The world around them shattered like fragile glass. Shards of sky rained down, vanishing before they even touched the ground. The Core pulsed brighter at the center of it all — alive, breathing, almost as if feeding on their fear.
Emily stood frozen, her breath shaky. The air was heavy, suffocating.
Lucian watched from a distance, his twisted smile widening. There was no rush in his movements, no sign of worry. He had been waiting for this moment… patiently, carefully.
"This was always the plan," Lucian's voice rang out, calm and cold. "You thought you were gathering strength… but every move you made, every Aiden you found — it was all part of the script I wrote."
Silent Protector Aiden clenched his fists, his crimson eyes narrowing. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Lucian chuckled. "The Core. It doesn't just connect worlds. It consumes them. The more versions of you gather here… the more unstable this world becomes."
Coward Aiden whimpered, shrinking back. "H-He's lying… r-right?"
No one answered.
Cold Aiden stepped forward, his single visible eye sharp. "It makes sense. Our presence here is… unnatural. We're tearing this world apart."
Emily's eyes darted between them, her heart racing. "Then what happens if… if the world breaks?"
Lucian's grin turned cruel. "Then the Core activates fully — and every soul here, every version of Aiden, even you, Emily… all of you become mine."
The sky cracked again. A low rumble echoed like the sound of the world dying.
Ruthless Aiden drew his blade. "We're wasting time. Let me kill him."
"No." Kind Aiden grabbed his arm. "That's what he wants… He wants us angry, reckless."
Lucian laughed louder. "Very good. You're learning… but it's too late."
A massive dark hand emerged from the Core — twisted, rotten — reaching toward them.
"MOVE!" Protector Aiden shouted, grabbing Emily and pulling her back.
They scattered, the ground exploding where they stood.
"I'll hold it back," Broken Aiden whispered, his cracked mask breaking further as he stepped forward. "I'm already falling apart anyway…"
"No!" Emily cried out. "You don't have to—"
"I do." Broken Aiden smiled sadly. "I… remember loving someone too. Somewhere… in another world."
Without waiting, he charged — the dark hand engulfing him.
"No—!" Emily's scream echoed, but it was too late.
Broken Aiden was gone.
Lucian watched with a satisfied grin. "One down."
Protector Aiden's eyes blazed red. "We're ending this."
Coward Aiden trembled. "W-What… what do we even do? We can't win—"
"Shut up," Ruthless Aiden growled. "We don't need you."
But Kind Aiden shook his head. "No… We need all of us. Even him."
Lucian's smirk faltered. "Oh? Still clinging to that foolish hope?"
Protector Aiden stood tall, eyes locked on Lucian. "There's one thing you didn't account for… We're not fighting alone anymore."
Emily stepped forward, wiping her tears. "Yeah… I'm here too."
Lucian's eyes flickered. "Tch… Fine. Come then. Let's see how far your hope takes you."
The Core pulsed violently — the final battle was beginning.