The underground chamber didn't just shake anymore—it roared, as if the very structure of reality inside it was starting to collapse under the pressure of something far too powerful to remain contained, and at the center of it all stood Zein Shoin, unmoving, surrounded by waves of unstable energy that pulsed violently around her like a storm that had chosen her as its core, responding to her presence, her thoughts, her existence, and the more she stayed near it, the more it reacted—not randomly, but intentionally, like it had been waiting for her to return.
"…Zein, this is getting worse," Ace Craige said, his voice sharp but controlled as he watched cracks spread across the floor beneath them.
"I know," she replied.
"That didn't sound like concern," he said.
"…because it's not," she said quietly.
Ace's eyes narrowed.
"…what does that mean?" he asked.
Zein didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she took another step closer to the core.
The reaction was instant.
A violent surge of energy exploded outward—
Strong enough to force Ace back a step.
"Zein!" he snapped.
She didn't flinch.
"…it's not attacking me," she said.
"That doesn't make it safe," he replied.
Zein's voice dropped slightly.
"…it's unstable because I am," she said.
Ace froze for half a second.
"…explain," he said.
Zein stared at the core, her expression tightening as more fragments of memory started to push through.
"…this power…" she said slowly,"…it wasn't meant to exist outside of control."
Ace stepped closer again, careful but ready.
"…and you're the control?" he asked.
Zein shook her head.
"…I was," she said.
The core pulsed harder.
The chamber trembled violently.
Above them—
Pieces of the ceiling started falling.
"…that's not past tense I like hearing," Ace said.
Zein ignored that.
"…when this was created," she continued,"…it needed a limiter… something to contain it."
Ace's voice lowered.
"…you," he said.
Zein didn't deny it.
"…yes," she said.
Another surge exploded outward—
This time stronger.
The walls cracked.
The ground split.
Ace grabbed her arm again, pulling her slightly back.
"This isn't stable anymore," he said.
Zein pulled her arm free—
But not harshly this time.
"…it's reacting to me being incomplete," she said.
Ace frowned.
"…incomplete how?" he asked.
Zein hesitated.
"…I don't remember everything," she admitted.
Ace's expression darkened.
"…that's a problem," he said.
"…I know," she replied.
The core suddenly surged again—
This time sending a direct wave toward her.
It hit—
And instead of pushing her back—
It wrapped around her.
Ace stepped forward instantly.
"Zein!" he said sharply.
She gasped slightly—
Not in pain—
But in shock.
"…I can feel it," she whispered.
Ace's voice turned urgent.
"Feel what?" he asked.
Zein's eyes widened slightly.
"…everything," she said.
The energy intensified—
Circling her faster now.
The chamber began to destabilize completely.
"Step away from it!" Ace said.
"I can't," she replied.
"That's not an option," he said.
Zein's voice dropped.
"…it is if I'm the only thing keeping it from exploding," she said.
Silence.
Ace stopped.
"…what?" he said.
Zein finally looked at him.
"…if I lose control," she said,"…this entire place is gone."
Another massive shockwave hit—
Stronger than before.
Above them—
Parts of the university collapsed completely.
Ace clenched his jaw.
"…then you don't lose control," he said.
Zein gave a faint, almost broken smile.
"…it's not that simple," she said.
Ace stepped closer.
Closer than before.
"…then make it simple," he said.
Zein's breathing slowed—
But the energy didn't.
"…I don't know how," she admitted.
For the first time—
There was real uncertainty in her voice.
And that's when Ace made a decision.
A dangerous one.
He stepped directly into the energy field.
"Wait—!" Zein started—
But he didn't stop.
The energy reacted instantly—
Striking him.
Hard.
But he didn't move back.
"…if it's connected to you," he said through the pressure,"…then I'll force it to stabilize."
Zein's eyes widened.
"…you can't do that," she said.
"I already am," he replied.
The energy surged violently—
Trying to push him away.
But he stayed.
And for the first time—
The core hesitated.