[Start of Audio and Visual Recording]
"Dio" raised his hand. It was not a threatening gesture, but one of control. [Alert: A stable energy fluctuation has been detected. A controlled spatial transfer is being executed.]
For the last time, reality tore apart around us. The black void vanished, and we found ourselves once again in the cold, dead air of the garden outside the palace. Location: The palace garden. Matches previously recorded data. But the surrounding environment did not remain stable.
"This is better," Dio said, his voice echoing in the open space. "A little more room... for punishment."
"Hong Min" looked up, then gasped. I followed the direction of his gaze. [Rapid environmental changes detected.]
The dark sky of the cavern began to fade as if it were a watercolor painting being erased. It was replaced by a daytime sky with a bright sun, then the sun set quickly, and a star-studded night appeared. In its center, a giant blue moon shone, casting a cold, ghostly light on the dead garden. [Analysis: A demonstration of the ability to manipulate local reality. Power level: Unquantifiable.]
The indicators for "disbelief" and "imminent death" on the organic unit "Hong Min" were registered as exceeding their limits.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Dio smiled a faint smile. "I enjoyed playing with my copy," he said, looking at the black blade in my hand. "But nothing beats the original."
He held his empty hand out into the air before him. He didn't open a rift; the air itself began to ripple and distort in front of him. From this ripple, darkness condensed, and a void in the shape of a blade formed. It was not a sword made of metal, but a wound in the fabric of reality itself, absorbing all the blue light around it and reflecting nothing. Merely looking at it caused an error in my visual sensors. It was an illusory sword, but the aura of power emanating from it was terrifyingly real.
[Alert: A violent and unstable vibration has been registered in 'Ash Blade - Copy 01'.]
I felt the sword in my hand begin to tremble violently. [The material's resonant frequency has dropped sharply. Analysis: A state of 'submission' or 'structural rejection' in the presence of the original concept.]
This physical copy... is afraid of its original idea.
Dio stood, the sword that was a void in his hand, and looked at us with absolute seriousness.
"I am the first magic swordsman, and I will not be the last. My name is Dio!"
His voice rose, carrying his oath to the world. "I swear by my name, and by the name of all who wished to change this world, that I will not run from this fight!"
"Hong Min" received the message. He ran and hid behind the trunk of a charred tree. This has been registered as a "tactical retreat to a safe distance."
I did not move. My primary mission is to protect him. This requires neutralizing the threat.
Dio charged toward me with a speed exceeding that of the "Automated Guard."
I advanced to meet him.
There was no sound of screeching metal.
But the sound of silence colliding with silence, the sound of two voids about to tear each other apart.
[End of Recording]

