In the mana sea, darkness began to curl.

The golden sky above the black ocean pulsed faintly. Lights swirled in slow rhythm, like stars trembling in water.

Nyxa sat at the edge of the void, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

She could see it. The changes. Something had started to open. No, unravel beneath the surface. But Ren's body didn't reflect it. Not yet.

She whispered Ren's name once.

There was no reply.

But the sea started to move. A black thunder beneath the waves seen. Waves carried that thunder too. All the thunder surrounded Ren's body.

The thunders moved like beasts.

They spun in wide arcs around Ren's floating body, spiraling across the black sky and crashing down upon the dark sea. Each strike of lightning twisted and split, curling like tendrils before slowly being drawn inward.

One by one, the storms entered his body.

His arms hung limp. His eyes remained closed. But the air around him crackled louder with every second. The veins in his skin pulsed faintly, glowing for moments before vanishing again.

Then came silence.

The last strand of thunder vanished into his chest. His body stopped glowing. His eyes opened slowly.

Ren floated above the black sea, staring up at a sky where no stars shone.

He breathed out.

★★★

From a nearby stretch of air, Nyxa witnessed everything. She stepped towards the Ren.

She didn't ripple into view. She didn't walk. One moment she stood miles away, and the next, she was there. She teleported their after one step.

Ren saw her approach.

"What happened to me?" he asked, his voice still weak.

Nyxa's bare feet hovered just above the water. She didn't answer right away. Instead, she studied him carefully, her silver eyes flicking from his chest to his hands.

"Not much," she said softly. "You became unconscious after the battle. I am trying hard to wake you up but I failed. You didn't wake up."

"Hmmm... Than what next? Mean how you wake up me?" Ren asked.

"It's a long story. I will tell you but before that tell me, how are you now?"

"Hmm... I am alright. Nothing feel unusual just headache happen."

Nyxa checked his body and she found nothing unusual. Then...

Ren lowered himself gently, landing on the black water without a sound. It didn't ripple. It felt like standing on glass.

He looked down at his own reflection. Then up again.

"What happened out there?" he asked. "The battle. What did I miss? They all okay or not? Probably I should have to go there."

Nyxa tilted her head.

"Not much happened," she said. Then she spoke about everything after the battle.

Ren frowned.

"Ohhh! So they will come. Maybe this time another King. But why do they retreat? If they want, they can arrange the back up."

She folded her arms and turned away, her cloak fluttering despite the stillness of the air.

"It wasn't a retreat," she said. "It was a pause. The other kings of the Vestiges gave the command themself maybe. Your world was spared… not saved. After 10 years they will arrive and this time they will destroy Qiyun. "

Ren looked up at the sky again.

"Hmm... it's sounds like they give us threat and order at a same time."

Nyxa turned back to him. "Yes, their intentions looked like that. Something that more important is that origin core."

Ren blinked.

She continued, "The Origin Core… the one locked beneath the ocean of your world… it was never meant to stay sealed forever. The moment a living being from Qiyun reaches a certain level, the seal will crack."

Ren's mind began to race.

"What is that origin core by the way? And also does someone have the power to trigger it? Like they can break that seal by him/herself?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. "And the Vestige King sensed it. That's why he called off the attack. Not out of mercy. But preparation. The origin core is the pure energy made during the creation of the cosmos. It is the purest and most powerful source of energy. Not all planet have that core but some planets have it. But they are rare. Like life. And usually core are found in that planets where life is exist."

Ren didn't respond. He amazed. Then after a pause he spoked...

"So you mean, In the other parts of the universe life present. Like aliens." Ren said. He was amazed.

"Yes, life exists not only in this planet but in many other parts of the universe." Nyxa replied.

"That's interesting." Ren spoked. After that...

She walked toward him. The black sea rippled beneath her steps, only slightly.

"Okk," she said. "It's time to wake up in the real world. Everyone worries about you. Go there master."

Ren lowered his head. "Yaah, you are right. But when you will tell me how you wake up me?"

Nyxa lost in thoughts.

"I will tell you someday. Before that it's important to go there. So go there."

"Okk..." Ren replied.

Ren vanished from mana sea with his black blue mana.

Nyxa saw him until he was not leaved.

Then in the outside world. We saw...

Ren's body hung limply over Seroi's right shoulder, motionless and heavy with movement. His arms dangled at Seroi's side, fingers slack, swinging slightly with each step. Blood had dried in streaks across the back of his torn cloak, the color dark against the pale fabric. His hair was matted and stiff from the dust and blood of battle. One boot had nearly come off, the laces frayed, the heel dragging with every sway.

His face was turned to the side, partially visible over Seroi's back. Eyes closed. Lips slightly parted. There was no peace in his expression, only the stillness of someone who had gone too soon. His body bore the weight of his final stand, but in Seroi's grip, he looked strangely small.

And yet, Seroi held him with steady arms. The pain that had once racked his body was dulled now, buried beneath something heavier. He did not falter.

They were going home. Not to victory, but to memory. To Arkenhall.

To whatever remained.

They started to teleport towards the Arkenhall. Remained mages, council members, and dead bodies of the brave mages. They carried all dead bodies for last good bye of their loved ones. For dead's family members, their parents, their loved ones.

Some of them weeped. Some angered. Some stood emotionless. No one was happy. How they were be happy. Their was no reason. They lost everything. They had no hope. They didn't knew what they will do in the future to stop Vestiges.

Slowly slowly everyone started to teleport. First mages. Than counsiling members. Than at last Seroi stood with Ren's body. He entered the teleportation array…

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