Over the following two days, Twilight grew more active. Daeron had provided him with many Transcendent-rank memories and several Supreme-rank ones to feed his creatures of darkness.
With that many memories at his disposal, Uriel didn't hesitate—he used them first on Nyx, his Transcendent Terror, to evolve her into a Supreme Terror.
The creature, which had always been an imposing shadow in his arsenal, transformed before his eyes. Her ethereal form solidified, acquiring more defined and menacing contours. Her eyes, once merely bright points in the darkness, became two abysses that absorbed the light around them. Now, Nyx was not just a terrifying presence on the battlefield but an entity capable of bending the will of her enemies with just her gaze. Uriel felt the connection with his Echo strengthen—a current of power flowing between them like an underground river.
He then continued with the Winter Beast, which managed to complete the missing memories needed to evolve into a Supreme Titan.
However, not everything was a success for Uriel.
His last creature of darkness, Iroh—still a Corrupt Devil—couldn't evolve by consuming memories, since he had to kill something stronger than himself. This deeply discouraged him. Imp was his oldest companion, the first he had tamed in his travels through the Dream Realm. Seeing him stagnate while his soul-brothers ascended caused a pang of frustration he couldn't hide.
"What's wrong, Uriel?" asked Shade, emerging from within him like a restless shadow.
"It's Iroh," Uriel replied, pointing to the small demon resting in a corner of the room. "The others are evolving, but he's still the same. He needs to kill something stronger to advance, and we don't have time to look for suitable enemies."
Shade observed Imp with his red eyes, and for a moment, his expression softened. "He's a good companion, isn't he?"
"The best," Uriel admitted. "He's been with me since the Antarctica campaign. Seeing him fall behind hurts."
Shade approached the small demon and studied him closely. Iroh, despite his nature, showed a certain affection toward the shadowy figure, leaning his head in so Shade could pet him. It was strange to see such a dark being display tenderness, but in that moment, it seemed the most natural thing in the world.
"Maybe there's something we can do," Shade said finally. "Not now, but after all of this ends. You and I both know there's always a path for those who refuse to give up."
Uriel smiled—a genuine smile he rarely showed. "You're right. And this isn't the time for lamentations. I have something that might cheer him up."
From his dark storage, Uriel extracted a fragment of mystical metal. The object glowed with a faint, almost liquid light and seemed to vibrate with ancient energy. "This is mystical steel extracted from the caiman turtle," he explained, offering it to Iroh. "I was thinking of using it to build something enormous in the future, but I suppose feeding it to Iroh will make him feel a bit better."
Iroh took the metal in his claws, and instantly, a light coursed through his body. It wasn't an evolution, but his energy increased significantly. His eyes lit up with a new gleam, and his posture grew more upright. The small demon let out a roar of satisfaction, and Uriel knew he had done the right thing.
"We'll find a suitable enemy later," Uriel promised. "But for now, this will give you strength."
---
While Uriel tended to his Echoes, Daeron delivered a speech to his people. The Supreme of the Divine Kingdom of Storms had summoned all the inhabitants of the castle and nearby cities to the main square. Thousands of people gathered, some with hope, others with fear in their eyes. After so many years of tribulations and suffering, empty promises had accumulated like dust in their hearts.
Daeron ascended the podium and looked out over his people. For centuries, he had been their leader, their protector, and now he was about to ask them for the greatest sacrifice of all.
"My people," he began, his voice resonating with the authority of a Supreme, yet also with the warmth of a father. "Many years have passed since I led you to this place. You have endured hunger, disease, loss, and despair. You have watched your loved ones fall to the abominations, and you have seen the Great River grow increasingly dangerous."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Daeron raised a hand to calm them.
"But today, the moment has arrived. Today, after so long, I will fulfill my promise. I will lead you to a place safe from the clutches of despair. I will take you beyond the Great River, beyond time itself, toward a new beginning."
The murmur transformed into a clamor. Some wept, others shouted with joy, and many simply embraced one another. Daeron waited for the noise to subside before continuing.
"However, it will not be an easy journey. You must trust in me, in Ananke, and in our allies. You must leave behind everything you know—your homes, your memories, even your dead. But I promise you that at the end of the road, you will find the peace you have been searching for."
