His fists clenched, his blue flames flickering weakly around his legs as he stood still, watching Ichika's struggle. The sight of his brother, once carefree and confident, now writhing under the influence of a malevolent force, made Hajime feel a deep sense of helplessness. His memories, the pain of abandonment, and the fear of losing someone else he loved rushed back, overwhelming him with emotions he hadn’t faced in years.

  "Ichika...""Please... I don’t know what’s happening to you, but I can’t lose you again."

  Ichika’s eyes flashed with a mixture of pain and defiance, the corrupted magic in his body twisting and turning like a storm. He glanced at Hajime, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes.

  "You... don’t understand,""You never understood... I had to survive. You didn’t see what happened to me after you were gone. You didn’t see what they did to me."

  The dark energy crackled as Ichika’s form seemed to flicker between his old self and something else—something monstrous.

  Hajime stepped forward, unable to keep his distance any longer. His heart was heavy with guilt, regret, and fear, but he couldn’t let Ichika spiral out of control, not like this.

  "Ichika, listen to me! I don’t care what happened. You’re not alone anymore. I’m here for you.""We can fix this, together. You don’t have to fight it by yourself."

  But Ichika’s eyes only darkened further. The corrupted magic erupted around him, sending shockwaves through the room.

  "It’s too late for that!""You don’t know what it’s like... to have everything you’ve ever known stripped away. I was left with nothing, and now... this is who I am."

  Hajime’s hands trembled slightly as the flames on his legs flared up, but he didn’t move forward. He couldn’t. He needed to find a way to reach Ichika, to help him before the corruption took everything from him.

  "Ichika...""I know what it’s like to feel abandoned. I know what it’s like to think no one cares. But I’m here now. Please, let me help you. Don’t let this darkness take over."

  Ichika looked at him then, and for a brief moment, Hajime saw a flicker of the brother he once knew—the boy who had laughed with him, the one he had fought beside as a child. But that flicker was quickly swallowed by the dark magic, and Ichika’s expression hardened.

  "You think you can save me? You think you can fix everything?""I’m not some helpless kid anymore, Hajime. I can’t just go back."

  Hajime’s heart ached. He could feel the pull to fight—to use his strength and flames to force Ichika to stop, but something held him back. He knew, deep down, that this wasn’t about strength. It was about trust. It was about finding a way to break the curse that had consumed his brother.

  "You don’t have to do this alone, Ichika,"

  Hajime said firmly, locking eyes with his brother. "Please. Let me be the one to fight by your side this time."

  For a long moment, there was silence. The air was thick with the tension of magic and unspoken words. And then, finally, Ichika’s form seemed to waver slightly, as if the corruption’s grip on him faltered for just a second.

  But just as quickly, the dark aura surged again, and Ichika snarled. "I won’t be saved, Hajime. Not by you... not by anyone."

  Hajime’s heart sank, but he refused to back down. He couldn’t.

  "Then let me help you fight this,""I’m not giving up on you. Not again."

  The battle for Ichika’s soul had just begun, and Hajime knew that no matter what it took, he wouldn’t let his brother be consumed by the darkness. He would save him—no matter the cost. Hajime’s eyes widened as the black spikes suddenly erupted from the ground and walls, their deadly tips aimed directly at him. He barely had time to react as the sharp, jagged points pierced his body, slamming into him from every direction. The pain was intense, overwhelming his senses as the black magic continued to spiral around Ichika, feeding off his fury and anguish.

  Hajime gritted his teeth, trying to push through the excruciating pain, but his strength was slowly draining away with every passing second. His legs trembled as he struggled to keep his footing, the blue flames that usually surged around him flickering weakly as the black spikes dug deeper into his body.

  “Ichika…”“This… isn’t you.”

  Ichika’s eyes flickered with a mixture of confusion and fury as he stood, his body trembling under the weight of the dark magic. The spikes continued to pierce through Hajime, trapping him in a cage of dark energy. Ichika’s breathing was heavy, his aura unstable, as if the battle between his true self and the corrupting force was reaching a breaking point.

  “I don’t care who I am anymore,”“I’m not the little brother you once knew. You should have left me alone, Hajime. You don’t understand what I’ve been through!”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Hajime’s vision blurred from the blood loss, but he refused to let the darkness claim him. With every ounce of willpower left, he gritted his teeth and called upon the last remnants of his strength.

  “Ichika… I understand more than you think,”“You’re angry, I know. But this… this isn’t you. You’re not this darkness. I won’t let you become a prisoner to it!”

  The blue flames that burned around Hajime flickered weakly before igniting with a renewed intensity. Despite the agony coursing through his body, he mustered enough strength to push the flames outward, burning through the black spikes one by one, disintegrating them into ash as they crumbled to the ground.

  With every black spike that fell, Hajime’s determination grew stronger. The flames around him grew hotter, and the color of his aura shifted, now a mixture of blue and fiery orange—symbolizing his resolve, his spirit awakening in the face of his brother’s torment.

  “Ichika, please!”“This isn’t you! You can break free from this. Let me help you!”

  Ichika’s expression flickered once more, caught between the dark magic and the memories of his past, of his family. The struggle was evident in his eyes, but the darkness refused to let go. The air around them crackled with tension as the black magic surged once more, threatening to overwhelm Hajime’s flames.

