Chapter 25: The Flame of Annihilation

**The Hunt for the Flame**

Kael led the team through a labyrinth of frozen time—a realm where moments hung suspended like insects in amber. They passed:

- **A Wedding Eternal**: A bride and groom mid-kiss, their joy crystallized as dark matter seeped into their veins.

- **A Dying Star**: A scientist's final experiment, his scream silenced mid-supernova.

**The Flame's Guardian**: A being of living equations named **Vyn**, her body a constellation of glowing fractals. *"The Flame isn't a weapon. It's a *judgment*."*

#### **The Trial of Ashes**

To claim the Flame, each member faced their darkest timeline:

- **Bai Ye**: A world where she accepted Suzaku's offer, ruling Neo-Kyo as a photon tyrant.

- **Ghosthand**: A data realm where he sold humanity's memories to the Shadows for immortality.

- **Lin Shen**: A void where he merged with the Core fully, reducing Xiaoyu to a lifeless puppet.

**Vyn's Verdict**: *"The Flame burns those who fear their own shadows. You… are all guilty."*

#### **The Spark of Rebellion**

Xiaoyu intervened, offering her Arbiter essence as fuel. *"Burn me instead. Let them live."*

The Flame roared to life—a blade of white fire that seared timelines instead of flesh. Lin Shen grasped it, his crystallized arm melting. *"We're ending this."*

The serpent's eye bled black ichor. *"You dare wield *my* fire?"*