The space around Aestrea began to convulse violently.
The luxurious hotel room, the city skyline, the bed, and even Vespera's decapitated body started to fracture like shattered glass.
Reality itself warped and twisted as the illusion collapsed in on itself.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
Aestrea stood calmly in the center of the chaos, unaffected. The world around him folded and dissolved until he was once again standing at the summit of the fifth tower.
The platform was now empty.
In front of him stood a tall, entirely black figure. It had no clear features, just a humanoid shape made of pure darkness, like a living shadow given form.
It was staring directly at him.
"You… how did you know?" the black figure inquired, its voice trembling with disbelief and something close to fear.
The voice was quite familiar.
It was Vespera's voice.
Aestrea stared at the figure for a few seconds, then laughed lightly. He took a slow step forward, his red slit eyes glowing softly.
