Scene: Ruins of Elaren – Ground Zero
Rain fell now. Hard.
The Replica stood tall, blade glowing gold, no emotion in his eyes.
Kaien bled freely, but stood anyway—sword in one hand, Seris holding him up with the other.
His cloak was torn. His crest pulsed dark red.
> He shouldn't be standing.
But Kaien never should've lived this far either.
---
⚔️ The World Watches
Divine scrying mirrors across the continents broadcast the fight.
From skyships to slums, everyone was watching Kaien Everflame—the broken man who defied gods—fight the version they tried to make perfect.
In Irelia's throne room, her voice trembled.
> "End him."
---
🧬 The Replica's Breakdown Begins
Kaien: "You copy me perfectly… but you don't understand me."
Replica: "Emotion is weakness. I was made to win."
Kaien: "Then how come every time we fight—you look afraid?"
> [System Alert – Replica Core Instability: Emotional Feedback Detected]
[Error: Identity Conflict – Unstable Growth Detected]
Replica's hand shook slightly.
He didn't know why.
But something in Kaien's voice hurt.
---
🔥 Seris Evolves Mid-Fight
Seris stepped in again—daggers glowing red-black with her newly awakened Flameborne Vow crest.
> "You hurt him. You threaten him.
I don't care what you are. I'll end you."
She and Kaien moved together now—flaw + flame, not synced by systems, but by choice.
Together, they stabbed through Replica's left side. He staggered.
> [Damage registered – Crest Core destabilizing]
But then—
He split into three.
> [System Skill – Clone Fracture: Divide into 3 forms, each carrying a fragment of perfection.]
---
⚠️ Squad Intervenes – But It's Chaos
Reinhard took on Replica-2 alone—nearly lost an arm.
Donovan shielded Lyra as her glyph glitched out of control.
Marcus burned through mana at max output to slow Replica-3.
And Monku?
He dropkicked a Replica clone into a statue yelling:
> "I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE HIM WITH ABS—YOU'RE NOT MY BRO."
---
💀 Kaien Goes Beyond
Kaien pushed Seris aside.
Blood dripping. Eyes dull. Breathing shallow.
But he smiled.
> "You were made to be me."
He pointed his sword.
> "I was made to fail.
But I chose to stand anyway.
That's something they'll never build into you."
---
🔓 NEW CREST EVOLUTION
> [Crest Evolution Triggered – Calamity Reborn: Stage 1 Unlocked]
[New Title: "The Fault in the Flame"]
Kaien's body ignited—not with fire, but with friction.
Between fate and rebellion.
Between what he was and who he chose to become.
A black inferno erupted from his back—wings of flame-shaped pressure, not divinity.
His voice echoed with two tones.
> "You copied my power."
> "Now let me show you my reason."
---
🔥 Final Move – Kaien's Ultimate Skill (Unlocked)
[New Skill: Flamefract Echo: The Final Choice]
→ Kaien splits his power between his past, his present, and his ideal future self.
Three versions of Kaien appear—
Each flawed.
Each real.
Each him.
The Replica hesitated.
> "I don't understand—why do you look weaker?"
Kaien smiled.
> "Because I'm me. That's the point."
All three Kais rushed forward—
and struck the Replica's core together.
> The crest shattered.
His armor cracked.
His body collapsed in burning light.
> And he whispered, voice fragile:
> "Was I… ever… real?"
Kaien caught him before he fell.
> "You were.
You just weren't free."
---
🥀 Aftermath – Silence, Then Collapse
The battlefield went still.
Rain fell harder.
The Replica vanished into ash, arms reaching for the sky.
The gods said nothing.
The world said everything.
---
🧎♂️ The Flamebearers Bow
Across the mountains, Kaien's soldiers kneeled—not out of worship, but respect.
They'd seen it all.
And still, their leader stood.
Not perfect. Not divine.
Just Kaien Everflame.
---
🩶 Final Emotional Beat – Kaien and Lyra
Later, in the war tent—
Lyra finally approached him, crest stable, tears in her eyes.
> "You… spared him."
Kaien: "I had to. He didn't ask to be made."
Lyra: "Neither did I."
Kaien turned. Hugged her. Pulled her close.
> "Then let's unmake everything they forced on us. Together."