The vibrations within the Core became more violent than ever, so much so that the massive metal walls began to warp as if they would be crushed under the immense pressure of the pervasive energy. Hanging pipes exploded one after another, releasing thick steam mingled with red and blue sparks, while giant rings suspended above the crackling Core spun wildly, their sharp metallic scrapes making the entire space resemble a giant machine out of control.
Amidst this chaos, Lloyd stood steady.
His white hair moved slowly under the pressure of the pervasive energy, and the luminous marks on his arm extended to his neck, glowing with a steady rhythm, unlike the chaos of moments before. His eyes were fixed on the black entity, unwavering, as if everything around him had vanished, leaving only a single target.
The entity, in turn, had become entirely different.
Black threads emanating from the walls, the floor, and even the air itself constantly wound around his body, entering and then disappearing, as if the Core were directly feeding him. His body was no longer just an unstable mass of energy; it was more solid, calmer… and more terrifying. Even the glowing cleft in his chest was gradually closing, as if the damage he'd sustained moments before hadn't been enough to stop him.
Rioorno wiped the blood from under his chin, silently observing the scene. The flames surrounding his arm reflected off his face, casting sharp shadows on his features, as he breathed slowly, trying to conserve what little energy he had left.
"If he keeps absorbing from the Core…" he said in a low voice, "he'll get stronger every second."
Mizuno stood beside him, his claws digging into the ground making a soft scraping sound, his green eyes fixed on the enemy.
"Then we cut off his supply."
Lloyd didn't answer immediately.
He glanced at the giant rings above the Core, then at the tubes connecting every corner of the space, before returning his gaze to the entity.
He understood.
The Core wasn't just a source of energy… it was an entire network, and everything in it was connected to that entity.
Lloyd raised his head slightly and said quietly,
"If we destroy the Core… this whole place collapses."
A short silence followed.
Rioorno smiled faintly despite his exhaustion. "And I was bored to begin with."
Mizuno let out a short laugh, then lashed out with such force that tiny sparks flew from the metallic ground.
"Then we have no reason to be cautious."
The black entity watched them silently for a moment, then slowly tilted its head, as if it understood their plan.
"Destroying the Core…" it said in its deep, distorted voice, "…means destroying yourselves as well."
But Lloyd took a step forward without hesitation.
"If this place is the origin of everything here…"
The marks on his arm glowed even brighter.
"…then we'll make it disappear."
The next instant, energy exploded beneath his feet, propelling him at terrifying speed directly toward the Core.
The entity moved immediately to intercept him, but Riorno appeared in front of him at the same moment. A wall of flame erupted between them, its heat so intense that nearby metal began to melt. The entity pierced through with its hand, but that slight delay was enough.
Mizuno lunged from the side like a predator, his body almost entirely in Deep Predator form. His gleaming black claws sliced through the air before slamming into the entity's arm, propelling it away from Lloyd's path.
The sound of the impact echoed throughout the Core.
But the entity didn't back down easily.
Black threads surrounding him suddenly exploded like living whips, shooting out in all directions with terrifying speed. One of them struck Mizuno directly in the shoulder, tearing a piece of his coat and violently slamming him against the metal wall.
Riorno tried to burn the rest, but the threads bypassed the flames themselves, as if learning and adapting to every attack they encountered.
As for Lloyd…
He arrived.
He stood directly in front of the Core.
The distance between him and the pulsating mass was no more than two meters, but the heat and pressure emanating from it made the air itself seem liquid. Violent pulses shook his body, and the marks on his arm began to react wildly, as if something inside the Core was trying to reconnect with him.
Then—
That voice returned.
"PRIMARY HOST…"
Lloyd clenched his fist so hard that blood trickled between his fingers.
"I told you…" he muttered, his eyes sharp, "…I don't belong to anyone."
He slowly raised his hand toward the Core.
Energy began to gather around him, an intense heat mingling with deadly cold, opposing waves that constantly cracked the ground beneath his feet.
