The Last Step Chapter 31: The Nightmare

Kaiser's Perspective:

Oh... so I died again? That's a sad thing to know.

I stared into the darkness above , lying there with my arms stretched out. The silence was unsettling—too perfect, too absolute. It wasn't the kind of quiet you find in the middle of the night, nor the kind that cos with solitude. No, this was the kind of silence that felt unnatural, as if even sound itself had been swallowed whole. No echoes, no breathing, no heartbeat—just nothing.

A dark room. No walls. No ceiling. No floor. Just , floating in this abyss like a corpse in an endless sea. Except I wasn't floating. I was... here. Existing.

I had seen weird dreams before, so stranger than others, but this? This was new. Different. It felt too real to be a dream. Too unnatural to be death.

Then, out of nowhere, a pink light flickered. It wasn't bright, but it cut through the darkness like a knife. I turned my head and saw it—

A chair.

A simple wooden chair, placed directly behind .

Alright, that's new. Even in the weirdest of dreams, furniture had never just appeared out of thin air.

I pushed myself up, my footsteps making no sound as I walked toward it. As I moved, the pink light shifted—softly at first, then gradually, turning into a deep purple, then slowly bleeding into blue. I stopped in front of the chair, hesitating for a mont before sitting down.

The wood was cold against my skin. My body sank into it as if it had been waiting for all along.

I exhaled, staring into the endless void ahead.

The last thing I rembered was holding Celia in my arms, bringing her back. I knew I was going to die. My body had been torn apart, my strength spent. I had already accepted it. There was no way I should be here right now.

Yet, I was.

Trapped in this room.

Was this the void again?

A sudden glow pulled from my thoughts. A path of light had appeared before , stretching into the distance like a guiding thread.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to make sense of it. Was this so sort of ssage? A test? Or was I just imagining aning where there was none?

I sighed and stood up. Whatever this was, sitting around wasn't going to get answers.

As I moved forward, I noticed sothing strange—the blue light beneath my chair darkened, shifting into red. And with each step I took toward the glowing path, the light ahead dimd, changing from white to crimson. The mont I turned back, the chair was gone, replaced by a solid wall. Just a single blink, and it had vanished.

Alright. That's not concerning at all.

I turned forward again. This ti, a door stood in the distance. A massive, ancient thing, adorned with a demonic symbol that pulsed faintly in the red glow.

The hallway leading to it... was drenched in blood.

The floor, the walls, even the ceiling—it all looked like sothing had been painted over with thick, fresh crimson. The door handle was the worst part. From this distance, I could see the glistening wetness of it, as if it had just been bathed in blood monts ago.

My heartbeat was increasing each step.

I wasn't scared, not exactly, but my body knew sothing was wrong. It was warning . Screaming at to stop.

I clenched my jaw.

This was the void trying to stop .

But why?

Step by step, I pushed forward, my pulse hamring against my ribs. The closer I got, the heavier the air beca. It pressed against my lungs, suffocating, unbearable. My heart pounded harder, each beat slamming against my chest with enough force to hurt. A sickening pressure grew inside , coiling tighter and tighter like an unseen force trying to rip apart.

For so unknown reason, the closer I got the more my heart-rate increased. It got so worse that it was starting cause pain in my chest.

By the ti I reached the door, my vision blurred. My knees buckled. The pain in my chest was unbearable, like my heart was being crushed under an unseen weight.

I grasped the bloody handle, my fingers trembling. I twisted it open, every movent slow, agonizing.

The mont the door creaked open, I saw it.

A room bathed in red.

Unlike the empty abyss I had woken up in, this place had walls, a floor, a ceiling. The glow here was heavier, almost suffocating, as if the very air was soaked in crimson. And in the center of the room, sitting on a black chair, was—

A woman.

She wore a long black dress, elegant yet eerily unnatural. Her face was veiled, obscured behind a thin fabric that only hinted at the features beneath.

I stared at her, mind racing. Who was she? Why was she here?

Before I could move, she stood up.

A single step forward.

My chest pained. My heart, already struggling, finally gave out.

I collapsed to the floor, consciousness slipping away in an instant.

And just before everything went dark—

I heard her voice.

Soft. Gentle. Unnervingly familiar.

"I love you."

I opened my eyes to a plain ceiling above this ti. My heart was still hamring in my chest, the lingering weight of that dream—no, nightmare—clawing at my thoughts. I exhaled slowly, steadying my breath as I shifted my gaze around the unfamiliar room.

