In a strange place that stretches endlessly, a gleaming blue ground sparkles as if it were pure diamond, covered in darkness from every side, with no visible height or depth. Thorn stands firmly in the middle of this space, a cigarette in his mouth, his gaze cold and watchful.
From the opposite dark side, Ryo slowly appears, emerging from the depths of the darkness holding a strangely shaped sharp sword, shining as if made from an unbreakable essence.
Thorn's eyelids widen, and he whispers to himself in surprise:
> "What's going on…? I was supposed to control him the moment I activated this technique… what is this place exactly?"
Ryo replies from the opposite side, his voice emerging from the darkness:
> "You really don't know where we are?"
> "You're not very skilled at using your mark, are you?"
Thorn's expression changes, sweat dripping down his face, confusion filling his eyes.
Ryo continues speaking as he advances slowly, dragging his sword on the ground, producing a grating metallic sound:
> "This place… is my mind."
> "Your technique is built on controlling the enemy's mind, but if the enemy is stronger… you're immediately pulled into the depths of their consciousness."
Thorn stares at the sword in astonishment:
> "Where did you get that sword?"
Ryo replies with sarcasm:
> "You like it? It's a diamond sword… unbreakable."
Thorn's expression shifts to anger, and he shouts:
> "I asked you, where did you get it?!"
Ryo changes his tone to seriousness:
> "Are you really that stupid?"
> "I already told you, we're inside my mind. Anything I imagine… I can make it real here."
Suddenly, both launch forward at high speed. Ryo swings his sword toward the ground, causing it to crack beneath Thorn's feet, but Thorn quickly jumps to avoid the collapse. In the next moment, Ryo drives his sword into his opponent's abdomen, then pulls the blade to slash across his side entirely. Thorn groans in pain but counters with a powerful punch to Ryo's face, forcing him to retreat a few steps, blood dripping from his mouth and nose.
Thorn tries to escape, but finds himself bound by heavy metal chains. Ryo approaches, sits in front of him, and asks in a cold tone:
> "Why did you trust him?"
Thorn laughs mockingly:
> "We'll get rid of him once we're done using him."
Ryo responds with sharper tone:
> "Don't lie. You have no intention of betraying him… I know he possesses the Erasure Mark, the only path to your goal. But another vampire has appeared—do you really think he won't turn on you?"
Thorn tries to evade:
> "Sorry, we'll have to end this conversation here."
He continues confidently:
> "Even if we're inside your mind, the technique… is still mine in the end."
Suddenly, the glass-like space of the mind shatters, everything collapsing, and the two return to the rooftop, exhausted.
At that moment, Yamato rises from where he had fallen off the building. He focuses his energy quickly and propels himself upward:
> "Destructive Flame!!"
He strikes the entire building, unleashing his power with force, destroying it in a single blow. Thorn shouts angrily:
> "You idiot!!"
The building completely collapses. Ryo emerges from under the rubble, looking around, but finds no trace of his opponents… it seems they withdrew silently. He walks slowly over the debris, deep in thought.
---
Elsewhere, inside the Shinda headquarters, Geto and Sai are seated, with a girl named Ino beside them.
Ino exclaims in shock:
> "You're lying!"
Geto replies calmly:
> "Don't be foolish… I'm certain that vampire said the name Nawaka Igo."
Ino's expression shifts in shock:
> "Nawaka Igo? The former owner of the strongest illusion technique? Heir to the Igo family? It's said he died during his attack on Arcalis Island, the island of vampires…"
> "No one has ever escaped his illusion…"
Ino says sharply:
> "Think for a moment! Nawaka… is human!"
Sai responds analytically:
> "Some legends say that humans can be revived as vampires after death…"
Ino replies skeptically:
> "Even if that's true, the person you described doesn't resemble Nawaka at all."
Geto speaks while rubbing his chin:
> "Maybe… they gave him his mark after killing him. Whoever possesses someone's mark may inherit some of their memories."
Sai agrees:
> "That's possible. But I fought alongside Nawaka… it's clear they didn't give him the full mark."
Ino wonders:
> "Did they divide his power among several people? Why?"
Geto replies quietly, then turns toward Ino:
> "You should know more about him than we do… you were his closest friend."
He continues:
> "Nawaka Igo had an unbreakable will… bringing him back to life is a huge risk, especially after you were able to free him from himself."
Sai adds:
> "Even if this person is Nawaka… he's not at full power yet."
> "If he returns at full strength, we won't have any chance of survival… he's the one no one has ever escaped from his illusion."