Lig stopped.
For the first time that night… he didn't move.
Not forward. Not back.
Just… stood there.
Staring.
As if his body had forgotten how to function.
As if the world itself had paused with him.
The forest, once restless with whispers and movement, fell into an unnatural silence.
No wind. No rustling leaves.
Only two things remained.
Her breathing.
And the rain.
Soft at first—barely there—then slowly growing, each drop tapping against the earth like a quiet countdown.
Lig's eyes didn't leave her.
Then—finally—he moved.
Not rushed. Not panicked.
Carefully.
He stepped toward her, closing the distance like every step carried weight… like the ground itself resisted him.
When he reached her, he lowered himself and gently pulled her closer, letting her body lean fully against him.
Not holding her tightly—just enough to support her.
Like he was afraid she might break.
Alisa's breaths came uneven. Fragile. Each one sounding like it had to fight its way out.
Her lips trembled as she tried to speak.
"L…i…g…"
Her voice cracked. Faded. Returned again in pieces.
"I… thou…ght… when they… gave… us… that… Dece Injection… after birth…"
She swallowed weakly, her fingers barely tightening against his arm.
"I thought… we… would be… fully… immortal…"
A faint, almost broken smile flickered across her face.
"But I… was wrong…"
Her eyes drifted upward—not at him, but past him… into something distant.
"This… wo…rld…"
Her voice softened even more.
"…was… beautiful…"
…..
Long.
Heavy.
"And… when someone… feels… from the heart…"
Her words began slipping, breaking apart like her strength.
"…it's…"
She couldn't finish it.
Her chest rose once more.
Then—
"This… is my… end…"
Silence.
Then, barely audible—
"You are not… a mo…nster…"
Her gaze shifted back to him.
Clear, for just a moment.
"You are… a sav…ior…"
The last word dissolved into air.
Her body went still.
Not suddenly.
Just… quietly.
Like a flame fading out.
Lig didn't react.
Not immediately.
No panic. No shout.
He simply stayed there… holding her… as the rain grew heavier, soaking into both of them.
After a long moment, he slowly lowered her to the ground.
Carefully.
Gently.
As if she were still alive.
He adjusted her posture, making sure she rested peacefully… like she was only sleeping.
Then he stood up.
Turned.
And walked toward his car.
His movements were mechanical now. Empty.
He opened the door and reached inside, pulling out a small bundle of flowers—the ones he had been carrying for something simple… something normal.
For their new vase.
For a future that now didn't exist.
He walked back.
Kneeled beside her.
And placed the flowers softly over her chest.
For a second… nothing happened.
Then—
The petals began to change.
The white slowly deepened… bleeding into crimson… spreading like silent ink through every petal.
Until the flowers turned completely red.
Not bright.
Not vibrant.
Just… heavy.
Like they carried something with them.
Lig stared at them.
But said nothing.
After a moment, his eyes caught something—half-visible from her pocket.
A diary.
He reached down and pulled it out, holding it in his hand for a second longer than necessary.
Then he stood.
Turned again.
And walked back to the car.
The rain continued falling as he got in, closed the door, and started the engine.
No hesitation.
No looking back.
The car moved.
Leaving behind the forest.
The silence.
And her.
Niko leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching him.
"Why were you out at midnight?"
Lig didn't stop walking.
His voice came out low. Distant.
"Sorry… babe. I need to rest."
No explanation. No eye contact.
Just that.
He walked past her and into his room, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.
The silence that followed felt… wrong.
Inside, Lig dropped onto the bed—not dramatically, not heavily—just… empty.
He stared at the ceiling.
Not thinking.
Or maybe thinking too much.
Trying to shut everything out.
The door opened softly.
Nemo stepped in.
She didn't rush toward him. Didn't speak immediately.
She just stood there for a moment… watching him.
Then, quietly—
"Lig… I'm sorry."
No response.
Her voice softened.
"I never meant to hurt you."
Lig turned his head slightly.
A faint smile formed.
Tired. But real.
