My Infinite System.

Lucian kept his sword raised, his focus entirely on his father. The strain of holding the universe still was a fire in his veins, but he didn’t let it show.

”There’s nothing to talk about,” he said, his voice tight. ”It ends now.”

But before Alistair could reply, the air in the Vault shimmered. Figures began to phase into existence, pushing their way into the frozen moment. Luminar stood at the front, his crystalline form gleaming. Beside him were two massive Ashura warriors, their muscles coiled and eyes burning with fury. They moved slowly, laboring against the stopped time, but they were moving.

Luminar’s voice was like cracking ice. ”To halt the flow of all creation... a feat not seen since the first dawn. It is... impressive, Lucian Black.”

His white, light-filled eyes fixed on Lucian, devoid of any admiration. ”And it confirms everything. Only the being destined to end the universe could wield such power. You have proven our fears correct.”

Alistair actually looked annoyed. He turned from Lucian to face the newcomers, his brow furrowed in genuine confusion. ”What are you talking about? I am the one initiating the reset. He is here to stop me. Your intelligence is, as always, catastrophically flawed.”

Luminar didn’t even glance at Alistair. ”The prophecy is clear. It is the son, not the father. He is the catalyst. Your plan is merely the trigger. He is the bomb. It does not matter who lights the fuse. The result is the same.”

One of the Ashura warriors, a brute named Gorok, growled, the sound rumbling like an avalanche in the silence. ”Enough talk. The target is here. We end this.”

He took a heavy step towards Lucian, a massive, serrated axe forming in his hands.

But he never took a second step.

A blur of motion. A fist, wreathed in pale green light, slammed into Gorok’s chest. There was no sound, just a silent, violent impact. The Ashura warrior didn’t scream. He simply came apart, his form dissolving into motes of black dust that hung frozen in the air.

Marc stood where the warrior had been, his fist still extended. His eyes, now fully lit with the layered power of the Aethel and his own innate strength, burned with a cold fire. He lowered his hand.

”I dare you,” Marc said, his voice quiet but cutting through the stillness like a knife. ”I dare any of you to touch my brother.”

The remaining Ashura, a female named Zora, snarled, taking a defensive stance. Luminar simply stared, his analytical mind recalculating.

But the biggest shock came from behind them.

A soft sigh broke the silence.

Lucy lowered her hand. The frozen storm of violet energy around her dissolved into nothing. She blinked, and the blinding white faded from her eyes, replaced by their familiar, deep violet hue, now clear and focused. The glowing sigils on her skin softened to a gentle pulse.

She looked at Marc, a world of gratitude in that single glance. When time had stopped, Marc’s consciousness, no longer needing to defend, had slipped into the prison of her mind. He hadn’t fought Alistair’s control. He had simply sat with her, in the dark, and reminded her of who she was.

Now, she was back.

She floated down until her feet touched the floor, her silver hair settling around her shoulders. She stepped forward, coming to stand beside Marc, her gaze fixed on Luminar and the Ashura.

”You are mistaken,” Lucy said, her voice firm, the last traces of Alistair’s influence gone. ”My brother is not your enemy.”

Alistair watched this, his jaw tight. His perfect weapon, his key, had been turned against him. Not by force, but by a simple act of brotherly love. The frustration on his face was palpable.

Luminar, however, was unmoved. ”The data does not lie. The prophecy—”

”To hell with your prophecy!” Lucian shouted, the strain making his voice crack. ”Look at what’s happening! He,” he pointed his sword at Alistair, ”wants to destroy everything! We are trying to stop him! How can you not see that?!”

”Because we have seen this story before!” Luminar shot back, his calm finally breaking. ”We have seen the rise of a power that promises peace, only to bring about the end! We will not be fooled again! The risk is too great! The Aethel bloodline must be extinguished! All of you!”

He raised a hand, and a spear of solidified light formed. Zora the Ashura bared her teeth, ready to charge. The situation was a powder keg.

And Lucian knew he couldn’t hold time still much longer. He was fading, fast.

He looked at his siblings. Marc, steady and resolute. Lucy, free and determined. They were together. For the first time since they were children, they were truly together.

He made a decision.

He met Marc’s eyes, then Lucy’s. A silent message passed between them. A plan. A desperate, last-ditch plan.

Lucian gave a almost imperceptible nod.

Then, he let go.

Time crashed back into motion with the force of a supernova.

The frozen violet energy that had been hanging in the air slammed forward, but Lucy was ready. With a wave of her hand, she diverted it, sending it harmlessly into the ceiling.

The timer on the orb, stuck at one second for what felt like an eternity, finally ticked down.

00:00:00

A deep, groaning sound filled the Vault, like the groaning of a dying star. The massive, pulsating core of light and shadow behind Alistair began to fracture. Cracks of pure blackness spread across its surface.

The Echo Vault was opening.

But no one was looking at the Vault.

Luminar threw his spear of light. It flew straight for Lucian’s heart.

At the same moment, Zora lunged at Marc, her claws extended.

And Alistair, seeing his life’s work finally coming to fruition, began to laugh, a sound of pure, mad triumph.

In that single, chaotic second, as the prison of horrors began to open and three different attacks were launched, Lucian, Marc, and Lucy moved as one.

They didn’t try to block. They didn’t try to run.

They attacked.

Lucy threw up a dome of solid violet energy, not around themselves, but around Alistair, Luminar, and Zora, trapping all three of their enemies together.

Marc focused his power, not on the Ashura, but on the cracking core of the Vault. He pushed against the opening door, his muscles straining, his power flaring brighter than ever as he tried to force it shut.

And Lucian?

He ignored the spear flying at his chest. He ignored the laughing Alistair. He ignored the opening abyss.

With the last of his strength, with every ounce of will he had left, he turned his time manipulation inward. He didn’t stop time. He reversed it.

But not for the universe. Just for one, specific thing.

The spear of light, inches from his chest, flickered, reversed its course, and flew back towards Luminar.

The scene froze on that image:

The Vault cracking open.

Marc screaming as he tried to hold it shut.

Lucy maintaining her barrier.

A spear flying back towards its sender.

And Lucian, on his knees, watching it all unfold.