The world snapped back into existence like a rubber band stretched too far.
Karl stumbled forward as the light of the Nexus peeled away from his body. The fractured dome was gone. The broken rails, shattered gears, demon blood — all gone. Instead, a cold wind cut across a barren valley of cracked stone and blackened earth.
Agnes re-materialized beside him, her hologram stabilizing mid-air.
She blinked several times, scanning the environment.
"…Karl… we're home," she whispered.
Karl exhaled — a long, shaky breath that fogged the air.
His body still felt phantom echoes of Erevos' destruction, of the demon's fist crushing the mech. But here, in the mortal realm, everything was quiet.
Too quiet.
He angled his head, listening.
A low tremor rolled through the ground.
Not fast.
Not chaotic.
Just… a slow, steady thoom…
Thoom…
Thoom…
Agnes froze.
"Karl…"
He didn't answer.
Because he already knew.
He felt it in the pressure change.
He felt it in the air thickening like wet clay.
He felt it in the memory of those molten amber eyes carved into his skull.
Karl turned.
A shadow rose over the ridge.
Massive.
Silent.
Shaped like a nightmare sculpted out of muscle and stone.
Goliath.
But not the bleeding, apologetic titan from before.
Not the worn-out warrior who begged for death.
This one… was different.
This was the remembered version.
The myth.
The legend people whispered about in ancient scripture.
The monster shaped entirely by humanity's fear, its tales, its exaggerations.
Its aura pressed down like a mountain.
Agnes' voice dropped to a whisper.
"…he's stronger… far stronger than before…"
Goliath stepped over the ridge, crushing stone underfoot.
His silhouette cut through the clouds.
The orb in his forehead pulsed like a living heart.
This Goliath didn't breathe heavy.
Didn't limp.
Didn't show pain.
No emotion.
No hesitation.
Just murder incarnate.
His eyes locked directly onto Karl.
Not confused.
Not curious.
Recognizing.
Karl clenched his fists.
"Yeah… I know you remember me."
Agnes hovered closer, shielding him instinctively.
"Karl… this is not the same entity. He is made of memory—pure remembered rage. There will be no dialogue. No remorse. No… honor."
"Good," Karl said.
Goliath took one more step down the ridge, each footfall shaking the valley.
The air vibrated. Stone cracked. Birds scattered miles away.
He stopped about twenty meters from Karl.
Massive.
Still.
Waiting.
Karl stared up at him, the shadow covering his entire body.
His heart didn't race.
His breath didn't stutter.
Instead…
A small, humorless smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Took me a while to get back here," he said quietly.
"You left me with some broken ribs, by the way."
Agnes flicked her projection, analyzing the titan.
"…Karl, his threat level is beyond all prior readings. He is not the same individual you fought. This is… something else entirely. A force of fear and memory."
Karl nodded.
"I figured."
He stepped forward once — just enough to show he wasn't intimidated.
"Goliath."
The titan's claws flexed.
The ground split.
"You and me…" Karl continued, lifting his chin.
"Round two."
Goliath's eyes pulsed.
The killing intent hit like a tidal wave — dense enough to make Agnes' hologram distort.
For the first time, Karl felt a spark of the old memory behind those monstrous eyes.
Not sorrow.
Not respect.
Just the echo of the warrior who once said:
"You… killed me…"
Karl's expression hardened.
"I'm here to return the favor."
Agnes' voice was soft.
"Karl… are you sure you want to provoke him already…? He's—"
Karl cut her off with a raised hand.
"No mercy this time. No hesitation. No speeches."
He met the titan's gaze without flinching.
"You took my life once."
He took another step forward.
"And you're gonna pay for it."
The wind howled between them.
Goliath lowered his stance — but did not attack.
He waited.
Karl exhaled, eyes sharpening.
"Yeah… I'm talking to you.
You wanted round two?"
His voice dropped to a whisper that could've been mistaken for a threat or a promise.
"…I'm gonna finish what I started."
The earth rumbled.
The two titans — one of memory, one of technology — stared each other down.
No fear.
No hesitation.
No forgiveness left.
Just revenge on one side
and
murderous instinct on the other.
Agnes whispered:
"Karl… whenever you're ready…"
Karl struck a finger toward the towering monster.
"Stay right there, Goliath."
His voice became steel.
"I'm coming for you."