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The world held its breath.
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No one moved.
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No one spoke.
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Because for the first time since the Devourer appeared—
Someone had looked directly at it without fear.
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Someone had threatened it.
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And that someone was the boy who once cried himself to sleep waiting for Rosy to return.
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"You don't get to touch my family."
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The words echoed across reality.
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Simple.
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Calm.
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Yet the impact shook entire worlds.
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Golden light continued radiating from Sol's body.
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Flowers bloomed across the broken kingdom.
Destroyed buildings slowly repaired themselves.
The wounded felt their pain lessen.
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Life itself responded to his existence.
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The Devourer's crimson eyes narrowed.
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Not amused.
Not entertained.
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Annoyed.
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And that alone terrified everyone.
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Because an annoyed monster was dangerous.
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But a cautious monster?
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That was worse.
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Far worse.
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Rosy immediately noticed.
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The Devourer wasn't looking at Sol the same way it looked at everyone else.
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It wasn't looking at prey.
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It was looking at an equal.
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The realization sent a chill down her spine.
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"Sol..."
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The young man didn't look away from the crimson eyes.
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But his hand found hers.
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Instinctively.
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Just like when he was a child.
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Rosy's chest tightened.
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Because despite everything—
Despite his appearance.
Despite his power.
Despite the thousands of years that had passed—
Part of him hadn't changed at all.
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The Devourer finally laughed.
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But this time—
The laughter sounded cold.
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"DID YOU MISS ME?"
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Sol's expression remained completely blank.
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"No."
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Silence.
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The answer was immediate.
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Brutal.
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The Void creatures visibly seemed pleased.
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Even Kael looked impressed.
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"...I like him."
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Azrael nodded once.
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"Reasonable."
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Rosy stared.
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"You two can't just adopt people into your friend group."
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"We absolutely can."
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"Already did."
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"..."
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Neither looked sorry.
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Meanwhile—
The Devourer sighed dramatically.
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"THAT HURTS."
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"No."
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Sol answered.
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"It doesn't."
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The Devourer stared.
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Then slowly smiled.
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"YOU GREW UP."
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Something dark flashed through Sol's golden eyes.
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"Unfortunately."
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Rosy immediately recognized that tone.
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Because it sounded exactly like her.
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The realization horrified her.
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"...Oh no."
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Kael blinked.
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"What?"
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"He's inherited my sarcasm."
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The silver cosmic being immediately nodded.
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"YES."
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"IT WAS UNAVOIDABLE."
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Rosy looked betrayed.
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"Whose side are you on?"
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"NOT YOURS."
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"...Rude."
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For one brief moment—
The atmosphere lightened.
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Then Sol's expression changed.
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Instantly.
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Because he finally looked at Rosy's face properly.
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The bruises.
The exhaustion.
The lingering darkness beneath her eyes.
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The signs of everything she'd endured since awakening.
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His smile vanished.
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The temperature dropped.
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Not physically.
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Emotionally.
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Because suddenly—
The Heart of Creation looked angry.
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Very angry.
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"Who hurt you?"
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Silence.
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Every single person present froze.
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Including Rosy.
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Because the question sounded dangerously sincere.
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The kind of question that immediately led to disaster.
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Azrael took one step backward.
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Pure survival instinct.
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Kael did the same.
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Rosy noticed.
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"...Why are you both moving away?"
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Neither answered.
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Because they were smart.
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Sol repeated the question.
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More softly this time.
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"Who hurt you?"
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The Devourer immediately pointed at itself.
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"I DID."
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Silence.
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Everyone stared.
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Rosy blinked.
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Kael blinked.
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Even the silver being seemed confused.
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The Devourer sounded weirdly proud.
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"I CAUSED MOST OF IT."
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"..."
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"..."
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"..."
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The capital collectively questioned reality.
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Sol's expression somehow became colder.
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"Thank you."
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The Devourer paused.
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"...For what?"
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"For making my list shorter."
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The atmosphere exploded.
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Golden light surged violently around Sol.
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The Devourer's smile finally disappeared.
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Completely.
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Because for the first time—
It realized something important.
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Sol wasn't kind.
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At least not in the way Rosy was.
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He loved deeply.
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But that love came with teeth.
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And the moment someone threatened his family—
The Heart of Creation became terrifying.
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Rosy immediately grabbed his sleeve.
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"Absolutely not."
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Sol blinked.
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"What?"
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"Whatever you're planning."
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A pause.
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"No."
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"..."
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"...How did you know I was planning something?"
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Rosy pointed at his face.
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"That expression."
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"What expression?"
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"The murder expression."
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"I don't have a murder expression."
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"You absolutely do."
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Kael nodded immediately.
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"Very obvious."
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Azrael nodded too.
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"Extremely obvious."
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Sol looked offended.
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Which was impressive considering he was currently radiating enough power to create continents.
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"I was simply evaluating options."
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Rosy covered her face.
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"That's worse."
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The silver cosmic being actually laughed.
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A deep celestial sound that shook the stars.
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Because somehow—
Despite everything—
This felt familiar.
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Like old times.
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Then suddenly—
The laughter stopped.
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Instantly.
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The ancient being looked upward.
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Its expression changed.
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Fear.
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Real fear.
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Every person present felt it.
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The silver being whispered:
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"...No."
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Rosy's stomach dropped.
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Because creatures like that weren't supposed to sound afraid.
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The Devourer noticed too.
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And surprisingly—
It looked serious.
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The golden light around Sol flickered.
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"What's wrong?"
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The silver being slowly lifted its gaze toward the heavens.
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And everyone followed.
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The stars were disappearing.
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One by one.
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Not exploding.
Not dying.
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Vanishing.
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Entire constellations blinking out of existence.
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The capital fell silent.
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Because no one understood what they were seeing.
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Until Sol did.
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His face paled.
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For the first time.
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"No."
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Rosy's heart nearly stopped.
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Because Sol sounded terrified.
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The same way he'd sounded as a child.
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The same way he'd sounded the day she sealed him away.
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"Sol?"
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He slowly looked toward her.
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Golden eyes trembling.
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"...Mom."
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A pause.
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Then quietly—
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"Something is eating reality."
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Silence.
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The Devourer frowned.
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Actually frowned.
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"THAT IS NOT ME."
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The statement hit everyone like a physical blow.
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Because if even the Devourer wasn't responsible—
Then what exactly was powerful enough to scare:
- The Heart of Creation
- The Eternal Sun
- The Void Guardian
- And the Devourer
...all at the same time?
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The answer came moments later.
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A sound echoed across existence.
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Not a roar.
Not a scream.
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A heartbeat.
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THUMP.
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The stars flickered.
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THUMP.
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The oceans rose.
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THUMP.
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Reality cracked.
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And from somewhere beyond creation and destruction—
Something began waking up.
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Something older than the Devourer.
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Something older than the Void.
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Something older than the stars themselves.
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The silver being's voice trembled.
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For the first time in countless ages.
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"The First Darkness..."
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Rosy's blood ran cold.
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Because deep inside her soul—
Something answered that name.
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And suddenly—
A forgotten memory began to awaken.
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A memory from before she met Sol.
Before the Void.
Before humanity.
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A memory from the very beginning.
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End of Chapter 38