His voice cracked with despair. "Even if this world burns to ashes, I don't care."
The Archmage's voice hardened. "You can't say that, Luca! You are the Master of the Magic Tower. And now that the Emperor is gone, Velmoria needs you more than ever."
Luca's hands shook. "No, Master. I apologize—but I don't want to save this kingdom."
"Luca—please—"
A powerful voice cut through the silence like thunder.
"LUCA!"
The air froze. Luca's heart leapt at the familiar sound.
From the ruined palace gates, King Thalor Therald, Eyan's father, approached. Two knights held him upright as he stumbled forward, his face pale.
"Eyan… what have you done?" the King murmured, his eyes widening as he saw Zeradros's colossal form above.
He turned to Luca, demanding, "Luca Where is Eyan? I want to see him—call him here this instant! Why did he release the dragon?"
Luca bowed his head, silent.
"Luca," the King pressed, his voice cracking, "answer me!"
But then his eyes fell upon the figure in Luca's lap—Eva's body, motionless and pale.
The King frowned, confused. "Luca… who is this girl you're holding?" His gaze darted around. "And where is Eyan?"
Luca's lips trembled. "Father… please forgive me."
"Forgive you?" Thalor blinked, confusion and dread fighting in his gaze. "Forgive you for what?"
Luca trembled, then pointed a shaking hand toward a still form lying a few steps away — the lifeless body of Eyan.
The King followed the direction of his hand. And then the world broke.
He stumbled forward, his breath hitching. He collapsed beside his son, clutching Eyan's hand, his fingers trembling violently.
"Eyan…?" he whispered, his voice fragile. "What's this…? Why are you lying here, my son?"
He gave a small, broken laugh. "You're tired, aren't you? Yes… that must be it. You've been working too hard again…" He brushed the dust from Eyan's cheek with trembling fingers. "Wake up now… come, open your eyes."
Nothing.
Thalor's lips trembled. His voice cracked into madness. "Your mother will be angry if she sees you like this! Come, get up before she comes—she hates it when you sleep on the floor, remember?"
Still nothing.
Thalor's laughter turned hollow, brittle. "Ah, I know. You're angry with me, aren't you? Because I kept forcing you to marry… that's it, isn't it?" He gripped Eyan's shoulders, shaking him weakly. "All right, all right—I was wrong! I won't say it anymore, I promise! So get up, Eyan… get up and shout at me—but don't just…" His voice broke entirely. "Don't just lie there…"
Luca's tears streamed down his face as he whispered, "Father… please cry."
The King looked at him, blank and hollow.
"Please cry father," Luca begged. "Your son… will never wake up again."
For a moment, there was silence — a terrible, suffocating silence.
Then Thalor's mouth trembled, and a sound escaped him — a raw, guttural cry that seemed to tear from the depths of his soul.
He clutched Eyan's body to his chest, sobbing uncontrollably, his voice cracking and shattering with every breath. "My son… my son… my son!"
The knights looked away, unable to bear the sight. Even Zeradros's massive shadow above the clouds seemed to pause, as if the world itself bowed to the King's grief.
King Thalor Therald sobbed, clutching Eyan's still form. "Eyan… my son—why did you leave me? Goddess Liora, why did you take him? Why didn't You take me instead? Why am I still alive?"
He wept, voice breaking. "Eyan… I can't live without you?"
He paused, stood, and stumbled toward Luca. Grabbing Luca by the collar, he demanded through clenched teeth, "Luca—what were you doing when he… when he died? Why didn't you stop me from releasing the dragon?"
"Why didn't you stop him tell me? Why am I the one left alive? Tell me, Luca!"
Luca's face was grave. "He received the punishment, father. But before he completely lost control… he took his own life."
Thalor recoiled. "What…? Why would he do that? What could have driven him to release the dragon?"
Luca swallowed, voice small. "He did it to save his wife."
"His wife?" The emperor's eyes widened as he glanced at the woman lying nearby. "Is that girl my daughter-in-law?"
Luca nodded. "Yes."
"Wake her—wake her up, Luca." Thalor demanded.
Luca's face crumpled. "I can't, Father. She and the child they are gone too."
"Child..." Thalor breathed, the single word dissolving into a shuddering sob.
From the side, Prince Velco watched, a small, cruel curl at his lips. "So the emperor paid some punishment for releasing the dragon."
he murmured. "Poor emperor—he did everything to save his wife and child, and they died anyway."
Thalor turned, eyes blazing. "Luca—was this the doing of that man? Is he the one who caused Eyan to release the dragon?"
Luca's gaze sharpened; he looked straight at Velco. "Yes. It's his fault. Everything that happened—because of him."
A sudden resolve hardened Luca. "I must face Eyan after death. I can only do that if I take this bastard's head with my own hands."
Prince Velco flinched, tried to flee. Luca moved like a hunter. With a crackle of magic, he lifted a sword and shouted, "Where are you running? Give me your head!"
Luca threw the blade. It struck true—piercing Velco's heart. Blood spattered across the stone as Velco collapsed.
Gasping, he coughed, "Is this… the end? Am I going to die?"
Through the blood, Velco's eyes found the dragon. "I was so close," he wheezed. "I must do something." He stared at Zeradros. "Dragon King Zeradros—I want to make a wish."
Zeradros's voice rolled like distant thunder. "What do you wish for?"
Luca lurched forward, twisting the sword deeper into Velco's chest.
Velco rasped, "I want to go back to the same time as Eva Elvaris." He forced out the last words. "In return… I'll sacrifice my life."
Zeradros's eyes, blue and terrible, flared. "Your wish shall be granted."
Velco's body went limp, death snatching him away on the instant.
Luca fell to his knees, weeping. "I failed… again." Tears soaked his cheeks. "I couldn't do anything. Eyan told me—" He broke off, grief strangling the words. "I'm useless."
Thalor's voice, thin with hope, asked, "Luca… did my daughter-in-law made a wish?"
Luca managed a pained nod. "Yes. She went back in time."
A fragile, stunned smile crossed the emperor's face. "Then I am certain—she will save Eyan."
Luca let out a hollow breath and offered a small, sorrowful smile to King Thalor. "Right. At least—perhaps in that timeline—they'll live together with their child."
He looked at the emperor, voice shaking. "Father… do you want to live?"
Thalor's eyes were empty. "You already know the answer, Luca. I have nothing left to live for."
Luca's face crumpled, tearful and resolute. "Then, Father… let us die together."
Thalor took his son's hand and whispered, "Ok. Let's end it."
Luca stood, lifting his face to the dragon. "Dragon King Zeradros—I have a wish to make."
"Speak," Zeradros intoned.
Luca forced a smile through his tears. "Destroy everything. Kill everyone. Don't leave anyone behind."
Zeradros's blue eyes shone cold and absolute. "Your wish shall be granted."
Luca's lips trembled. "Thank you." Then he turned, looking one last time at Eyan and Eva.
A single tear slid down his cheek. "I failed you both this time, but I promise—I will protect you in the other timeline."
Zeradros's blue eyes gleamed—cold, radiant, merciless. The ground trembled as cracks tore through the earth, the sky splitting open with blinding light and roaring winds.
Luca's body went still, collapsing to the ground as his last breath escaped him.
Then, one by one, every living soul in that realm fell—bodies turning to dust, voices fading into silence. Castles crumbled, oceans burned, and mountains shattered under the dragon's power.
And that was how that world met its end—
----