The cloaked figure stood in the dimly lit hall, its presence suffocating, its power palpable in the air. The castle, now silent except for the distant hum of the core, seemed to hold its breath in anticipation. Ezra's hand tightened around his sword as he faced the figure, the weight of the situation sinking in.
"You've been manipulating me," Ezra said, his voice steady despite the storm raging in his mind. "All this time. The system... the trials... it was all for this moment."
The figure's hooded face remained hidden, but its voice was unmistakable, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Indeed. You were never meant to be free. You are a product of design, a tool to ensure the awakening of the core. And now, it is time."
Merlin stepped forward, her eyes locked on the figure. "No... it can't be. You're the one behind the system—the one who created it."
"Correct," the figure replied, its voice laced with venomous satisfaction. "I am the Architect. The one who shaped the system you have come to depend on, the one who planted the seeds of this world's destruction."
Ezra felt a sickening chill run through him. The Architect. The being responsible for his existence as he knew it. For the choices he had made, for the powers he had gained, and for the path that had been laid before him.
"You think you're special, don't you, Ezra?" The Architect's voice resonated through the hall, filling every corner with its chilling tone. "You believe that you are the one who can break free from fate. But you are just another piece in my game. Like all the others."
A dark laugh echoed through the hall, causing Ezra's grip on his sword to tighten. But there was something different this time. This time, he wasn't going to play by the rules. He wasn't going to be controlled.
"You're wrong," Ezra said, his voice unwavering. "I'm not your puppet anymore. And this game? It ends here."
The Architect's laughter faltered, replaced by a sudden, cold silence. For the first time, there was a hint of uncertainty in the air. But before either of them could act, the ground beneath them trembled once more. The hum of the core intensified, vibrating through the very walls of the castle.
"It's too late to stop it now," the Architect said, his voice low and filled with finality. "The core is awakening. Its power is beyond anything you can comprehend. And once it fully emerges, there will be no stopping it."
Ezra's heart raced. The countdown was ticking down, the clock relentlessly moving toward its end. They had no time to waste.
"We'll see about that," Ezra muttered, his resolve hardening. "I didn't come this far just to give up now."
With a swift motion, Ezra rushed forward, his sword gleaming with a light that seemed to cut through the shadows. The Architect's form shifted, and before Ezra could strike, a barrier of dark energy appeared between them, crackling with the force of a thousand storms.
Ezra gritted his teeth and swung his sword at the barrier, but the force was overwhelming. It pushed him back, sending him skidding across the stone floor. He stood up quickly, determination burning in his eyes.
"You think your sword can defeat me?" The Architect's voice was filled with mockery. "You are nothing. I am the one who shapes reality."
Ezra didn't answer. Instead, he focused, the system's energy swirling within him, building, growing. The interface flared to life in his mind, and the familiar hum of the system pulsed through his veins.
[System Notification: Core Awakening – Internal Conflict Detected][Warning: Excessive Energy Use Detected][Warning: Internal Resistance Overload Imminent]
Ezra could feel it—the energy building up, threatening to overwhelm him. He could hear the system's warnings, but he ignored them. He had no choice. The world depended on him. The core had to be stopped.
Ezra closed his eyes for a moment, centering himself. He wasn't just fighting for himself anymore. He was fighting for everything—the lives of his friends, the future of the world, the very fabric of reality.
He focused, channeling the energy of his companions, pulling from their strengths. Escanor's unyielding will, Meliodas's battle-hardened resolve, Merlin's brilliant mind, and the quiet power of King and Diane. All of them were with him. And together, they would face this.
With a roar, Ezra broke through the barrier, his sword glowing brighter than ever before, charged with the combined strength of his allies. He drove it forward, slashing through the darkness.
But the Architect was ready. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a wave of shadow that collided with Ezra's attack, sending a shockwave through the room. Ezra was thrown back, his body slamming into the stone walls.
"I warned you," the Architect said coldly, stepping forward. "You are nothing."
Ezra struggled to his feet, blood trickling from his lip, but his eyes burned with a fire that could not be extinguished. "I'm not nothing. I'm everything that stands against you."
The Architect's eyes narrowed. "You are defiant, Ezra. I give you credit for that. But it won't be enough."
The ground rumbled beneath their feet again, and suddenly, the walls of the castle began to shift. The core was awakening in full force now, and the very fabric of reality seemed to bend under its influence. The castle's stone began to crack and warp, and a blinding light emanated from the heart of the building.
Ezra's vision swam with the energy of the system, the countdown flashing in his mind.
[Time Remaining: 134,996 Hours]
"We don't have much time," Ezra muttered, his sword pulsing with power.
The Architect's face twisted into a sneer. "Then let's see how long you last, before the core consumes you."
The final battle had begun.