The crimson chains tightened.
Blood dripped from Noah’s wrists onto the shattered stone.
Every breath became heavier.
The battlefield faded.
The screams.
The explosions.
Even Professor Elena’s clash with the Commander grew distant.
There was only darkness.
And the heartbeat.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
Noah opened his eyes.
He was no longer in Ironwood Pass.
Instead...
He stood within an endless black ocean.
The water reflected countless stars despite there being no sky.
Floating above the sea...
Seven enormous stone thrones formed a circle.
Six stood empty.
One was broken.
At the center...
A lone figure waited.
He wore black armor scarred by countless battles.
A tattered crimson cloak drifted in a wind that didn’t exist.
His face remained hidden beneath a cracked crown.
Only his glowing crimson eyes could be seen.
"So..."
The man spoke.
"The Seventh has finally arrived."
Noah frowned.
"...Who are you?"
The figure chuckled.
"You’ve asked that question before."
"I never answered."
He stepped down from the broken throne.
Every footstep sent ripples across the endless sea.
"I am not Ragnarok."
"I am..."
"...its final memory."
Outside...
The crimson chains continued tightening.
The hooded mages smiled.
"It’s over."
"The seal is complete."
Professor Elena desperately pushed against the Commander.
"Move!"
He remained unmoving.
"I’m afraid I can’t."
Inside the black sea...
Noah folded his arms.
"So..."
"Are you another ghost?"
The armored man laughed.
"A ghost?"
"No."
"A memory."
"The last will left behind by the First Successor."
Noah’s eyes narrowed.
"So you’re him."
"I was."
The man looked toward the empty thrones.
"Long ago."
"I have one question."
Noah said.
"Did you destroy the world?"
Silence.
Then...
The First Successor smiled sadly.
"No."
"I failed to save it."
Those words echoed across the endless sea.
Noah said nothing.
The man continued.
"History remembers monsters."
"It forgets sacrifices."
Outside...
One of the hooded mages frowned.
"...Something’s wrong."
The sealing array began shaking.
Crimson cracks spread across the magic circle.
"What?"
"Increase the output!"
All six mages poured more mana into the ritual.
The chains tightened again.
Inside...
The First Successor extended one hand.
Floating above his palm appeared a tiny crimson flame.
"This..."
"...is Ragnarok."
"It was never created to destroy."
"It was created..."
"...to endure."
The flame burned quietly.
Steadily.
Despite the endless darkness surrounding it.
"It grows stronger..."
"...the more impossible the situation."
Noah stared at it.
"So why choose me?"
The First Successor looked directly into Noah’s eyes.
"I didn’t."
Silence.
"Ragnarok did."
Suddenly...
The black sea trembled violently.
The First Successor looked upward.
"They’re forcing the seal."
His expression became serious.
"You have little time."
He closed Noah’s fingers around the crimson flame.
"This isn’t more power."
"It’s permission."
"For what?"
The First Successor smiled.
"To stop holding back."
Reality shattered.
Back in Ironwood Pass...
Every crimson chain exploded at once.
BOOOOOOM!!
A pillar of black and crimson energy erupted into the heavens.
The six hooded mages screamed as the backlash shattered their magic circles.
One vomited blood.
Another collapsed unconscious.
The remaining four staggered backward in horror.
"What... what is happening?!"
At the center of the explosion...
Noah slowly opened his eyes.
They were no longer entirely crimson.
One eye burned crimson.
The other had turned completely black, with a thin crimson ring surrounding the pupil.
A calm voice echoed across the battlefield.
Not loud.
But every person heard it.
"Permission granted."
The Broken Crown Mark spread across Noah’s neck like glowing veins before fading beneath his skin.
Professor Elena froze.
The Commander lowered his sword.
Even Azrael, watching from the cliffs, slowly stood up.
For the first time...
The Apostle’s confident smile disappeared.
"...Impossible."
He whispered.
"He accepted him..."
The Commander stared at Noah for several long seconds.
Then...
He slowly lowered his greatsword.
His expression had changed.
Not to fear.
To respect.
"So..."
He murmured.
"The true heir has awakened."
The battlefield fell silent.
Not because the fighting had ended.
But because everyone, friend and foe alike...
Had just witnessed the beginning of a legend.