The wind howled across the empty land beyond the Bridge of Faith.
The sky above was dull, colorless—as if even the world itself had grown tired of what was about to unfold.
Ace stood still.
Darian beside him.
And ahead—
Vaelros.
---
No words were exchanged.
There was nothing left to say.
---
Vaelros moved first.
In an instant, he vanished.
Ace reacted—but barely.
A strike came from the side, forcing him back. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he slid across it.
Darian stepped in.
Snake's Tail.
He redirected the next blow, shifting its force away—but the impact still threw him off balance.
Vaelros didn't stop.
His attacks came faster. Stronger.
Unstable—but overwhelming.
---
Ace countered with fire, but it wasn't the same anymore.
It wasn't controlled.
It wasn't precise.
It was raw.
Explosive.
---
Kael's teachings. Amagi's rhythm. Vargan's guidance.
Everything mixed within him.
---
Vaelros appeared behind him again—
Ace turned instantly and struck.
For the first time—
Vaelros blocked.
---
The impact sent shockwaves through the ground.
Both of them stepped back.
---
"…You've changed," Vaelros said.
Ace said nothing.
---
They clashed again.
Faster.
Heavier.
Each strike shaking the battlefield.
---
Darian watched carefully.
Waiting.
For the moment.
---
Vaelros suddenly shifted his focus.
Toward Darian.
---
"You…" he muttered.
"You're different."
Before Ace could react—
Vaelros appeared in front of Darian and grabbed him.
---
Everything slowed.
---
"I wonder…" Vaelros whispered.
"…what you're hiding."
---
His hand tightened.
And in that moment—
He stole from Darian.
---
A strange stillness filled the air.
---
Vaelros' eyes widened slightly.
"…So that's it."
---
For a brief second—
He smiled.
---
"I can see it now."
---
His gaze shifted toward Ace.
Calm.
Certain.
---
"Every move you'll make…"
"I already know."
---
Ace froze.
---
Vaelros moved again—
faster than before.
Stronger.
More precise.
---
Every attack Ace made—
was countered.
Every step—
predicted.
---
He was overwhelming him.
---
Ace staggered back, breathing heavily.
For the first time—
he was losing completely.
---
Darian dropped to one knee.
His body trembling.
His soul—
fading.
---
"…Now…" Darian whispered weakly.
---
Ace looked at him.
---
And in that moment—
everything became clear.
---
Not from the fight.
But from the ritual.
---
The truth he had been given.
---
Ace closed his eyes.
Just for a second.
---
Then—
he moved.
---
But not like before.
---
His movements became slower.
Deliberate.
---
Vaelros smiled.
"You've already lost."
---
He stepped forward—
predicting the next strike.
---
But—
it didn't come.
---
For the first time—
Vaelros' expression changed.
---
"…What?"
---
Ace didn't attack.
He stood still.
---
Then took a step forward.
---
Another.
---
Each movement carried something different.
---
Not power.
---
Weight.
---
Vaelros tried to read him again—
but something was wrong.
---
The vision he had stolen…
was breaking.
---
Cracks formed in his perception.
---
"…Impossible…" he muttered.
---
Ace raised his hand.
Not with rage.
Not with force.
---
But with resolve.
---
"You shouldn't have taken that," Ace said quietly.
---
Vaelros stepped back.
For the first time—
uncertain.
---
"What did you do…?"
---
Ace didn't answer.
---
Because the answer had already begun.
---
Darian collapsed completely.
---
And in that moment—
everything changed.
---
A strange ripple spread through the air.
---
The ground trembled.
The sky flickered.
---
Vaelros froze.
---
"…What is this…?"
---
His power—
began to break.
---
Not weaken.
Not fade.
---
Collapse.
---
The magic around them started disappearing.
Like something fundamental—
was being removed.
---
"No… no… this isn't possible…" Vaelros said, his voice shaking for the first time.
---
Ace stepped forward.
---
"This ends now."
---
Vaelros roared and lunged—
but his body failed him.
---
His stolen powers turned against him.
---
Everything he had taken—
everything he had built—
was collapsing.
---
And then—
A figure appeared behind Ace.
---
Vaelros froze.
---
"…You…"
---
The figure stepped forward.
For the first time—
Vaelros looked like a child again.
---
"…Father…?"
---
The figure looked at him with calm, tired eyes.
---
"It was never meant to become this," he said softly.
---
Vaelros trembled.
---
"I just wanted… more…"
---
The figure stepped closer.
---
"And now you have nothing."
---
Vaelros' body began to fade.
The overwhelming power he once held—
was gone.
---
"…Will it… end like this…?" he asked.
---
The figure placed a hand on his head.
---
"Everything ends one day, son."
---
Vaelros' eyes widened slightly.
---
Then—
slowly—
he disappeared.
---
Silence.
---
The magic in the world began to fade.
---
The wind stopped.
The air grew still.
---
The figure looked at Ace one last time.
---
"You chose well."
---
Then—
he too began to fade.
---
And vanished.
---
Ace stood alone.
---
The battlefield empty.
---
Darian unmoving beside him.
---
The world… quiet.
---
For the first time—
there was no power.
No magic.
No war.
---
Only silence.
---
Ace slowly fell to his knees.
---
Not in defeat.
---
But in the end of everything.
---
The fire within him—
finally at rest.
---
This was the end.