"It's okay, Nemo."
She stepped a little closer.
There was hesitation in her voice now.
"Lig… I think you should stop your self-updates."
He didn't react.
"I mean it," she continued, more serious now. "Becoming too high-level as an AHI… it's not good. Not like this."
Lig let out a slow breath.
"But that's what I want."
…..
"Don't overthink it."
That was it.
End of discussion.
He shifted slightly, closed his eyes—
And within seconds, he was gone.
Not just asleep.
Deep.
Unreachable.
Nemo stood there, watching him.
Something in her expression changed.
Softened.
Then dimmed.
"…That's true," she whispered.
But it didn't sound like agreement.
She turned and walked out.
Balcony.
The night air was cold, sharp against her skin.
The sky stretched endlessly above—dark, scattered with distant stars.
Nemo stepped forward, resting her hands lightly on the railing.
Her eyes lifted upward.
Searching.
Waiting.
"I hope… Akari will be like me…"
A small pause.
"…we'll meet soon."
There was something fragile in that hope.
Something uncertain.
She stayed there a moment longer.
Then turned—
And went back inside.
Morning.
Warm light spilled across the table.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Lig, Nemo, and Niko sat together, eating breakfast.
The quiet wasn't awkward.
Just… heavy with things left unsaid.
Nemo broke it first.
"Lig… in a few hours, we have a meeting with the Round Table."
Lig didn't look up immediately.
"I thought so."
Calm.
Almost like he'd expected it all along.
Niko leaned forward slightly.
"So… what do we do?"
Lig finally raised his eyes.
There was something different in them now.
Clear.
Sharp.
"Have faith."
A small pause.
"In me."
Another.
"And understand this—"
His tone hardened.
"Not a single member of the Round Table… or even the High Table… has the power to attack us."
Silence.
"They know what AOB is."
His gaze didn't waver.
"And they know what we can do."
Nemo frowned slightly.
"Yes… but policies—"
"No."
Lig cut her off instantly.
"Forget policies."
He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing.
"Tell me something first—who made those policies? Those laws?"
Niko answered.
"The members of the High Table."
Lig nodded.
"Exactly."
His voice grew colder.
"And who are they?"
…..
"People born into power."
He continued—
"Some are businessmen who never struggled a day in their life… born rich, raised rich."
"Some come from royal bloodlines."
He let the words sit.
"Tell me—how are they supposed to understand the people on the streets?"
Niko hesitated.
"…they don't."
Lig leaned forward.
"They can't."
His tone sharpened.
"They never felt hunger. Never feared survival."
A beat.
"Hundreds of years ago, people like them forced others to work endlessly… just for profit."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"And you think the policies they make now are for the people?"
Silence.
Nemo tried again.
"But—"
"No 'but.'"
His voice didn't rise.
But it carried weight.
"They'll say—'it's policy, we can't interfere beyond the border.'"
He scoffed faintly.
"And let people suffer… when we have the power to help."
His eyes locked onto hers.
"AOB wasn't created for them."
…..
"Not for the rich."
"Not for the royals."
His voice dropped—
"It was created for those who have nothing."
Nemo slowly nodded.
"…you're right."
Niko exhaled.
"I can't disagree with you."
The tension eased—slightly.
Just enough.
Lig stood up.
"Then let's move."
He looked at Nemo.
"Meeting."
..
"Or we'll be late."
Nemo stood as well.
A faint, determined look in her eyes.
"Yes, Lig."
And just like that—
They were moving again.
Toward something bigger.
Something dangerous.
Military Headquarters – Sector 250
A massive chamber.
Cold. Metallic. Silent.
At the centre—
The Round Table.
Not symbolic.
Dominant.
Every seat occupied by power.
Atlas leaned forward first, his fingers tapping slowly against the surface.
"Captain of AOB…"
…..
"What exactly are you doing?"
The Captain of AOB didn't flinch.
"Why? What seems to be the problem?"
Before Atlas could respond, another voice cut in—
Sharp. Controlled anger.
