After the battle—
Shin and the others brought Zaraf back to HQ.
Outside his room,
Shin and Ben stood in silence.
The air felt heavy.
Then—
A portal opened.
Gray stepped out… with Abeth beside him.
The moment Abeth saw Shin, she rushed forward.
"What happened to him?!"
Her voice trembled.
"Tell me!"
Worry and fear clashed in her eyes.
Gray followed behind, his expression serious.
Shin lowered his gaze for a moment before speaking.
Ben's jaw tightened, his fists clenched.
Slowly—
They explained everything.
The battle.
Shadow.
What happened to Zaraf.
Gray's voice turned uneasy.
"You mean… he still hasn't woken up?"
"…After the split?"
Shin nodded.
Abeth's hands trembled—
Then tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"
Her voice shook.
"He needed help…"
No one answered.
They entered the room.
Zaraf lay on the bed.
Still.
Silent.
Too still.
Abeth rushed to his side and grabbed his hand.
"…Why isn't he waking up?"
Gray looked away, his jaw stiff.
Shin spoke calmly,
"It's the side effect of the split. His soul… is incomplete now."
He paused briefly.
"It will take time."
Abeth's grip tightened slightly.
"Then… I'll stay."
Her voice steadied.
"…Until he wakes up."
Gray glanced at her… then turned to Ben.
"…Can Makima come and take care of him?"
Ben looked at him, slightly surprised.
"You don't need to ask."
Gray frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
Ben exhaled quietly.
"She already knows."
"…And she asked me herself."
Gray's eyes widened.
"You told her everything?"
"She wanted the truth."
A brief silence followed.
"…And I agreed."
Ben looked toward Zaraf.
"She'll be here tomorrow."
Gray took a slow breath.
His eyes softened.
"…You went through all of this alone…"
He clenched his fists.
"…I'm sorry."
The next day—
Makima arrived at HQ.
For the first time…
In another creator's world.
She stood before Zaraf's door.
Her heart pounded.
Her chest felt tight.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
A memory flashed—
Zaraf standing against Ben.
Fighting.
Bleeding.
Her eyes softened.
She slowly opened the door.
Zaraf lay there.
Still unconscious.
She walked toward him.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Then—
She gently held his hand.
Cold.
Too cold.
She sat beside him, quietly watching his face.
Time passed in silence.
Then—
She stood.
Determination filled her eyes.
"I know you're there…"
Her voice was soft.
"…And you'll come back. You always do."
After that—
She stayed.
She cleaned the room.
Prepared food.
Waited.
In Shin's office—
Ben entered.
Lusy and Shin were already there.
"You've come, Ben."
Shin's voice was calm… but serious.
Ben sat down.
Shin looked directly at him.
"Do you understand your mistake?"
Ben's hands tightened.
"…I'll take responsibility."
His voice was firm.
"I'll stop him."
A brief pause.
"…If needed, I'll kill him."
Shin's gaze didn't waver.
"That's not the problem."
He leaned slightly forward.
"He's no longer someone you can handle."
Lusy's eyes softened with worry.
Ben's expression hardened.
"…Do you know where he is?"
Shin turned toward the window.
"I don't."
A pause.
"But he's creating worlds…"
"…and destroying them."
The room grew quiet.
"He's testing his power."
Shin looked at his own hand.
"…And he will come for me."
Lusy gently placed her hand over his.
"We're with you."
Her voice was soft.
"You don't have to carry everything alone."
Ben nodded.
Shin exhaled slowly.
"…I know."
A faint smile appeared.
Three days later—
Makima stood outside Zaraf's room.
Her heart raced.
She opened the door—
—and froze.
Zaraf was awake.
Sitting on the bed.
Looking outside.
Lost in thought.
Hope filled her eyes.
She stepped in, holding a plate.
Zaraf noticed her.
Then slowly turned.
His gaze—
Distant.
Empty.
She stopped.
"…What is it?"
Her voice trembled.
"…Do you not remember me?"
Zaraf looked down.
His fist tightened slightly.
"I know who you are."
A pause.
"Makima. Master's daughter."
Silence.
"…That's all."
The plate in her hand trembled.
Almost slipping.
The room felt colder.
Zaraf spoke again, quietly—
"…It feels like I forgot something important."
A short pause.
"…I'm sorry."
Makima stepped closer.
Her voice shook—
But she forced a smile.
"It's okay…"
"…We just started as friends, right?"
"…We can start again."
Zaraf looked at her.
"…I feel empty."
His voice was low.
"Not just memories… something inside feels missing."
A pause.
"…Even from my past life."
His eyes darkened.
"…Like pieces are gone."
Makima suddenly held his hand.
"…It doesn't matter."
Her voice was soft—but firm.
"You're still you."
Her eyes met his.
"…Start again."
"…With us."
"…With the people who care about you."
Zaraf slowly lowered his gaze.
Makima stood up.
"You should rest."
"It's late."
"…I'll come tomorrow."
She turned—
"Thank you, Makima."
She froze.
Then smiled.
Brightly.
"…I'll see you tomorrow."
That night—
In her room—
Makima sat on the edge of her bed.
Holding her pillow tightly.
"…So you don't remember…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"…anything."
She lowered her head.
"…It still hurts…"
Morning—
She knocked on his door.
"Come in."
She entered—
Zaraf was already awake.
Waiting.
"I've made my decision."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…What is it?"
A brief silence.
"…I'm going back."
"To my human world."
A pause.
"…To my family."
"…To start from zero."
Her heart skipped.
Her hands trembled—
But she smiled.
"…That's good."
"If that's what you want… you should go."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"…When?"
"This afternoon."
She paused.
"…I see."
She placed the plate down.
"I'll inform the others."
Zaraf hesitated.
"…Only Shin and Master."
She nodded.
"…Okay."
Later—
Shin and Ben entered.
"So, you're awake."
Ben looked at him carefully.
"How do you feel?"
Zaraf explained everything—
His emptiness.
His missing pieces.
His decision.
Silence followed.
Then Shin spoke—
"You should go."
"…And if you don't want to come back…"
"…don't force yourself."
Ben added quietly,
"We'll handle Shadow."
"…Just stay safe."
Zaraf lowered his head.
"…Thank you."
"…I just need time."
Afternoon—
Zaraf stood before the gate.
He turned back.
Shin.
Ben.
Makima.
All standing there.
Makima looked down—
Then suddenly raised her head.
"I'll be waiting for you!"
Her voice echoed.
"…Like before."
Zaraf smiled faintly.
"…I'll come back."
Shin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
Zaraf stepped forward.
The portal closed.
Makima stood still.
Her expression faltered for a moment—
But she held it in.
"…He'll come back, right?"
Ben answered without hesitation.
"…Yes."
Far away—
A world burned.
Half-consumed by darkness.
The sky twisted and collapsed.
At its center—
Shadow stood.
Watching.
Smiling.
"…So you chose to run."
A pause.
"…Just like before."
Dark flames moved with him.
"…But you'll return."
His eyes darkened.
"…Because I took everything you couldn't carry."
A presence appeared.
A figure—
Cloaked in black.
Standing before him.
Both smiled.
The air turned cold.
Shadow's voice dropped to a whisper—
"…Now…"
"…let's begin what this world truly deserves."