A single pulse of golden light.
It lasted less than a heartbeat.
Yet everyone saw it.
The faint glow emerged from Asterion's chest before vanishing beneath the sea of black corruption.
John's eyes widened.
"He's still alive..."
Caelis slowly nodded.
"Not only alive."
"He is resisting."
The False Heart remained motionless.
Its expression didn't change.
But the darkness surrounding Asterion's body rippled violently for an instant.
As if something inside was struggling against invisible chains.
---
The Soul Raven's wings trembled.
"Asterion..."
For thousands of years, it had believed its oldest friend had willingly abandoned everything they once protected.
Now...
It understood.
He had never stopped fighting.
He had simply been fighting a battle no one else could see.
Alone.
For millennia.
The realization weighed heavily upon the ancient guardian.
"If I had remembered sooner..."
The Soul Raven lowered its head.
"Perhaps..."
Caelis interrupted gently.
"No."
