The world of astral reflection was not a world received only with the eyes;
Rather, it is received with awareness.
From the first moment, Lloyd felt that this place did not test strength…
Rather, the intention.
The shiny black ground reflected not only the bodies, but what was inside.
Every step he took, he saw in his reflection overlapping glimpses:
A child screaming...
A fighter rises...
A white shadow standing alone in front of a faceless entity.
The threshold guard said in a low voice, as if he was afraid the world would hear him:
"Be careful...this world watches more than it fights."
The world's forgotten people
Within minutes, movement began to appear.
From among the black towers, small groups of humans… or what looked like humans emerged.
Their bodies are thin, their eyes are unnaturally bright, and on their necks there are traces of old metal collars.
A man in his mid-forties came forward, his long silver hair tied back, and his eyes with chronic fatigue.
"Stop."
He gestured with his hand, and the rest of the group stopped behind him.
"My name is Ilmar Finn.
"We were the guardians of this world... before the constellation came."
A woman approached, standing beside him, carrying a spear with a cracked blade, and a long scar on her face.
"I'm Sayla.
This world is no longer ours...but we have not left it."
Lloyd asked quietly:
"Why did you stay?"
Elmar smiled sadly:
"Because Zebra does not leave witnesses alive...
Except to use them."
The threshold guard exchanged a quick look with Lloyd.
The word he used did not go unnoticed.
The calm before the fall
They sat in one of the abandoned towers.
Sayla lit a faint blue fire, emitting no heat, only light.
Elmar spoke at length about experiences...
About the generals...
Of the worlds that fell because they obeyed.
His words were convincing.
Logically.
Humanly.
Even Riorno, who does not trust easily, said:
"It is clear that you have lived through hell."
But Lloyd...
He felt something was wrong.
Not in words,
But in timing.
And suddenly—
Betrayal
The fire went out.
At the same moment, the ground's reflection changed.
The threshold guard shouted:
"Lloyd!"
But it was too late.
Elmar raised his hand, and on his wrist a glowing star symbol appeared.
The towers around them turned into closed energy circuits.
Elmar said in a cold voice, unlike his previous voice:
"Forgive me...
But we no longer have a choice."
Sayla shouted:
"Ilmar, no! You promised us!
He looked at her without expression:
"A promise does not save worlds."
Then he said, directing his words to space:
"The target is there."
The General's Descent - The Complete Battle
The sky split.
The blue light fell again...
But this time, it was more violent.
Falzar appeared.
He didn't speak.
He just raised his hand.
One of the circles collapsed, hitting Lloyd directly.
His body flew, he hit a tower, he felt like his shoulder was dislocated.
Riorno moved to attack, but energy chains came out of the ground and restrained him.
He shouted:
"Cowards!"
Valzar said at last:
"Betrayal... is part of the system."
Lloyd tried to get up.
The blood is flowing.
The tattoos on his body are on fire.
He closed his eyes.
For the first time…
He felt pure anger.
Ability Development – Detailed Combat
He opened his eyes.
The world slowed down.
He no longer sees the bodies...
But decisions.
Valzar's decisions.
Elmar's decisions.
His decisions are.
"Technology... Mirror of Will."
move.
First strike—breaking Riorno's shackle.
Second strike—dismantling the power circuit.
Third strike—directly toward Falzar.
Swords collided.
The clash lasted a long time.
Valzar strikes with deadly accuracy.
Lloyd dribbles, learns, adapts.
Every blow left a mark...
Not on the body, but on the spirit.
And finally—
Focused strike.
Falzar's armor cracked at the chest.
The general fell silent.
Then he smiled.
"That's enough."
He turned to Elmar:
"You did your part."
Sayla shouted:
"No!"
But Valzar raised his hand...
And Elmar ceased to exist.
No screaming.
No blood.
Completely erased.
Heavy end
Falzar disappeared.
Silence fell.
Lloyd knelt down, breathing hard.
Sila approached, her eyes full of tears:
"We lost everything..."
Lloyd answered in a calm but broken voice:
"And I lost the illusion of trust."
The threshold guard said:
"This world has taught you a hard lesson."
Lloyd got up slowly.
"And it's still a long way...to Zebra."
In the reflection of the earth...
Lloyd was no longer the same.