Blinding light consumed the chamber.
For several moments...
No one could see.
No one could breathe.
Only the hum of the Keystone echoed through the endless white.
Then—
The light faded.
Ivandoe stood at the center of the chamber.
In his right hand rested the Sword of the Paradox.
In his left...
A weapon unlike anything the world had ever seen.
The Paradox Requiem.
Its silver-blue blade shimmered with fractured reality. Ancient runes flowed across its edge like rivers of light, while time itself distorted around its tip.
The weapon felt alive.
It had accepted him.
Thantos stared silently.
For the first time since the battle began...
Fear crossed the Devourer's face.
"...Impossible."
"You shouldn't exist."
Ivandoe slowly raised both swords.
"Maybe."
"But I'm done running."
Without another word—
He disappeared.
A shockwave erupted where he had stood.
Clang!
Steel collided.
Thantos barely blocked the first strike before another slash carved across its armor.
Then another.
And another.
Narissa smiled.
"He's faster."
Jax grinned.
"That's our chance!"
"Gravity Collapse!"
The battlefield distorted once more.
Aria's melody echoed through the chamber, weakening the darkness surrounding Thantos.
Narissa fired dozens of enchanted projectiles from her Pandora Hyperbook.
One after another...
They struck.
For the first time...
The Devourer was being pushed back.
PARADOX ALERT
THANTOS
Health: 58%
Energy: 47%
Mana: 38%
Thantos roared.
Darkness exploded from its body.
"You insects!"
Thousands of black blades materialized overhead before crashing toward the team.
Ivandoe's Hyperbook flashed.
WARNING
Dilation Available
Temporal Backlash Risk: HIGH
He didn't hesitate.
"DILATION."
Time fractured.
Everything slowed.
Even the falling blades.
Ivandoe moved through frozen darkness like flowing water.
Each swing of the Paradox Requiem split apart the suspended attacks.
Every movement bent reality itself.
The chamber filled with streaks of blue light.
Narissa watched in amazement.
"...He's dancing through time."
Jax could only laugh.
"He's insane."
When time finally resumed—
Every shattered blade exploded into harmless particles.
Thantos looked around in disbelief.
"...What have you become?"
Ivandoe answered with silence.
Then attacked again.
This time—
Both swords resonated together.
Blue lightning erupted between them.
The Paradox Requiem began humming.
Ancient symbols floated around Ivandoe.
The Paradox Hyperbook suddenly spoke.
Dual Synchronization Confirmed
Weapon Resonance: 100%
New Relic Unlocked
THRONE OF THE PARADOX
Ivandoe blinked.
"...Throne?"
He barely had time to think.
Thantos roared.
"No!"
Dark energy burst violently from its core.
The entire chamber cracked apart.
The Keystone trembled.
Its light flickered wildly.
Then—
Something unexpected happened.
Darkness began consuming Thantos himself.
His own power...
Was devouring him.
Narissa's eyes widened.
"What's happening to him?"
Thantos screamed.
"I... refuse..."
"...to fail..."
Suddenly—
The darkness behind him split open.
A massive shadow emerged.
Not Thantos.
Something...
Far larger.
Far older.
Its voice echoed throughout the collapsing chamber.
"You have disappointed me..."
Every Hyperbook fell silent.
Even the Keystone dimmed.
Thantos slowly knelt.
"...M-Master..."
The shadow's glowing eyes turned toward Ivandoe.
"...Paradox..."
"...So you have finally awakened."
The chamber shook violently.