The wind howled across the frozen summit, carrying with it the echoes of past battles. The ground beneath them still bore the scars of their violent clash—cracked stone, bloodstained snow, and the remnants of a war that had only just begun.
Manav stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes, still burning with the remnants of battle, stared at the fading form of Erythros in the distance. The beast had retreated, its body broken, its mind shattered. But it wasn't dead. No, Manav had made sure of that.
Dr. Moraeu stepped forward, brushing dust from her tattered coat. Despite everything, her face remained calm—an eerie contrast to the chaos that had unfolded around them. She exhaled softly, almost as if speaking to the mountain itself before turning to face Manav.
**"Was it worth it?"** Moraeu asked. Her voice was quiet, yet it cut through the cold like a blade. **"Fighting Erythros?"**
Priya, standing nearby, flinched slightly at the question. She had seen the brutality of the fight, the sheer madness in Manav's attacks, and the way he had crushed the beast both physically and mentally. But Manav… he remained indifferent.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into something that wasn't quite a smile.
**"Depends,"** he finally said, his tone distant. **"If you're asking whether I regret it, then no. If you're asking whether I enjoyed it… I don't know."**
Moraeu studied him for a moment. **"You don't know?"**
Manav scoffed. **"Erythros was a means to an end. The fight was nothing more than another obstacle. Winning, losing… it didn't matter. What mattered was proving something."**
Priya frowned. **"Proving what?"**
Manav's gaze drifted to the broken battlefield before them. **"That the past doesn't control me. That no matter what I become, I am still the one making the choices."**
Moraeu let out a small laugh—dry, knowing. **"Is that what you think?"**
Manav turned sharply to her. **"You don't?"**
She shook her head. **"The past always controls us, whether we admit it or not. You think you were the one making choices? Maybe. But tell me, Manav—was it truly you who decided to spare Erythros? Or was it the version of yourself that's still clinging to something deep inside?"**
Priya looked between them, tension thick in the air.
Manav narrowed his eyes. **"Are you saying I should've killed him?"**
Moraeu smiled faintly. **"I'm saying that you're not as free as you think you are."**
Manav remained silent, his fingers twitching slightly. For a moment, just a moment, there was something unreadable in his gaze—something dark, uncertain.
Priya, still uneasy, decided to shift the conversation. **"Moraeu… you knew about Erythros before he arrived, didn't you?"**
Moraeu sighed, her gaze drifting toward the vast, jagged peaks surrounding them. **"After the Crimson Nova Disaster, I hid all the beasts inside these mountains."**
Priya's eyes widened. **"Wait… all of them?"**
Moraeu nodded. **"Every single one."**
Manav raised an eyebrow. **"Why?"**
Moraeu turned back to them, her expression unusually solemn. **"Because I don't want another disaster. Millions died because of my past mistakes. I won't let it happen again."**
The weight of her words settled over them like a storm cloud. Priya swallowed hard. **"So… all those creatures from the Crimson Nova Disaster… they're still here?"**
Moraeu nodded. **"Dormant, sealed away within the depths of these mountains. But if something—or someone—were to awaken them…"**
Her words trailed off, but the implication was clear.
Priya shivered. **"Then history would repeat itself."**
Manav remained quiet for a moment, processing the revelation. Then, without hesitation, he simply said: **"Okay."**
Priya turned to him, startled. **"Okay? That's all you have to say?"**
Manav shrugged. **"She wants to keep them locked away. I don't care. As long as they stay out of my way, they're not my problem."**
Priya looked like she wanted to argue, but Moraeu simply chuckled. **"That's good enough for me."**
A gust of wind swept across the peak, sending loose snow swirling into the air. The battle was over, the tension fading, but something lingered—something unspoken.
Moraeu watched Manav carefully. **"You're still searching for something, aren't you?"**
Manav glanced at her, his expression unreadable. **"Maybe."**
**"Immortality wasn't enough?"**
Manav exhaled slowly. **"It was never about immortality. It was about…"** He hesitated, then shook his head. **"Forget it."**
Moraeu smirked. **"You really are interesting, Manav. I wonder how long that mindset of yours will last."**
Manav didn't reply. Instead, he simply turned, walking away from the ruins of their battle.
Priya hesitated before following him. She cast one last glance at Moraeu, as if trying to decipher something.
**"Are we going to see you again?"** Priya asked.
Moraeu gave a knowing smile. **"Maybe. Maybe not. But either way, I'll be watching."**
Priya frowned but didn't press further. With a final nod, she turned and followed Manav down the mountain.
The journey ahead was uncertain. The past lingered like a shadow, and the future was a storm waiting to break. But for now, they moved forward—toward whatever awaited them beyond the Crimson Peak.
As they disappeared into the distance, Moraeu stood alone on the summit, watching them go. She exhaled softly, her breath turning to mist in the cold air.
Then, almost too quietly to hear, she whispered to herself:
**"We'll meet again, Manav. And when we do… let's see what kind of monster you've become."**