Ryu slowly turned his head.
And smiled.
Nexus stared at him.
His body refused to move.
His mind refused to accept what his eyes were showing him.
"...Sir Ryu?"
Ryu tilted his head.
"Yes?"
Nexus's hands began to tremble.
"What..."
His voice cracked.
"What happened here?"
Ryu looked around the throne room.
The overturned tables.
The shattered cups.
The bloodstained floor.
The Architects who had returned only hours ago.
He sighed.
"It appears we had an unfortunate incident."
"An...incident?"
Nexus took a step forward.
"You killed them."
Ryu's smile disappeared.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Ryu sighed.
"Yes."
Kural arrived behind Nexus.
He stopped immediately.
His eyes widened.
"What the..."
Mao stood beside him.
She looked around the room.
Unlike Nexus and Kural, however, her expression remained completely blank.
She didn't recognize the people lying on the floor.
To her, they were strangers.
Nexus slowly clenched his fists.
"Why?"
Ryu looked at him.
"Because they were no longer useful."
Nexus froze.
"...What?"
Ryu walked toward him.
"The Architects you knew are gone."
He stepped over one of the fallen figures.
"What returned today was merely what remained."
Nexus's eyes narrowed.
"That's not an answer."
Ryu stopped.
"It is."
"No."
Nexus's voice grew louder.
"You wouldn't do this."
Ryu stared at him.
"You've changed."
Nexus shook his head.
"You're the one who changed."
Ryu smiled faintly.
"Perhaps."
Kural grabbed Nexus's shoulder.
"Nexus."
Nexus didn't move.
"We need to go."
Ryu looked toward Kural.
"Ah."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"So you're Kural."
Kural stiffened.
"You know me?"
"I know everyone under my command."
Ryu's gaze shifted toward Mao.
"And I know her as well."
Mao looked back at him.
"Do you?"
Ryu smiled.
"Of course."
Mao tilted her head.
"Then tell me who I am."
Ryu paused.
For the first time, his expression became difficult to read.
"You are Mao."
"That's my name."
She looked at him calmly.
"But who am I?"
Ryu's smile returned.
"That..."
He glanced toward Nexus.
"...is something you shouldn't know yet."
Nexus immediately stepped in front of Mao.
"Stay away from her."
Ryu raised an eyebrow.
"Protective, aren't we?"
"She's under my protection."
"Interesting."
Ryu looked at Nexus for a long moment.
Then he laughed.
"You really haven't changed."
Nexus's expression hardened.
"Neither have you."
Ryu's smile faded.
"You're wrong."
The air suddenly became heavy.
Kural instinctively stepped back.
Mao's umbrella slipped slightly in her hand.
Ryu lifted one finger.
The entire room shook.
BOOM.
A shockwave tore through the throne room.
Nexus raised his arm.
Kural was thrown backward.
Mao barely remained standing.
"Nexus!"
"I'm fine!"
Nexus lowered his arm.
His eyes remained locked onto Ryu.
"Why are you doing this?"
Ryu stared at him.
"Because the time has come."
"The time for what?"
Ryu smiled.
"For the Architects to serve their true purpose."
Nexus's eyes widened.
"...True purpose?"
Ryu spread his arms.
"The world has been moving toward this moment for centuries."
He looked toward the ceiling.
"Every war."
"Every betrayal."
"Every death."
"Every Architect who disappeared."
"It was all leading here."
Kural slowly stood up.
"What are you talking about?"
Ryu looked at him.
"Your existence."
Kural froze.
"My...existence?"
Ryu's gaze shifted toward Mao.
"And hers."
Mao stared at him.
"Mine?"
Ryu smiled.
"Especially hers."
Nexus immediately understood something.
His expression changed.
"No..."
Ryu chuckled.
"Now you understand."
Nexus looked toward Mao.
Then back at Ryu.
"You weren't trying to bring the Architects back."
Ryu remained silent.
"You were gathering them."
Ryu smiled.
"And now they're all here."
Nexus's heart sank.
"No..."
He looked around the room.
The Architects.
The celebration.
Everything suddenly connected.
"You used them."
Ryu nodded.
"Exactly."
Kural looked at Nexus.
"What does that mean?"
Nexus didn't answer.
Ryu did.
"It means the ceremony is complete."
Mao's eyes narrowed.
"What ceremony?"
Ryu looked directly at her.
"The one that will awaken what has been sleeping inside you."
Silence.
Mao stared at him.
"...Inside me?"
Ryu smiled.
"Yes."
Nexus immediately grabbed Mao's wrist.
"We're leaving."
Ryu didn't stop him.
Instead—
He laughed.
"You can try."
Nexus froze.
A strange mark suddenly appeared beneath his feet.
His eyes widened.
"What—"
The same mark appeared beneath Kural.
Then beneath Mao.
Kural looked down.
"What is this?!"
Nexus's expression became horrified.
"Ryu..."
Ryu slowly raised his hand.
"I told you."
His eyes began glowing.
"The celebration was never for my return."
"It was for theirs."
The marks beneath them began shining.
And somewhere deep beneath the castle—
Something opened its eyes.