After the two beams of light departed, Cain's giant body froze in place.
Stone spread rapidly across its surface.
The Giant of Light became a statue.
"…So, this is how it ends."
Cain gazed at the sky; his emotions tangled beyond words.
His own light was gone.
The light of Orion was gone as well.
With his Heart of Light shaken and extinguished, it was already a blessing that he had not fallen into darkness and become a Dark Giant.
Lowering his gaze, Cain looked at the transformation device in his hand—now nothing more than an ordinary stone. He closed his eyes, unable to speak.
Gijera attacked once more.
Fortunately, Guardie had not lost his light as Cain had. His light had not separated from his body, and he still retained combat capability.
After all, Guardie's Heart of Light had been born from Cain's own.
Blocking Gijera's assault, Guardie immediately sensed the danger. He placed Cain gently atop the stone statue, then lifted the statue and flew down from the plateau.
"Guardie… hide the statue first."
Cain's voice was weak as he spoke from atop the stone form.
If not for Guardie, he would likely have perished at Gijera's hands today.
Gijera itself was not particularly powerful.
The real problem was this—
Humanity no longer believed in the Giants of Light.
Cain had sought giant power in order to protect humanity and dispel darkness. But when that faith wavered… it vanished.
And when faith vanished, so too did the light.
Only the giant's shell remained.
Obedient as ever, Guardie dug deep into the ground at a secluded spot on Xiongbeng Plateau. No one knew how far he dug—only that he hollowed out a vast chamber before carefully placing the stone statue within.
After sealing the entrance, Guardie memorized the scent of the location.
Then, carrying Cain, he flew toward Zhongdu.
Gijera had already claimed the world.
No matter where one looked, the golden, bewitching flowers could be seen.
That meant most of the world—
Had already fallen into Gijera's paradise of bliss.
Zhongdu.
The royal city.
All of it.
If the stone statue were brought back, it would likely be destroyed by the mad masses.
Upon returning to Zhongdu, Cain could scarcely believe what he saw.
The royal city was completely overrun.
Vines crawled over every structure, blooming with golden flowers. Palaces burned fiercely, embers scattering through the air and brushing past Cain's face.
Within the flames stood people—some familiar, some strangers.
Each held a Gijera flower, breathing in its fragrance, faces lost in euphoric bliss.
Fire no longer frightened them.
Under Gijera's numbing influence, pain had ceased to exist. Even as flames licked their bodies, they showed no reaction—some even smiled in comfort.
"…Where is my sister?"
Cain frowned and leapt down from Guardie's back, making no attempt to save those in the flames.
He understood now—
Those already ensnared by Gijera would not turn back.
Even if he tried to save them, they would refuse.
And there were simply too many.
Guardie reverted to his small, yellow-furred form and followed Cain through the royal city.
Eventually, they reached the airship docking zone.
There, they found Yuzare, along with others who had not lost their sanity.
"Cain?"
Yuzare hurried toward him, concern clear in her eyes.
"You look terrible. What happened?"
Cain's face was pale, his entire being drained.
"Sister… I can't transform anymore."
He sighed and explained everything.
Then he noticed something missing.
"…Where is Father?!"
Cain gripped Yuzare's hand, dread flooding his chest.
"…Father has already died in Gijera's paradise."
"The fires in the royal city were his command. By the time I discovered it… it was too late."
Yuzare lowered her head, voice heavy.
Cain's vision darkened.
He nearly coughed up blood.
"The Earth has completely fallen," Yuzare said softly. "Cain… accept reality. This may be part of your path to growth."
"I've ordered the remaining sane personnel to take airships and scatter across the world, searching for survivors."
"If there is still hope… it lies with them."
While Cain mourned, while Yuzare gave orders—
A colossal entity had finally reached Earth's outer space.
Though slow, it had arrived at last.
Summoned by the Dark King Cthulhu, the Ruler of Darkness had come to usher darkness across the planet.
Yet as it looked upon Earth, already cloaked in darkness—
Gatanozoa hesitated.
"…What is this?"
Still, with a simple mind and massive body, Gatanozoa did not dwell on it.
It descended into the atmosphere, bathed in darkness.
The moment it entered Earth's skies, rolling black fog erupted from its body, spreading in all directions.
BOOM—!
Gatanozoa crashed into the sea near R'lyeh, sending towering waves into the sky.
The black fog expanded wildly, radiating outward from R'lyeh's waters.
Thunder roared. Lightning tore through the sky.
Dark matter within the fog reacted violently with atmospheric ions.
"The sky… just got darker."
Yuzare looked upward in shock.
The thunder alone filled her with dread.
"What is that?!"
A clear-minded guard pointed toward the black fog creeping in from beyond the docking area.
"There's more over there!"
"Surrounded… we're completely surrounded by black fog!"
Some panicked.
"Are the Dark Giants back?!"
"No," Yuzare said firmly, shaking her head. "This darkness is different."
"If the Dark Giants had this power, they would have used it long ago."
"Everyone—board the airships. Now!"
Cain steadied himself.
He understood immediately.
If they stayed, everything here would be swallowed.
"Commander! Prince!"
A lone researcher rushed forward with a device, trembling.
"The source of the black fog… is this!"
Through seismic imaging, Cain and Yuzare saw it on the screen—
A horrifying titan with crimson eyes and rows of razor-sharp fangs, roaring upon the sea's surface.
From its body, black fog poured endlessly—
Devouring everything.