The world should not bleed.
Yet the Pane did.
The lattice of silver law was cracked open, dripping not blood, but a strange river of liquid light—black, violet, and crimson all at once, twisting like smoke through water. The shards of order that fell to the ground fizzled, rewriting themselves into nothing, erasing their own meaning before they could touch the ground.
Ren staggered forward, Thorn clutched so tightly his knuckles split. His breath came in ragged pulls. Every second holding the Thorn now felt like it was flaying him alive. The ruin-light seared deeper into his skin, spreading veins of black fire along his arms and neck.
But he didn't let go.
The girl was beside him, silver flame dancing wildly from her palms. She stared at the Pane with trembling eyes, her voice caught between awe and horror.
"You… you really cut it. You made the infinite bleed."
Ren forced a grin, though his vision swam. "Guess infinity isn't as untouchable as it thinks."
