The Convergence link snapped like an over-tightened string—
not severed,
but screaming in protest.
Alya's chest seized.
Cael staggered, gripping her hand so tightly his knuckles went white.
The Seal roared:
"SEPARATE—
YOU ARE NOT READY—"
But Ayla shouted right back:
"WE DON'T SEPARATE!"
Cael's knees buckled.
"Alya—"
His voice trembled,
cracked,
weak.
Her heart dropped into her stomach.
"No—no, Cael—stay with me—"
The Devourer rose behind them,
its chest splitting open like a cracked furnace,
black lightning pouring out.
"THE ANCHOR FALLS FIRST."
It fired.
A beam of pure corrupted resonance
ripped toward Cael.
Alya barely had time to scream his name—
"CAEL—!"
—but it wasn't Ayla who blocked the hit.
Rian's Forbidden Choice
Rian moved.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
No fear.
Just action.
He threw himself between Cael and the blast—
taking the full strike to his chest.
CRACK—
The impact lifted him off his feet.
His body hit the ground hard enough to break stone.
Alya choked.
"RIAN—!"
Cael stared in horror.
Aster shouted,
"NO—NOT RIAN—!"
Lami screamed.
Mila burst into tears.
Even Ren gasped, speechless for once.
The Devourer chuckled low:
"A BROKEN SOUL PROTECTS THE ANCHOR?
PATHETIC."
Alya's fury snapped open like a blade.
"DON'T you call him pathetic."
Cael grabbed her arm, voice shaky:
"Ayla—he's—he's bleeding—"
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But Rian pushed himself to his elbows,
blood dripping down his lip,
his aura flickering violently.
He glared at the Devourer.
"...You don't get to touch them."
Alya knelt beside him.
"What did you just do—?! WHY—"
Rian laughed breathlessly.
"Someone had to take the hit."
A bitter smile.
"And if he dies... you die.
That's not happening."
Alya's chest ached painfully.
"Rian... you idiot..."
He smirked weakly.
"Yeah.
I know."
Ren's Dome Cracks
Another shockwave of corrupted resonance burst from the Devourer.
Ren screamed:
"NO NO NO NO—
I'M NOT READY—"
But she raised both hands anyway.
The shield dome exploded around everyone again—
but this time
it cracked instantly.
Ren shrieked:
"WHY IS IT BREAKING—?!"
Aster shouted:
"Because the Devourer is targeting the Convergence's allies—
your shield is reacting to everybody's fear!"
Ren wailed:
"THAT IS TOO MANY FEELINGS—STOP FEELING THINGS—"
Eris grabbed her shoulders.
"REN. Focus."
Ren sobbed:
"THERE ARE MONSTERS AND EXPLOSIONS AND AYLA AND CAEL ARE GLOWING AND RIAN IS DYING—
HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO FOCUS—"
Eris shook her.
"Because they need you."
Ren froze.
Her eyes widened.
And her shield—
despite cracking—
held.
For now.
Cael Begins to Collapse
Alya turned back to Cael, panic hitting her like a physical blow.
He was paler now.
Breathing fast.
Sweat dampening his hair.
His hands shaking uncontrollably.
She grabbed his face.
"Cael—look at me—look at me—"
"I'm... fine..."
He wasn't.
His resonance flickered violently—
overloaded from the incompleted merge.
Alya felt it through the Link—
pain that wasn't hers,
fear that wasn't hers,
a storm building inside him.
"No—
NO—
this is my fault—"
Cael forced a smile.
"It's... ours.
Remember?
We do everything together."
She shook her head, tears burning.
"Not if it kills you."
He cupped her shaking hand.
"If it kills me, it kills you.
That's the Link."
Her breath stopped.
The Seal's voice boomed:
"LISTEN TO ME—
IF YOU COMPLETE THE TRUE CONVERGENCE NOW—
THE ANCHOR WILL DIE."
Alya froze.
Cael froze.
Everyone froze.
Ren screamed:
"WHAT—?? NO—REJECT—RETURN—REFUND—"
Eris couldn't breathe.
Lami covered her mouth in horror.
Mila whispered:
"No...
no, no, no..."
Rian, bleeding heavily, choked out:
"You complete the Union now...
and he burns from the inside."
Alya's whole world tilted.
"No...
NO—"
The Seal repeated:
"THE ANCHOR IS NOT READY.
THE HEART IS TOO STRONG."
Cael gripped her hand harder.
"Ayla..."
His voice was soft.
Too soft.
"If completing it saves everyone..."
She slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Don't."
He pulled her into his arms.
"I'd rather die with you—
than live without you."
Her chest shattered.
"No—
NO—DON'T SAY THAT—"
He touched her cheek.
"I chose you.
Even if it kills me."
Tears streamed down Ayla's face.
She pressed her forehead to his.
"No.
I won't...
lose you.
Not again.
Not ever."
She looked at the Seal, voice breaking:
"Then tell me—
HOW DO WE COMPLETE THE TRUE CONVERGENCE
WITHOUT LOSING HIM?"
The Seal hesitated.
The Devourer laughed.
Rian whispered:
"...There might be a way."
Alya snapped toward him.
"What way—?!"
Rian wiped blood from his chin.
"It's forbidden.
Dangerous.
Stupid."
Cael muttered:
"That sounds like you."
Rian glared at him.
"It links a third root-bearer into the Convergence.
Temporarily."
Silence.
Alya stared at Rian.
"You... want to anchor us?"
Rian smirked weakly.
"No.
I want to share the explosion."
Cael growled:
"Over my dead body—"
Rian coughed blood.
"Exactly the point."
Alya felt sick.
"Rian... you'll die."
He looked into her eyes.
"For you?
For him?
For the world?
Yeah.
I will."
Alya shook her head violently.
"No—
NO—
I won't sacrifice you—"
Rian's voice softened.
"Ayla...
I watched you choose him.
And that broke me."
He looked at Cael.
"But losing you would destroy her."
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"So if I can keep both of you alive...
just once...
let me."
Alya's heart shattered
and rebuilt
and shattered again.
Cael swallowed hard.
"...Rian..."
Rian smirked.
"Shut up.
I'm not doing it for you."
Alya trembled.
"Rian... are you sure?"
He met her eyes.
Finally honest.
Finally open.
Finally real.
"I can't be your partner.
But I can be your shield."
Alya's breath broke.
Her voice cracked.
"...Thank you."
Rian inhaled deeply.
"Let's save you two idiots."
??
