Chapter 83: The Resurgence of Bonds.

A white light tore through the sky.

Then... nothing.

Silence, frozen. Time, suspended.

Zramë stood there, alone, standing in the middle of a stopped world. His gaze, empty, indifferent, slid over the void. Rivhiamë and Niyus were no longer there. Erased like memories too human.

He clenched his fist slowly. A dull vibration ran through the heavens.

Zramë:

"When destruction is set in motion, it cannot be stopped."

He slowly turned his head to the right, sensing a presence that even destruction could not erase.

Zramë:

"Do you believe you can stop destruction?"

Two silhouettes, standing in the air, appeared. One had the air of a born warrior, the other that of a spirit sharp as a blade.

Jin Muleo carried Rivhiamë on his shoulder.

Lingyin, silent and determined, held Niyus against him.

Jin Muleo (dark look):

"I don't know who you are, but you made a very bad choice by attacking Niyus and Rivhiamë."

Zramë did not answer. His eyes remained empty, unfathomable.

Jin Muleo put down Rivhiamë.

She stood in the air, still trembling.

Jin Muleo (soft voice):

"Are you okay, Rivhiamë?"

She looked at him. For a long time. No words came at first, just the reflection of a deep fear.

Then... her lips trembled. Tears welled up.

Rivhiamë (crying):

"Thank you... Without you... Zramë... he would have..."

She rubbed her eyes, as if to erase the nightmare.

Jin Muleo placed a hand on her shoulder.

Jin Muleo (soft smile):

"You don't have to cry anymore. We're here now. And as long as we breathe, he won't touch you."

Rivhiamë nodded, still emotional.

Jin Muleo (to Lingyin):

"Stay with her. I'm going to test this 'god.'"

They exchanged a silent, almost solemn nod.

Rivhiamë (worried):

"Jin, no... you don't understand. He's a God! A God of Destruction!"

Jin Muleo (calm):

"Exactly. Facing a god means accepting death. But if we don't face him, then nothing remains."

"So if I have to die... I'd rather do it fighting."

At that moment, Rivhiamë no longer saw just Jin, her friend. She saw a hero. A titan who advances even against the void.

He stepped forward. Alone.

Zramë watched him, still indifferent.

Zramë:

"Anyone who tries to stop destruction will be destroyed."

Jin Muleo (big grin):

"Yeah, yeah, we get it... Now come on. Let me kick your butt."

The ground collapsed at the first strike. Jin dashed like a comet, fist forward.

Zramë raised a hand a wall of black light appeared. Jin spun fiercely through it, shattering the barrier.

A right hook Zramë dodged with a step. An uppercut blocked by two fingers. Jin stepped back, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. The power of this god was... dense, absolute.

Zramë struck in return.

His arm sliced through the air. Space bent.

Jin crossed his arms impact. He was hurled kilometers away, piercing layers of air, then came back, flying, hands ablaze.

Jin Muleo (grimacing):

"Has been a while since I got thrown like that."

He activated his aura boosts, a double circle of golden and red energy swirling around him. His veins pulsed, his eyes shone with a supernatural glow.

He launched a flurry of blows, lightning fast:

— palm strikes,

— spinning knees,

— celestial combos.

Zramë blocked effortlessly.

Then... he raised a finger.

The sky turned black. A rain of white spheres fell, destructive. Jin dodged brilliantly, bouncing on each projectile like unstable platforms, then rushed to strike Zramë's throat.

The God didn't move.

His gaze... was enough.

A black lightning exploded at point-blank range. Jin was swallowed by the wave. Silence. Then he emerged, chest bleeding, but standing.

Jin Muleo (panting, but smiling):

"You've got a nice punch, I admit. But I'm far from done."

Zramë tilted his head slightly.

As if, for the first time, a shadow of interest flickered in his eyes.

In a corner spared from chaos, Lingyin and Rivhiamë knelt beside Niyus's motionless body. His eyelids twitched, but his mind was elsewhere. A prisoner.

Rivhiamë whispered, anxiety tightening her throat:

— I don't understand... what's happening to him?

Lingyin ran his fingers over Niyus's forehead, focused.

— He's trapped... in the memories of possibilities.

Rivhiamë frowned.

— Memories of possibilities?

Lingyin explained softly:

— Mental realities where every possible failure haunts him. He's lost in versions of himself where he couldn't protect... where he lost everything.

Rivhiamë looked at Niyus, heart tight.

(Poor Niyus... Since that day with the angel Mù Sunghiun, he's been taking hits without ever fully recovering...)

She looked up at Lingyin:

— Is there a way to bring him back?

A silence. Then Lingyin nodded.

— There is one. But quiet now.

He closed his eyes, placed his hand on Niyus's head.

Inside Niyus's mind, a white, empty world flooded with translucent water that seemed to stretch infinitely. He floated, powerless, without bearings, hearing unanswered questions echo in loops.

Then a voice, clear as lightning in the mist:

— NIYUS!!

He opened his eyes.

Back to reality. Lingyin and Rivhiamë leaning over him.

— Lingyin? What are... you doing here?

His gaze turned away. He felt a violent wave hit him from a distance. Shocks, bursts of energy. He sat up abruptly.

— Is it... Jin Muleo? Is he here?

Lingyin replied calmly:

— No time to dream. A god wants you dead. We came to help.

Niyus froze for a moment.

(And if... they died here? And if Princess Amu...)

Then he stood up, looked Lingyin straight in the eyes.

— Thank you. But I can handle this alone.

Rivhiamë's eyes widened.

— What?

Lingyin, relentless:

— That's not what we saw earlier.

That phrase pierced Niyus. He looked away, ashamed, then fixed his gaze on the direction of the battle. A heavy silence.

Lingyin approached, his voice gentle but firm:

— You are our brother, Niyus. Dragon warriors or not, we're not afraid to die if it's to save you. And Princess Amu... losing someone she values as much as you would be a tragedy.

Niyus blinked. The words touched him more than he wanted to admit. He looked at Lingyin.

— So? said the latter with a smile. Partner? And maybe future prince?

He extended his hand.

Niyus considered it for a moment, then took it.

— I don't know how to thank you, but... I don't regret a single moment of knowing you.

Rivhiamë wiped a tear, smiling.

— Now let's go beat the God of Destruction!!

But Niyus cut her off, a finger on her forehead.

— We're going to fight. You stay here.

— Huh? Why?!

He gently stroked her head.

— This fight isn't for you, Rivhiamë. It's not a lack of faith. It's a promise to protect you.

Rivhiamë lowered her head, resigned, and nodded slowly.

On the battlefield.

Jin Muleo made a backward jump to dodge a black wave sweeping the air like a cosmic scythe. He landed heavily, feet digging into the rock, panting... until two silhouettes appeared in a flash of light.

— Finally, said he with a smile. I was waiting for you.

— Sorry for the delay, my dear friend, replied Niyus.

Zramë still stood. Unshakable. A wall of indifference.

Niyus clenched his fists, positioned himself between Lingyin and Jin Muleo. The rain suddenly fell, pouring, as if the world itself was afraid.

— I hope you're ready... because before us stands a God of Destruction.

A lightning split the sky. The three warriors, in unison, nodded, their eyes burning with determination.