The celebrations across the Second Layer lasted long into the night.
Lanterns floated through the sky.
Music echoed across the floating islands.
For the first time in weeks, people smiled.
But inside the Sky Palace...
No one celebrated.
Captain Lyra stood before a massive table covered in ancient maps.
Each map represented a Layer.
Some glowed brightly.
Others were fading.
Three...
Had already gone dark.
"They're gone," Lyra whispered.
The Keeper nodded.
"Completely."
Aria traced a finger over one of the maps.
"When did this start?"
"Centuries ago."
The Keeper looked exhausted.
"I didn't realize the disappearances were connected until it was too late."
Zayden crossed his arms.
"So the Null King has been moving for centuries."
"Longer."
Silence filled the room.
The Keeper placed a small crystal in the center of the table.
Light spread across every map.
Thin silver lines connected the surviving Layers.
One line...
Ended abruptly.
"It was cut."
The Keeper looked at Zayden.
"That's how worlds die."
"They lose every connection."
Aria frowned.
"Can those connections be restored?"
The Keeper didn't answer immediately.
Finally...
"I don't know."
Those words carried more weight than any certainty.
---
Later that night...
Zayden couldn't sleep.
He walked alone through the palace gardens.
The floating flowers glowed softly beneath the stars.
Behind him came quiet footsteps.
Aria.
"I thought I'd find you here."
He smiled faintly.
"I wasn't hiding."
"I know."
She stood beside him.
Neither spoke for a while.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It was peaceful.
Finally, Aria asked,
"Are you afraid?"
Zayden looked at the endless sky.
"Yes."
She seemed surprised.
"You admit it so easily now."
He laughed softly.
"I've learned pretending doesn't help."
Aria looked down.
"I'm afraid too."
He turned toward her.
"Of the Null King?"
She shook her head.
"No."
A pause.
"I'm afraid that one day... you'll choose everyone else again."
The words hung between them.
Zayden understood.
She wasn't talking about battles.
She was talking about sacrifice.
About losing him.
He gently took her hand.
"This time..."
He said quietly.
"I'm choosing both."
Her eyes widened.
"The world..."
A small smile.
"And us."
For the first time...
Aria smiled without holding anything back.
---
Far beyond the Second Layer...
The Null King stood before his black metal book.
It opened by itself.
Page after page filled with names.
Creators.
Anchors.
Kings.
Heroes.
Every one of them...
Crossed out.
Only one name remained untouched.
ZAYDEN CROSS
A shadow emerged from the darkness.
"My King."
The Null King looked up.
"Were they tested?"
"Yes."
"And?"
The shadow bowed.
"The Free Anchor chose connection over power."
The Null King closed the book.
"As expected."
The shadow hesitated.
"Should we eliminate him now?"
The Null King walked toward an enormous window overlooking countless fading Layers.
"No."
A pause.
"I've waited longer than civilizations have existed."
He smiled beneath the obsidian mask.
"I can wait a little longer."
His silver eyes reflected the distant light of Zayden's world.
"Because if he truly believes every world deserves freedom..."
Another pause.
"He'll eventually come to me."
The room fell silent.
Then the Null King whispered words that chilled even the shadows.
"And when he does..."
"I'll show him the truth the Keeper refuses to tell."
---