Darkness poured endlessly from the crack above, swallowing stars, devouring light—like existence itself was being erased piece by piece.
Aria didn't look up.
She couldn't.
Because right now— her entire world was standing right in front of her…
…and slowly slipping away.
"Rowan…"
Her voice trembled, but her grip on his hand only tightened.
Rowan's body was shaking violently. Dark veins had spread across half his arm now, pulsing with an unnatural rhythm. His eyes flickered—gold… then black… then gold again.
Like a war was happening inside him.
"I… can't… hold it…"
His voice broke.
Not like a warrior.
Not like a guardian.
But like someone… drowning.
Inside Rowan's Mind
Darkness.
Endless.
Silent.
Rowan stood alone in a void with no ground, no sky—just an infinite abyss stretching in every direction.
And in front of him—
A throne.
Massive. Ancient. Made of something darker than darkness itself.
And sitting on it—
Him.
Or something that looked like him.
Same face.
Same body.
But his eyes…
Empty.
Endless.
"You've done well," the figure spoke calmly.
"No…"
Rowan clenched his fists.
"I'm not you."
The figure smiled faintly.
"You are not separate from me."
"I am not your enemy."
"I am your origin."
The void trembled.
Memories flooded Rowan's mind— but not his own.
Worlds burning.
Stars collapsing.
Civilizations turning into dust.
And at the center of it all—
Him.
Destroying everything.
Back to Reality
"ROWAN!!"
Aria's scream cut through everything.
A burst of pure light exploded from her body, forcing back the creeping darkness around them.
The battlefield shook again.
Even the sky's裂 paused for a moment.
The Dragon King roared from behind, his voice echoing like thunder.
"She's the key! Don't let him fall!!"
Aria didn't understand everything.
She didn't need to.
All she knew was—
👉 If she lets go now… she will lose him forever.
Aria's Light Awakens
Her heart pounded.
Her entire body trembled.
But she stepped forward anyway.
One step.
Then another.
Until she stood right in front of him.
The pressure of the void tried to crush her— but she didn't stop.
"I don't care what you are…"
Her voice shook, but her eyes burned brighter than ever.
"Fragment… destiny… darkness…"
She placed her hand on his chest.
"I only know one thing."
Light burst out from her palm.
Warm.
Gentle.
Yet unbelievably powerful.
"YOU are Rowan."
Inside the Void Again
The dark figure narrowed its eyes slightly.
"…Interesting."
Rowan's body glowed faintly.
A small light.
Tiny.
Fragile.
But it didn't go out.
Aria's voice echoed in the darkness.
"You chose to protect."
"You chose to fight."
"You chose… me."
The throne cracked.
A small fracture.
But enough to shake the entire void.
For the first time—
the dark version of Rowan's expression changed.
Back to Battlefield
Rowan suddenly gasped.
Air rushed into his lungs like he had been underwater.
His eyes snapped open—
Golden.
Fully golden.
The darkness stopped spreading.
Aria's face lit up.
"Rowan!"
For a brief moment—
He was back.
Completely.
He slowly lifted his hand…
…and held hers.
But—
The sky screamed.
The裂 widened again—this time violently.
The presence above grew heavier.
Colder.
Angrier.
"YOU… RESIST…?"
That voice—
No longer calm.
No longer distant.
Now—
it was furious.
The entire world trembled under its rage.
The creature that had been fighting them lowered itself completely to the ground.
"Forgive me… my Emperor…"
The Truth Revealed
A massive pulse of dark energy exploded from the sky.
This time—
it didn't aim at Aria.
It aimed at Rowan.
Directly.
Rowan froze.
His body—
wouldn't move.
The mark on his shoulder burned like never before.
"NO—!!" Aria screamed.
She tried to pull him—
But it was too late.
The darkness reached him.
And this time—
he didn't block it.
Transformation Begins
His body lifted slowly into the air.
Aria's hand slipped from his.
"Rowan…?"
Her voice broke completely.
Darkness wrapped around him like chains.
His head lowered.
His eyes—
dimmed again.
The golden light—
faded.
Replaced by something far deeper.
Far more terrifying.
Final Moment of the Chapter
Rowan slowly opened his eyes.
Now—
completely black.
No warmth.
No hesitation.
Just… endless void.
He looked down at Aria.
For a second—
there was silence.
Then—
he spoke.
Cold.
Emotionless.
"…Who are you?"