The battlefield lay silent.
What had once been a land of war and destruction was now eerily still. The ruins of Midgar's outskirts bore the scars of the legendary clash between the Hollow Emperor and Shadow.
Among the rubble, the remnants of the Cult of Diablos fled in disarray. Their ultimate weapon, the so-called true Hollow Emperor, had been erased from existence. The Prophet's grand scheme had collapsed, and with it, the foundation of the Cult itself.
But in the heart of it all, one figure stood unshaken.
Shadow.
Cid Kagenou gazed at the remains of the battle, arms crossed, his signature smirk playing across his lips. To him, this was nothing more than another act in his grand performance—a spectacle crafted to immortalize the legend of the Hollow Emperor.
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the wasteland.
Alpha knelt before him, her armor still gleaming despite the carnage around her. Behind her, the Seven Shadows stood at attention, awaiting his decree.
"The Cult has been dismantled," Alpha reported. "Their leaders have scattered. The Prophet has vanished."
Cid let out a small chuckle. Vanished? That was perfect. A shadowy enemy lingering in the darkness, plotting revenge? This was exactly what he wanted.
"And the Golden Saints?" he asked, barely containing his amusement.
"They have retreated," Beta answered. "Seraphina has left Midgar. There are rumors that she seeks an audience with the royal court."
Cid nodded. The game wasn't over yet. There were still plenty of pieces left to move.
"Let them rebuild," he said, voice calm yet commanding. "And when the time is right… we will remind them of the true rulers of the shadows."
The Seven Shadows bowed.
The war may have ended, but the legend was only beginning.