Soft light filtered through a window, casting long shadows across the walls. A cool breeze made the curtains sway, carrying with it the scent of fresh air. My body, however, was far from fresh. Wrapped in bandages from head to toe, I felt like a poorly patched-up doll. The bandages on my arms looked new—recent, maybe an hour old at most.

To my right, a small wooden drawer shelf stood next to the bed. A glass vase sat on top, with a single red flower inside it. Soone had placed it there—thoughtfully, carefully.

I wasn't alone.

As I looked down, my eyes landed on a small figure resting their head by my bedside. Her head lay against the mattress, rising and falling with her steady breathing. White hair cascaded over her shoulders, strands catching the soft light. Even in sleep, her presence was unmistakable.

Celia.

A small, almost amused smile tugged at my lips. So, she was the one who brought here... who patched up, stayed beside . It was oddly comforting, knowing she was here. Peaceful.

Her face was relaxed, her breathing soft. The gentle rhythm of her chest rising and falling had an oddly soothing effect on . She looked... cute. Innocent, even. I rarely used words like that, but there was no denying it. The way her lashes rested against her cheeks, the way her hands loosely held onto the sheets—it was hard to ignore.

Then she muttered sothing in her sleep.

"Mine... all mine."

I blinked.

...Huh?

A quiet chuckle left as I watched her faint smile deepen. Whatever dream she was having, it must have been a good one. Probably about food... or sothing far more ridiculous. I shook my head slightly, amused.

As I glanced around the room once more, I shifted to sit up, careful not to aggravate my wounds. The movent pulled slightly against my bandages, reminding just how torn up I was. Still, I needed to assess the damage.

Before I could get too far, I noticed Celia stirring. Her lashes fluttered, and she let out a soft breath before her sleepy eyes slowly opened. For a second, she simply stared at , her drowsy mind likely still catching up.

Then, in an instant, her expression changed. Surprise. Relief. Sothing deeper I couldn't quite place. She straightened up, rubbing at her eyes as if making sure she wasn't imagining .

I couldn't help but admire how pretty she looked in that mont. Sleepy eyes, windswept hair, the gentle warmth of the morning light making her silver strands glow softly. Even without trying, she had a certain charm that was hard to ignore.

She blinked again, her lips parting as if searching for words. But instead of speaking, her smile just kept growing—wider, brighter—until she couldn't contain it anymore.

"Good morning, Celia," I finally said, my voice slightly rough from sleep.

That was all it took.

She practically lunged at , wrapping her arms around my torso in a tight embrace. The force made wince slightly, but I found myself chuckling anyway.

"Kaiser! You're back!" she cried, squeezing even tighter. "I thought— I was so scared— I thought I lost you!"

I felt her trembling slightly, her hands clutching at my back. There was no hesitation, no restraint in her embrace.

"I-I don't care if you're hurt, I'm never letting go!" she declared, voice muffled against my chest.

I sighed lightly but smiled nonetheless. "I think you just did more damage than the enemy did."

She pulled back slightly, pouting up at with teary eyes. "You're not allowed to joke right now."

I reached up, gently resting a hand on her head. "Sorry. Didn't an to make you worry."

Her lips quivered before she buried her face into again. "Idiot... Don't do that again."

I didn't argue. I just let her stay like that, feeling the warmth of her presence, the reality of being here—alive.

For now, that was enough.

My body still ached, but at least I wasn't dead. That was sothing. Wrapped in bandages like so half-mummified warrior, I let out a breath and glanced at Celia, still hugging tightly. A small chuckle slipped out as I realized she hadn't even noticed what she was doing yet.

And then she did.

Her body stiffened, and in an instant, she sprang back, her face burning red. "I-I wasn't hugging you that long! I-I was just—just checking if you were still breathing!" she stamred, looking anywhere but at .

I raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? So you regularly cling to unconscious people to check their breathing? Interesting thod."

"Shut up!" she pouted, flustered, her hands covering her face. Her embarrassnt was honestly adorable.

I smiled, shaking my head before my expression softened. "So... how'd I end up here?"

Celia's fingers curled into the fabric of my blanket, her voice soft. "You collapsed right after hugging ... after bringing back from that darkness. I didn't even realize at first. You were still holding so tightly, and I—I thought you were just... staying like that."

