Shadow of Stillness
Rune didn't move. The rain seemed to slow down around him. He slowly lowered his umbrella, letting the cold rain hit his face. His expression wasn't angry; it was something far worse. It was profound, unbearable pity.
"Look around you, Ash," Rune’s voice was soft, but it carried a weight that made the earth tremble. "Look at the children buried under this rubble. Look at the mothers. You didn't exact justice. You just created a thousand new orphans who will grow up to hate us, just as we hated the Nobles."
Ash staggered to his feet, his dark aura exploding outward. "Don't you dare defend them! They took our heart! They took ..............! If the world demands a monster, I will be its nightmare! Stand with me, Rune! You are my brain, my brother! Together, we are gods!"
"We were supposed to be human, Ash," Rune replied, his voice finally cracking with a barely hidden tremor of sorrow. "But humanity died in you the moment..........stopped breathing."
Ash roared, blinded by grief and rage. He launched himself at Rune, summoning a tidal wave of pitch-black energy meant to consume everything in its path.
Rune didn't flinch. He didn't even raise a hand. He simply looked at the incoming destruction and whispered a single, absolute word:
"Still."