The portal unfolded like a sheet of oil in midair, spilling Ravenous Halo into a chamber lined with gold-plated pillars and the faint hum of ancient machinery.
At the far end, seated on a throne, Midas leaned forward—golden teeth flashing in the dim light.
He studied Ravenous without speaking.
Finally—
Midas (mockingly): "So… the god falls."
Ravenous tossed the machine into the air and caught it again.
Ravenous: "False gods always fall. Phase Omega is done. The Event Horizon… gone."
Midas rose slowly, stepping down from the dais, his heavy boots echoing.
Midas: "I like that about you. You know that you are a tool of mine, and that's what makes you very effective."
He circled Ravenous like a predator, then glanced at the orb.
Midas: "You've merged it already."
Ravenous: "It's mine now. No more failsafe."
Midas' grin widened, the gold catching the light.
Midas: "Good. I have no more need for Zorath's… limitations."
He stopped just in front of Ravenous, his voice dropping lower.
Midas (grinning): "But tell me, Ravenous…how does it feel to kill yourself?"
Ravenous stood still. His face fell a little, but he gave no hint of any emotions.
Ravenous: "I may look like him. My voice may resemble his. But I bear no emotions towards him. He was Zorath Veil, and I am Ravenous Halo—
Midas: "The Halo doesn't exist anymore. It was a fun little project, which sadly failed. But we gained new knowledge out of it."
Ravenous's face was as serious as a stone.
Midas: "And now, we prepare for the real offering."
Ravenous tilted his head.
Ravenous: "The boy?"
Midas: "Henry Dreherg. The Heavenly Awakening is… perfect."
His grin turns colder. "And soon, he'll be mine."
The room dimmed, the machines whirring louder—and Midas turned away.
Midas: "Rest. You'll need it for what comes next."
Ravenous left the chamber. His large body threw a shadow on the golden ground.
His face suddenly gained emotions. What Midas didn't know was that Ravenous had gained all of Zorath's memories.
Ravenous then stood before a door. Once he put the code into the door, it automatically opened.
The room was large. Highlighted in black and gold. He stood before a mirror looking at his face, in which he then asked himself, "Who am I?"
A faint wind carried the smell of ash and burned steel.
The once-blinding skyline of Neoterra Prime was now broken—skyscrapers leaning like snapped bones.
Henry awoke to the sound of crackling fire.
His body felt like stone, but Elara was there—kneeling beside him, hands still glowing faint green.
Henry (weakly): "Zorath…?"
Ronnie's voice came from nearby, hoarse but steady.
Ronnie: "Gone. Someone else did it."
Jack sat on a chunk of rubble, clutching his side.
Jack: "That guy… Ravenous… looked just like Zorath."
Emilia and Ichiro approached from the other side, their expressions grim.
Emilia: "Ravenous… He didn't kill us because we weren't worth the trouble."
Henry sat up slowly, looking out at the hollow remains of the city.
The silence was heavy.
Ronnie stepped forward, looking down the ruined streets.
Ronnie: "This… was my city. And we couldn't save it."
Henry clenched his fists, the faintest flicker of heavenly blue dancing in his palms.
Henry: "Then we stop them before they do this to another one."
The group exchanged glances.
Emilia (silently): "Henry…"
From everywhere, people emerged out of the rubble. The survivors were shocked by the immense destruction caused by Zorath Veil.
Only a few carried harmless wounds. Most were still in critical condition.
Ronnie stood steady.
Ronnie (into a communicator): "All available units, start searching for survivors. Call for aid from other cities. Hoverjets should use life scanners to search for people inside the fallen buildings. The buildings may have fallen, but the city is still alive."
The corridor outside the Soul Reaper meeting hall was quiet again—or so Arthur thought.
He was on his way to the upper levels when a flicker of movement caught his peripheral vision.
Harlekin stepped out of the wall, humming a tune, his bells chiming lazily. Arthur stopped in his tracks.
Arthur: "Harlekin."
Harlekin grinned like he'd been caught stealing sweets.
Harlekin: "Arthur Morningstar. The celebrity boy in black glasses. What a treat."
Arthur adjusted his frames slightly, his voice level.
Arthur: "You were talking to Rai earlier. What are you doing?"
Harlekin tilted his head, his smile sharpening without losing its cheer.
Harlekin: "Oh, I was just… watering the weeds. You'd be surprised how fast they grow with a little poison."
Arthur stepped closer.
Arthur: "You've been moving in the shadows too much lately. I don't trust it."
Harlekin's expression didn't change—but something colder crept into his eyes.
Harlekin: "Trust… from you?" He chuckled darkly. "You don't get to question me, Morningstar. Not after what you did."
Arthur froze slightly, frowning.
Arthur: "… What did I do?"
Harlekin leaned in just enough for his whisper to brush Arthur's ear.
Harlekin (soft, venomous): "You don't know it. That's what makes it funny."
Arthur's gaze hardened, but before he could ask again, Harlekin twirled backward into the shadows, disappearing with a mocking bow.
Only his voice lingered, echoing faintly:
Harlekin: "Don't worry, Arthur. I'll remember for you."
Arthur stood alone in the empty hall, his reflection in the dark glass of his lenses hiding the fact that, for the first time in a long while, he looked… unsettled.
Arthur left the dark hallway, the echo of Harlekin's mocking words still stuck in his head. The air shifted slightly—heavy, but not oppressive.
Goliath emerged from around the corner, his massive frame blotting out most of the torchlight behind him.
Goliath: "You're late."
Arthur exhaled slowly.
Arthur: "Ran into Harlekin."
Goliath's brow furrowed slightly.
Goliath: "What did he want?"
Arthur adjusted his glasses, his voice low.
Arthur: "That's what I'm trying to figure out. He said… something about me. Something I supposedly did."
Goliath stopped walking, staring at Arthur for a moment.
Goliath: "And did you?"
Arthur: "I'd remember if I had. That's the problem."
The silence between them grew heavier as they continued walking through the stone halls. Finally, Goliath shook his head.
Goliath: "Harlekin plays games. But he doesn't waste his time without a reason."
Arthur glanced sideways at him.
Arthur: "So you think he's telling the truth."
Goliath: "I think… you should be careful. If Harlekin's interested in you, that means only problems for you."
They reached the stairwell, and Arthur paused before stepping up.
Arthur (quietly): "I just wish I knew what he wants from me or what I did to him."
Goliath didn't answer. He simply started up the stairs, his footsteps echoing in the stillness.