Her shoulders trembled slightly. "But then... you wouldn't respond. No matter how much I called your na. And when I saw the blood—"

She stopped, biting her lip. Her hands clenched tighter. "It was because of ... wasn't it?"

I sighed, shaking my head. "Celia, it wasn't your fault. Your power just outleaped and took over. You were unconscious—how could you control it?"

"But still..." She looked down. "I hurt you. And I couldn't even heal you."

A faint smile tugged at my lips. "Well, I'm not dead, so you must've done sothing right."

Celia pouted, clearly not amused. "That's not funny."

I chuckled. "Alright, alright. But really, it wasn't you. If anyone's to bla, it's for not dodging properly."

She lifted her head, looking at with a frown. "You didn't even try to dodge, did you?"

I smirked. "Caught ."

Celia huffed, crossing her arms. "Of course, you just had to risk your life to bring back instead of avoiding it."

"Soone had to," I teased.

She puffed up her cheeks but then let out a breath, her lips forming a small, defeated smile. "You really are impossible, Kaiser."

"I try."

Her expression softened, and she spoke more quietly. "But... in that mont, when healing magic didn't work... I felt my world fall apart." She swallowed hard. "You were lying there, covered in blood, and I couldn't do anything. I thought I was going to lose you."

Sothing tightened in my chest. I had seen Celia worried before, but this... This was sothing else.

I reached out, gently flicking her forehead. "And yet, here I am. Sitting. Talking. Alive. Guess you didn't lose after all."

She blinked, touching her forehead where I flicked her. Then, slowly, a real smile appeared. "Yeah... I guess not."

Her relief was visible in her eyes, and for once, she let go of that lingering guilt. I was about to say sothing else when she suddenly perked up.

"Oh! But... you weren't rely saved because of ," she admitted, tilting her head slightly. "Soone carried you here after you collapsed."

I raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

She hesitated, then spoke. "Levi."

...

I stared at her.

"Levi?"

She nodded.

"Levi Ashton?"

Another nod.

Levi, the self-proclaid strongest Sword Saint? The walking ego with a blade? The guy who thinks he's so legendary hero straight out of a myth?

I groaned internally. I owed that guy a favor now. Just great.

As if summoned by my suffering, a loud knock ca from the door, followed by the unmistakable voice of my new worst debt collector.

"Oiiiii, Kaiseeeer! The strongest Sword Saint graces you with his presence! Mind if I co in, or are you too weak to handle my overwhelming energy?"

Oh, for the love of—

Celia giggled, clearly used to his antics. "Co in, Levi."

I rubbed my temples, already feeling a headache coming.

What did I ever do to deserve this? First, I get nearly killed, then I get saved by the most egotistical guy in existence? Life really had a twisted sense of humor.

The door swung open, and there he was—Levi. Arms crossed, smirk plastered across his face, radiating confidence like he owned the room. His sharp eyes scanned , and his grin widened.

"Oh ho? Look who's finally awake! Man, you had worried there. If you had died, who else would I have to show off to?"

I sighed. "Levi."

"Kaiser."

"...Get out."

Levi gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "Such cold words! And here I thought we bonded over saving your life! Where's my heartfelt gratitude? My emotional speech? The tears? The overwhelming appreciation for the 'Great Levi'?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I take it back. I wish you hadn't saved ."

"Too bad!" He bead. "Now, let's talk about how you're going to repay !"

Celia giggled again, and I just knew this was going to be a long day.

I exhaled, shaking my head slightly. "So... what do I owe you?"

Levi leaned against the wall, grinning like he just won the lottery. "Ah, Kaiseeer, my poor wounded friend, recovering from a tragic, near-death experience... Don't worry about it! I, the strongest, most generous, and ridiculously handso Sword Saint, don't ask for much in return."

I squinted at him. "Yeah? What's the catch?"

Levi smirked. "Oh, you know, nothing crazy. Maybe a favor or two down the line. Or, better yet, you can publicly declare that I'm stronger than you. Just a little—tiny—acknowledgnt of my overwhelming greatness."

I scoffed. "Yeah, sure. Right after I grow wings and learn to fly."

Celia, sitting nearby, giggled, trying to cover her mouth but failing miserably.

Levi grinned wider. "See? Even Celia agrees. She knows true strength when she sees it."

Celia shook her head. "I never said that!"

I sighed. "I'll figure out how to pay you back later. But you should know, if you start keeping tabs on , I'll start keeping tabs on you."

