A complete silence falls over the battlefield as both armies stop fighting. No one knows whether they should continue fighting or lower their weapons.
The wind blows through the smoke-covered field.
Burning buildings crackle in the distance.
Wounded soldiers stare at one another in confusion.
A soldier from the Black Fang Order hesitantly asks,
"Sir... do we fight?"
Thorne remains silent.
He slowly rises to his feet and walks toward Michael.
Michael watches him carefully, unsure of what he will do.
Then, unexpectedly—
Thorne embraces him.
His voice trembles slightly.
"I thought I was alone."
"I thought I would never have a friend, never have family..."
"But you're my brother."
"I spent my entire life searching for someone like you."
For years, Thorne had obeyed the Black Fang Order.
For years, others had made every decision for him.
But now...
For the first time in his life...
He chooses for himself.
Thorne raises his sword high into the air.
Every soldier immediately prepares for another battle.
Shields tighten.
Bows rise.
Magic begins gathering once again.
Then...
Thorne turns the blade downward and points it toward the ground.
His voice echoes across the battlefield.
"Retreat."
No one moves.
Thorne's eyes blaze with authority.
"THAT'S AN ORDER!!!"
The soldiers of the Black Fang Order begin withdrawing from the battlefield.
Step by step.
Formation by formation.
The war ends.
At that moment, everyone realizes something important.
Michael did not defeat Thorne.
He changed him.
A commander asks nervously,
"What will we say when the higher-ups ask why we retreated?"
Thorne answers immediately,
"The N.I.Y.U.E. forces were arriving within minutes."
"We had no choice but to withdraw."
The soldiers accept the explanation and continue retreating.
But Thorne does not move.
He quietly says,
"I'll be back in a few minutes."
Away from the battlefield...
Far from the armies...
In complete silence...
Two brothers sit beside a broken wall, speaking about things they never had the chance to tell each other.
Thorne looks at the sky.
"I spent my whole life wishing I wasn't alone."
"Now I find out I had a brother all this time."
Michael smiles sadly.
"I spent my whole life searching for my family."
"Turns out..."
"I was fighting them."
A faint laugh escapes both of them.
Thorne stands up first.
"So I guess this is it, brother."
Michael nods.
"Yeah... goodbye, brother."
"But I promise we'll meet again."
"Not as brothers..."
"...but as enemies."
As Michael begins walking back toward Lucien Reach, he notices a carriage approaching.
Olivia steps out.
For a long moment, neither of them speaks.
Olivia looks into Michael's eyes.
Tears slowly roll down her cheeks.
Then she looks at the ring on her finger.
With trembling hands, she removes it and places it in Michael's palm.
"I need time."
Michael closes his hand around the ring.
"I know."
Olivia turns away.
As the carriage begins leaving Bloodveil Harbor, she softly says,
"I need a new beginning."
Michael nods, but his heart feels unbearably heavy.
He loves her.
Every part of him wants to stop the carriage, hold her hand, and ask her to stay.
But he cannot.
The situation has chained him in place.
Michael walks back toward Lucien Reach.
The bright sun shines over the town.
Some people are crying.
Some are celebrating survival.
The N.I.Y.U.E. forces are helping the civilians and carrying the wounded to safety.
Children cautiously step out from the bunkers.
Life slowly begins returning to the city.
Michael eventually stops before the grave of Lucien Draven.
He kneels down and speaks quietly.
"Lucien..."
"I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"You weren't evil..."
"But you were wrong."
"And I think, in the end, you finally understood that."
"I hope wherever you are now..."
"...you found peace."
"And I hope you live a happy life there."
Michael stands up and leaves the grave behind.
Before leaving the city...
He turns around one final time.
He sees:
The rebuilt streets.
Children playing again.
People rebuilding their homes together.
A statue of Lucien standing in the center of the city.
A memorial dedicated to everyone who died during the war.
A gentle smile appears on his face.
Then he quietly says—
"This city doesn't belong to heroes."
"It belongs to the people."
Michael walks away.
Far away...
ORGANIZATION X HEADQUARTERS
A shadowed figure speaks from the darkness.
"Begin preparing for the Black Meeting."
"The time has come."
ONE WEEK UNTIL THE BLACK MEETING
3 CREWS DESTROYED OUT OF 5.