The sky over the temple was calm now, a fragile peace after the storm of fire and shadow.
Molten rivers had cooled, the rift above the temple had closed, and the demon army had scattered—or been destroyed. Yet the air still carried the echoes of battle, the smell of ash, and the tremor of immense power recently unleashed.
Kanji stood at the temple's edge, the black sword resting against his shoulder. His golden eyes, faintly veined with red, scanned the horizon. The battlefield was scarred—mountains split, forests leveled, and the earth itself trembling under the weight of the destruction.
Rin approached cautiously, her face a mixture of awe and concern.
"Kanji… everyone's alive… thanks to you," she said softly.
"But… the power you used… the forbidden magic… are you… okay?"
Kanji's lips pressed into a thin line. He lowered the sword and exhaled slowly.
"I'm fine… but this magic… it leaves marks. On me, on the world. I barely controlled it. If I had lost focus… everything… everyone… would have been gone."
Seiji stepped forward, adjusting his talismans, which still glowed faintly with residual energy.
"The monks… the temple… we survived, but the landscape… it's changed. The demons will remember. Ravnos may be gone for now, but others will rise. He is not the only threat lurking in the shadows."
Master Ryou approached, his robes scorched, his staff worn. His eyes met Kanji's, a mix of pride and concern.
"You have done the impossible, Kanji. You've defeated Ravnos and stabilized the realms… but know this: your actions have drawn attention. The use of forbidden magic echoes through dimensions. There are forces far older and darker than even Ravnos who have sensed your power."
Kanji's hands clenched around the sword.
"So the fight isn't over," he murmured.
"I thought defeating Ravnos would end the war. But… there's more coming. I can feel it."
Rin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll face it together. You've already proven you can control power no one else could. Whatever comes next… we won't let you face it alone."
Kanji looked out over the ruined temple grounds. The wind carried the distant cries of demons fleeing the realm, but also whispers from the shadows—echoes of new, unseen threats.
He felt it deep within—the pulse of the sword, the remnants of forbidden magic, and the lingering heartbeat of his demon blood. It whispered warnings and promises:
"The heir has awakened… but the balance of worlds has shifted. New powers will rise. New enemies will come. And only the Child of Destruction can decide the fate of everything."
Kanji nodded, resolve hardening.
"I will be ready. I will protect this world… no matter the cost."
Above, the sky darkened slightly, a foreboding cloud drifting from the horizon, carrying an energy even older than Ravnos. Somewhere, far beyond the temple and the demon realm, a new force stirred—a power that could challenge Kanji in ways he had never imagined.
The war had paused, but it was far from over.
The Child of Destruction had survived the first great trial, but the shadows of the future loomed closer, whispering of battles yet to come, and threats that could eclipse even the Demon King himself.
Kanji tightened his grip on the black sword, golden eyes burning with determination.
"I am ready," he whispered.
"For whatever comes next… I will face it."
The world was scarred, but hope remained. And the true journey of the Child of Destruction was only just beginning.
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