A deep-blue blade of energy swept across the battlefield, leaving behind a trench laced with ice crystals that slowly faded with the dissipating chill.
The sword strike was like a reaper's scythe—so cold, it froze blood midair before it could fall. Crimson droplets hung suspended like blooming flowers of the afterlife.
Unfortunately, the blade didn't land. The scholar had already teleported away, now standing at a distance under the protection of Anomaly's shimmering barrier.
Zane glanced at the slightly panicked scholar and the soft, glowing shield, then shifted his gaze to where the scholar had been.
Spatial energy.
Tch. How annoying...
He raised his hand—and brought it down.
In the sky above, countless ice spears rained down like a torrential storm, crashing toward the rebels on the ground.
Those who aid the wicked are guilty all the same!
Spears as thick as tree trunks struck with explosive force—some impaling their targets, others missing and detonating on impact, sending ice shards flying everywhere.
They continued to fall in a relentless cascade. The battlefield was filled with the harsh crack of colliding crystals, the air thick with shimmering fragments like butterflies flitting through chaos.
Zane's ice blade shattered in his hand. He walked through the frozen storm, bathed in crimson bloom and flurrying ice, heading straight for Anomaly.
It was as if those same blood-red flowers bloomed in his icy blue eyes.
Behind the barrier, the scholar watched him closely and raised an eyebrow.
"Is that... anger?"
"Not a word spoken, just actions to express emotion. Truly divine in demeanor..."
"Anomaly! Protect me—prepare for combat!"
But the being in the sky didn't move. It floated silently, as if it didn't understand his words.
"Anomaly!"
Zane's gaze lifted to the pale creature hovering above. A flicker of curiosity appeared in his eyes—this one was different from the other Ethereals.
"Anomaly, huh? Pretty ugly name for something that looks and floats like an angel?"
He slowly raised his hand, and arcs of electricity began forming in the air—twitching like worms, coiling like hatchling dragons.
He clenched his fist.
In the next moment, a swarm of electric currents surged toward Anomaly like a hive of angry bees.
A blinding white light engulfed the creature—and the scholar beneath its shield. Intense heat rippled through the air. Zane could feel the scorching wind on his skin.
"Hypocrites..."
He shook his head slowly, eyes reflecting the radiance of electricity converging.
"I'm just a regular person. A regular person with power. I've thought about a lot of things—and rejected a lot too."
"The rules of this place don't bind me. I know that much. I still have to hold on to the basics... even if I can hardly be called human anymore."
"Maybe I haven't done everything right. But I know good from evil. I know right from wrong. I know what I should and shouldn't do. And no matter how strong I've become, I haven't lost myself."
The worst he'd ever done was teasing Soldier 11 and Hoshimi Miyabi for fun—and even then, he'd barely said anything out of line.
With the power to do anything, he'd chosen restraint.
That was already more than most.
Zane didn't pour more energy into the strike. It was fading, burning itself out. The currents weakened, the white light dimmed, and Anomaly's silhouette became visible once again—charred and hunched, visibly drained.
Inside the cracking shield, the scholar misread Zane's earlier words—thinking he'd been referring to the Hollows.
"Hahaha! That's not very godlike of you. But you're right—we've seen more suffering than anyone!"
"And that's exactly why I stay the course! Like I said—sacrifices are necessary!"
"This is for the greater good!"
"Their deaths had meaning!"
He had no combat ability of his own. All he could do now was try to argue his way out.
Zane sighed and stepped toward the barrier, placing his hand on it.
Ether crystals began to rapidly condense where he touched.
He spoke—not for the scholar's benefit, but to reaffirm his own resolve.
"You always talk in grand abstractions. Shame I'm not that kind of person. At most, I enjoy a little mischief. I can't relate to you."
Dark ether crystals clustered quickly, dangerous energy flowing through each shard.
"Whether it's for humanity... or just your own ego. Whether you chase fame, or hide behind excuses..."
"I don't understand any lofty ideals. I don't know what the future of humanity holds, or what's truly 'worth it.'"
"But I do understand one thing."
Crack—
The barrier, strained to its limit, shattered beneath the weight of the condensed Ether. Zane stepped through the falling fragments and raised his hand toward the scholar.
"Those who don't respect life... can never save it."
And then—boom!
A gust of force exploded outward. Crystalline dust swept through in a wide arc like a grounded tornado, carving a deep scar into the earth.
As the dust settled, the scholar was left half-kneeling in agony. His shoulder and arm were gone—cleanly sliced, the wound sealed by crystallized Ether, radiating a strange glow.
"Heh... saved by it again."
Zane looked down coldly.
"See? My power even gave you a nice, 'thoughtful' dressing. By your logic, you should be thanking me."
He sneered and exhaled slowly.
A pale red mist rose into the air, twisting like a swimming fish, coiling upward—light and graceful.
In just seconds, it swelled as it climbed. Then, it opened its gaping mouth—jagged teeth bared—forming a crimson dragon, majestic and fierce.
Anomaly still floated silently in the sky like a serene angel, its body peeling away the damaged layers piece by piece, restoring itself to its original state.