In the end, they surrendered.
Knullic took his step back and rose upright, the same for Draconic.
The inherent reflex of a bloodline manifestation was to remain bonded to a host.
Not only had Ryuk proven himself capable of surviving without them, but he had also clearly revealed that their absence did not signify weakness.
Instead, it would only serve to further his power.
This improved his appeal factor many times over, and now, it was their own wish to stay.
"Even if he agrees to let you stay, our decision is the true finality."
The words echoed out as Ryuk turned to find the one who had spoken.
It was the lady with the ever-changing color of hair, part of his Beyonder Dragon Bloodline.
"And we decide that you both leave," the one with the orange hair said, leading to Draconic and Knullic creasing their brows.
"You both are of lower bloodline hierarchy anyway."
"With or without you, he will become what he needs to be, and with us, he will be more powerful than he will ever be if he fuses with you at all."
"I..."
That single word was like a blade that instantly cut through her speech, making the orange-haired bloodline manifestation pause in her tracks.
"I get to decide who stays and who leaves, not you," he said, looking right into her soul before turning to the other.
"Neither is it you."
"You are what you are, manifestations."
"You do not control me, nor is your decision final."
"I want them to stay. They stay. That is final."
A scoff followed, and it came from the ever-changing colored one.
"We have only just met for the first time, but the image I have of you is already sour."
"Thankfully, it is not compulsory for the manifestations and the holders to be on good terms."
"I don’t want their lower presence around me, and that is my decision."
She said, giving a disdainful eye glance at Knullic and Draconic.
"And not only are they outnumbered, you can’t stop us from fighting," the other added, making Ryuk raise an eyebrow at both of them.
"Outnumbered?" he asked, turning to the last girl.
It was the white-haired one, the original bloodline manifestation.
Under the widened eyes of the two others, they watched as she stepped back, standing beside Ryuk.
"His decision is my decision."
Her words shocked the two.
"You... you decided to side with him, Flamial? You really want these inferiors to stay?"
They called out in disbelief, but her expression didn’t waver in the least
"His decision...is my decision," she repeated, her tone firm.
Why would she ever doubt him?
She had been there since the beginning.
While at first she had disdained and was very cautious of Ryuk because he had so easily betrayed his own original bloodlines.
She had eventually seen more of him, his courage and integrity, and that had changed everything she had ever known.
He deserved her presence and was worthy enough to be the only heir to the Beyonder Dragon bloodline.
This was her final judgment.
Whether now or in the future, whether against a thousand bloodline manifestations, even if it meant her elimination, his decision would always be her decision.
Turning away from the other two, she looked at Ryuk, noticing the glint in his eyes as he looked at the manifestations.
She pressed her hand against his shoulder, stopping their buildup.
"They only manifested recently and are just like me when I first bonded with you," she said, pausing the idea forming in his heart.
"With time, just like me, they’ll come to understand."
"Destroying them now won’t give you much."
"Destroy us?" the one with the different colors snapped, her expression one of disbelief before scoffing mockingly.
"You’re not close to my level of power, Flamial, and neither are these two inferiors."
"I alone can destroy you three."
Her tone carried absolute confidence, causing a slight crease in Flamial’s eyes.
Truly, the third sigil held great power, but her crease only lasted a second before her face settled.
"If he wants you destroyed, you’ll be destroyed."
"It might not be now, but soon, you’ll be destroyed, and there’ll be nothing that can save you from it."
She spoke with such confidence that it made the other pause in her steps.
"Besides, your pride was what destroyed us all the last time."
"Perhaps it’s time you take control of it and recognize your position."
"What position?" she shot back, her eyes turning colorless.
"We’re manifestations, not holders."
"We support, and that’s all we do, all we’re created to do."
"Your recklessness brought us to our end in the last epoch, and here you are about to repeat the same thing."
"You should be happy that the other three are yet to awake."
"If Forza and Endios were awake, they would destroy you immediately!"
Flamial spat out in anger, and Ryuk’s eyebrows creased.
He had no idea what they were referring to, but whatever it was, he noticed the confident smirk on the colored girl’s face fade away.
In its place came seriousness.
In the end, she walked away, stopping for a moment beside Flamial and whispering into her ear.
"Forza or Endios... I am Achorn. Achorn the Everchanging. Remember that..."
She continued toward the thrones, and somehow, it was the one right at the center of all six.
As she sat down, her eyes slipped shut, and she fell into a silent slumber.
With her having backed off and Flamial by his side, the only one remaining was the orange-haired girl, and she too stepped back in the end, returning to her throne.
"Huuuuuuu."
Flamial exhaled slightly in relief.
Those two were stubborn, especially Achorn.
And what was truly scary wasn’t just that they were stubborn, they also had enough power to back it up.
"You can bring back your thrones," Ryuk said, turning to both Knullic and Draconic, who hummed silently.
In the next moment, both raised their hands, and the sky above the soul space parted.