The energy inside the underground chamber had stabilized just enough to stop the immediate collapse, but the tension in the air remained sharp and dangerous, because even though the violent surges had slowed, the truth behind them had only begun to surface, and as Zein Shoin stood near the glowing core with faint strands of unstable energy still circling around her like threads connected directly to her heartbeat.
She could feel fragments of memory returning more clearly now—not complete memories, but flashes strong enough to make her chest tighten every time another piece surfaced, while Ace Craige watched her carefully from only a short distance away, his expression calm on the outside but sharper than before, because for the first time since this chaos had begun, he realized this wasn't just about the destruction of Hell University anymore.
It was about her.
"…you remembered something," Ace said quietly.
Zein didn't answer immediately.
"…yes," she admitted.
Ace crossed his arms slightly.
"How much?" he asked.
Zein looked down briefly.
"…not enough," she replied.
The core pulsed once.
Soft.
Steady.
Almost listening.
"…start with what you know," Ace said.
Zein exhaled slowly.
"…this place wasn't created as a university," she said.
Ace's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…then what was it?" he asked.
Zein's voice lowered.
"…a testing facility," she said.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
"…for the experiments?" Ace asked.
Zein nodded once.
"…for power control," she replied.
Another memory flashed through her mind—
Bright lights.
Voices.
Machines.
Pain.
She flinched slightly.
Ace noticed instantly.
"…what did you see?" he asked.
Zein hesitated.
"…people," she said quietly,"…scientists… researchers…"
Her expression tightened.
"…and me."
Ace froze for half a second.
"…you were part of this?" he asked carefully.
Zein looked away.
"…I think I was the center of it," she said.
The words felt wrong even saying them aloud.
Ace stepped closer.
"…they experimented on you," he said.
Zein didn't respond immediately.
"…no," she said slowly,"…I volunteered."
Silence hit harder this time.
Ace stared at her.
"…why would you do that?" he asked.
Zein shook her head faintly.
"…I don't remember all of it," she admitted,"…but I remember wanting to stop something."
The core pulsed again.
Stronger.
As if reacting to her memories.
"…this power wasn't natural," she continued,"…they created it."
Ace's voice lowered dangerously.
"…using you," he said.
Zein closed her eyes briefly.
"…yes."
Another flash hit her—
A room filled with alarms.
Scientists shouting.
Energy spiraling out of control.
And then—
Herself.
Standing in the center.
Terrified.
"…I couldn't control it," she whispered.
Ace's expression hardened.
"…what happened?" he asked.
Zein looked at the core again.
"…people got hurt," she said quietly.
The guilt in her voice was enough to answer the rest.
Ace stayed silent for a moment before speaking again.
"…so you sealed it," he said.
Zein nodded slowly.
"…and erased my own memory with it," she admitted.
Ace went still.
"…you did that to yourself?" he asked.
Zein gave a weak laugh.
"…apparently I thought forgetting was safer," she said.
Another tremor shook the chamber—
Smaller than before—
But enough to remind them the danger still existed.
Ace stepped closer again.
"…look at me," he said.
Zein slowly did.
"This wasn't your fault," he said.
Zein frowned immediately.
"…don't say that," she replied.
"It's true," he said.
"…you don't know that," she argued.
"I know you," he replied.
Zein's breath caught slightly at the directness in his voice.
"…you shouldn't," she said quietly.
Ace didn't look away.
"…too late," he replied.
For a second—
The chaos around them felt distant.
But then the core suddenly pulsed violently again.
Red warning lights across the chamber activated instantly.
SYSTEM OVERLOAD DETECTED.
Zein's expression changed immediately.
"…that's bad," she said.
Ace looked around sharply.
"What now?" he asked.
Zein's voice lowered.
"…the seal is breaking faster than I thought," she said.
The chamber shook violently.
Cracks spread across the ceiling.
"…can you stop it?" Ace asked.
Zein hesitated.
"…maybe," she admitted.
Ace noticed the hesitation instantly.
"…what's the cost?" he asked.
Zein didn't answer.
"…Zein."
She finally looked at him.
"…if I fully reconnect with the core," she said slowly,"…there's a chance I won't come back from it."
Silence.
Ace's expression darkened immediately.
"No," he said.
"…you don't even know the full plan yet," she replied.
"I don't care," he said coldly.
Zein stared at him.
"…people will die if I don't," she said.
Ace stepped closer.
"And I'm not losing you if you do," he replied.
The honesty in his voice hit harder than expected.
Zein's breath slowed slightly.
"…Ace—"
"No," he interrupted sharply,"…we find another way."
Zein shook her head.
"…there might not be one," she whispered.
Ace grabbed her wrist again—
Firm.
Steady.
"…then we make one," he said.
And for the first time since all of this began—
Zein wanted to believe him.