Stone screamed overhead.
A final thunderous groan rippled through the collapsing palace as Mia, Amelia, and Lilith staggered toward the distant light of an exit—each step a war against Zero's unstable mana, the crumbling ground, and their own injuries.
Dust fell like rain.
Walls split open.
The corridors that once belonged to the Devil King's palace were now nothing more than a dying labyrinth.
Amelia's breathing was shallow—thin, trembling, almost hollow. She was pale, her legs shaking from exhaustion, and the moment they crossed a particularly unstable stretch of broken marble, she collapsed to one knee.
Mia caught her instantly, still holding Zero with the other arm.
"Amelia! Stay with us!"
"I—I'm fine," Amelia whispered, though she clearly wasn't. Her hands were trembling violently. "I just… need a moment—"
Zero convulsed again, a violent pulse of dark energy surging outward from his chest.
