Zami stood amidst the ruins of the Void Deux, the fragmented space around him shimmering like shattered glass suspended in time. His katana hung by his side, its edge stained with the remnants of his blood and the essence of his defeated foe. The air was still, heavy with the echoes of his final attack, yet a tension lingered, as though the void itself held its breath.
He raised his head, his silver eyes flickering faintly with an otherworldly glow. The light pulsed, illuminating the shadows that surrounded him, reflecting his indomitable resolve.
His voice was calm, steady, yet it carried an undeniable weight.
"Where is the Eternal Hunger?"
The silence stretched, broken only by the faint hum of energy lingering in the shattered void. Zami's words seemed to ripple through the space, reverberating as if the very fabric of reality sought to answer him.
Karesh, silent for a moment, finally spoke, his voice tinged with unease.
"Zami… the entities are watching. They have always been watching. This… this was not just a trial. It was a message."
Zami's gaze remained fixed on the broken expanse above him, his expression unreadable. His glowing eyes dimmed slightly as he exhaled, a rare flicker of fatigue crossing his features.
"A message?" Zami's voice was quiet but sharp, laced with a subtle frustration.
"Yes," Karesh replied. "This creature, this trial—it was their way of preparing you. They're testing the limits of your will, your body, your strength. The Eternal Hunger lies beyond even this. They want to see if you are ready to face it, to face what no one else could."
Zami remained silent, his thoughts racing. The memory of the radiant figure, its unyielding strength, and the countless deaths it inflicted upon him weighed heavily on his mind. He clenched his fists, his bloodied knuckles trembling.
"They've seen me fall," Zami muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Two hundred and five times."
Karesh's tone softened. "And they've seen you rise. Every single time."
Zami closed his eyes, the glow fading completely as he steadied his breathing. The fire that burned within him, the drive that kept him moving forward, surged once more.
"Then let them see," he said, opening his eyes once more. The silver light returned, brighter than before, a beacon of defiance against the vast emptiness surrounding him. "Let them watch as I destroy their greatest creation."
Karesh hesitated, then replied, his voice low.
"The Eternal Hunger… is unlike anything you've faced. Its power is not merely strength or skill—it is absolute. Be prepared, Zami. Beyond this void lies the point of no return."
Zami sheathed his katana, the blade clicking softly as it settled into place. His movements were deliberate, every motion exuding a quiet confidence.
"Point of no return?" Zami smirked faintly, his lips barely curving. "I crossed that line a long time ago."
With one final glance at the shattered void around him, Zami began to move forward, each step firm and unrelenting. The fractured terrain shifted beneath his feet, guiding him toward an unseen destination.
The silence lingered, but Zami's mind was focused, his resolve unwavering. Whatever awaited him beyond this trial, he would face it head-on, as he always had.
For in this harsh, unforgiving reality, there was only one truth that mattered:
He would not fall.