Third Loop, Chapter 17 : 闇の中の灯火 (A Beacon in the Darkness)

A deafening roar tore through the facility as tremors shook its very foundations. The air grew heavy with the acrid tang of burning circuits and ruptured metal. Monitors flickered erratically, casting the room in bursts of blue light that seemed to mirror the chaos outside. Cracks snaked through the metallic floor, splitting it apart as steam hissed from ruptured pipes above. The resonating blare of alarms cut through the noise—a grim symphony announcing the collapse of their world.

Izumi stumbled, clutching the edge of a console as the ground heaved beneath her. "What's happening?!" she yelled, her voice trembling as her eyes darted to Daichi.

He stood in the center of the chaos, his figure illuminated by the artifact glowing fiercely in his hand. Despite the destruction around them, Daichi's expression remained unnervingly calm, though the weight in his gaze betrayed the urgency brewing beneath the surface.

"The destabilization," he said, his voice steady but grim, "it's worse than we anticipated. The Vanishing isn't just consuming what's left—it's unraveling the structure of the world itself."

Izumi's chest tightened, the air caught in her throat. "No… no, that's not possible! We were supposed to have more time!"

Another violent tremor sent her crashing into his side, but before she could fall, his arm shot out, steadying her. He didn't wait for her to regain her footing, pulling her toward the corridor with a firm yet gentle grip.

They stumbled into a dimly lit hallway, the emergency lights pulsing crimson around them. The automated voice of the facility droned lifelessly, warning of "catastrophic collapse." The distant sound of crumbling metal echoed ominously, a grim reminder of their dwindling time.

Izumi's breaths came in shallow gasps as she ran alongside him. "Daichi, where are we going?!" she demanded, the tremor in her voice betraying her fear.

"To the control room," he replied, not sparing her a glance. "There's only one way to stop this now."

His cryptic answer sent a chill racing down her spine. "What do you mean 'only one way'?" she asked, but deep down, she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

The corridor opened into a small, reinforced room, its walls lined with monitors and old equipment coated in a fine layer of dust. The room felt like a relic from another time—a safe haven untouched by the destruction outside.

Daichi stepped inside and gestured for Izumi to follow. As the heavy door began to close behind them, her gut twisted with a sudden, inexplicable dread. "Wait—why are you bringing me here?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Daichi didn't respond right away. Instead, he turned to her, his expression softening for the first time since the chaos began. The faint glow of the artifact illuminated his face, highlighting the storm of emotions in his eyes.

"Stay here," he said quietly, his words gentle yet resolute. "You'll be safe in this room."

The realization struck her like a thunderbolt, stealing the air from her lungs. She grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his skin. "No," she whispered, her voice cracking. "No, you're not doing this. You're not leaving me."

Daichi's gaze didn't waver, but his hand moved to gently cover hers, prying her fingers away with heartbreaking tenderness. "I have to, Izumi," he said, his tone laced with sorrow. "It's the only way to save everyone."

Her tears spilled over as she shook her head vehemently. "There has to be another way! We'll find it together—we always do!" Her voice grew louder, more frantic with each word. "Don't you dare think you have to do this alone!"

He reached up, his fingers brushing a stray tear from her cheek. "Izumi," he said softly, his voice cracking as he spoke her name, "you know I would never leave you if there were any other way."

Her knees felt weak, and she stumbled, clutching the front of his jacket as if her grip alone could anchor him to her. "I can't lose you again," she sobbed, her words tumbling out in broken fragments. "Not again… Please, Daichi… I can't do this without you."

His lips curved into a bittersweet smile, and he leaned down, pressing his forehead gently against hers. "You've always been stronger than you think," he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.

She shook her head, her tears falling freely now. "I don't want to be strong if it means losing you."

The door began to close fully, its mechanical groan sending a spike of terror through her chest. "No! Don't do this!" she cried, her fists pounding against his chest. "You promised me! You said we'd find another way!"

Daichi caught her hands, holding them firmly between his own. "I promised I'd try," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But there's no more time."

Izumi screamed in frustration and anguish, her cries echoing in the small room. "Don't leave me! Don't you dare leave me alone again!"

He stepped back, his hand lingering on her cheek for one last, fleeting moment. "You'll never be alone," he said, his voice trembling. "Not as long as you remember me."

The door slid shut between them, locking with a heavy thud. Izumi slammed her fists against the metal, her sobs breaking into desperate screams. "Daichi! Open the door! Please! Don't leave me!"

On the other side, Daichi rested his hand against the cold steel, his own tears silently falling. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I'll always love you."

As the tremors intensified, Daichi turned toward the glowing key in his hand. The artifact pulsed with a brilliant, blinding light, and he held it close to his chest, letting its energy seep into him. The transformation was immediate—his hair turned a brilliant silver, and his body radiated an ethereal glow. Pain surged through him, but he didn't falter.

In the locked room, Izumi collapsed to her knees, her cries growing hoarse as the world seemed to collapse around her. "Daichi…" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Come back to me…"

The facility shook violently as the light emanating from Daichi reached its zenith. The energy surged outward, reversing the fractures and healing the fabric of their broken world. And then, in a final, brilliant flash, Daichi was gone. The silence that followed was deafening.