The battlefield of the Void of Fallen Universe had fallen completely silent.
The storm of shadows that had once filled the sky was gone. The shattered land floated in broken fragments across the dark void, glowing faintly with leftover energy from the brutal battle that had just taken place.
In the center of that ruined battlefield stood the Ultimate Shadow.
A gigantic being formed from the fusion of countless shadows.
Its towering body looked like a living mountain of darkness. Black armor-like plates covered its massive frame, and glowing white eyes burned inside its head like distant stars.
Yet despite its terrifying appearance…
It was not attacking anymore.
Instead, it stood completely still.
Its gaze was fixed on Vicky.
Luka wiped the sweat from his forehead while sparks of lightning slowly faded around his sword.
"Well… that's new," he muttered.
"A giant shadow monster just stopped attacking and is staring at our master like it knows him."
Aerito rested his flaming blade on his shoulder and studied the creature carefully.
"Something about this situation feels strange."
Arna stood quietly beside Vicky, her floating mirrors rotating slowly around her like protective satellites. Her eyes were fixed on the giant shadow with cautious curiosity.
"Master… it doesn't feel hostile anymore."
The Ultimate Shadow slowly lowered its enormous head.
When it spoke, its voice echoed across the endless void like distant thunder.
"You…"
"…have returned."
Luka blinked.
"Returned?"
Aerito raised an eyebrow.
"Seems like it recognizes Master."
Vicky remained calm. His crimson eyes stared directly into the glowing eyes of the giant creature.
Inside his mind, the strange sense of familiarity had only grown stronger.
Like meeting something from a forgotten past.
He finally spoke.
"Explain."
The Ultimate Shadow remained silent for a moment, as if observing him carefully.
Then it answered.
"You have come here…"
"…to protect the Rule of Code."
The words echoed across the void.
Arna's eyes widened slightly.
"Rule of Code…"
Luka scratched his head.
"That's the thing we came here to find."
Aerito crossed his arms.
"But why would Master protect it?"
The giant shadow answered slowly.
"Because…"
"The Rule of Code once belonged to him."
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Luka froze.
"…Wait."
Aerito stared at Vicky.
"That sounds important."
Arna's voice became softer.
"Belonged…?"
The Ultimate Shadow continued.
"Long ago…"
"The Rule of Code was part of you."
"But over time…"
"It separated from its origin."
"It gained independence."
Vicky's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Separated from me…"
Fragments of unfamiliar memories flickered faintly in his mind.
Ancient symbols.
A vast system of glowing codes.
And something breaking apart.
Arna looked between the giant shadow and Vicky.
"Then… what exactly is the Rule of Code?"
The Ultimate Shadow turned its gaze toward the distant darkness of the void.
"The Rule of Code is the core law of the Code System."
"It maintains the balance of countless worlds."
"It regulates the flow of existence itself."
Luka slowly processed the information.
"So basically…"
"It's like the main rulebook that controls reality?"
Aerito smirked slightly.
"That's a pretty dangerous thing to lose control of."
The giant shadow nodded.
"That is why it must be protected."
Then it looked back at Vicky.
"And that is why…"
"I protect it."
Arna frowned slightly.
"You?"
The giant shadow's voice remained steady.
"I am a guardian created by the system."
"My duty is simple."
"Protect the Rule of Code."
"Until its origin returns."
It paused for a moment.
Then it spoke again.
"And now…"
"You have arrived."
Luka slowly looked at Vicky.
"So basically… this giant shadow thing works for you."
Aerito chuckled softly.
"Master keeps getting more impressive."
Vicky didn't respond.
Instead, he asked calmly,
"Where is it?"
The Ultimate Shadow slowly turned and pointed into the endless darkness of the void.
Far away…
A faint white glow could be seen floating in the distance.
At first it looked like a star.
But as they focused, the glow became clearer.
It was a sphere of bright energy hovering above a massive ancient structure covered in glowing runic symbols.
The energy radiating from it was unbelievable.
