Inside Vivian's shattered consciousness—
the darkness screamed.
Chains twisted endlessly through the void while fragments of broken memories drifted around Marley like dying stars.
Vivian stood motionless in the center of it all.
Trembling.
Confused.
The crimson corruption surrounding her flickered violently as the Demon King's voice echoed across the collapsing mental prison.
"She is mine."
The void shook.
Massive cracks spread beneath Marley's feet.
But Marley kept walking forward slowly.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Only sorrow.
"You were a child when they touched your mind," Marley said softly.
Vivian's eyes trembled.
"No…"
"They lied to you."
Another memory appeared around them.
A younger Vivian laughing while running through fields of silver flowers.
Liana chasing after her.
Marley watching them both from afar.
Warm sunlight.
Peace.
Vivian's breathing became uneven.
"I… remember…"
The chains tightened instantly around her arms.
The Demon King roared through the darkness:
"STOP HER."
The entire mental world exploded violently.
Dark creatures formed from living corruption surged toward Marley from every direction.
Outside—
the real battlefield was collapsing.
Entire sections of the station had already fallen into orbiting debris.
Flames consumed the remaining corridors while dimensional storms ripped through exposed sectors.
And still—
the war continued.
Maximilian slammed his blade through another demonic beast before turning sharply toward Alfred.
"How much longer?"
Alfred's expression remained grim.
"Not enough."
Nearby, Zack struggled to maintain communication systems while blood dripped from his forehead.
"We're losing outer containment!"
Sid activated another emergency defense grid.
"Union fleets are retreating from sectors four through nine!"
Shadow stood silently near Vivian's motionless body, protecting Marley while she remained trapped inside Vivian's consciousness.
Then—
Lexia staggered.
A black blade pierced straight through her abdomen.
Time stopped.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Behind her stood one of the faceless entities.
Silent.
Watching.
Then it twisted the blade deeper.
Blood spilled across the shattered floor.
"LEXIA!" Zack screamed.
The creature ripped the blade free violently—
but before it could strike again—
Lexia moved.
Even wounded.
Even dying.
She grabbed its arm.
And smiled weakly.
"Got you."
Then drove her sword upward through its skull.
The faceless creature collapsed instantly.
Lexia fell with it.
The battlefield around them suddenly felt distant.
Muted.
Zack ran toward her immediately.
"No—no, no, no…"
He dropped beside her, catching her before she hit the ground completely.
Blood covered his hands instantly.
Lexia coughed painfully.
"Well…"
A weak laugh escaped her lips.
"That's unfortunate."
"Don't talk!" Zack shouted desperately. "Lenore! LENORE!"
Lenore rushed toward them, panic filling her face.
But the moment she saw the wound—
she stopped.
Her expression broke.
Lexia noticed immediately.
"…Ah."
Silence.
Around them, explosions still thundered.
Soldiers screamed.
The station collapsed piece by piece.
But for Zack—
everything disappeared except her.
"You're not dying," he said shakily.
Lexia looked at him quietly for a moment.
Then smiled faintly.
"You know…"
"I always thought you talked too much."
Tears formed in Zack's eyes.
"Then yell at me later."
Her fingers weakly gripped his sleeve.
"I'm serious this time…"
Her breathing became shallow.
"Take care of them."
Zack shook his head violently.
"No."
"Zack—"
"No!"
For the first time—
his voice broke completely.
Lexia looked at him silently.
Then toward the others fighting desperately around them.
Toward Marley.
Toward the burning Earth below.
"…We actually saved people," she whispered softly.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"That's new."
Then her hand slowly slipped away.
Her eyes lost focus.
And she stopped moving.
Silence.
Zack froze completely.
"…Lexia?"
No response.
Only distant explosions.
Lenore covered her mouth as tears ran down her face.
Even Shadow lowered his gaze briefly.
Nearby—
Maximilian stopped fighting for half a second after sensing it.
And for the first time—
rage truly appeared in his eyes.
The Demon King laughed loudly across the battlefield.
"Yes…"
"Despair."
Inside Vivian's consciousness—
the chains suddenly weakened.
Vivian felt it immediately.
"…Someone died."
Marley's expression darkened painfully.
Outside, Zack slowly stood up.
Covered in Lexia's blood.
Something inside him had changed.
The fear in his eyes disappeared.
Only fury remained.
The battlefield trembled.
Then Zack turned toward the faceless creatures.
And for the first time—
his power exploded beyond control.
Every signal.
Every battlefield pattern.
Every enemy connection—
became visible inside his mind.
The station lights shattered around him.
The faceless entities actually stepped backward.
And Zack spoke with terrifying calm:
"Now I'm angry."
Far below—
beneath Earth's surface—
the ancient seal cracked again