Scarlet opened her eyes in an unrecognizable Atlas.
Destruction. Silence. Ruins.
The capital, the tournament arena, even the government plaza… everything had collapsed.
— Am I really in Atlas? … Whatever. I have nothing left to do with this nation.
She walked on, as always, lost in her thoughts.
If I hadn't broken down… would my parents still be with me?
If I had won… would my life have changed?
Why do I keep going in circles like this… again… again…
The further she went, the clearer it became that the city was empty.
Completely dead.
In the distance, a figure lying on the ground weakly raised a hand.
— Pl… please… help me…
Scarlet crouched down, her gaze cold, detached.
— What happened here?
— Pl… please… I—
The breath cut off.
Scarlet noticed the wound.
— Sorry. It's already too late for you.
One last tremor…
Then the body dissolved into smoke, as if it had never existed.
Scarlet remained still.
— What is this…? A punishment?
She lifted her head. The entire street was littered with corpses, all slowly fading away.
She kept walking, stepping between vanishing bodies, when a male voice echoed somewhere ahead of her.
Calm. Deep. Unknown.
She followed it.
The voice guided her to the Twilight Tournament arena.
Memories flooded her mind: her rage, her battles, the blood…
Then a presence appeared before her.
A shadow. Human in shape… impossible to describe beyond that.
══ ✦ ══
— Nice to meet you. Sorry for bringing you back here, Scarlet.
— What do you want from me?
— Just to talk. My name is Erydor.
— Very well, Erydor. I don't want to talk. Goodbye.
— I see… then how about you simply listen?
She sighed, sat down on a ruined wall, arms crossed.
— Fine. Talk.
— Thank you. As I told you: I am a Y'onn.
The Y'onn… children of Creation. Sworn enemies of the Titans of Destruction.
He told her about Celestia.
The first war.
The Titans.
Morté.
The end of a world.
Scarlet couldn't tell whether she was dreaming… or losing her mind.
Erydor paused.
— Scarlet… I have a question for you.
Do you want to prove your worth to the world?
Do you want no one to ever ignore you again?
— Sorry, I don't mean to disrespect a shadow… but what exactly are you on?
Erydor chuckled softly.
— Arley and Varlith were right about you. You are exactly as they said.
— And who are they? Shadow buddies? I really am going crazy…
Erydor chose to show her instead of explaining.
Around them, images formed: Celestia, the Y'onn, the war, the fall, the chaos…
Scarlet's eyes widened.
— What did you do to me…?
— I showed you the truth. Nothing more.
Let's return to what matters, Scarlet…
If you become an Eygis, you will never have to seek anyone's recognition again.
Your name will make the universe tremble.
So… will you accept?
Her red eyes gleamed.
She didn't think.
— I accept.
Erydor smiled. Even without a face, she felt it.
He extended his hand.
— Take my hand. And become who you were meant to be.
Scarlet placed her hand in his.
A scarlet light burst forth between their palms — vibrant, beautiful, alive.
She had never seen such a beautiful light.
Something changed within her — deep, burning, inexplicable.
She wanted to ask a question.
But Erydor had already vanished.
And the scenery shifted around her.
══ ✦ ══
She found herself in a vast plain of multicolored flowers.
A landscape of unreal beauty.
At the center stood five blurred silhouettes.
Three facing her.
Two with their backs turned, gazing at the sky.
She felt it… one of the silhouettes was smiling at her.
A very gentle smile.
Then everything faded away.