---o---
Deep within the church of The Deep End, there existed a place of absolute darkness.
It was Aponia's residence, a cage she had forged for herself where no light could enter. She would come here to repent each time she failed in her attempts to save someone.
Normally, Aponia would stay here for a day before composing herself. But now, a full month had passed, and she had not taken a single step outside.
Until a voice burning with flames appeared, shattering the solid wall with a single punch.
"APONIA!!! You coward, just how long are you going to lock yourself in here?!"
"Kalpas?"
In the darkness, Aponia knelt beside a pure white tombstone. Sunlight streamed through the broken wall, casting her in a state of half-light, half-shadow. It was just possible to see that she was cradling a rough stone carving in both hands.
"[Please] leave. Do not disturb me," she issued a direct order to dismiss him, making her attitude clear.
"You! Hmph!"
Kalpas's movements froze, and his body began to walk backward against his will. However, beneath his mask, the corner of his mouth twisted into a mocking smile.
Behind him, two graceful figures appeared. One was as dangerous as a serpent, the other as elegant as gold.
"Aponia, abusing your powers again, are we?" This was Mobius's slightly mocking voice.
"My friend, while I hate to disturb you, it seems you really have shut yourself away for too long, haven't you?" This was Eden's somewhat complicated tone.
Her gaze upon Aponia was complex. At the end of the day, Eden was still a woman. To face someone she could now confirm was a love rival and say she didn't care would be impossible.
Besides, her Fu Li had turned to ash, while Aponia's Fu Li had at least left a body behind.
"Mobius? Eden?" Aponia finally looked up at the two of them.
Unexpectedly, she did not [ask] them to leave.
"Yes, it's us."
Mobius slowly approached the tombstone. With a flick of her finger, a tulip materialized at her fingertips and she placed it before Fu Li's gravestone.
Eden, too, placed a golden goblet filled with the finest wine beside it.
"Have you considered it, Aponia? Will you join us?"
Mobius's voice was full of confidence; she simply couldn't believe Aponia would refuse her invitation.
However…
"I'm sorry, Doctor. I refuse."
"Hah? Why?"
Mobius's eyebrow twitched. This was the first time she had been refused regarding 'Ouroboros', and she couldn't fathom why Aponia would say no.
"The reason is simple, Doctor." Aponia carefully put away the stone carving. Her tone remained gentle, but her clear, deathly still eyes were slowly turning crimson.
Like blood, like tears.
"Why must heroes, the noble, always sacrifice themselves for the survival of the despicable?"
"I don't understand, nor do I wish to understand. Therefore, I reject your plan. I am going to find another path."
"No one can stop me, and no one has the ability to stop me. So, Doctor, could I trouble you not to seek me out for this matter again, please?"
"But—" Eden wanted to say more, but Mobius tugged on the corner of her sleeve.
Then, to Eden's confusion, Mobius seemed to understand something and revealed a serpentine smile.
"Fine, Aponia. I understand what you mean."
"We will not interfere with you, but please, do not interfere with us. How about it?"
Hearing this, Aponia nodded. "That would be for the best, Dr. Mobius. In the end, even if our methods differ, our ultimate goal is the same: to keep him."
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Therefore, even if their ideologies diverged, as long as their objective was the same, there was no fear of mutual obstruction.
"Hehe, yes. For the best." Her serpentine pupils narrowed slightly. Mobius smiled and turned, walking away with Eden.
"Aponia, allow me to offer you one last friendly reminder. Don't think about merging with the Elysian Realm. That won't allow you to control fate."
As she reached the broken wall, Mobius suddenly left her with these words before departing without another glance.
After hearing this, Aponia said nothing, merely staring silently at the ground before her.
There, drawn in the sand, was the thread of fate belonging to her—the very same thread she had seen at the end, the one in which Fu Li never existed.
Her original, fated, path.
"Merge with the Elysian Realm? That is perhaps something I would have done."
A hand swept across the ground, erasing the line of fate.
"But now, I have a reason to live, and I have a bond I cannot let go of. How could someone like me bear to bind myself to the Elysian Realm?"
"Just you wait, Li. No matter how many times fate tries to snatch you from me, I will catch you. I will make it so you can never leave me."
That day, Aponia walked out of The Deep End.
Although she was as gentle as ever, everyone who knew her knew that she had changed.
——————————
Meanwhile, somewhere in reality.
Within a mysterious space in the Sea of Quanta.
Green liquid flowed like a tide through imaginary space, like two green vipers spying on the real world.
In the vast hall, over three hundred Gray Serpents, all dressed in identical gray robes, wearing dagger-like masks, and carrying briefcases, knelt on one knee in perfect unison. Their right hands were placed over their chests, their heads bowed in humility.
For the mother who created them, for a Flame-Chaser who gave her all.
And for their mother's best assistant.
The green liquid burst through the space, coalescing in the real world into a petite yet curvaceous figure clad in black and green battle armor.
And beside that small figure, a tall, slender silhouette stood quietly.
Her serpentine eyes swept over the kneeling Gray Serpents, and a satisfied smile graced her lips.
"Gray Serpents, we respectfully welcome the return of Lord Mobius and Lord Klein!!!"
More than three hundred towering Gray Serpents offered their highest respects to the two women.
The Gray Serpent kneeling at the very front lowered his head and presented a laptop computer with both hands.
The laptop screen was on. On it was a single, very ordinary photograph. In the photo, Raven was pouring a glass of milk for a boy who had not yet reached adulthood.
"Li, I've finally found you."
A crimson tongue licked the corner of her mouth. A flush of excitement rose on her delicate face as she gently caressed the image of the boy on the screen.
Suddenly, Klein, standing beside Mobius, spoke up as a reminder, "Doctor, please restrain yourself. It is not yet time for a reunion."
Her snake-like eyes flickered. Mobius took a deep breath, put down the laptop, and looked at the Gray Serpent.
"I know, Klein. But Gray Serpent, do you know the name of this woman next to Li?"
"..." The Gray Serpent was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "Her name is Raven, Lord."
"Raven... is it?"