As Ethan soared across the frozen sky, a memory flickered in his mind—another blade, long forgotten.
"Ren…" he whispered.
He stretched out his arm.
From somewhere deep within the Earth's electric web, a pulse answered. In an instant, a streak of pure lightning tore across the clouds, slamming into his palm.
The katana sparked alive in his grip, crackling with raw energy.
"Charge my suit, Ren," Ethan commanded.
Electricity exploded from the sword, racing into his armor. Systems surged. Readouts spiraled out of control.
Power Level: 1000%… 3000%… 10000%
The suit screamed as energy flooded every circuit. Ethan's body blurred, becoming a streak of white-hot thunder tearing through the sky. The world melted beneath him as he blasted from Antarctica to Hanoi in mere minutes.
From the clouds above Hanoi, the chaos came into view.
Below—Linh in her winged armor, blazing with photon energy—was locked in battle with Duy. Flames and light clashed like titans in the streets.
Ethan's heart dropped.
"No—Linh might kill him!"
He dove, electric blue light trailing behind him like a comet.
"STOPP!! LINH!! HE'S MY SON!!" he bellowed, voice shaking the air.
Linh turned mid-flight, her beam cannon aimed again. "That changes nothing! He's killed innocents! He caused all the fires in Hanoi!"
Below, Duy looked up—his eyes met Ethan's.
In that instant, he stopped fighting.
But it was too late.
Duy vanished in a flash of fire—teleporting behind Ethan. A burning hand grabbed Ethan's throat and slammed him into the ground—driving him through concrete, steel, and earth—hundreds of meters deep.
Smoke and dust curled upward.
From the darkness, Duy's voice thundered.
"Now you remember… Do you know who I am?!"
Ethan coughed, struggling. "Yes… you're my son… we failed you… the council failed you…"
"WHY?! Why did you abandon us?! We were your children!"
"We thought… once you finished training, we'd let you be on your own. So you could learn… selflessness. It was supposed to be your final lesson…"
"Parents don't abandon children!"
"But the others… they turned out strong. Kind."
"Don't compare me to them. I'm the best. You told me that!"
Ethan looked at him, voice heavy with sorrow. "It was our mistake. We're sorry…"
Duy's expression darkened. "Darius didn't kill your family. I told him to. I wanted vengeance. You took my family… so I took yours."
Ethan roared with fury. He twisted, flipped Duy onto the ground, and pinned him. With a flash, he pulled Ren and held the crackling blade to Duy's throat.
"You've truly remembered everything," Duy laughed, blood staining his teeth. "Do it. Kill me! End it! I've lived long enough!"
Suddenly—Ethan heard her voice. Trang.
"No! You can't kill!"
The blade halted mid-air. Ethan's eyes trembled. With a shout, he drove Ren into the ground, right beside Duy's neck.
Duy stared at the blade. He understood.
Ethan collapsed beside him, ripped off his helmet. Tears streamed down his face.
"I love you, son… I always loved you…"
Duy stood shakily. "If you won't kill me… I will."
His fire blade ignited in his hand.
Duy raised it high—aimed at Ethan.
And then—a searing beam of light blasted from the sky.
Linh's cannon.
"No!" Ethan lunged.
In a heartbeat, he shoved Duy aside. The beam missed him—but was now aimed at Ethan.
Duy saw it coming.
He shoved Ethan back with all his strength.
The beam tore through Duy's abdomen.
"DUY!!" Ethan screamed, catching him as he fell.
Blood spilled. His body went limp.
"I… miss you, Father," Duy whispered, pale and fading.
"Heal yourself! You're immortal, you can heal—right?!"
Duy shook his head weakly. "Not wounds like this… It's okay. I've lived long enough… I'll always remember you… You tried… because you loved me…"
With that—Duy was gone.
"Nooo!! Wake up! Wake up!!" Ethan sobbed, cradling his son. "I love you, son… I always have…"
He gently closed Duy's eyes.
Silence.
Then—something stirred.
A flame. Soft and golden. It rose from Duy's chest… and entered Ethan's heart.
In his mind, Duy's voice echoed.
"This is the fire you gave me. Now… I return it to you. It will protect you, Father."
Ethan placed a hand on his chest, eyes closed. "Thank you… my son…"
He stood.
Eyes blazing.
He turned to Linh.
"You can save him, right?! Reverse Flex—it can save him?!"
Linh shook her head slowly, tearfully. "It can't bring back the dead… Ethan… I'm so sorry."
Ethan lowered Duy's body gently to the ground.
Then, without a word, he rose—silent and shaking.
A flicker of flame danced across his armor. His eyes locked on Linh.
She stepped back. Fear crept into her breath.
In a blur—Ethan lunged.
He tackled Linh, slamming her into the ground, hand around her throat.
"You killed my son!!" he roared.
A blade slid out from his wrist armor—its double edge glowing red-hot from the heat of his rage.
It stopped—just at her throat.
"I was only trying to save you," Linh whispered, barely breathing.
Ethan stared at her.
Then—with a growl—he retracted the blade.
"Get out of my sight," he snarled.
He stood, turned, and walked to Duy. Gently, he lifted the lifeless body into his arms and began to walk.
Linh gasped for air behind him, watching as Ethan disappeared into the unknown—carrying the son he failed, the son he loved.
She climbed into her aircraft, hands shaking.
She looked down—at the city, at the fire, at Ethan's silhouette vanishing into the horizon.
And she whispered, "Where are you taking him, Ethan…?"