DEB 108

Meanwhile, the disciples couldn’t understand the situation. 

What did he mean by finally finding peace?

It was ominous, as though he had longed for this moment for ages.

The disciples already knew the Yasha before them wasn’t the “real” Yasha. 

This young Yasha was merely a remnant that had separated from the original Yasha and could never truly replace Huiyun. 

But since he considered them his disciples and declared himself their master, they respected his intent and treated him as such. 

Even if others called it foolish, they couldn’t just stand by and watch their master sacrifice himself again.

If he had no memories, it might have been different, but he carried the memories of the true Yasha. 

They couldn’t just ignore that. No matter what, he was their master, their Yasha, albeit incomplete. 

They were tired of watching passively. 

They already owed a debt to Yasha since the War.

As they fiercely resisted, trying not to repeat past mistakes, the controlling power over their bodies only grew stronger.

“Yasha!” Ash shouted in frustration.

Though there was quite a distance, Yasha could still hear his disciple’s voice just as they heard his murmuring.

Yasha flinched at the sound, his shoulders slightly rising before dropping. 

Yet, he did not turn back. 

Despite hearing his beloved disciples’ voices calling repeatedly, he kept his gaze fixed on the ominous ruler of the swamp.

– Drip, drip.

The monstrous figure covered in sludge gazed down at Yasha with its thousands of eyes. 

A powerful wave emanated from it, and Yasha could feel its presence as if it touched his heart.

“It seems you’ve been waiting for me as well.”

-…

The figure that emerged from the swamp said nothing, but the thousands of faces on its body wept in unison, their cries seeming to drown the world in sorrow.

“Just as I felt your stirring, you must have sensed my presence too. Let’s have a conversation, between beings who weren’t meant to exist.”

-…

“Don’t worry. Sometimes, battle can be a conversation too.”

After this one-sided exchange, young Yasha closed his eyes. 

The voices of his disciples, pleading for him to stop, for him to release his control over them, faded into a momentary silence. 

And in that silence, the battle began without a sound.

“Ugh…!”

“Yasha!”

“Yasha, no!”

The winds clashed violently, creating a force so strong that even the distant disciples were pushed back. 

Young Yasha staggered half a step, and the new ruler of the swamp was also forced back. 

His silver lashes rose as he met the ruler’s gaze.

The once-simple wind, now imbued with Yasha’s presence, shot forward like a hawk toward the swamp’s ruler, who countered with a surge of dark energy.

– Woo—

A mournful wail echoed from thousands of mouths, like a funeral dirge. 

The divine field that Zenith and Verita had imbued in the area crumbled as black despair rose in its place, entwined with the wind and clashing with Yasha’s power.

Sparks flew as the two forces collided.

Mud churned up, scattering black clumps in all directions. 

The wailing grew louder, a sea of lament that disoriented anyone who heard it. 

But amid the wails, Yasha found a familiar sound.

-“Yasha! You’re here? Can you read us this book today?”

-“Teacher!”

-“Fool! He’s not just any teacher, he’s Maset Yasha!”

-“Yasha, Ash hit Hamel today! Hamel cried so hard!”

-“Dahlia! What are you talking about?”

-“Welcome, Yasha! We’ve been waiting!”

As he recognized those tender voices, memories of the time he spent with them resurfaced. 

Back then, Yasha had believed he could remove the shadows cast over their faces.

But all he ended up doing was pushing them into this swamp. 

Now all he could do was atone, hoping that, one day, they could be reborn as humans and meet him again.

For this, he had waited so long. 

He had spent thousands of years here without understanding his purpose, only to finally realize it: he had remained to achieve this redemption.

When he shifted his gaze to follow those voices, he saw their pale, hollow faces, resembling lifeless dolls. 

Looking into their empty eyes, Yasha offered a gentle smile as he released the stored power of the Guardian he’d accumulated while his disciples fought.

Dozens of radiant beams formed in the air, silver flashes aimed at the swamp ruler.

The first shot was blocked by a hastily constructed mud wall, and the second met the same fate. 

The third couldn’t pierce its thick skin, and the fourth failed to tear through its muscles.

But Yasha had many more attacks in reserve. 

Despite the ruler’s desperate attempts to raise walls of mud, summon armies, and unleash black lightning from the sky, Yasha remained unharmed.

The swamp soldiers summoned by the ruler struggled under Yasha’s power of Domination, unable to rise. 

The black lightning missed him, striking the ground instead, while the piled mud crumbled against the beams of light.

Finally, the twentieth beam struck its body, piercing through. 

A small hole appeared in its massive form, and the remaining beams targeted this spot, gradually enlarging the wound.

-…!

The swamp ruler threw its head back, releasing a silent scream. 

The wails from its faces grew loud enough to shake the swamp.

Seeing his disciples struggling to withstand the overwhelming cries, young Yasha sighed and extended his hand.

When he clenched his fist, silence fell. 

His immense power forced the faces to close their mouths, stopping their cries.

A bead of sweat trickled down Yasha’s chin. 

The swamp ruler, unable to retaliate, could only stare at him, black blood dripping from its wound.

“You’re still immature.”

Though newly complete, the creature was nowhere near his strength. 

If he were his true self, victory would have come even more easily. 

With a hint of regret, Yasha exerted his power and forced the weakened ruler to kneel.

– Thud.

As the ruler’s knees hit the ground, the control binding the disciples was lifted. 

Freed at last, they rushed toward Yasha. 

Ash was the first to reach him, casting a wary glance at the ruler before grabbing Yasha’s arm.

“You’re not planning anything strange, are you? Come with us.”

Though the fight seemed won, the lingering tension remained. 

If it were truly over, Yasha wouldn’t have spoken so ominously. 

Ash looked at Yasha with concern. 

Yasha placed a gentle hand on Ash’s head, his small fingers ruffling the red hair. 

After a brief pause, Ash bowed his head, understanding his master’s intent.

“Thank you. I could capture it so easily thanks to your help.”

“But it’s not over, is it?”

“It’s not. Winning over it doesn’t end this fight.”

The battle wouldn’t be complete until the swamp’s new ruler was destroyed. 

Victory and taking a life were a world apart, requiring an insurmountable difference in strength.

But, from the disciples’ perspective, young Yasha and the swamp’s new ruler didn’t seem so far apart in power.

“…You’re growing weaker,” Ash whispered.

“Being so far from my true self, it can’t be helped. My true self chose the quickest path to save this swamp. Finish things here quickly, then go to aid him.”

“But you…”

Ash trailed off, unable to complete his thought. 

The disciples gathered around Yasha, who was holding the enormous creature in a kneeling position without showing any visible strain. 

But they could see the sweat on his brow, and Ash could feel a faint tremor in the hand he held.

“…Young Yasha. If you wish, we could find a way for you to join us. Haven’t you stayed in this swamp for far too long? The world has changed greatly—see the world you’ve saved, even if just once.”

After a hesitant pause, Verita spoke cautiously. 

His fellow disciples turned to him, surprised. 

They hadn’t expected Verita, of all people, to make such a suggestion.

But young Yasha shook his head.

“I can’t go against the natural order. I want to see the end of this long life here, with those children. We went off course together, so we should disappear together, so neither of us feels lonely.”

“…Yasha.”

“Are you not Yasha too? If you wanted, you could come with us.”

“Vina.”

“…”

Even though Vina wasn’t scolded, he lowered his head in silence. 

Young Yasha sensed the waning control over the swamp ruler and smiled faintly.

His time was nearly up.

Now, all that remained was to see if the heavens would accept his atonement.