No one moved.
Not because they chose not to.
Because the pressure wouldn't let them.
— The Eye —
Above Ground Zero—
The massive eye remained open within the crack in reality.
Watching.
Silent.
But its presence alone distorted the world beneath it.
Buildings bent unnaturally.
Fragments trembled violently.
Even the air felt unstable.
— Fear —
The freed users collapsed to their knees.
Some couldn't even breathe properly.
Others stared upward in complete terror.
"…What… is that…?"
No one answered.
Because no one truly understood.
— The Vessel Kneels —
At the center—
The Vessel remained partially lowered.
Not forced completely down—
But enough.
Enough to reveal the difference in scale.
Juvy noticed immediately.
"…Even it's affected…"
Maxruell's expression hardened.
"…So that thing's above all of us."
Kael spoke quietly.
"…It's not above the Source."
A pause.
"…It is the Source."
— Reality Distorts —
The sky cracked further.
Small pieces of reality began falling apart around the battlefield—
Like shattered glass dissolving into darkness.
Anything touched by the void vanished instantly.
No explosion.
No sound.
Just erased.
— Lina Feels the Call —
Lina suddenly froze.
Her eyes widened.
"…It's calling…"
Juvy grabbed her arm immediately.
"…Don't listen to it."
But Lina shook slightly.
"…No… it's not words…"
"…It's pulling…"
— Shared Resonance —
Juvy and Maxruell felt it too now.
A deep internal pull.
Toward the sky.
Toward the eye.
Their fragments reacted violently.
Light flickered uncontrollably around Juvy.
Shadow surged wildly around Maxruell.
"…Damn it…" Maxruell growled.
— The Vessel Speaks —
For the first time—
The Vessel addressed them differently.
"…continued division results in total reclamation…"
Juvy stared at it.
"…You're saying it'll erase everything?"
"…all fragments will return…"
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Not return."
"…Consumed."
— Temporary Understanding —
Silence.
Everyone understood now.
If the awakened Source fully descended—
Nothing would remain separate anymore.
No worlds.
No people.
No self.
Only the whole.
— Maxruell Laughs Once —
A small laugh escaped him.
"…You know…"
He looked up at the eye.
"…I officially hate this thing more than you."
The Vessel remained silent.
— Juvy Steps Forward —
Despite the pressure—
Juvy stood.
Her legs trembled—
But she stood.
"…Then we stop it."
Kael looked at her sharply.
"…You don't understand what you're saying."
Juvy's eyes stayed fixed upward.
"…Maybe not."
"…But I know one thing."
Her light steadied.
"…If we give up now…"
"…Everything ends."
— The Eye Reacts —
The massive eye shifted slightly.
Focusing directly on her.
The pressure intensified instantly.
Juvy nearly collapsed—
But Lina caught her.
— The Core Fragments Choose —
Behind them—
The two former Core Fragments stepped forward.
No longer fully controlled.
No longer enemies.
They stood beside the others.
Choosing resistance.
— The Vessel's Decision —
The Vessel slowly rose again.
Cracks spreading across its body.
Then—
It turned toward the sky.
"…priority altered…"
Juvy's eyes widened slightly.
"…Wait…"
Maxruell smirked faintly.
"…No way…"
The Vessel raised its hand—
Not toward them.
Toward the Eye Beyond.
"…reclamation denied."
The battlefield froze.
For the first time—
The Vessel opposed the Source directly.