Morning light fell through the cracks in the mountain cabin. Sylren lay quietly, asleep on Leo's chest, her breath steady. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open—and met Leo's, already awake and watching the snowfall beyond the window.
Sylren tilted her head. "Master… did you do something while I was sleeping?"
Leo raised a brow. "No. I'm not that type of guy."
Sylren smirked playfully and took Leo's hand, placing it gently on her head. "Then move your hand, Master. It's the least you can do."
Leo sighed. "I'll pass."
But as he glanced at her hopeful, drowsy smile… he gave in.
His fingers moved softly, and Sylren pulled closer with a grin.
Outside, Jack knelt beside a tiny flower bed, watering a single white bloom sprouting from the stone.
Necros appeared behind him. "You're really doing this gardening thing, huh?"
Jack chuckled. "It calms the mind. Reminds me of how we met."
Necros squinted. "That wasn't exactly peaceful."
A flash of memory burned across the page—Necros drenched in blood, standing over fallen soldiers.
A lone voice had called out then. "So you're the God of Death."
Jack had faced him down. "Call me Jack on any other day. But right now—call me the one who's gonna defeat you."
Necros smirked. "You lost that day."
Jack smirked back. "Not from my perspective."
Back in the present, they laughed.
"We were enemies," Jack said. "But now we're family."
Leo and Sylren arrived, boots coated in snow.
Jack didn't look up. "So, you finished it?"
Leo nodded silently and walked past. Sylren bowed. "Apologies for my master's rudeness. The mission was complete."
Jack smiled. "Go. He's waiting for you."
Sylren entered in the room The room was quiet, lit only by the soft flicker of firelight. Snow drifted past the windows, and the night air wrapped the mountain cabin in silence.
Leo stepped out of the bath, towel wrapped around his waist, his breath still warm from the steam. Sylren, flushed from the heat, walked toward him, her eyes steady and heart pounding.
She took his hand.
"Master," she whispered. "Can I... stay close tonight?"
Leo looked at her—saw the way her eyes trembled, saw the pain that lingered behind her gentleness. And finally, for the first time, he leaned in.
Their lips touched softly—warm, searching, delicate.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't wild. It was the quiet kind of kiss that says everything they couldn't put into words.
Outside, the blizzard howled.
Inside, they stayed wrapped together—protected in warmth, and in something far more fragile.
They shared the night.
No one else knew what passed between them. But from that moment on, Leo didn't just fight for revenge anymore.
He fought for the world he had begun to build—with her.
Later, Jack summoned Leo privately.
"In a month, you'll begin a mission unlike any other."
Leo's eyes narrowed. "Are you serious?"
Jack nodded. "I can't use magic—but I know how it works. You've mastered elemental magic. Now it's time to understand the core."
He continued:
> "Magic is made of two parts: Nature Energy, which flows from the world—and Soul Energy, which flows from you. When fused together, they form your Magic Core. The stronger it becomes, the more power you control.
>
> "Use Ethereal Conflux without stabilizing your core… and it'll collapse you."
Jack drew a diagram in the dirt.
> "Magic has no color—unless you channel it through elements. But beyond that… there's something else. Your Soul Color.
>
> We call it the Aether Spectrum."
He explained the seven soul colors:
Divine Class – Rare and Chosen Only by Gods:
- 🟨 Gold – Creation and generation
- ⚪ White – Operation and control
- ⚫ Black – Destruction
(G + O + D = GOD)
Ascendant Class – Achievable Through Mastery:
- 🔴 Red – Increases power level
- 🔵 Blue – Reduces cooldown and cast time
- 🟢 Green – Sharpens spell impact
- 🟣 Purple – Accelerates skill preparation
"Master all seven, and you unlock perfect casting—but only a handful ever achieve this."
Sylren, listening nearby, clapped quietly. "You'll do it, Master."
Jack smirked. "Training starts now."
Jack pushed Leo through three phases:
1. Mental Focus – Leo spent hours meditating under waterfalls, visualizing his soul.
2. Physical Synchronization – His body was pushed to extremes, breaking past the limits of elemental control.
3. Core Fusion – Using blood and breath, Leo threaded every element and color through his veins—fusing magic, soul, and nature.
In between, Sylren stole small romantic moments—a quick kiss on the cheek, a soft smile in the moonlight—but Leo, ever reserved, missed most of it… though not all.
One month later, Leo and Sylren infiltrated a sacred village to retrieve a legendary Chaos Stone. They succeeded—barely.
But as they escaped, a warrior cornered Sylren and held a blade to her throat.
"Give back the stone," he snarled.
Leo handed it over.
"Now kill yourself," the warrior ordered. "You or her."
Leo's heart stilled.
He smiled at Sylren.
"It's been a wonderful month with you."
As he raised a dagger to his own chest—Sylren screamed.
She leapt forward and took the blade herself.
Time froze.
Her blood fell like rain.
Leo's eyes widened in horror. He roared.
Flames erupted from his body. Shadows twisted around him. His soul colors activated simultaneously—even the black.
Every enemy was incinerated in seconds.
Leo collapsed beside Sylren.
"Please… don't leave me."
Sylren struggled to breathe. "Master… I… I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise."
Leo sobbed. "Do you love me?"
"I do. With everything I have. But… do you love me?"
"Yes. I love you more than anything. Please… please don't leave me."
Sylren reached up, touching his cheek.
"Protect those who love you."
She smiled faintly.
"I really love you, Master…"
And then—she was gone.
Jack watered his flower quietly.
"It's been six days. Leo never returned."
A bird dropped lifeless into the petals.
Jack stiffened. "Necros. We're going."
They arrived at the temple.
Leo sat motionless, hugging Sylren's body in the dark.
Jack whispered, "Leo… I don't know why your life is so full of sorrow. Even your own shadows might betray you someday."
Leo's voice was dry. "It's all my fault. She died because of me."
Jack knelt beside him. "Don't take on the whole world's pain. You can't save everyone. We took the stone—and war is coming. Now is the time for our plan."
He placed a mask beside Leo.
Days later, the kingdom discovered the missing stone. Cities marched to war.
Ardy's team—including Akumo, Zero, Sumi, Ruka, and Edward—arrived to stop it.
Leo watched silently from the tower, new mask hiding tear-stained eyes.
Ardy shouted up to him. "Is that all you've got?!"
Leo stepped forward.
"We're standing at the end of this world."
He raised his hands. Five soul colors flared—and the black aura roared behind them.
A flashback hit—Leo mastering every color in isolation. Jack had named him then.
"You are truly impressive, Leo. I have the perfect title for you…"
Now, in the present, Leo spoke with finality:
"I am… NEVER ENDING SHADOWS."
Ardy clenched his fists.
"Then I'll end you.".