The wind howled fiercely. Across a stretch of ruined green grass lay a golden seal, intricately engraved. At its center stood a man with silver hair tinged with crimson, his wrists bound by chains.
A scream tore through the air.
Morveth cried out in agony. It felt as though his body were being violently torn apart, his organs crushed within him. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. And yet, no moans or pleas came out of his lips.
"Sacred Aether does not belong in a tainted vessel."
The formless voice continued, cold and absolute.
"Please, stop—he'll die!" Ravel shouted desperately, his voice breaking as he cried out into the empty sky. He could not bear the sight of the man before him suffering so cruelly.
Rhydan lunged toward the seal, striking it with all his strength—but before he could draw close, he was violently repelled. "You are not allowed to die here," he snarled. "If you're going to die, it will be by my hand, Morveth!"
"The Dark King feared by all," Nareth scoffed, "yet he doesn't even resist when he's punished so unjustly."
Varen stared flatly at Morveth's writhing form. "There's no point helping him," he said coldly. 'The one you're trying to save wants to die."
Blinding golden light erupted, engulfing Morveth's body. Aether wrapped around him as Umbra within his form was relentlessly suppressed. Another anguished scream echoed through the field. Morveth clenched his fists tightly, forcing himself to endure.
Even in death, he still had to suffer unimaginable pain.
"Don't just stand there—help Morveth!" Ravel screamed at the others, his fury raw and unrestrained.
No one moved.
They stood around the seal, faces drained of color. Some lowered their heads. Others turned away. They all knew the truth— even if the five of them combined their power, there was no guarantee they could destroy a heavenly-grade seal.
Above them, the sky darkened. Clouds spiraled into a massive vortex. The chains binding Morveth's wrists trembled, radiating an increasingly blinding golden light. Each pulse felt like nails being driven straight into his bones.
Morveth gasped. His breathing was shallow, ragged. His chest rose and fell unevenly—
—but his eyes remained open.
He stared straight ahead.
Empty.
"The Aether you carry no longer belongs to you," the formless voice spoke again, flawless and merciless.
"It rejects you. The world rejects you."
The Umbra within Morveth writhed—dark, murky—struggling to escape like suffocating smoke. Each time it tried to rise, the golden light crushed it back down, forcing him to kneel even deeper.
Morveth smiled faintly—barely there.
So this is how it feels, he thought distantly.
Rejected by both sides at once.
Ravel screamed again, his voice shattering. He pounded his fists against the seal, heedless of the blood spilling from his knuckles.
"Stop it! He's been punished enough! What more do you want from him?!"
There was no answer.
Rhydan struggled back to his feet, fury blazing across his face, his eyes burning red.
"If he truly must die," he growled, "then let me be the one to end it! Don't hide behind holy light like a coward!"
The light only grew brighter.
At last, Morveth lowered his head. Bloodstained silver hair fell over his face. His shoulders trembled faintly as his body began to lose its ability to endure the pain.
Yet amid the clinking chains and the hum of Aether, his voice emerged—soft, barely audible.
"Enough…"
Ravel froze.
Rhydan stiffened.
Morveth lifted his head just enough to reveal a forced smile.
"Don't… resist," he whispered. "You'll only… make it last longer."
Those words hurt more than any scream.
The light reached its peak. The seal shook violently. The ground around it cracked, what little grass remained turning to ash. The chains pulled tighter, as if trying to tear apart something far deeper than flesh and bone.
Morveth closed his eyes.
For a moment—just a moment—he hoped this would be enough. That the world would keep its promise and end everything here.
But then—
The light faltered.
The clanging of chains ceased.
The pressure crushing his chest suddenly loosened. The Umbra within him was restrained—held back even more firmly. Morveth bit down hard on his lip, forcing himself to endure.
The formless voice fell silent.
The seal did not shatter.
But neither did it fully complete.
Morveth collapsed forward. The chains around his wrists slackened, though they did not disappear. His body struck the ground with a dull thud. He gasped for air, breath heavy and labored. It felt as though his body had been shattered—only to be broken all over again.
Ravel rushed to his side, dropping to his knees.
"Morveth—Morveth! Open your eyes! Please—"
The air turned cold.
Everyone stood frozen in dread, fear tightening their chests at the thought of what might come next. No one spoke. Only the sound of their own heartbeats filled the silence.