The Captain of AOX.
"Don't act unaware."
His eyes burned.
"You've surrounded our borders with your forces… and you're arresting our men—inside our territory."
...
"They were conducting operations to eliminate traitors."
Atlas exhaled slowly.
"You are interfering with political structure… and established law."
A heavier voice followed.
Bruno.
Second only to the top of the High Table.
"Captain," he said calmly, almost lazily, "don't interfere with what is… good for the people."
Silence.
Thick.
Uncomfortable.
Then—
A chair scraped.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Lig stood up.
No rush.
No hesitation.
Just presence.
"If all of your…" he paused, his eyes sweeping across them, "…talking is finally done—"
His voice dropped.
Cold.
"Then let me speak."
No one interrupted.
No one dared.
"How exactly is killing your own people… 'good'?"
A step forward.
"How is turning them into tools… slaves for profit… justified?"
His gaze locked onto Bruno.
"Explain that to me."
No answer.
Lig let out a faint, humourless breath.
"And one more thing—"
His tone sharpened.
"Don't compare me to the obedient dogs sitting in this room… or on that High Table."
A beat.
"I don't bow for wealth."
"I don't bend for bloodlines."
The air shifted.
Dangerous now.
"AOB exists for the people."
Each word landed like weight.
"Not for your elite circles."
"Not for your inherited power."
He stepped closer to the table.
Leaning slightly.
Dominating the space.
"For a hundred years, your system worked."
...
"For you."
His eyes darkened.
"Then AOB came… and broke it."
Silence.
No one moved.
"And now you've rebuilt the same broken structure again?"
A faint smirk.
"Then understand this clearly—"
His voice dropped to something almost… quiet.
Which made it worse.
"AOB will break it again."
He turned slightly toward the AOX representative.
"AOX…"
A pause.
"Prepare yourselves."
The room felt colder.
"In a few minutes—"
He looked back one last time.
"There will be no AOX."
A final step back.
Then—
"I'm not the monster you think I am."
A faint tilt of his head.
"…I'm worse."
And just like that—
He walked out.
Outside
The doors shut behind him.
Nemo was waiting.
Arms crossed. A small grin.
"Straight. No mercy."
A slight nod.
"Good."
Lig didn't react much.
"I said what needed to be said."
Inside the Car
The engine hummed softly.
Nemo looked at him.
"But you're not a monster."
Lig stared ahead.
For a moment… nothing.
Then—
"…I don't know."
A quiet breath.
"But for people—"
He finally spoke again.
"I'm ready to be anything."
Niko, driving, smiled slightly.
"That's my love."
Nemo suddenly looked at her system.
"Lig…"
...
"AOX has already started collapsing."
Lig didn't respond.
But his eyes… shifted.
Two Days Later
Across the world—
Inarseio Festival.
Lights.
Music.
Crowds.
People celebrating.
Laughing.
Free.
The fall of AOX had become a symbol.
The rise of AOB… a new era.
Lig walked through the streets quietly.
No guards.
No display of power.
Just… present.
A poor man stepped forward.
Hesitant.
"Sir…"
Lig stopped.
Looked at him.
"Thank you… for everything."
Lig gave a small, calm smile.
"It's my duty."
…..
"Nothing more."
The man looked closer.
His eyes sharp now.
Different.
"Sir… I am Shadow Knight."
A beat.
"And you broke their laws… their policies…"
A slight tilt of his head.
"Won't there be consequences?"
Lig's smile faded slightly.
But his voice stayed steady.
"Don't worry, Shadow."
…..
"We'll handle it."
"For the people… anything."
Shadow Knight nodded slowly.
"You are the real one."
He turned—
And disappeared into the crowd.
Lig stood there.
Still.
Watching.
The celebration continued around him.
Laughter.
Joy.
Freedom.
But inside—
A question remained.
Quiet.
Unanswered.
Will this have consequences?
Narrator:
"What Lig said… was truth."
...
"But truth has a cost."
"And the question is not if—"
"…but when it will be paid."