85 The rebirth {85}

Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch, stood before Kenzo, his presence emanating an aura of ancient power and a history written in the scars of battles fought eons ago. As shadows danced around him, Ashborn extended his hand, revealing a vision that unfolded in the fabric of the shadows.

"In a time long past," he began, his voice carrying the weight of centuries, "I fought alongside the Rulers in a war against the Monarchs. We were pawns of the Absolute Being, a god who toyed with our destinies for his amusement."

The shadows painted a scene of rebellion, where the Rulers turned against their divine puppeteer. In the midst of the chaos, Ashborn alone remained loyal, attempting to quell the rebellion. However, he was defeated, left for dead by those he once called brethren.

"As I faced certain death, I discovered a power hidden within me by the Absolute Being," Ashborn continued, the shadows illustrating his transformation into the Shadow Monarch. "Renewed and stronger, I returned to the battlefield, only to find the war already over, the Absolute Being dead."

The shadows shifted to a darker chapter – the Rulers capturing Legia and the ensuing fear Ashborn's overwhelming power instilled. Betrayal came from within as two Monarchs turned against him. Ashborn defeated them but suffered significant losses.

"Revenge burning in my veins, I refused the Rulers' plea for forgiveness and sought to settle the score with Rakan," Ashborn recounted, the shadows revealing his internal struggle. "I went into hiding, allowing the Rulers to defeat the weakened Monarchs, and I rebuilt my shadow army."

The shadows unfolded further, revealing a turning point in Ashborn's journey. "After centuries, I returned to the Monarchs. Antares welcomed me back, knowing the losses suffered and the weakened state of our kind."

Now, the shadows painted a scene of a more recent era – the assault on the human world. "I follow the Monarchs into your world, seeking my place in the universe, for the chaos realm never felt like home to me."

"I came to this universe for peace, away from the vigilant eyes of the Rulers," Ashborn's voice echoed in the shadows. His gaze fixed on Kenzo, revealing a story woven through the threads of time and existence. "Your world intrigued me. It lacked mana but possessed something else – curse energy. I observed as your world evolved, wars were fought, and knowledge crumbled. I needed a host to enter this planet, and you, tethered to death since birth, were the perfect vessel."

Ashborn's words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of revelation. "Let me say this once more," he declared, taking on Kenzo's appearance and pointing directly at him. "I am the record of your bitter struggle. I am the evidence of your resistance. I am the reward of your pain. I am death, eternal rest, and terror. I am you."

The shadows shifted, revealing glimpses of alternate universes and the twists of fate. "In another universe, the Monarch of Destruction found you before me. But in this one, I am you," Ashborn stated, a declaration that left Kenzo in stunned silence.

"Say what?" Kenzo's confusion surfaced in his words, prompting Ashborn to reply with an enigmatic assurance, "This is a discussion for another time."

As the shadows settled, the room embraced an atmosphere laden with mysteries yet to be unraveled, and Kenzo stood on the precipice of revelations that transcended the boundaries of his own understanding.

Kenzo's realization dawned as he spoke, piecing together the intricate web woven by Ashborn. "So, I'm guessing the whole system thing was a way for you to make me adapt to your strength," Kenzo questioned. Ashborn nodded in acknowledgment, a silent affirmation that echoed through the shadows.

"I made a deal with the energy you call curse energy, but for me to fully revive through you, you must sacrifice something of great importance," Ashborn revealed. Kenzo, eyes opening wide, spoke the sacrifice that resonated within him, "The system." Ashborn nodded once more.

"I do not want to lose you, as we are one, and that is a sacrifice I am willing to make. We share the same body, and I truly treasure all the time I spent with you," Ashborn expressed, a genuine smile playing on his features as he looked at Kenzo.

A choice was presented, a crossroads in the path between an eternal slumber within the death domain or a return to the hellish battlefield. Kenzo's response remained unwavering. "My answer is the same. It hasn't changed; you should have known that. We are the same after all," he declared.

Ashborn, now wearing the appearance of Gojo, smiled in acknowledgment. "Will this be the last time we meet?" Kenzo inquired. Ashborn, as Gojo, replied with a truth that carried a weight of finality, "I will return to my eternal slumber, but you will return as the immortal Shadow Monarch. I doubt we will meet again."

As Ashborn began to walk away, he attempted to convey a final piece of information, but Kenzo stopped him. "I know the exit. I am you," Kenzo asserted, a statement that resonated with the understanding of shared existence and the culmination of their intertwined destinies.

A serene quiet settled between them, a pause pregnant with unspoken understanding. Ashborn, now wearing Gojo's appearance, began to slowly fade away, the ethereal echoes of his existence dissipating into the shadows. As he vanished, the atmosphere embraced a tranquil stillness.

Kenzo stood alone, his surroundings bathed in a soft glow. The gentle breeze lifted his hair, a subtle caress from the unseen forces that lingered in the aftermath of their conversation. The weight of centuries, battles, and revelations hung in the air, but in this moment, there was peace.

The shadows cast by the retreating Ashborn danced gracefully around Kenzo, a silent testament to the shared journey that had brought them together. The world seemed to hold its breath, as if paying homage to the culmination of their intertwined destinies.

Kenzo, left to ponder the depth of his newfound existence, closed his eyes for a moment. The cool breeze whispered a lullaby, carrying with it the echoes of the past and the promise of an uncertain future. In the peaceful silence that followed, Kenzo stood as the immortal Shadow Monarch, his presence a fusion of mortality and eternity, a being forged from the shadows of his own existence.

"Arise"