Path to the Queen of Chains

Kaito’s expression darkened. “Then I’ll use her magic to end her.”

As they walked deeper into the vale, the landscape shifted—trees of black silver twisted toward them, whispering regrets. Pools of still water reflected not the sky but memories. Kaito saw himself—alone, bloodied, staring down the ruined bodies of his step-sisters. The scene played on a loop in the pool.

Kaito stopped, fists trembling.

Sanzi reached out. “Don’t let it claim your heart.”

“I’m done with guilt,” Kaito muttered. “I didn’t kill them. They killed themselves trying to tame what they couldn’t understand.”

He raised his hand and sent a burst of Phoenix Fireball-2 into the pool. The illusion hissed and boiled away.

“Good,” Sanzi said. “Because what comes next will feed on regret.”

Suddenly, the sky fractured.