Behind him, the black entity knew what was about to happen.
For the first time…
He appeared somewhat rushed.
The entity surged forward with full force. Black threads erupted from its back like distorted wings, tearing through the air with violent speed, while the metallic floor of the Core trembled under the immense pressure of its energy. Its objective was clear: to stop Lloyd before he touched the Heart. But Riorno immediately blocked its path. He raised both arms, and fire exploded around him, creating a massive vortex of flame within the colossal hall.
Red and orange hues reflected off the shattered metal walls, while the heat rose to a stifling degree until some of the nearby iron sheets began to slowly melt. The entity slammed into the fiery barrier. A deafening explosion shook the entire space, and the air was distorted by the intense heat and pressure. For a moment, it seemed as if the flames had completely engulfed the entity… but it continued to advance through the inferno. Its black body constantly disintegrated and reformed, as if forcing itself through the inferno by sheer force. Riorno gritted his teeth, and the veins in his neck bulged as he increased the pressure of the flames. "It will not pass…" he said, his voice trembling. But suddenly, black threads shot out from the heart of the flames with lightning speed.
They twisted violently around his arm, pulling him forward before a direct blow to his stomach propelled him against the metal wall. The wall shook the moment he hit it, sparks flying in every direction, while the flames around him subsided for a moment. "Damn it…" He gasped, struggling to his feet. In those few seconds, the entity had already breached the barrier. On the other side, Mizuno struggled to his feet despite the blood streaming from his shoulder. His breath came in ragged gasps, but his eyes remained sharp. When he saw the entity approaching Lloyd… he smiled. "You won't get through." His body lowered slightly, his muscles tightened, and then he vanished. The metal floor beneath his feet exploded with the force of his thrust, and he appeared directly in front of the entity, its gleaming black claws cleaving the air before striking with tremendous power. The impact echoed through the Core like a giant metal cylinder splitting in two. The entity paused for a moment. Just one moment. But Mizuno took full advantage. He sprinted around him with savage speed, his attacks coming from every angle: a strike from the right, then from above, then a swift spin that severed several black threads at once.
With each impact, tiny pressure waves crashed against the walls and scattered sparks into the air. The entity began to retaliate with even greater ferocity, its blows heavier, the black threads surrounding it transforming into deadly whips that tore at the ground as they passed over it. Yet… Mizuno wasn't trying to win. He was merely buying time. During those moments, Lloyd remained standing before the Heart. Its pulsations grew stronger, so intense he could feel them in his bones. Light from the cracks reflected off his face, while the hot and cold air around him mingled in distorted currents that made his vision tremble. Then he saw something. Inside the Heart… human shadows. Experimental chambers. Huge glass tubes containing people bearing marks similar to his own. And distant voices filled with screams. Lloyd's eyes widened slightly. "All of this…" he whispered, "…was been there from the beginning." That voice returned, clearer than ever. "ACCEPT… CONNECTION…" The marks on his arm flared violently, and pain surged through his entire body, but this time he didn't back down. Instead, he moved closer. Slowly, he raised his hand toward the heart. Behind him, Mizuno began to lose his ability to resist. Black threads wrapped around his arm and leg, pinning him down as he fought with his teeth. "Lloyd!" he cried out, his voice broken. "If you have a plan… execute it now!" Ryorno finally rose, leaning against the metal wall, the flames flaring around him again despite the obvious exhaustion etched on his face. In response… for the first time, a genuine rage flashed across the entity's face. "Don't touch it." His voice came out heavier than before, and at the same moment, the entire Core trembled, the giant rings accelerated wildly, and the light began to flicker dangerously. But Lloyd didn't withdraw his hand. Instead, he placed it directly on the surface of the heart. The moment it touched—everything stopped. The voice vanished. The vibrations ceased. Even the explosive energy froze in place. Absolute silence reigned within the Core. Then… a giant eye opened inside the heart.