The battle raged on in the ballroom, but deep within the treasure chamber, tension brewed silently.
Dazai leaned against the wall, arms relaxed, eyes fixed on Mard Geer. A soft sigh escaped his lips. The air was still, thick with anticipation—until Mard Geer's foot soldiers materialized around him, their presence immediate and imposing. The man himself chuckled, his tone casual yet laced with derision.
"Oh my? Giving up already?" he teased. "Why though? I thought I was in the presence of the infamous Noir Renegade. Weren't you the one who called knocking out one of my duplicates child's play?"
Dazai exhaled again, this time with a hint of irritation. He stepped forward, pulling his left hand from his pocket. The air grew heavy, warping unnaturally. Shadows deepened, the room tinted in an ominous crimson hue. Mard Geer's mocking grin faltered slightly as curiosity turned into cautious interest.
Dazai finally spoke—his voice low, grim.
"I've grown tired of this. Authori—"
His words cut off as time itself came to a screeching halt.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
His body trembled violently, knees buckling under the weight of an unseen force. It was as if the power of Authority had rejected him—no, revolted against him. He dropped to one knee. Around him, time remained frozen—silent, unmoving.
But within him, a voice echoed. One he recognized all too well.
"Hngh...shit... What the hell is happening... Is this your doing… L?"
L's voice answered like a cold wind brushing past the soul—amused, almost sympathetic, yet laced with that familiar chill of menace.
"Oh man, this is deliciously interesting. You gained a new power when you woke up—without asking why I gave it to you? And now you're surprised by the cost of the fourth?"
He laughed, softly.
"Tsk. You really should focus more on your business acumen, Dazai. Or should I say... Leon?"
"You're in shock, understandably. As of now—and for the foreseeable future—you cannot use Authority. The fourth power I gave you is still seeding. Once it's done, Authority will return. Until then? You'll have to rely on your fists. How nostalgic, right?"
"Ah—right, you can't speak here. One last thing before I go..."
L's voice dipped lower, darker.
"That near-death experience you just had? It... unlocked something. A fragment of the soul that once owned this body. Memories that aren't yours—but are now. Have fun with that. And uh... don't die, kay?"
Time resumed.
Dazai slowly stood, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. Mard Geer tilted his head, expression puzzled.
"What just happened...? Hmph. That felt...odd. Oh well—now that I have your attention, Mr. Carnage... how about we make a deal?"
Dazai stretched his neck, exhaling slowly. His eyes sharpened. A presence radiated from him—more grounded, more resolute. Almost as if someone new was standing there.
"A deal? What kind? And what exactly are you trying to accomplish here? Looking to climb the ranks like Jester or something? Let me warn you... anything involving Dragon Tear tends to end with someone dead."
Mard Geer chuckled, snapping his fingers. The soldiers around him dissolved into nothingness.
Dazai's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Now now," Mard Geer said, "I'm not some cliché villain who reveals his plans to the hero. That's boring. I need something in this vault for the next step. With it... I might be able to strike a heavenly bargain."
"As for our trade... we won't be bargaining for your life. No, I'm far more interested in your sister. Kurumi Carnage. The Ice Queen."
Dazai's heart skipped a beat. The name hit him like a hammer. His breath hitched. Confusion swirled within him—and then came the flood.
Memories he didn't recognize—images of a family, a house, a boy. A boy who looked just like him.
"W-what... K-Kurumi is... who—? Ah! My head—! What is this?! These thoughts, these feelings! Who the hell—?"
Everything turned white.
He stood in the empty plane of his consciousness. There, in the midst of the void, stood a young boy—his younger self, blue-eyed, tears shimmering.
"H-hey big me... or, um, big brother Leon..."
The boy smiled weakly.
"This is probably the first time we've talked. My name's Dazai Kuro Carnage. Proud son of the Carnage household. But... I think I died. Or at least I thought I did..."
"I've been watching you. You've done some pretty awesome things—some scary ones too. But Mom and Grandpa would've been proud. I'm glad."
"But I have a favor... Please. Don't let the bad man hurt my big sister. I beg you. You can do it... right?"
Leon—no, Dazai—looked at the boy for a long moment. Then he smiled gently, tilting his head and offering a thumbs-up.
"You got yourself a deal, little man. Call it... me paying back a debt."
"Don't vanish just yet. 'Cause I'll show you—no, we'll show them—that you never, ever threaten a Carnage."
—
Back in the real world.
Dazai's eyes snapped open. He lunged.
He struck with his left leg—Mard Geer dodged to the side with confidence. But the moment he did, Dazai smirked.
The leg twitched—and with it, flames of pitch-black burst forth, engulfing Mard Geer's arm in cursed fire.
The searing pain caused Mard Geer to grit his teeth. Without hesitation, he severed the burning limb—letting it fall as it continued to burn. A new arm began to regenerate in its place. He exhaled in annoyance.
Dazai, however, simply laughed—raw, unfiltered, and dangerous.
"Oh, you've made a mistake."
His crimson eyes burned with resolve.
"I'm done playing the businessman."
He took a step forward.
"Now..."
"I'm going to rob you—of your life."