perceived the malicious clouds trying to devour him.


    But not a single cloud actually touched Orion. The void element pushed everything out of the way, lighting the path toward the Remnant''s soul.


    "You little shit. I can''t even have a moment to myself."


    Seeing the black figure with purple eyes glaring down at him, Orion shrugged.


    "You knew I wouldn''t let you go, did you not? The game is over, Miasma. No more jokes, no more pathetic struggles, no more heinous plans..."


    "No more threatening our lives."


    "Pff~ You don''t understand anything, hypocrite."


    Miasma leaned down, approaching his disgusting face full of sharp teeth in front of his.


    "As if you wouldn''t hunt down the creature that would dare hurt your precious companion."


    Orion crossed his arms and spat words at Miasma.


    "Of course I would hunt them down. Does that make me a hypocrite?"


    "Just because your approach was to turn the entire continent into a corrupt field doesn''t mean I would do the same."


    He took a step forward, staring deep into the Remnant''s purple eyes, almost watching through his mind and soul.


    "What even are you, Miasma? You are the only one in this circumstance. The other Remnants have suffered losses just like you, but they chose to protect everything."


    "Without you, life would have flourished. People would be living in a fragile harmony but would strive to keep it strong."


    The Remnant straightened and turned his head away.


    "Again, your hypocrisy shows. Who was the one who hated humans all this time? It was you!"


    Pointing at him, he smirked.


    "I did. Don''t you think it''s time we get over it?"


    "Over what?"


    Miasma growled.


    "I despised humans because of you. You are the greatest plague this world has known."


    "It would be rather pathetic not to be conscious of that fact."


    Anger kept growing inside Miasma. It even appeared on his face as the gnashing of his teeth entered Orion''s ears.


    "What if I am a plague? It doesn''t change anything. My entire goal was to get closer to those beings!"


    "As if you would understand!"


    But Orion shook his head.


    "The problem is, it is relatively easy for me to understand. Weren''t you the one who said that I had many people to protect?"


    Showing perfect neutrality toward Miasma, this confused the Remnant.


    "To protect those people so dear to me, I am prepared to fight those monsters. The same monsters that took your wife and all those Valkyries'' lives."


    A grimace formed on Miasma''s face.


    "As if a weakling like you would ever succeed."


    "I am still the one who bested you. Give credit where it''s due, idiot."


    Taking offense to the insult, he clenched his fist.


    "Weird, you seem to enjoy insulting others, but can''t take one insult from me. It seems like my simple existence irritates you."


    "..."


    Smirking back at Miasma, Orion shrugged. He turned his body to the side, slowly walking around the dark shape.


    "Alright, let''s stop playing those stupid games of provocation."


    "What do you want from me? I can''t believe you came just to insult me."


    Entering to the meat of the matter, both turned incredibly focused.


    As Orion walked behind Miasma and the other kept his eyes perfectly looking forward, he threw the entire subject at him.


    "Miasma, hand over your entire power. Give me everything."


    "!"


    The Remnant froze on the spot. Orion walked back in front of him and continued walking, silent.


    "What would you do with this power? Are you trying to become the second coming of corruption?"


    Orion laughed loudly in his ears.


    "No way! Are you stupid?"


    This mocking frustrated Miasma greatly, as he was usually the one to do this. Being on the receiving end wasn''t to his taste.


    "Let me purify this power and use it to fight those beings. I need it."


    "Do you really think I would give it to you if you asked nicely? Aren''t you old enough to stop daydreaming?"


    Not stopping for a second, his walking began to bother Miasma.


    "Don''t you understand already?"


    Finally, Orion stopped in front of him, his arms crossed.


    "It is over, Miasma."


    These words finally sank into the Remnant''s head.


    "Over..."


    Giving a firm nod, he continued.


    "There''s no way out of this. Either I destroy your core or I give you to Elliott."


    "Either way, this is the end of the line. Neither he nor I will let you go alive. You''ve caused too much grief for us."


    Miasma could picture everything he did to them. From the beginning, he knew he wouldn''t have a pretty end.


    "Give me your power. If you do, I''ll purify your entire being."


    "Blanc... right?"


    Recalling the name of the man he was before, Miasma frowned.


    "Are you trying to say that you would spare me?"


    "I would, not Elliott. All I can do is deprive you of your power and make you acknowledge the path we''ve taken, which is the opposite of yours."


    "You will suffer. You will be constantly judged for your actions, and probably never will be happy."


    Orion glared at him.


    "I have no reason to spare you. I detest you from every fiber of my being. You took the life of a woman I treasure and scarred my daughter''s mind."


    "Killing you is the easy route. Simple, fast, and we would be sure you would never return."


    "Which imbecile would let his enemy leave, only for them to return later and take the lives of those they treasure?"


    The intense hatred in Orion''s eyes stopped Miasma from opening his mouth.


    "Really, this would be stupid. That''s why, before they leave, you have to cripple them!"


    He stretched his arms to the side and slammed his fist into his open hand, grinding the two together.


    "You have to squash every bit of ambition of your enemy so that they never want to try again! Make them learn that everything has a price."


    "For each action taken against me, I will turn your life into a nightmare. Retribution is better given against a live target to begin with."


    These words coming out of a Hero''s mouth truly shocked Miasma. Those were the words of an implacable being.


    As Orion''s emotions calmed down, he smiled.


    "You get the idea. The choice is rather simple for you."


    He lifted two fingers.


    "Give me your Remnant power willingly and get a chance at survival as Blanc."


    Dropping one finger, his gaze darkened.


    "Or die pitifully like the tyrant you wanted to be and have your power taken forcefully."


    Having no choice anymore, Miasma released the tension from his body, contemplating the choices in front of him.


    "..."


    "If you take the first offer, you at least live until I give you over to your son. Whatever happens to you is in his hands. But you will have a chance for redemption, even if it is lower than one percent."


    "You will be stripped of any power. All that would remain would be Blanc the human. Never will you be able to use corruption to affect the world or stand in our way."


    But Orion smirked, holding his greatest argument yet.


    "What you will have a chance to see, if Elliott''s chooses to spare you, will be the downfall of the being that killed your wife."


    "!"


    Suddenly, the conversation shifted toward something Miasma wanted from the deepest part of his soul: the death of Frey''s killer.


    Miasma genuinely began to ponder. The prospect of dying wasn''t a problem.


    But he wanted to see his ambition succeed at all costs.


    He lived to see the usurper of his wife''s identity die, its wicked smile turned upside down.


    "Is it too difficult of a choice?"


    "No."


    The fast answer surprised Orion. He was certain Miasma would argue more, knowing the Remnant''s past interaction with him.


    The dark figure sighed.


    "Take it."


    At that instant, Orion''s mind was pushed out of the core.


    ''Orion?''


    Sensing Orion awakening, Tetra was fast to check on him.


    "I''m fine."


    Looking at the pearl in his hand, Orion clenched it.


    "We''ve got a bit of work ahead of us."


    With a smile bordering on smirking, he continued to walk through time.


    After a few days, Orion absorbed the source of ''Purity'', purging the entirety of the corruption out of the core at the same time.


    Miasma disappeared, leaving behind a powerless individual.