  But Hajime’s resolve was unshakable. He reached out with his hand, as if offering a lifeline, and his voice grew stronger, filled with more conviction.

  “You’re not alone, Ichika. I’ll always be here for you. You don’t have to fight this by yourself anymore. Trust me.”

  For a brief moment, there was silence. The darkness seemed to pulse around them, as if it too was unsure of what to do. But then, with a roar of fury, the black magic surged forward again, intent on crushing Hajime and solidifying its control over Ichika.

  But Hajime wouldn’t give up. His flames blazed brighter, surrounding him like an inferno, scorching the darkness around him. The sheer force of his will cracked the black aura that had consumed his brother. Inch by inch, the corruption began to recede, but it was a battle that would cost Hajime everything.

  “I won’t stop… until you’re free.”

  As Hajime spoke those words, the flames surrounding him intensified, engulfing both him and Ichika in a fiery storm of light and heat. The air vibrated with the sound of the struggle, the clash of wills between the corrupted magic and the love Hajime had for his brother.

  The battle for Ichika’s soul raged on, and Hajime would fight with everything he had. As Hajime’s fiery aura intensified, his semi-immortal nature kicked in, causing his wounds to slowly begin healing. The black spikes that had impaled him, though still leaving marks on his clothes and skin, started to retract from his body as his regenerative abilities kicked in. The intense pain was still there, but his body was healing, slowly stitching itself back together, leaving no permanent scars—at least for now.

  Hajime could feel his strength returning, his blue flames flickering more brightly as they seared through the air. His blood was still dripping from his wounds, but the constant flow began to slow as his semi-immortal state kicked in, and his body started to repair itself at an accelerated rate.

  He stood up, his body no longer weak from the black spikes that had impaled him. The heat from his flames mixed with the fiery orange glow of his spirit awakening, causing his aura to become even more powerful. Hajime’s determination burned in his chest, and despite the lingering pain, he was ready to push forward.

  “Ichika, you’re still in there,”“You can fight this! You’re not a puppet of this darkness! You’re my brother, and I’m not letting you go down this path!”

  His semi-immortal nature continued to aid him, allowing him to endure the grueling battle against Ichika’s corruption. Even though the fight with the black magic was far from over, Hajime’s healing and resilience meant that he could keep up the pressure on Ichika.

  The black spikes had retracted, but the surrounding dark energy still raged around Ichika. Hajime’s presence seemed to stir something within him, a deep sense of conflict. Ichika’s body was trembling as if fighting something inside.

  With Hajime's renewed strength, he closed the distance between them. The blue and orange flames surged around him, illuminating the dark surroundings, and with a final, pained yell, he thrust his hand toward Ichika.

  “I’m not giving up! We’re going to make it through this together!”

  The flames enveloped Ichika, burning away the dark aura slowly, bit by bit, as Hajime fought not just for his brother’s life but for his soul. Hajime blinked in surprise as the small orange bird with fiery feathers appeared on his shoulder, its tiny wings fluttering as it perched comfortably. For a moment, he was too stunned to respond, his focus still on Ichika and the battle against the dark magic that was overtaking him.

  Then the little bird opened its beak and, to Hajime's shock, it .

  "Heh, you didn't expect this, huh?""I’m your spirit, Phoenix! Nice to meet ya!"

  Hajime stared at the bird, his mind still racing from the chaos of the battle. “Wait, what? My spirit… Phoenix?”

  The bird hopped excitedly on his shoulder, puffing up its chest as it gave Hajime a cheeky smile. “That’s right! I’ve been with you all along, but I’ve finally come to introduce myself! I’m your spirit, Hajime! The Phoenix, the one that burns away all the darkness! It’s time to use your true power!”

  Hajime’s confusion deepened, but something about the bird’s energy felt familiar. He could sense that it was connected to his awakening, the surge of power coursing through him as he fought to save his brother. It wasn't just the blue flames or his fiery transformation—it was this, the presence of the Phoenix spirit, helping him push forward.

  "You’ve been with me... all this time?"

  Hajime asked, still trying to wrap his head around the idea.

  The bird gave a small, cocky wink. "Yup! I’ve been waiting for you to really wake up, Hajime! But don’t worry, I’m here now! And together, we’ll defeat whatever stands in your way!”

  Hajime smiled slightly, feeling a strange warmth spread through him at the Phoenix’s words. There was no time to waste on questions, not when his brother was still at risk. He could feel the bond with the Phoenix spirit strengthening, guiding his next moves as his flames grew hotter and brighter, swirling with a newfound intensity.

  “Alright, Phoenix. Let’s do this,”

  The little bird chirped happily. “That’s the spirit! Let’s show them what you’ve got, Hajime!”

  With the Phoenix spirit now fully awakened, Hajime’s flames grew stronger than ever, filling the air with a radiant glow as he focused them on Ichika. His bond with the spirit, paired with his unrelenting determination, would be the key to breaking the corruption that held his brother in its grip.

  And as Hajime advanced once more, ready to fight for Ichika’s soul, the Phoenix spirit remained by his side, a fiery companion guiding him through the darkness. As Hajime stood tall, preparing to face the corrupted Ichika, the Phoenix spirit perched on his shoulder, its fiery wings fluttering as it spoke with an excited tone.