A world shrouded in absolute darkness.
Or perhaps... it could no longer even be called a world.
Zane stood at the center of the void, head bowed in silence, motionless like a statue.
The darkness didn't stop—it flowed, thickened, and expanded, slowly but endlessly.
A silence as vast as the abyss.
Zane slowly raised a hand. He couldn't even see his fingers. He stood up—though the ground beneath his feet felt solid, it pulled at him like a swamp, each step a struggle.
It was as if something wanted to drag him down into the depths, to drown him completely, never to let him escape...
But Zane wouldn't just give in.
How could he ever let that happen?
No—Qingyi wouldn't allow it either.
Zane tilted his head back slightly, looking upward.
In the sea of endless darkness, a faint light appeared. Then, it began to fall—like a pale meteor, trailing a flickering tail of light.
It plunged downward at blinding speed, growing brighter as it fell, bursting with radiance, glowing like a brilliant cross of light.
Under Zane's gaze, it slammed into the ground.
A moment later, a wave of light rippled out from the impact, sweeping across the land with unstoppable force, surging outward from the point of impact and pushing back the endless dark.
In an instant, that light spread like the first sprouts of spring bursting through the earth. Radiance surged around Zane, and at last, he could see himself clearly.
In the light Qingyi had fought so hard to give him—he could finally see himself.
He lifted his gaze. Under the glow, an endless sea of black fluid stretched out in all directions—twisting and churning, tangled like some unspeakable nightmare.
Yet none of it dared draw near.
Because not far ahead, a snow-white flower was blooming, radiating soft, gentle light.
It was peaceful. Beautiful.
And now, Zane knew the name of that flower.
It could take many forms. It could draw nourishment from countless sources. And for each person, it would be different.
Because it was called the future and hope.
Suddenly, a thin black spike lashed out from the distant black fluid, aiming straight for the white flower.
Zane saw it coming and reached out instantly, gripping the spike in his hand.
Bright red bloomed in his palm. The black spike halted, then quickly recoiled, ending its probing strike.
Blood dripped from his hand, now slick with crimson—but Zane didn't flinch. His face remained calm.
The pain was sharp. So real.
In the distance, countless black streams merged, forming a massive, grotesque creature that slowly rose up. Towering like a mountain, it radiated despair and dread.
Zane looked away, raising his palm to study it.
He really was powerless now—not because there was no Ether energy in this inner world.
But because once he realized the world was false—once it collapsed—he had lost most of his strength.
After all, in here... he was facing a part of himself.
If he'd had the power... he never would've let Qingyi fade away in his arms.
But that was just wishful thinking.
He lowered his hand.
Just then, another sharp spike shot toward him—this time not at the white flower, but straight at his chest.
The black spike pierced him instantly, leaving a gaping wound. The searing pain made him frown.
The spike dissolved into black liquid once again and retreated. Zane stumbled two steps toward the flower, his blood already soaking through his clothes.
His injuries left him weak. By the time he reached the white flower, he could only kneel on one knee, bracing himself as he reached out.
Pshk! Another black spike tore through him—then a second, and a third...
Like Qingyi before him, Zane's body was riddled with wounds. His movements paused, but only for a breath. Then, his hand moved again.
He cupped the white flower in both hands.
Staring at it, he let out a slow exhale. His vision swam with dizziness.
He shook his head, trying to stay conscious, then slowly raised the flower high—lifting it toward the sky.
Don't let the flower wither...
Qingyi's words echoed in his ears.
Zane gave a bitter smile.
He couldn't protect it—not like this...
"Go. Don't stay here with me. It's too dark. I don't have the strength to protect you…"
"Go where you want to go. Leave this place. Bloom—bloom in beauty, in all the futures, in every hope…"
This flower had been nurtured by Qingyi and brought to him.
It was born from her dreams and determination—from everything she'd worked for.
In the end... it didn't belong to him.
Maybe he needed it.
But Qingyi did too—perhaps even more.
After all, she was now... trapped in an even deeper darkness.
But as Qingyi had said—she had brought him a white flower.
Only, it wasn't this one.
Zane slowly lowered his hands. The white flower floated mid-air, gently swaying as if it had understood.
"Go. Embrace the freedom that belongs to you…"
He whispered.
And as his words faded, the flower slowly rose. Its petals fell away, each one glowing faintly before dissolving into light—scattering into the distance.
Yet even as the flower left, the world didn't return to darkness.
The deepest corners of the soul are the darkest places.
But even there—true darkness doesn't exist.
Everyone leaves behind one final ray of light for themselves.
That light, the one that fell from the sky, still remained.
It belonged to Zane.
And it stayed.
Zane's lips curled faintly.
But in the next instant, even that froze in place.
The black thorns' power was tearing his body apart.
"So this is what dying feels like... Guess I'm used to it by now…"
He murmured softly, almost amused. As his life ebbed away, his eyes grew heavier... and finally closed.
With a soft thud, Zane collapsed to the ground.
At the heart of the light... he met the deepest darkness.
...
In the distance, the towering monster blotted out the sky. Its countless tentacles writhed. Crimson eyes gleamed with malice.
Its jaws stretched wide as it stared at the fragile light in the distance—mocking it, as though laughing at its insignificance in the face of endless dark.
Compared to its overwhelming power, the earlier attacks on Zane had been nothing more than play. A game. A taunt...
It didn't care. Not at all.
It just laughed.
Until... the light gathered again.
Zane stood before it once more—unharmed.
Its grin froze. Confusion followed. Then came rage. A deafening roar.
The next attack surged forward—unstoppable, engulfing Zane completely. And after it ended, it laughed again.
Until the light gathered again.