Lost quietly lowered his swords and took a step forward.
Watching his enemy approach, Torin felt his fear and Despair swell to a breaking point as the vast gulf in their strength finally hit home.
"S-stay back! Don't come any closer!"
Regenerating his severed arm, Torin unleashed a frantic barrage of Golden Light Bullets. Lost parried the screaming volleys with casual ease, steadily closing the distance.
"Only now do you see the gap? Unfortunately, it's far too late for that."
"U-uwaa... Aaaaa!"
With every swing of Lost’s Twin Swords, the Golden Radiance was shattered and severed, the light snuffed out. The intervals between the strikes grew shorter until they were occurring right in front of him. Torin could only gasp for air in shallow, ragged breaths, his eyes wide and trembling as he stared at the figure of Lost looming before him.
"Hiee... Hieee!"
"If you were going to be this terrified, you should have run when I first showed you mercy. This is what happens to those who get ahead of themselves."
Cruel as the words were, they were the truth.
Only now did Torin realize that the man before him radiated nearly the same malevolent aura as Abyss—the one who had forced him into submission. This man was Abyss's equal. He possessed the same level of power.
There had never been a chance of winning. As his spirit, once intoxicated by newfound power, was chilled by absolute terror, Torin finally understood.
"Now then, let's end this," Lost said. "If you were the real deal, perhaps you could have performed a miracle... but it’s best you stop clinging to such faint expectations."
"U-uwaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The Twin Swords emitted a crimson glow.
Seeing the blades release that maddening, terrifying light, Torin let out a scream of horror. In the next instant, he fell silent as he watched the exact same light carve itself into his own flesh.
"...Lost Slash."
"Gah... Ah... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Lost whispered the words as he swung his Twin Swords horizontally, bisecting Torin’s body.
As the Crimson Slashing Light etched into his torso began to swell, Torin’s terror exploded alongside his body. The force of the eruption sent him flying, his eyes hollow as he groaned in agony.
"Ah... A... No... Stop..."
He couldn't even put his pain into words. Realizing his death was imminent, he watched in horror as his severed lower half crumbled into sand and his upper half began to dissolve. Lost canceled his transformation and looked down at the trembling, tearful man.
"Your miracles have reached their limit, even with the Clear Plate from Abyss. You should disappear while cursing your luck—the luck that allowed your finished fate to drag on this long, and the misfortune of having met me."
"H-help—"
Torin reached out a hand that was already turning to dust, begging the man looking down on him for salvation. Lost’s lips curled into a distorted smirk as he delivered his final verdict to the fading remains of Torin.
"Goodbye, Miserable [Miracle]. For you, it's GAMEOVER."
"Aaa... A... A—"
With a look of utter Despair, Torin realized there would be no salvation and no miracle. He whispered a final, wordless sound before his body vanished entirely, erased from this world.
Silence returned to the city streets. As Lost took a deep breath, darkness pooled behind him, and Drop stepped out from the shadows.
"You really did it, Lost. That's a Rule Violation."
"Ah... Yeah, I suppose it is. Since I’ve interfered with Abyss’s Plan, I’ll likely be handed a penalty—maybe a Yellow Card."
"You’re acting like it’s someone else’s problem. You're an idiot for going this far for your favorite Hero-kun."
"It wasn't just for him. The battle between Abyss and the boy will undoubtedly be a spectacular match that keeps the Audience on the edge of their seats. If a miracle occurs and My Hero wins... the excitement will reach its zenith. That would give my actions meaning."
"You just killed the [Miracle], didn't you? Besides, you know as well as I do that beating Abyss is practically impossible."
Drop grabbed hold of Lost, who was clearly more exhausted than he appeared. He gave her a weary, wry smile.
"That's right. But isn't a Hero someone who overturns the impossible? I believe he can do it. I believe the Wind of [Miracle] will blow."
"Hmm... Well then, shall we stay and watch for a bit? Drop-chan has no reason to hand you over right now, and I have to be kind to my friends."
"Really? Thank you! I’m glad you’re such a compassionate girl."
Drop grimaced at his suspicious response as she pulled him into the darkness with her.
Quiet once again fell over the empty city streets—a heavy silence that heralded the beginning of the final, violent battle to come.