Lunalus: "With the sword's release, a new chapter in history begins. Forces that once lurked in the shadows will now move in daylight, and chaos will run rampant as the race for power accelerates..."

  His voice was measured, but his words dripped with certainty.

  Lunalus: "All of it catalyzed by you."

  Virno's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword. His teeth ground together.

  Lunalus: "I am an emissary of one such force... And I am not here to deceive you, so allow me to be blunt."

  His gaze darkened.

  Lunalus: "We seek the complete and absolute destruction -- not just of the laws that govern this universe, but of reality itself."

  Virno's grip did not loosen. His heartbeat did not quicken. He simply listened.

  Lunalus: "Life, in any form, under any conditions, is a fruitless and painful endeavor. No matter how much one perfects their environment, no matter how many obstacles are eliminated -- new pain points inevitably emerge."

  His voice was calm, yet laced with something unshakable.

  Lunalus: "Life has always led to suffering. And suffering has always been in vain. We walk aimlessly, blindfolded -- much as you are now -- deluding ourselves with temporary objectives, imaginary goals. Stalling until the end comes, at which point everything we have experienced is ripped away."

  Virno slowly raised his sword.

  Virno: "... So?"

  A flicker of surprise passed over Lunalus' face.

  Lunalus: "'So'?...? So why should we perpetuate this useless cycle of needless toil? Why should we remain slaves to our biology, to the wiring inside our heads, that makes us accept this pain and this sad reality we live in? That attempts to come to terms with and find ways to carry on with something that is, ultimately, so unfair? So unjust...? Why embrace our unworthy lives when we can take it upon our very hands to tear it all apart and free all beings that exist and will ever exist from such torment?!"

  Virno tilted his head.

  Virno: "Because that's your problem. If you don't like life... just kill yourself."

  Lunalus' eyes snapped wide.

  Virno: "Sounds like an easy fix to me."

  The tension shifted violently.

  Lunalus' fists clenched at his sides.

  Lunalus: "So small-minded...! Do you not see the bigger picture?!"

  His voice rose, frustration seeping into the edges of his composure.

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  Lunalus: "This is not about *me*. It is not about those of us who have *already* realized our tragic fate. It is about those who have *not*. Those who blindly go about their lives, wasting blood, sweat, and tears on endeavors that are -- objectively meaningless."

  Virno scoffed.

  Virno: "The hell are you even ranting about...?"

  Lunalus: "It is about those who are ignorant slaves to their own neurochemical impulses, to the synaptic firings that drive them to endure meaningless suffering!"

  Virno furrowed his brow.

  Virno: "... I don't get it. Sorry."

  Lunalus inhaled sharply, his frustration tangible.

  Lunalus: "The sword has chosen a truly dull-minded wielder. Perhaps proficient in battle, but intellectually..."

  He exhaled.

  Lunalus: "Lacking."

  Virno smirked.

  Virno: "Oh, I understood every single one of your words just fine. That's why I gave you well-thought-out advice -- kill yourself."

  The air shifted.

  A pulse of black energy radiated from Lunalus.

  His wrath took form.

  Virno shook his head.

  Virno: "What I don't get is how anyone can be so selfish. Really, think about it... What about the people who've already realized everything you're crying about -- but still choose to live?"

  Lunalus remained silent.

  Virno: "Whether it's for their family, their friends, their 'meaningless' goals -- or even just out of curiosity... Why would you deny them that? Why should your disillusionment dictate the fate of those who've chosen otherwise?"

  Lunalus' aura flared.

  Lunalus: "FOOLISHNESS! SELFISHNESS!"

  His voice shook the earth beneath them.

  Lunalus: "In the pursuit of their trivial desires, they perpetuate the suffering of countless others! By choosing to live, they condemn those who will never even have the choice!"

  Virno stepped forward.

  Virno: "And how much suffering would you cause if you erased everything? If you denied all beings their shot at existence?"

  Lunalus: "That is not suffering caused..."

  His tone lowered.

  Lunalus: "It is suffering prevented."

  Virno exhaled.

  Virno: "Well, I disagree."

  He pointed his sword at Lunalus.

  Virno: "You wouldn't just be taking away pain. You'd be taking away *everything*."

  He took another step forward.

  Virno: "You'd be denying people their dreams, their ambitions, their choices... You'd be robbing them of their own chance to decide whether life is worth living. And that...?"

  His grip tightened.

  Virno: "... That's not your call to make."

  A silence settled.

  Then, at last --

  Lunalus: "Very well."

  His aura retracted. His expression settled.

  Lunalus: "I came here to ascertain the possibility of an alliance. But I see now -- it could never be."

  He exhaled, as if disappointed.

  Lunalus: "This is not an issue for us. We will seek power elsewhere. It could have been no issue for you either, as we might have permitted you to live the rest of your days as you saw fit..."

  The ground shook.

  A black storm erupted from his body, thickening the air with crushing pressure.

  The very earth beneath him caved inward.

  Lunalus: "... However."

  His voice was now a death knell.

  Lunalus: "It is clear that our ideals will inevitably collide. When the day comes to erase reality itself -- you will stand in our way. That is a scenario that must be prevented."

  He lifted his head.

  Lunalus: "So, Virno von Virtus..."

  Virno turned sharply, glancing at Rotavitea.

  Virno: "Go."

  She hesitated for only a second before clutching the unconscious fox tightly and running.

  Lunalus' eyes followed her briefly, before refocusing on Virno.

  Lunalus: "I regret to inform you that I must withdraw my initial words."

  Virno: "Big surprise...!"

  His sarcasm was met with cold indifference.

  Virno channeled power into the blade.

  The runes flared violently, shifting.

  Lunalus remained still.

  Lunalus: "It seems I must clip your wings before you fly any higher."

  A pulse of wind exploded outward from Virno, saturating the battlefield with a ceaseless, whispering breeze.

  Even blind, he could see.

  Virno raised his sword.

  Virno: "The last guy who tried that got his own wings clipped instead."

  A smirk.

  Virno: "Have at it."