Daeron's speech lasted nearly an hour. He spoke of his people's history, the sacrifices they had made, and the hope that had kept them alive. When he finished, the entire populace was ablaze with emotion.
Shade and Uriel, watching from a nearby tower, felt renewed and inspired by the Supreme's words.
"He's a great orator," commented Shade.
"He's a great leader," Uriel corrected. "There's a difference."
"What is it?" asked Shade, genuinely curious.
"An orator makes you feel good in the moment," Uriel explained. "A leader makes you believe you can achieve the impossible even when everything seems lost. Daeron is both."
Shade nodded slowly. "I suppose that's why he's survived so long in this infernal place."
---
Meanwhile, Ananke was preparing for her own mission. The ship she would pilot, the Time Slayer, was a marvel of Cronos's engineering. Built with materials extracted from the depths of the Great River, the vessel was capable of navigating through temporal currents without being affected by the distortions of time.
Ananke had spent the previous two days adjusting the ship's systems, ensuring every gear was in place and every protection spell was active. Around her, a team of Daeron's champions prepared to accompany her. They were warriors trained to face the abominations infesting the cities along the Great River.
Ananke's objective was simple in theory but complex in execution: travel along the Great River, visit every city and town, and gather all the inhabitants at Fallen Grace. Once they were all together, it would be easier to protect them and transport them to the special dimension they would create.
"Are you ready?" asked Cronos, approaching her before her departure.
"As ready as I can be," Ananke replied. "I've traveled the Great River in other loops. I know every city, every danger, every corner where the abominations hide."
"But this time is different," said Cronos. "This time there's no going back. If we fail..."
"We won't fail," Ananke interrupted. "We can't afford to. Besides, I have a good feeling about this attempt. Uriel is unlike anything we've seen before. His presence changes things."
Cronos nodded. "You're right. Maybe that's why we decided this would be the last chance. Maybe something inside us knew he would come."
Ananke smiled and boarded the ship. "Take care while I'm gone. If anything happens..."
"Nothing will happen to them," Cronos assured her. "I promise you."
---
With all preparations complete, Cronos managed to achieve Transcendence, standing one step away from Supremacy. It was a moment everyone had been waiting for, but no one had anticipated exactly when it would happen.
It occurred during the night before their departure. Cronos was meditating in his room when he felt something break within him—a barrier that had been there since his birth crumbled like sand under water, and suddenly, all the knowledge he had accumulated across the loops condensed into a single truth: time was not his enemy; it was his ally.
His Transcendent ability, which he had named "The Eternal's Sigh," allowed him to halt the flow of time within a delimited area. In that space, he was the only one who could move—like a god in his own miniature universe. For a few seconds, he could observe, analyze, and act without his enemies being able to respond.
As for his transformation as a Saint, it took the form of an enormous sea creature made of ethereal energy, enveloped in tentacles where time twisted and lost all meaning. In that form, Cronos was nearly unreachable. His tentacles could pierce the intangible, and his presence distorted reality around him.
When Cronos emerged from his transformation, Shade and Uriel were waiting for him in the hallway.
"Congratulations, Cronos," said Uriel, extending his hand. "That was impressive."
Cronos took his hand and shook it firmly. "Thank you, Master. But this is only the beginning. Now I must master this power if we are to succeed."
"You will," said Shade. "You have the determination needed."
---
With everything in place, the moment to depart arrived. Daeron, Cronos, and Uriel gathered at the main entrance of the castle. Before them, the path to the Estuary stretched like a wound in reality.
Ananke had already departed with her ship, and Daeron's people were preparing for the exodus. There was no turning back.
"This is the moment," said Daeron, gazing at the horizon. "Everything we've done has led us here."
"Yes," Uriel replied. "And I don't intend to waste this opportunity."
Cronos stepped forward, his new Transcendent energy pulsing around him. "I've seen this moment a hundred times, from a hundred different angles. But this time it feels different. This time, I feel like we're going to succeed."
Shade emerged from Uriel, his shadowy form glowing with a red light. "So, what are we waiting for? Time doesn't stop on its own."
Uriel smiled and, without another word, began walking toward the Estuary.
The last chance had begun.