The false core was built in a collapsing realm called Echo-Prime, where time moved sideways and thoughts shaped terrain.
Kael and the Null Council prepared the trap.
The Firstbreaker arrived early.
Its mere presence warped the plan.
The Doom-child was erased before he could draw the cage.
Kael ran into the fray, dragging reality anchors and forcing the Firstbreaker toward the loop zone. Reeva activated the compression beams. Elara rerouted power from dying stars.
Then Kael did the unthinkable.
He opened a gate into himself—channeling every version of himself across every timeline into one final burst.
"I am the Driftbearer. And I choose... resistance."
The Firstbreaker was caught.
Time looped.
And for a moment—
There was peace.