Levi laughed. "Oh, scary! The cold and ruthless Kaiser is gonna track my every move. Should I start sleeping with one eye open?"

I rolled my eyes. "You should've been doing that already."

Celia kept giggling at our exchange, her laughter brightening the room.

Then Levi's tone shifted—still casual, but more genuine. "Jokes aside, you know who actually deserves your thanks?" He pointed toward Celia. "I just slapped so bandages on you and made sure you didn't drop dead on the way here. But this girl? She's the one who took care of you the whole ti."

I turned my gaze back to Celia.

"Celia..." I said softly. "What did you do?"

She quickly waved her hands, flustered. "Oh, it's nothing, really! I just—"

Levi cut in, clicking his tongue. "Ah-ah! No downplaying. Tell him what you actually did."

She hesitated, then lowered her hands. Her voice grew quieter. "After Levi got you bandages... your wounds wouldn't stop bleeding. No matter how many tis I tried to treat them, they kept opening up. Magic wouldn't work, and the stitches ca undone constantly."

My fingers tightened slightly. Of course. Those cuts weren't normal.

Cursed chains, mixed with wind magic... The combination alone was enough to tear flesh apart on a deeper level. If the wounds couldn't fully close, then that ant—

I looked back at Celia, my voice more serious. "Did you stay up at night too?!"

She nodded without hesitation. "I had to." Her voice was soft but firm. "Kaiser... you were the one who saved . I had to do sothing for you."

For the first ti in a while, I found myself at a loss for words.

Levi leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. "You've been out for a week, by the way. And in that whole ti, Celia stayed up every day and night making sure you were okay. Checking your bandages, making sure you weren't in pain... She gave up her own sleep for you."

I looked back at Celia again. This ti, I really looked at her.

She tried to glance away, her usual shyness creeping in. But I could see it—the exhaustion in her eyes, the faint dark circles, the way her shoulders sagged slightly. She had been through hell taking care of .

"Celia..." I murmured. "Why?"

She looked at , her expression sincere. "Because... you were my first real friend."

My breath caught in my throat.

"For the past four years," she continued, her voice trembling slightly, "every night... I cried alone in the dark. Every single night, Kaiser. No one ever ca for . No one held my hand or told everything would be okay. I had to endure it all alone."

Her hands clenched the fabric of her dress as she spoke. "But that night... you saved . You pulled out of the darkness, away from those nightmares when no one else would have. I thought I was going to die, Kaiser. But instead... you stayed. You fought for ."

She swallowed, her voice thick with emotion. "And after all those years of crying myself to sleep, that night, for the first ti... I was happy."

She swallowed, her hands gripping the fabric of her dress. "You saved more than once, without even knowing . You risked your life for . And even when my cursed power took over... you still held on. You still risked yourself to bring back."

Her voice cracked. "I—" Tears welled up in her eyes. "I was scared, Kaiser. I didn't want to lose you. I never want to lose you. You make happy."

I felt sothing tighten in my chest.

She wiped her eyes quickly, but I still saw the tears. "That's why... even if I couldn't sleep at night, even if I was exhausted, I was happy knowing you'd be okay."

I exhaled slowly. My eyes burned slightly, the warmth in my chest spreading. Without thinking, I reached out, gently brushing away the tears on her cheek.

She blinked, then turned pink.

"That's why, Kaiser," she whispered, "I did all of that."

I let out a small breath, smiling. "You're a silly girl, you know that?"

She pouted, but I could see the small smile forming.

But then I spoke again, more seriously. "Nobody's ever done that much for before. Not without expecting sothing in return." My voice softened. "Yet you did, Celia."

She smiled, her eyes glistening. "I don't need a reason to help you, Kaiser. I just wanted to."

I took her hand, feeling how small and warm it was in mine. She stiffened slightly, surprised, but didn't pull away.

I gave her a light squeeze. "Celia, you're a part of my heart now. Forever and ever, after what you did for ."

Her eyes widened. "You an that?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I do."

She looked at , searching for any sign of a joke or exaggeration. But when she found none, she smiled—a genuine, beautiful smile.

Levi, in the background, smirked but stayed quiet, watching us with an amused expression.

Then—

Knock knock.

The door creaked open.

A new voice rang out, smooth and confident. "So, this is the infamous Kaiser, huh?"

Levi grinned, stepping aside. "Kaiser, Celia. et my sister—Emma Ashton."