I close my eyes. Something I never expect—if it happens, I will do whatever my vision gives me a path to. If it doesn't… then there's nothing left I can do.
My vision opens, telling me to take Oliver's sword, embedded in the ground.
Albert in front of me blocks the way.
FLAK—I run without hesitation, rushing to grab the sword.
"Huh?!" Albert mutters.
"All you ever do is run from reality, don't you?!" he says.
He freezes in disbelief as he sees Hiro sprinting for the sword.
"Admirable. Finally facing reality?!" he adds with a thin smile.
Hiro settles into a stance—one that feels familiar to the man, and to Hiro himself.
"Huh?!" he murmurs.
Hiro charges forward, swings the sword, and—SWASH—slashes toward where the Albert stood a moment ago.
Albert dodges quickly and releases the strap of his blade.
SWISH—he counters at close range, a slash aimed across half of Hiro's chest. Hiro bends backward into a bridge, evading without using his hands.
SLASH—Hiro attacks from the bridge, turning defense into offense.
The man reads Hiro's strike and dodges first. Neither of them lands a hit.
"Impressive," he says, shifting into his stance.
Hiro balances the fight—an opponent who would need only one strike to kill others, but not him.
"Let's see how long you last!" the man says, his stance now perfect.
Then the Albert freezes.
He doesn't expect it—Hiro takes a stance familiar to Albert, yet foreign to Hiro himself.
"Amazing," he says after seeing Hiro.
"In truth, you can see the future as far as—SPLASH—
Albert is cut clean through, his entire body struck down by Hiro's flawless attack.
Hiro executes the very stance and strike Albert.
"You're going to blow my face off, kid."
I drive the sword into the ground to steady myself as my legs begin to shake.
"Hm?" He murmurs.
I open my eyes. I feel liquid running from my nose—and from my eyes. Blood.
My heart burns. My body and my eyes feel like they're on fire. I push past my limit. There's no strength left… no strength to stand again.
Hiro staggers, drops first to both knees, then collapses onto the ground.
Albert slides his sword back into its sheath and approaches slowly, without a single word.
Halfway to Hiro, Albert lifts his gaze to the sky for a moment. Then he turns toward Oliver and smiles faintly.
Hiro begins to rise. But it isn't Hiro who is standing up.
It's that one.
Albert realizes.
Paragon—
---
Far from The Ruins of Zepharia, deep within a dark castle, three figures sit around a long table.
"Jiza hasn't returned since entering the field. The Lady is furious because Jiza failed to complete his task," the first says. "Strange. He has never failed a mission before this one. What happened to him?"
"I never truly understood him," the second replies. "I suppose this task was heavier than anything he's done before. I think I'll need more time before entering the field myself."
Silence. All eyes turn to the third figure.
"Albert?" the first asks quietly.
"I understand what he did—and why he didn't return," Albert murmurs.
He rises slowly, leaning on his staff. "I will go to the field to confirm what I suspect," he says. "But if that is happens, then everything will be too late."
The second figure responds, "Too late?"
Albert lifts his gaze to the shadow-filled ceiling. "If the Paragon awakens as I am about to execute him, I don't intend to trouble myself facing him. I will end my mission—and return."
The room freezes.
---
You want to take this crystal?
Then step over my corpse.