The wind howled through the Hollow as Serian turned his back on the fallen assassin.
> "You should leave," he said, voice steady. "Next time, I might not spare you."
But Kira didn't move.
She stared at him—not as a target… but as a person.
Broken. Burdened. Alone.
> "What are you?" she whispered.
Serian looked over his shoulder, a sad smile tugging at his lips.
> "Still figuring that out."
---
Elsewhere: Malveth's Awakening
Within her obsidian throne room, Malveth watched two flickering mirrors.
One held the Hero.
The other, the Demon Lord.
Both unstable. Both resisting.
She growled.
> "I gave them purpose. Names. Power. And still, they falter."
She raised her hand, dripping with black flame.
> "Very well…"
A third mirror shimmered into being.
And inside it… a new face formed.
Cold eyes. Sharp voice. No empathy. No hesitation.
> "Project C-03."
Not Hero.
Not Demon.
Only Order.
> "You will be the true vessel of my will."
---
Meanwhile: A Broken Truce
Back in the ruined Hollow, Kira sat by the campfire with Serian, their weapons set aside.
Silence stretched between them.
> "Why did you spare me?" she finally asked.
Serian didn't look up from the flames.
> "Because I saw myself in your blade. A loyal killer. Blinded by faith."
> "And now?"
He glanced at her.
> "Now I want to break every chain that made us this way."
Kira looked down, conflicted.
But when she looked up again—she made her choice.
> "Then let me help you."
---
Far Away: The Demon Lord's Tears
That night, the Demon Lord sat among the children he trained, a girl curled up beside him.
> "Master… why do you look sad?"
He didn't answer.
Because deep inside him, a memory stirred. A battlefield. A hero's face. A girl's scream.
And a sword—his sword—piercing both light and darkness.
Tears welled in his eyes.
Not for guilt.
But for the pain of not knowing why.
---
And in the Dark… She Rises
The third clone opened her eyes.
No humanity.
No love.
No mercy.
Just obedience.
She would hunt both brothers.
And burn the world if commanded.
> The Trinity is born.
---