Everything led to only one thing...

"Masterrrr~" Snowflake sneered as her golden slit eyes locked onto the mass of slithering snakes. They surrounded them, not just one or two, but an army—tens upon tens of monstrous snakes, their sinister gazes fixed on one person in particular....

Aether.

Aether, barely acknowledging their presence, kept his hollow eyes on Aqualina. She lay there, mumbling softly, "Kill me... kill me..." Her words, weak and unconscious, pierced his heart. His gaze shifted, darkening as he turned to face the approaching horde.

"Aether, we'll handle—" Aria's voice cut through the tension, but before she could finish, a single, thin red sword materialized in the air, flashed before her eyes and sliced through one of the snake's heads with precision.

Blood sprayed, staining the ground beneath.