Encore 24 — False Existence (III)

[You are me.]

At that moment, I thought about what I truly was. In a sense, I was him. Alpha, the original 'Kazuya Shiba.' But, I was also a clone, a dual ego he made to blend in with society. To hide. To fool people.

That was me. The fake 'Kazuya Shiba.'

I was...

[You are...]

A false...

[A false existence.]

It made sense.

'Kazuya Shiba' didn't die 8 years ago, he was reincarnated. I was the false existence created to fill in the void called Kazuya Shiba.

It all made sense. I had only 8 years of memory and a shattered soul.

That must've been because of 'Kazuya Shiba' fighting my—no, she's not even my mother.

All of these emotions, thoughts and feelings are fake.

I'm not even... my own person...

[Despair all you like. I'll be taking your body, your vessel.]

I'm... no one.

·———·

"Kazuya! Kazuya!"

Isla shook the unconscious Kazuya. He was out cold from shock.

She glared at Ylna and so did Yuichi.

"What did you do to him?"

The humanoid Imperi raised her hands as if she surrendered.

"I only told the truth."

"Kazuya! Kazuya!"

"You should probably get away from him."

Ylna warned Isla.

"Why?!"

She screamed.

"Because you'll get hurt."

A ghastly groan came from Kazuya as black smoke escaped his mouth. The smoke created a small tornado, encircling Kazuya's body as he rose.

"What's happening?! What did you do to Kazuya?!"

Yuichi snatched at Ylna's fur and pulled her toward him.

"Nothing. This is the true 'Kazuya Shiba.'"

The smoke disappeared, revealing a boy.

Unlike Kazuya, he was fairly handsome. Despite his shabby appearance, he had a delicate face. His hair was platinum and long. It reached the ground. He had no clothes on his body, except for a rag, covering his legs.

His eyes were mismatched—one was black and the other was white.

The scar Kazuya Shiba originally had on his forehead had healed, however, his torso was dressed with multiple battle scars.

"K-Kazuya..."

Yuichi muttered.

[Yes. That is me. Kazuya Shiba.]

Isla was shivering in place, moving beside Yuichi.

"W-why is this feeling so familiar..."

It was a feeling of fear. A fear etched into her body. Yuichi felt it too.

"It's like..."

[Hello, friends. No, I should be saying former friends. I'm Kazuya Shiba, a being you know as... Alpha.]

"Oi... This is a joke, right?"

Yuichi stretched out his hand in disbelief, however, he noticed that the person in front of him was not the Kazuya Shiba he knew.

[A joke? No, but a joke was this whole experience. 8 years wasted and especially 2 years wasted here with stupid people.]

An indescribable feeling rose within Yuichi. As he clenched his fists, veins popped from his arms to his face in his intense rage.

"So, you're telling me that all of it was fake."

(Please don't.)

He prayed.

[Of course.]

"Your words. Your emotions. Your actions."

[Didn't I already say, yes?]

"So, we weren't best friends, were we?"

He bit his lip and asked.

[No. I have no friends.]

Tainted Wisdom burst as lightning flickered and sparked at the blade. Even his eyes sparked like lightning.

Some of his uniform burned. For example, his shirt and blazer burned, revealing his forearms tattooed with Lichtenberg.

He rushed toward Kazuya.

[That's more like it.]

Yuichi stabbed Kazuya, blasting him into a pile of construction poles. He followed instantly after bringing his sword down on him like a guillotine.

With a single finger, Kazuya stopped the sword and the electrical shockwave was transferred through Kazuya into the ground.

[An interesting Singularity. Let's see... In this state, I can only copy one. For this short time, I'll enjoy myself.]

"Hm?"

Kazuya's long platinum hair seemed to float and shine as sparks of electricity floating around him. His veins were visible as lightning cloaked his hand.

"This feeling... That's my—"

[What, you've never seen someone else use your Singularity? Before me, your Singularity does not only belong to you.]

He punched his face, driving him to the ground. From that, Yuichi's nose flooded with blood and he coughed blood.

[I held back because I don't plan to kill you. However...]

He kneeled and used Sacred Lightning to create a small electrical knife.

[I'll carve this moment into memory.]

And so, slowly, Kazuya drew a line across Yuichi's right eye, creating a scar, before he threw the knife away. It dissipated in the air.

Yuichi yelled, holding his right eye.

[You humans are spoiled, aren't you?]

The boy attempted to push Kazuya off of him but he held him firmly by his throat.

[You think everything you have is yours but it's not. Do not claim your power but work by it. Conquest only leads to ruin. I am that ruin. I am Death.]

Kazuya lifted Yuichi into the air. The boy attempted to use Sacred Lightning to fracture Kazuya's arm but nothing worked.

[I am one of the four horsemen of apocalypse. No matter what, I will be around forever. You must learn the limits of your power.]

Suddenly, he smiled.

Kazuya let go of Yuichi, dodging blades of light. He looked to his side, parrying more light blades.

[Who are you?]

A woman appeared in front of the battered Yuichi.

[Ah, I see you as a sister, don't I? Sylus Kin.]

"You're not Kazuya anymore. You're a monster, Alpha."

Sylus shed a tear as she increased her mana output in her rage.

"For paying the price of killing my teacher, I'll teach you a lesson. A valuable one."

Plip.

Rain battered the ground and cried out miserably, showering everyone.

Isla stared and shivered in fear.

Yuichi was barely conscious after Kazuya's punch.

Sylus glared at Kazuya with a tight reluctance in her heart.

'Kazuya' was enjoying the development of the situation.

Kazuya had been broken, down in the seas of despair. By himself, he had no idea what to do. What would become of him now?