The silence left in Endless's wake was unbearable.
The wind howled through the Hollow like a whisper from the abyss. Dust and charred earth lingered where the Nullcarvers had once stood—wiped from existence, their qi severed from the world as if their stories had never begun.
Naena stood solemnly, eyes closed. Mourning.
Kaelen remained motionless, one hand on the broken hilt of his sword. The other, clenched at his side.
Lila leaned against him quietly, her expression unreadable. Behind them, Kelvin brooded in silence, his scythe's aura slowly dissipating. Guinevere's flames flickered with uncertainty, and Morris stood stiffly, as if unwilling to exhale.
Then—Ethan spoke.
"So that's it?"
He took a step forward, his tone razor sharp and laced with bitter sarcasm.
"The great Celestials. The mighty guardians of this world… sitting on their golden clouds watching a monster erase people from existence like it's a game?"
Everyone turned to him, startled.
Ethan's voice rose.
