Darkness had consumed the city. Streets cracked open, buildings crumbled, and the sky above was nothing but a swirling mass of black clouds — suffocating, endless.

Emily stood alone, trembling. Her breaths came out shallow, her body covered in cuts and bruises. Around her, the Aidens — the fragments — all lay beaten, barely conscious.

Lucian stood before them, his black mask cracked but his body radiating dark power, eyes glowing crimson. He chuckled, low and victorious. "Do you see it now? This… was always the end."

Protector Aiden forced himself up, blood dripping from his mouth. "You… lied. You said you just wanted the Core—"

Lucian’s laugh echoed like thunder. "The Core? That was just the bait. You fools were so predictable… especially you."

Emily’s eyes widened as Lucian’s gaze turned toward her. "The moment you touched it… the moment you begged for help… everything fell into place."

Emily gasped, stumbling back. "W-What are you talking about…?"

Lucian spread his arms wide. "The Core was never meant to grant power or save anyone. It was the final key. And now… you’ve unlocked me."

The Core — that once floated above them — cracked open, releasing thick, black tendrils that slithered through the air, wrapping around the Aidens. 

One by one, they cried out — Protector, Ruthless, Cold… even Kind Aiden — all pulled down, suffocating beneath the crushing weight of Lucian’s darkness.

"You see," Lucian whispered, walking toward Emily, "I needed you to be desperate. I needed you to break… because your hope, your love for him… was the last chain binding me."

Emily fell to her knees. "N-No…"

"Yes." Lucian knelt in front of her, brushing a hand against her cheek mockingly. "You killed him. You broke him. And now, you’ve given me everything."

Emily sobbed, fists clenching the broken earth. "I… I didn’t mean to…"

Lucian grinned. "Intentions don’t matter. Only results."

The sky cracked. Thunder rumbled. Black lightning split the clouds, tearing through reality.

Lucian stood tall. "Now… watch, as your world burns."

He raised his hand, the tendrils tightening. Protector Aiden gasped, his mask cracking. Ruthless Aiden screamed, struggling until his body gave up. Cold Aiden’s single eye dimmed.

Lucian whispered, "This is your end."

Emily screamed. "STOP!!"

Her voice echoed through the void… but no one answered.

Then… something stirred.

A faint flicker of light — barely visible.

Lucian froze. "What…?"

The tendrils shivered. The sky — even in its endless black — blinked.

And then… through the broken horizon… a figure stumbled forward.

His porcelain mask, shattered and stained with blood, barely clung to his face. Cracks ran deep, his body trembling with every step.

"You… forgot me," Broken Aiden rasped.

Lucian snarled. "You were finished."

Broken Aiden chuckled bitterly. "I’ve been finished… for a long time. But… there’s one thing you missed."

Emily stared at him, tears falling freely. "B-Broken…?"

He glanced at her, offering the faintest of smiles. "I’m… still here."

Lucian growled. "It changes nothing!"

Broken Aiden fell to his knees beside Emily. "Maybe… but he’s almost here."

Emily blinked. "H-He…?"

The ground rumbled. The sky, for the first time, trembled — and then tore open.

A beam of light — swirling, infinite, filled with stars — spilled through the crack, bathing the ruined world in soft blues, purples, and silver. It looked like the birth of a galaxy itself.

Lucian screamed. "NO! NO! HE’S GONE!!"

But the light grew stronger.

And from that celestial glow… a figure descended slowly, calm, almost serene.

Original Aiden.

No mask. No cracks. Just… Aiden.

His dark brown eyes, soft but determined, stared down at Lucian. "I heard everything," he spoke quietly. "And I’m… disappointed."

Emily choked on a sob. "Aiden…?"

Lucian trembled. "You… can’t be here. I destroyed you!"

Aiden landed gently, his feet touching the cracked ground. "You destroyed a piece of me… but not all of me."

The stars behind him swirled, almost as if the universe itself followed him.

Lucian roared, lunging forward with all the darkness left in him. "DIE!!"

Original Aiden raised his hand, and with a wave — the darkness shattered.

Lucian fell back, his body trembling.

Emily crawled toward Aiden, tears streaming. "I thought… I lost you."

Aiden knelt, cupping her cheek softly. "I was lost… but you called me back."

Broken Aiden sat back, breathing heavily. "Told you… he’s stubborn."

Original Aiden smiled at him. "Thank you… for holding on."

Lucian screamed in rage. "NONE OF THIS MATTERS!! I’LL TEAR YOU APART AGAIN!"

But even as he spoke, his power weakened — the sky above swirling into that galaxy light.

Original Aiden stood, helping Emily to her feet. "It’s over, Lucian. You lose."

Lucian screamed one final time, lunging again.

But this time — Aiden was ready.

With a single punch, powered by every version of himself — every failure, every regret, every hope — Aiden struck Lucian, sending him crashing into the Core.

The Core shattered.

Lucian screamed, his voice fading into the void.

Silence.

Emily trembled, staring at Aiden. "I… missed you."

Aiden smiled, pulling her close. "I missed you, too."

Above them, the sky cleared — revealing a brilliant, endless night full of stars.

A new beginning.

But somewhere… far away… a faint voice whispered.

"This isn’t over…"