Kyle gasped in shock as he turned to see Eden free.

He was alert in that moment, watching as Eden stared at him, his eyes purple with fury.

Eden immediately rushed toward him. He would use all he had in him to destroy him. Even without his weapon in his hand, Eden was bent on using himself to fight Kyle and stop him.

And Kyle, on the other hand, wasn’t going to let that happen. He instantly threw off Eden’s sword, which was in his hands, into the distance and also flew toward Eden.

The two flew toward each other in a final clash of attack. Eden had no weapons or power in his hand; he only had himself for the attack. But Kyle had his dark waves hovering in both hands, ready to defend and strike.

The two energies moved through the air, approaching each other in a clash for destruction.

And as Kyle moved closer, his real self emerged from the body he was in. His soul couldn’t stay in there anymore given that he was destroying himself, so it came out while the real body fell away.

But Kyle’s real form was now clear to all as he continued approaching Eden.

While they drew closer, Eden suddenly felt a sharp sting crash through his body. He suddenly came to an abrupt stop as he went down on his knees in the air.

Eden felt it happen while he went down on his knees, his body shattering at its peak. He had used it to its limit, and now his soul had finally broken down.

Eden went down on his knees, staying there like a statue as he stared at Kyle, who was approaching with force. He could only stare without doing anything. He couldn’t even move. He could only watch Kyle approach with all his strength, ready and willing to destroy Eden’s last sense of existence with the last powers he could summon.

Tears ran down Eden’s eyes as he knelt there, almost lifeless, staring at Kyle. He slowly closed his eyes as he muttered, "I hope... I could at least protect them..."

Memories flashed through his mind—memories spent with everyone.

Memories spent with Elvis, from their first meeting in the bedroom to their moment when he was in jail. He recalled his banter and schemes to get to Elvis and also his blissful encounters with Lysander.

Their kisses... their intimate moments. Eden recalled them in those last moments.

He couldn’t help but recall his first meeting with Adrian and Leo as well. And Felix included. All the moments he had spent with them came flashing through his mind as he closed his eyes.

Lenny, Helen, Cordelia... everyone. Eden recalled them and the happy moments they shared, even though it was just short-lived to him. All he had to say was, "Maybe time will permit us to meet again..."

He knelt there in tears as Kyle approached, closer and closer... about to crash into him.

But he suddenly stopped. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Seconds passed, and nothing happened to Eden. Eden didn’t feel the pain of shattering into a thousand pieces in the face of death. He was still there.

Confused, he opened his eyes only to see Kyle before him, kneeling.

He stared at Kyle.

Kyle knelt there before him, both fists clenched as the dark waves in his hands disappeared into thin air—or rather, into his body.

Confused, Eden stared into his face. Into his eyes. And suddenly, Eden found him strangely familiar. For the first time, he felt personal to him. He felt like he had known him for years.

Eden said nothing but stared at Kyle, who was also kneeling before him, staring into his eyes and face as though he was searching for something.

And suddenly, Kyle smiled. "I still couldn’t do it..." He let out a soft laugh.

Eden was confused as he stared.

Kyle laughed as he said again, "I still can’t do it... I can’t... I guess I could never do it..." He smiled as he stared at his hands. They were cracking with dark lines. The lines were taking over his body real fast. It was clear that he didn’t have much time left, like Eden.

Kyle smiled as he said, "Even after these years of hate and resentment... Even after all these years of looking for you just so I could destroy you and take whatever is in you... I still couldn’t even bring myself to kill you..." He was smiling, but tears rolled down his eyes.

Eden stared at him without saying a word.

Kyle hesitated as he brought his shaky hands up, running a finger through Eden’s cheeks with a smile. "I hesitated... Like I’ve always done... Years back... I could have just killed you... I could have just ended you... But... I hesitated... I always did. Just like now..." He stared into his eyes. "Why is it so? Why can’t I... just kill you?"

There was silence between them as his hands slowly came down from Eden’s face. He sighed as he struggled to say, "You probably hate me... you probably want me dead... I believe you wouldn’t even hesitate to kill me.... I wish I could as well..."

He smiled as he stared up into the sky, watching the purple sparkles fill the dark sky. "Isn’t it beautiful?" He smiled as Eden also stared into the sky. "Isn’t it beautiful that on this day... I get to witness this view?"

He admired the sky as Eden stared at him. Eden had no words, but his mind kept speaking.

He was like that too. He hesitated.

Back then, he had the opportunity to kill Kyle and end it all. But he hesitated. Just like Kyle hesitated.

Why?

Eden had always asked himself that. He hated Kyle enough to want him dead. So why did he hesitate?

While Kyle stared into the sky with a smile, he suddenly said, "Lyeian... Can I tell you a secret?" He brought his eyes down to stare at Eden. "Is it safe now to tell you the secret...?"