Chapter 12 — Echo of the Past (Part 5)
The world… had changed.
But not in the usual sense.
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What happened in the Eastern Kingdom—
was not just a tragedy.
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It was a warning.
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And now—
the entire Aether Continent was watching.
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Inside a massive hall built from crystal and white stone—
representatives from various nations had gathered.
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Kings.
Generals.
High priests.
High-ranking followers of the Wheel of Divinity.
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The atmosphere was tense.
Heavy.
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At the center of the room—
a projection.
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The event.
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The destruction of the Eastern Kingdom.
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The Black Dragon.
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Replayed over and over again.
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Silence.
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Until—
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— This… cannot continue.
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A firm voice echoed.
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A man in golden armor stepped forward.
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— A being out of control at that level…
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He clenched his fist.
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— is a threat to the entire continent.
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Murmurs spread.
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— I agree.
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A woman in blue robes responded.
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— But acting without fully understanding what we are facing…
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Her eyes narrowed.
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— is suicide.
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Silence.
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— Sequence 1.
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Another man spoke.
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— Even incomplete…
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A pause.
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— no one here has ever faced something like that.
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The tension increased.
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— So we wait?
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An irritated voice responded.
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— Until she destroys another nation?
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— No.
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A new presence stood up.
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Calm.
Authoritative.
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— We act.
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All eyes turned.
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— But not individually.
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Silence.
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— This is no longer the problem of a single nation.
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A pause.
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— It is a continental problem.
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Glances crossed.
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Decision.
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— An alliance.
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The word echoed.
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— We will gather followers of the Wheel of Divinity…
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A pause.
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— at Sequence 2.
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The air grew heavy.
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— All available.
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— From every nation.
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Silence.
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— To face…
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A long pause.
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— the Black Dragon.
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No one spoke.
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But everyone knew—
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this would change everything.
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— Even incomplete…
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One of the leaders murmured.
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— It is still a Sequence 1.
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— Exactly why—
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The answer came firmly.
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— we cannot underestimate it.
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The decision was made.
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War…
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was inevitable.
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Cut.
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Inside the memory fragment—
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in an isolated mansion—
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Laylah slowly opened her eyes.
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The environment was different.
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Luxurious.
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Ancient.
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But filled with tension.
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Marcos was beside her.
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And Lucy—
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standing near the window.
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Watching the horizon.
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— It's going to begin…
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She said calmly.
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Laylah frowned slightly.
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— Hm?
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— Begin… what?
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Lucy didn't turn.
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But answered.
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— The war.
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Silence.
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— Once again.
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The air grew heavy.
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Laylah crossed her arms.
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— So… this is the point in the memory…
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Lucy nodded slightly.
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— The moment the continent decided to act.
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A pause.
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— And failed.
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Silence.
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Marcos swallowed.
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— Failed…?
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Lucy only smiled faintly.
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— You'll see.
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Cut.
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In another part of the fragment—
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Isak walked slowly.
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Beside him—
Mary.
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And Carla.
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The environment around them was changing.
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Heavier.
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More unstable.
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Isak looked at the sky.
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— …just as I thought.
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Mary crossed her arms.
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— What is it?
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He sighed.
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— In the game…
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A pause.
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— memory fragments had levels.
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Carla tilted her head slightly.
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— Levels?
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— Yes.
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He answered.
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— More than a thousand different scenarios.
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His eyes grew more serious.
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— And some…
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A pause.
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— were classified as impossible.
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Silence.
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Mary frowned.
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— Don't tell me…
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Isak gave a small smile.
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— Exactly.
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He looked around.
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— We fell into one of the hardest ones.
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Carla sighed.
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— Great…
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Mary smiled faintly.
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— At least it won't be boring.
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Isak closed his eyes for a moment.
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— This isn't about difficulty.
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He opened them again.
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— It's about survival.
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Cut.
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Meanwhile—
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Remiel remained still.
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In front of him—
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the girl.
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Now—
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in human form.
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White hair.
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Red eyes.
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She observed him in silence.
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— Strange…
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Remiel spoke calmly.
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— I imagined the Black Dragon would have black hair.
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The girl smiled faintly.
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— In the past… I did.
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Silence.
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— My name is Alice.
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Remiel did not react.
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But observed carefully.
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— I don't know exactly where we are…
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She continued.
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— But I know enough.
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A pause.
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— I am… divided.
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Remiel slightly tilted his gaze.
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— Divided?
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She nodded.
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— My consciousness…
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She lightly touched her chest.
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— is here.
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A pause.
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— But my body…
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Her eyes darkened.
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— is out there.
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Silence.
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— Out of control.
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Remiel analyzed.
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— The influence of that man.
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She closed her eyes for a moment.
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— Yes…
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— His power…
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Her voice faltered slightly.
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— affected my mind.
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Silence.
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— When I realized…
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She opened her eyes again.
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— it was already too late.
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Remiel remained calm.
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— Then…
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A pause.
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— if you regain control of your body—
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He concluded.
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— the fragment ends.
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Alice stared at him.
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For a few seconds.
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— Probably.
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Silence.
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— But it won't be easy.
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The environment around them began to vibrate slightly.
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— My body…
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She murmured.
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— has already surpassed the limit.
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Remiel did not respond.
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But—
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his eyes grew deeper.
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Cut.
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Elsewhere—
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a secret meeting.
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Hidden.
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Silent.
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Several hooded figures were gathered.
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The environment was dark.
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Isolated.
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— I don't agree with this decision.
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A voice spoke.
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— Killing a Sequence 1…
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A pause.
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— even an incomplete one—
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— is a waste.
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Silence.
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— I agree.
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Another voice responded.
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— A being at that level…
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— is more valuable alive.
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— Control.
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A third voice said.
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— That should be the objective.
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— And you think that's possible?
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Silence.
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— We don't know.
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A pause.
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— But it's worth the risk.
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— If we succeed…
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Another voice murmured.
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— we'll have something no one else does.
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Silence.
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Heavy.
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Dangerous.
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— A Black Dragon…
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A pause.
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— under our control.
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The air grew colder.
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— That…
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A final voice concluded.
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— would change the balance of the world.
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Silence.
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But one thing was certain—
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everyone there…
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had already made their decision.
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Cut.
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Back in the fragment—
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Remiel remained still.
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Observing.
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Thinking.
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In front of him—
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Alice.
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Behind him—
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a world on the brink of war.
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And above all—
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time…
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continued to move.
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Slowly.
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Inevitably.
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But this time—
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something was different.
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Remiel remained still.