The battle raged for what felt like an eternity.
The Hollow Emperor fought with the weight of centuries behind him, wielding forbidden magic and lost techniques.
But Cid…
Cid fought for the fun of it.
He didn't fight for power, for revenge, or even for victory. He fought because this was his stage. Because this was the moment he had always dreamed of.
And in the end, that was what made him invincible.
With a final flourish, he raised his hand.
"Let me show you," he whispered, "what true power looks like."
A black sun bloomed behind him.
A manifestation of pure void, swallowing all light, consuming everything in its wake.
The Hollow Emperor's eyes widened. "Impossible—"
The void collapsed.
And with it, the Hollow Emperor was erased.
The battlefield fell silent.
The war had ended.
The legend of the Hollow Emperor had been rewritten.
And at the heart of it all, Shadow stood victorious, his golden eyes gleaming.
The world… was now his.