The world around Rotham trembled as the Choice Tree pulsed with newfound energy. Light and shadow clashed violently, intertwining and unraveling in a cosmic dance.
The Seed burned brighter than ever — a beacon in the chaos.
Rotham's vision blurred, then sharpened. He saw the cycles — the endless loops of reality, twisting and snapping like fragile threads.
And then, the impossible happened.
The cycles began to break.
Fragments of timelines shattered, dissolving into nothingness. The echoes of failed versions of himself flickered and vanished, freed from eternal torment.
But the breaking was not without cost.
A wave of exhaustion crashed over Rotham, draining his strength. His body trembled as the weight of countless lives and choices settled upon him.
Selin's voice echoed, filled with awe and worry:
"You're rewriting the foundation of existence… but the universe is resisting."
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from the void — the Arbiter, manifesting in full cosmic fury.
"Archivist, the balance must be preserved. Without cycles, chaos will consume all."
Rotham steadied himself, clutching the Seed tightly.
"Then I will be the balance. I will carry the chaos so others don't have to."
The Arbiter paused, eyes burning with galaxies and stars.
"So be it. But remember — balance is a burden few can bear."
As the cycles collapsed and the universe shifted, Rotham felt a new power surge within him — the power to forge a new path, free from endless repetition.
He was no longer just a breaker of cycles.
He was their end.