Deep underground, an ancient display blinks to life.
TARGET PRIORITY: AIRA
The designation is cold, mechanical, and final. The Observer understands immediately—Earth has made its choice.
Raiyen does too.
His Godslayer Sigil darkens as the truth settles in. If he remains on Earth, Aira will die. There is no anger in his expression, only certainty. From the shadows, Veyra steps forward and states what both of them already know: he is leaving.
Above, in her small apartment, Aira quietly cleans up the aftermath of the chaos. Her hands tremble slightly. She wants to believe everything that happened was just a nightmare. From a distance, Raiyen watches her, wishing—if only for a moment—that he could be normal.
He turns to Veyra and gives his order.
Protect her.
Veyra hesitates, shocked at being left alone with such responsibility. Raiyen tells her that she is enough. When she asks what he will do, his answer is simple: he will take Earth's attention far away from Aira.
Veyra kneels, her shadow spreading across the ground, and swears an oath. As long as she exists, no system and no god will reach the girl.
Raiyen then does the hardest thing of all—he lies.
He tells Aira he has to leave for work. When she asks how long he'll be gone, he can only answer honestly: he doesn't know. Aira grips his sleeve, sensing the truth beneath his words. She accuses him gently of disappearing again. Raiyen promises he will try to come back, even though both of them know the promise may never be fulfilled.
She asks only one thing—that he doesn't leave without saying anything this time. Raiyen nods, unable to speak further.
Veyra steps in smoothly, introducing herself to Aira as a "friend" who will stay with her. Raiyen takes one last look before turning away.
On the empty street below, the Observer is waiting. He tells Raiyen this isn't running—it's diversion. Earth is intelligent, but ruthless. When Raiyen asks where he can draw Earth's focus the farthest, the Observer gives him an answer: the Dead Zone—a region where Earth's control is weak, reality unstable, and survival uncertain.
Raiyen accepts immediately.
He opens a portal, rough and unstable, its edges cracking as Earth resists his escape. From the balcony, Aira sees the distortion forming below. Her heart sinks as she calls his name.
Raiyen looks up. Their eyes meet. For a few frozen seconds, the world feels still.
"Stay alive," he tells her softly.
"Come back," Aira replies.
Raiyen steps into the portal. The distortion closes. The street returns to normal, as if nothing happened—but for Aira, everything has changed.
Raiyen crashes into the Dead Zone: a shattered wasteland beneath a red sky, devoid of humans, signals, or comfort. Earth's control is weak here, but danger is far greater.
From orbit, Earth's defense network adjusts. The primary target shifts to Raiyen—but a secondary directive remains active.
MONITOR: AIRA
Back on Earth, Veyra stands guard outside the apartment, shadows stretched wide. Inside, Aira sits by the window, staring out, feeling once again like she has lost someone important.
In the Dead Zone, Raiyen rises to his feet. His Soul Flame ignites faintly as resolve hardens in his eyes.
"Come on, Earth," he says quietly.
"Now it's just you and me."
Beneath the ground, multiple Earth Defense Agents activate. And deeper still, something else begins to awaken. The Second Point within Raiyen stirs—slowly, dangerously unstable.