Rover moved. The Spectro particles on the blade flicked outward, and a dazzling arc of light shot forth like an arrow, forcing the Fallacy of No Return to raise its hammer to block.
The moment they collided, the Fallacy was forced back several steps by the impact. By the time it steadied itself, an afterimage suddenly appeared behind it.
A scythe mercilessly embedded itself into the Fallacy's body before being violently yanked back, as if tearing through cloth.
The Fallacy grunted again, but there was no respite. Before it could recover, the floor beneath it trembled, its balance faltered, and its limbs were bound by sprouting vines.
Rover, leaping into the air, gripped the sword with both hands. As lightning gathered along the blade, it transformed into a crackling storm, filling the entire room with blinding white light.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang out. Amidst the furious sparks, two phantom energy hands intercepted the unstoppable slash.
Then, the Fallacy unleashed its own power. A violent shockwave sent Rover stumbling backward. By the time he regained his footing, the Fallacy had already broken free and soared into the air.
A warning blared in Rover's mind. A black hole suddenly formed before him, countless lasers locking onto his position.
Rover dodged and weaved, but the Fallacy, hovering above, predicted his next move and swung its hammer down from the sky.
Seeing no escape, Rover's eyes narrowed. He tightened his grip on the Spectro particles in his hand and released them in one final burst.
Space froze once more. The Fallacy's two energy hands were locked in mid-motion, struggling to break through the wall of stillness.
Behind Rover, another black hole appeared. With one hand maintaining the stasis field, he raised his other hand toward the black hole.
"Abby!"
His voice and the lasers fired simultaneously. The sound waves on the back of his hand enveloped the beams, and Abby finally emerged.
After exchanging a glance with Rover, Abby flew to the side, aiming its mouth at the Fallacy still suspended in the air.
The laser Abby had swallowed earlier was now fired back. The Fallacy was sent flying, and Rover seized the moment. Extending his half-wing, he tightened his grip on the blade and pursued.
Mid-air, Rover's sword—now shrouded in thick Havoc particles—plunged straight into the Fallacy's chest, pinning it to the ground.
The Fallacy writhed, but Rover gave it no chance. With one stomp, he crushed its skull, and its body was completely eroded by Havoc.
"Requesting the Supreme Administrator to halt. This unit calculates that your target is the Shorekeeper."
The Tethys System's voice was no longer calm—there was a hint of urgency now.
At the core, the Shorekeeper's body lay motionless.
"If the Supreme Administrator insists on rebooting this system, this unit will format the Shorekeeper before the process completes."
It was a choice—one the Tethys System forced upon Rover: the Shorekeeper or another world. Pick one.
Yet Rover only laughed. Without hesitation, without stopping, he mockingly asked the system:
"Are you scared?"
This time, the Tethys System did not respond. The outcome was clear.
The instant the Tethys System prepared to format the Shorekeeper, a small blue butterfly appeared unnoticed before the control panel.
Unbeknownst to the system, during Rover's battle with the Fallacy, the Shorekeeper—hidden within Rover—had quietly approached the terminal.
"Everything… must end."
The Shorekeeper's virtual projection interfaced with the core terminal. She issued the fatal command:
"Shut down the Tethys System!"
...
Under a crimson blood moon, countless Tacet Discords emerged from the tide, marching mindlessly toward a black hole. Behind them, an expressionless girl stood atop the highest point, watching as the terrifying remnants entered another world.
Then, the black hole before her gradually shrank—before vanishing entirely.
The girl's fingers stilled. The tide of Tacet Discords halted, standing aimlessly and howling in confusion.
"The Tethys System… failed? No…"
Her voice carried a faint trace of surprise, yet her eyes remained eerily calm. She turned and walked away, fading into the darkness.
"It seems our transaction has concluded."
She raised her terminal, displaying a detailed map of Jinzhou City—even its hidden passages were marked.
The source of this virtual map?
The Tethys System itself.
"Now… it's our turn to act."
...
Rover walked out of the core, hand in hand with the Shorekeeper.
It was the first time Rover could truly feel the cold touch of her fingers. Like a girl who had never experienced human contact, she froze for a moment, her expression uncertain.
"What… expression should I… make?"
She cautiously savored the moment, while Rover, walking ahead, glanced back with a faint smile.
"Just smile."
"Mm."
She nodded, quickening her pace to match his.
The Bloombearers stood in formation on both sides, waiting. The moment the black hole's control was reclaimed by the Black Shores, the entire faction moved with mechanical precision.
Squads of Midnight Rangers entered the black hole in waves. Though the source of the disaster had been resolved, Rover knew the calamity born from the other world still raged.
But all he could do was trust—trust that Aether could end it.
"Rover… look. The sun is rising."
The Shorekeeper pointed. Rover's eyes trembled as he watched the horizon gradually brighten, the dawn piercing through the remnants of night like a blade.
Sunlight, as it always had, finally bathed the land.
If Solstice's tomorrow had arrived… then how far was the dawn of the other world?
Rover's nose stung. He had finally witnessed the moment of dawn with his own eyes. The crumpled paper in his hand fluttered in the breeze, rolling through the air before vanishing into the horizon.
Never before had he wished so desperately for those who had passed to rise from their eternal slumber—to see just how beautiful this moment was.
The Shorekeeper slowly embraced him. Though she was leaving, she could feel the emotions Rover had suppressed all these days finally breaking free.
Rover held her tightly, his vision blurring.
At the very least… he had kept his promise.
Even if the dead had already forgiven him.