Yor's chest rose and fell slowly as he stared at the mask nailed to the black tree.
> "Would you trade your name… for her life?"
The words echoed again in his head.
He didn't move.
Didn't blink.
His hands were shaking—but not from fear.
> "My name… is Yor Satoshi," he whispered. "And I'm not giving it away."
The tree creaked like it was alive.
The crack on the mask glowed darker, ash pouring out like falling tears.
---
> "Then she dies," the voice said.
Yor clenched his fists.
> "No," he said. "She lives… and I fight."
The ground shook beneath him.
A deep rumble, like something waking up below the roots.
The tree pulsed.
The air grew hot.
Ash spun around him like a storm.
But Yor stepped forward.
---
> "You think taking my name would make me forget her?" Yor said, voice rising. "My sister… is not just in my memory. She's in my soul."
The tree screamed.
A sound without sound—pure pressure—pushing against Yor's mind, trying to crush his thoughts.
He dropped to one knee.
Blood ran from his nose.
But he looked up, eyes full of fire.
> "No matter how strong you are… I won't break."
---
The tree shook violently.
Roots tore out from the ground.
The mask fell—
And something stepped out of the trunk.
Not human.
Tall, black, with limbs like smoke and eyes that burned blue.
It was wearing Yor's face.
But twisted.
Cold.
Empty.
> "Then fight yourself," the voice hissed.
> "Prove you deserve to carry that name."
---
Yor stood slowly.
Pain rang through his body—but his back stayed straight.
> "I don't need to prove anything to you," he said.
> "But I will show you who I am."
The shadow-Yor rushed forward.
Fast.
Too fast.
But Yor didn't step back.
He met it head-on.
---
Blow after blow.
Fist against fist.
The creature knew his every move—but Yor didn't care.
He wasn't fighting with skill.
He was fighting with heart.
With everything.
Memories of Yuna's smile.
His father's voice.
His mother's quiet songs.
The laughter they shared.
The tears.
The fire.
The pain.
The will.
---
The shadow pushed him to the ground.
> "You're weak," it spat.
Yor gritted his teeth.
His fingers dug into the dirt.
> "Maybe I am…"
He looked up, blood in his mouth.
> "But I'm still standing."
His right hand burst into blue light.
He didn't know how.
He didn't need to.
He just knew—
> "I won't fall here."
He punched the shadow in the chest.
The light exploded.
The creature screamed, turning into smoke.
---
The mask cracked fully and shattered into dust.
The tree split down the middle.
The black ooze vanished.
The ash stopped falling.
Silence returned.
But this time—it felt calm.
Peaceful.
---
Yor stood alone.
His legs trembled.
His chest burned.
But his eyes were clear.
> "I'm Yor Satoshi," he said again. "And I'm coming for you, Yuna."
He turned away from the tree.
Behind him, the mist parted.
A stairway had appeared—going down.
Into the heart of the Hollow Spine.
He didn't hesitate.
He took the first step.
---
Far away, in Sector 13…
Yuna blinked again.
This time, her own eyes looked back.
She gasped.
Akari held her tightly.
> "You're back," Akari whispered.
Yuna nodded slowly.
> "He remembered me…"
> "He's coming."
---