Gained and Gone

"So, how is the otherworldly tea?" Toshio asked calmly.

"I don't know. I was born just a week ago," Nero joked, a small smirk on his lips.

"You know, I only have memories from you, not an actual life."

"True," Toshio agreed, taking a sip from his cup. "So, what's the situation?"

"It's not good," Nero replied, his expression turning serious. 

"Even if we don't do anything, the crack will definitely appear right here. It will just take a few days. But we can actually do something about it."

"Like what?" Toshio asked, setting his teacup down.

"We can give away our powers. No mana, no magic to recharge the rift."

Toshio was genuinely surprised. He looked up sharply. 

"What powers? Don't you have all the power already."

Nero rolled his eyes, his tone laced with sudden annoyance. 

"Seriously, you didn't even try to check the system skill? I am talking about this power."

Without warning, Nero slammed his fist directly down onto the stone table.

*BOOM*

A catastrophic shockwave exploded outward. The stone table shattered into dust. 

The shockwave ripped through the chamber, completely shattering the massive stone cavern walls, the giant skull structure on the outside, and everything surrounding the Warground. A massive cloud of debris blasted into the sky.

Yet, amidst the absolute devastation, Toshio Tanaka sat completely untouched and unharmed on his stone seat.

How?! Toshio thought to himself, his eyes widening slightly.

"This is the power I was talking about," Nero said calmly, casually wiping the gray dust away from his knuckles.

"Hey?! Toshio?! Master Toshio, are you alright?!" Amber’s panicked voice came echoing through the settling fog as she came flying back into the ruins, terrified for his safety.

"I'm okay," Toshio called out, dusting off his clothes. "Just got some dust in my hair."

As the dust completely settled, Amber arrived at the center of the impact zone, her jaw dropping at the sight. "Wait... what is this...?"

Toshio turned around to look at the landscape. The entire cavern was completely gone. 

The only things that had survived the blast were the tiny patch of ground right beneath his feet, and a massive, black wall looming directly behind him.

"Toshio Tanaka has powers that are just as strong, if not stronger, than mine," Nero explained, gesturing to the scene. 

"So now, we still have two heroes alive on this continent."

"Ah! The wall! Did you blast away the sacred wall too?!" Amber yelled, getting angry as she rushed forward to check the remaining structure among the dust and scattered debris.

"Calm down, Silver Surfress," Nero said, leaning back. "Look for yourself."

Amber stopped, her eyes widening as she examined the massive black structure still standing tall.

It wasn't a wall at all. It was the colossal, broken blade of a giant sword. The legendary weapon that had slayed the ancient stone troll centuries ago.

"So why did you do that?!" Amber snapped at Nero, her tone very annoyed.

"Well, we need to seal our powers away to stop the rift," Nero said, casting a sharp look at Toshio. "If he does it, I will too."

Toshio stood in silence for a brief second. He carefully wiped the dust off his brand-new merchant suit, processing the reality of his hidden system skills. He looked straight at Nero.

"Okay, Let's do it."

Amber gasped, spinning toward him. 

"Are you sure, Sir Toshio?! All your life, you were completely weak. Now you can actually become the strongest hero! Are you truly happy to just give it all away?"

"Yes," Toshio replied without a single shred of hesitation.

Amber was surprised, but not entirely shocked. 

She expected exactly that much grace and pragmatism from Sir Toshio. Stepping forward, she raised her staff and began channeling the ancient seal skill spell, casting the restrictive binding circles over Toshio first. 

Nero sat perfectly relaxed, watching the glowing runes wrap around his counterpart.

As the spell activated, Toshio felt a strange, massive weight lifting entirely from his soul.

Toshio Tanaka, who had been completely powerless, only to briefly gain reality-shattering attributes, was now entirely powerless once again.

"Now, it's your turn," Toshio said, turning back to Nero as he stepped away from the magic circle.

Nero offered a wicked grin. "Sorry for lying."

Before the sealing spell could lock onto his position, Nero jumped away. He flew past the ruins, running away into the barren Warground at super speed.