The morning after Ezra's trial broke with a cold, clear light. The shadows of the previous night lingered, but the oppressive weight had lifted. He stood in front of the fire where he had meditated before, his thoughts still swirling with the encounter from the trial. The woman's words echoed in his mind, urging him forward: The darkness is coming. Only you can stop it.
Ezra could feel the gravity of it all—the quiet countdown ticking away, relentlessly marking time as the clock toward his destiny continued. It was hard to shake the feeling that everything was in motion, that even the smallest of decisions now could change the course of the coming storm.
He took a deep breath, grounding himself. The world outside was quiet for the moment, peaceful in a way that made the looming sense of threat all the more apparent. His thoughts turned to his companions, to Escanor, Meliodas, and the others. They had their own trials, their own demons to face. But Ezra had something they didn't—a piece of something far larger than they could even imagine.
Ezra's fingers instinctively hovered over his system interface. He had unlocked something during the trial—a deeper understanding of the connection he shared with his system. The information that had once been vague, fragmented, was now clearer. But there was still so much he didn't know, and the more he uncovered, the more questions he had.
[System Notification: New Information Unlocked]
[Path to Ascension Available: First Step Complete]
[Remaining Steps: 4]
[Quest: Ascend — The First Step: Integration of Will and Power]
Ezra stared at the glowing interface. What was this? Ascension? The first step? His heart quickened. He felt like he was standing on the precipice of something enormous, yet he still didn't know where it would lead. His hands tightened around the sword, and the heavy weight of destiny settled on his shoulders.
"You're lost in thought again, Ezra," a voice called, breaking through his focus.
Ezra turned to see Escanor walking toward him, his face warm with his usual quiet smile despite the tension that still loomed over them.
"I was just... reflecting," Ezra said, forcing a small smile in return. "I think I've figured out something about the system. Something big."
Escanor's eyes flickered, but there was no surprise in his voice. "I figured as much. You're always pushing forward, always looking deeper." He paused. "Whatever it is, I trust you'll figure it out. But remember—you're not alone in this. We're all with you."
Ezra looked at Escanor for a moment, surprised at the sincerity in his voice. There was something grounding in that, something that reminded him that even with the weight of the world on his shoulders, he didn't have to carry it alone. But the path ahead was unclear. Even with the promise of strength and support, he could not ignore the darkness that was gathering.
At that moment, Meliodas appeared, the rest of the group not far behind him. They were all ready for what was coming. It was time for answers.
"We've decided," Meliodas said, the grim determination on his face matching the mood of the group. "We're heading to Liones. If there's any hope of putting a stop to whatever is brewing, we'll need to unite our forces. The time for small skirmishes is over. The dark forces that are aligning will not wait."
Ezra looked at each of them. Ban, Merlin, Diane, King—all had their own battles to fight, but they shared the same goal. The realization hit him like a cold wind: they were preparing for war. The forces they would need to face were unlike anything they had ever encountered.
The countdown continued its ceaseless march across the interface, a reminder that the time for preparation was running out.
[Countdown to the Main Story: 135,110 Hours]
"How much longer do we have?" Ezra asked, his voice steady but filled with a deep, underlying anxiety.
"We don't know," Meliodas admitted. "But time is not our ally."
"We'll fight," Escanor added, his tone unwavering. "And we'll fight together."
Ezra could feel the weight of that statement settle in his chest. Together. They had always fought separately, each of them facing their own battles, but now the stakes were too high. The forces that were gathering—forces from both the light and dark—were beyond their individual strength. If they wanted to protect everything they held dear, they needed to unite their powers and strike with everything they had.
"We'll need to recruit others," Merlin interjected, her voice firm. "There are others out there who will join the fight. We may have allies we haven't even considered yet."
Ezra's eyes widened slightly. He had always relied on the strength of those closest to him. The thought of bringing in new allies, of trusting others outside their inner circle, felt daunting. But it was clear: if they were going to stand any chance of stopping the impending darkness, they would need all the help they could get.
A distant rumble of thunder rolled across the sky, and the air grew heavier with an unnatural weight. The ground beneath them trembled as if warning them of the storm to come.
"We need to move," Meliodas urged. "Gather what you can, and let's head out. We'll make our way to Liones. We need to prepare our forces for what lies ahead."
As they all began to pack up their things and ready their weapons, Ezra felt a shift inside himself. The trial he had faced had been a test, but now, the true battle was beginning. And there was no turning back.
The darkness was coming. And this time, it was personal.
Ezra turned to face the others, his resolve hardening. "Let's do this."
[Countdown to the Main Story: 134,975 Hours]