Even from this distance, the pressure in the void had increased dramatically.
"That…" the shadow said.
"…is the Rule of Code."
Arna felt a wave of energy brush against her senses.
Her eyes widened.
"The spatial structure around it is incredibly complex."
"It's like the universe itself is protecting it."
Luka whistled softly.
"Yeah… that definitely looks like the kind of thing people start wars over."
Aerito rolled his shoulders.
"Well then."
"Let's go meet this legendary Rule of Code."
The Ultimate Shadow began walking forward.
Each step it took shook the broken battlefield beneath them.
The group followed behind it.
As they moved closer, the environment of the void began changing.
Strange floating ruins appeared.
Broken pillars covered in ancient symbols drifted slowly through the darkness.
Fragments of forgotten civilizations.
Luka looked around with curiosity.
"This place feels ancient."
Aerito nodded.
"Extremely ancient."
Arna whispered quietly.
"I can feel layers of code energy everywhere…"
"The closer we get… the stronger it becomes."
The glowing sphere in the distance grew brighter as they continued moving forward.
Soon it looked like a miniature sun floating in the void.
Symbols of glowing code slowly rotated around it like orbiting rings.
Vicky stared at it silently.
Inside his mind…
The strange sense of familiarity had grown stronger than ever.
Like a lost part of him was calling out.
The Ultimate Shadow suddenly stopped walking.
They were still some distance away.
But the glowing sphere was now clearly visible.
"That…"
"…is the Rule of Code."
Luka took a deep breath.
"So that's it."
"The thing we traveled all this way to find."
Aerito smiled slightly.
"Looks powerful."
Arna nodded.
"But also unstable…"
"The energy flow is fluctuating."
Vicky stepped forward slightly.
His eyes reflected the glowing sphere.
The pull he felt toward it was undeniable.
Like something inside him was responding.
The Ultimate Shadow spoke quietly.
"It recognizes you."
"Because you are its origin."
Luka stretched his arms.
"Well then, Master."
"Go say hello to your old power."
Aerito laughed lightly.
"Yeah, this reunion should be interesting."
Arna smiled softly.
"Yes… let's finally see what the Rule of Code truly is."
The group began walking again toward the glowing sphere.
Step by step they approached the ancient structure beneath it.
The pressure in the void continued rising.
Energy waves pulsed slowly through the space around them.
They were getting closer.
Closer to the Rule of Code.
Closer to the truth.
But just as they were about to reach the ancient structure—
The void suddenly trembled.
A strange ripple spread across space itself.
The glowing sphere flickered.
Aerito stopped walking immediately.
"…Did you feel that?"
Luka frowned.
"Yeah."
"That didn't feel normal."
Arna's mirrors suddenly began vibrating.
"My spatial senses are reacting…"
"Something is wrong."
The Ultimate Shadow slowly turned its head toward the distant darkness behind them.
Its glowing eyes narrowed.
"…Someone else is here."
The air grew heavy.
Vicky's expression darkened slightly.
"So we are not the only ones searching for the Rule of Code."
The energy around the glowing sphere suddenly surged violently.
The ancient runes beneath it began glowing brighter.
Luka grabbed his sword again.
"Well… looks like the real fight might start now."
Aerito smirked.
"Good."
"I was starting to get bored."
Arna focused her senses into the surrounding void.
But the strange presence approaching them was still hidden.
Even she couldn't locate it yet.
The giant shadow spoke again.
"We must move quickly."
"Before they arrive."
Vicky stared at the glowing Rule of Code.
Then he nodded.
"Let's go."
The group began moving toward the ancient structure again.
Step by step…
They approached the glowing sphere.
But just as they were about to reach it—
The void trembled once more.
A terrifying presence began descending from somewhere beyond space itself.
The air became colder.
Heavier.
Even the Ultimate Shadow turned its head toward the sky of the void.
Something powerful…
Something dangerous…
Was about to arrive.
But before anyone could see who it was—
The moment froze.