The crystal seed was planted at the center of the new city, growing into a transparent tree whose roots spread into another dimension. Every night, its leaves projected holograms of Aira and Kaelon playing in the garden, as if they were still alive within the crystal. But tonight, the holograms distorted—showing Aira running in fear from a shadow with sharp teeth.
"This is a warning," Dax whispered, studying the sensor data. "There's a temporal energy anomaly approaching Aether from the Nihil Dimension."
Rael, now the guardian of the tree, stroked the surface of the crystal. "She's trying to communicate. But Proto-Supremacy may have already infected its system."
Niro entered with an intelligence report. "Scouts spotted a new dimensional gate opening in the Ancient Fire Desert. There's a thorn-crown symbol surrounding it."
Lyra frowned. "We don't have enough forces for an open battle. We'll need another strategy."
With the help of Chronos—who suddenly reappeared after two years of disappearance—they devised a plan to enter the Nihil Dimension using the crystal tree as a portal.
"You'll be entering a reversed flow of time," Chronos warned. "If you get lost, you'll be trapped forever."
Rael, Lyra, and Niro prepared. Dax stayed behind in Aether to monitor from the control tower.
"Don't do anything foolish," Dap advised Niro, who merely glanced at him while adjusting his face shield.
The Nihil Dimension was a geometric nightmare. Buildings were cut in half, the sky was a static gray, and the air was filled with the hissing sounds of dead machines. In the distance, a metal tower with a thorn crown loomed—Proto-Supremacy's new headquarters.
"The sensors aren't working here," Lyra whispered. "We'll have to rely on instinct."
Suddenly, shadows moved swiftly, surrounding them. The Purifiers—now half-ghostly—encircled them.
"We've been sent to bring you back," their voices echoed. "The Time Master is waiting."
Inside the tower, Proto-Supremacy sat on a throne made of time debris. His body had now merged with the dimensional machine, and his face shifted between Kael, Aira, and an unknown figure.
"Welcome, Rael. Have you come to witness the true resurrection?"
A giant screen on the wall displayed a time-locking machine absorbing energy from the crystal tree in Aether. "With this, I will freeze all dimensions—except mine!"
Rael ignited his energy sword. "You've already lost once. This time will be no different."
Proto-Supremacy laughed. "Look at you, Rael! You can't even hide your desire to become a god again!"
Chronos suddenly altered the portal, trapping Lyra and Niro in a separate room. "Sorry, but history must proceed as it should—with me as the ruler!"
Rael was forced to fight alone. Each of his attacks only fueled Proto-Supremacy's machine.
"You can't win," Proto-Supremacy hissed. "Your power is part of me!"
As Rael's sword struck the machine, sealed memories unlocked:
- Proto-Supremacy was a fragment of Kael's soul, corrupted by the Breath.
- The crystal tree didn't only contain Aira—but also Kael's consciousness, trying to atone for his sins.
- Rael himself was Kael's final experiment to create balance, not a weapon.
"I... am not yours!" Rael shouted, his blue-purple energy shifting to pure white.
The crystal tree in Aether reacted. Its leaves burned, sending waves of energy into the Nihil Dimension. Kaelon appeared as a hologram, embracing Rael from behind.
"Father... it's enough. Let me finish this."
With a final smile, Kaelon merged with the time machine, triggering an overload. Proto-Supremacy screamed in pain as his body was torn apart by temporal energy.
An emergency portal opened. Rael, Lyra, and Niro escaped as the Nihil Dimension collapsed. But in Aether, the crystal tree had changed—it was now a permanent dimensional gate, emitting time anomaly creatures.
"What do we do?" Niro looked at the chaos.
Dax lifted a new crystal seed that had fallen from the tree. "Kaelon left this. There's a message: 'This is a new beginning. Choose wisely.'"
Rael planted the new seed beside the gate. A second tree grew—its leaves glowing blue and gold, uniting the energies of Aether and Nihil.
"We can't close the gate," Lyra said. "But maybe we can live with it."
In the distance, a small figure with white hair appeared among the trees—Kaelon, or a time illusion? Rael smiled bitterly.
"I'm tired of running from the past. Let's write a new chapter."