"You seem to trust her quite a bit."
"But I'm inclined to think both of you will die here today... I don't believe that human possesses the strength."
In the darkness, a figure gradually materialized, shrouded in a faint crimson glow.
His face was Tyce's—yet he was no longer Tyce.
"What do you think?"
Tyce turned to Zane, who sat quietly nearby, and asked with a light chuckle.
When the world sought to create, He naturally sensed it. Yet precisely because both shared the same origin, He offered no resistance.
This was a remarkably perfect vessel...
Originally, according to His plan, those who worshipped Him on the surface would execute the scheme. Once Zane was lured into this hollow, He could simply take over the nest and replace the host.
Then, He would truly lack nothing.
Yet for some reason, this man's consciousness was abnormally strong, and He found Himself unable to erase it swiftly.
Perhaps this world had deliberately arranged it so.
Even so, He still held the upper hand.
Under His influence, Zane could barely maintain his lucidity, existing only in this current state. Thus, His physical form acted uncontrollably, driven purely by primal combat instinct.
The only recourse was to maintain this altered form rather than fight in his true one.
Therefore, if his opponent couldn't win or escape, death here would be inevitable...
Of course, if they fled, that would be fine too. What He needed was time.
Given enough time, He could consume Zane's consciousness bit by bit until nothing remained...
"From your words, you seem to know us quite well."
Zane blinked, his eyes glinting faintly.
Tyce, eyes glowing blood-red, listened with an unchanged smile.
"Humans... fragile yet tenacious creatures."
"Throughout these long ages, I have silently observed them. Every hollow, every strand of Ether within, serves as my eyes."
"Tell me—do you think I understand humanity?"
Zane looked at him, offering no denial. After all, if it weren't true, the being before him wouldn't resemble a normal human so perfectly.
Had he not known the truth, he might have mistaken this figure for an ordinary man—rather than the existence that dwelled upon the full moon.
After a moment of silence, Tyce spoke again.
"What puzzles me is that you actually consider yourself one of them."
"Clearly a superior life form, possessing an unfathomable soul... Has your time among humans truly worn you down to the point where you see yourself as nothing more than an insect?"
Tyce spread his hands, a hint of mockery in his gaze as he studied Zane.
"Truth be told... there remains a path to redemption. Lend me your body. Once this is over, you can go on living the life you desire."
"After all, I don't necessarily wish to annihilate every living thing. The Ethereal matter, in a sense, is just another form of life."
"Those people are important to you. But to me, they're merely one among countless others."
"What do you think?"
Tyce's proposal was almost sincere—but Zane merely shook his head and asked,
"If you're so confident, why bother explaining all this to me?"
"If it can be simple, of course it should be simple."
The words echoed softly in his ears, and Zane only smiled.
To believe them would be like placing one's head in a tiger's mouth and trusting it not to bite down.
Since He understood humanity—and had already come to know it—He couldn't be a fool. Zane had never underestimated Him.
And precisely because of that, there had to be so many twists and turns.
Still... this being truly underestimated humans.
That was a good thing.
"The future remains undetermined..."
"Let's see what today brings."
"Let's see what today brings..."
Tyce echoed Zane's words, his gaze drifting toward the endless darkness.
At the farthest edge of that void—
Hoshimi Miyabi was already swinging her blade down in a sharp, slashing arc.
...
Clang!
The immense force made her blade tremble violently. Hoshimi Miyabi's hands went slightly numb. Staring at the shattered Ether crystal shield before her, she was forced to abandon her attack once again.