The light came and went quickly... The Tower of Selection was bright and then turned dark again... Like sunlight streaming through an open door crack, then disappearing after the door closed. Simultaneously, the gentle tremors subsided... and there was an eerie silence. The ground mysteriously became still. The battle ceased on its own as people waited anxiously to understand what was happening next. However, for a while, nothing happened.

"Master Clef..." Ferio whispered tensely. He was fully aware that something was different. "What is this? The earthquake stopped..."

While Presea gaped, pointing at the screen, Clef froze as he watched the Tower of Selection on his monitor glowing, as if forming a shield to protect itself. He truly knew events like this... This was the third in his lifetime... after Pillar Kana and Princess Emeraude... The Pillar selection process was happening again!

"The Pillar selection is underway..."

"What?" Ferio couldn't believe it. He saw Hikaru chasing Eagle Vision into the tower. "Could it not be stopped?" Ferio's voice trembled. "Why? Why did she fail? Why couldn't she stop him..." Was it a statement or a question? What was he truly hoping for? He couldn't accept the worst possibility. "Hikaru... Where is she?! Master Clef!"

"Sh-she... can't... possibly... be... dead..." Presea's tears flowed.

He also wondered why? Who else could be a candidate besides Eagle Vision? Clef was stunned. Hikaru? "Ferio... Presea..." Clef suddenly turned around. His face was pale. "Stay here." He swiftly exited the room with quick steps, teleporting away. He still found it hard to accept. He was filled with profound questions. Why Hikaru? Why her? But what made him most regretful: Why couldn't he recognize her as a candidate? He was a Magic Guru! Had he grown dull?!

"Fuu!" Umi found Fuu lying weakly. She landed and exited her Mashin. Ascot did the same. Umi embraced Fuu in her arms.

"I'm okay..."

"Ascot and I managed to defeat that blue robot..." Umi looked around. "Where's Hikaru?"

"She's chasing Eagle Vision."

"What?! She went alone?" Umi was shocked. "Can you stand, Fuu? We have to catch up with her! We have to help her!"

"You can't." Umi, Fuu, and Ascot looked up to find Master Clef appearing before them. He had apparently teleported directly from the meeting room where he had been monitoring the situation with Ferio and Presea.

Suddenly, the situation became bustling. More people were running towards them.

"What's happening?" LaFarga asked, leading a group of sorcerers. "The Autozam people surrendered." He ran towards the gathering. "The battle is over. Cephiro won, but what happened?"

Caldina joined forces with the Chizeta people and the people from Fahren. "What was that light earlier? Cephiro stopped shaking, did you all feel it?"

"Good omen!" someone exclaimed.

"No. This calmness is frightening..."

"But Cephiro won! The Autozam people surrendered. We managed to capture their vice commander."

Some hugged each other and cheered. Bunkers were then opened, and the people who had been sheltering inside poured out. They celebrated their freedom... People cheered, but the expressions of joy contradicted what was seen on Master Clef's face.

"Master, please say something to the people... Why are you silent?" LaFarga asked. The happiness on his face faded, and Caldina stopped hugging him. Caldina looked at Clef, puzzled.

Master Clef bowed his head. "The Pillar Selection is underway." The people fell silent. "Whoever emerges from that tower will be the new Pillar of Cephiro. Let's wait."

"Who?"

"Eagle Vision from Autozam or... Hikaru."

"Don't joke... DON'T JOKE!" Umi was startled, much like everyone else. Umi outright rejected what Clef had said. "She wouldn't do that!"

"Umi..." Clef tried to calm Umi down.

"Hikaru is chasing Eagle Vision to stop him... She wouldn't undergo the selection! Something must be wrong. You're mistaken! I will bring her back!" Umi immediately stood up, pushing through the crowd... "She must come back!" She looked up at the towering Selection Tower. Fear crept over her... "Hikaru..." The possibilities for Hikaru that lay before her were only two: becoming the Pillar or died at the hands of Eagle Vision. She wasn't ready for whatever might happen; Hikaru was out of reach...

"There's nothing you can do," said Clef.

"I won't give up without trying!"

"Umi..." Fuu, struggling, tried to follow. Umi turned and pulled her along.

"Soon, I will conduct the coronation ceremony..." Clef said sadly, gazing toward the tower. "LaFarga, keep the people here." He then teleported away.

Actually, this is just a temporary calm until the Pillar is truly chosen. All of this is merely an illusion... that will lead to a more devastating storm in the future. One person decided he wouldn't stop and didn't want to wait any longer. He hadn't given up hope that the Pillar System could still be stopped...

With all his strength, Lantis struck the door that separated Cephiro from the selection world with his sword. The metal door clanged incredibly loudly, shaking the air and the pillars. Sparks flew everywhere...

"Get them out! Open it! I'll kill them!" he roared. All he could think about was how to stop the selection process... If the Pillar was chosen, there would be nothing he could do! Lightning bolts struck all around him, making the air dangerous. "Get them out!"

The door remained unmoved...

"OUT!"

"Magic enhance!"

"Primera!" Lantis was very surprised.

"Ready!" Primera joined him. She knew it was extremely dangerous to be here. But she understood what Lantis was fighting for, what he was trying to achieve. Because of this, she couldn't leave Lantis alone. She would always help him... "Magic enhance!"

Immediately, Lantis's strength increased exponentially. He kept striking his sword, trying to split the door, but the large door remained steadfast. On his final blow, a mysterious force pushed him back, preventing him from approaching the gate. Lantis was thrown back painfully, but he got up and kept getting up... to continue fighting.

"THE SYSTEM MUST END! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU! EAGLE VISION-"

Lantis was speechless. It was like being struck by lightning. He felt an overwhelming sense of defeat, and when he tried to call out to the girl, nothing came out of his mouth. He realized that he never even knew her name. He had never asked, and somehow, he felt deeply regretful.

"Do you also think that the Pillar System is wrong?"

Lantis's heart screamed. The girl wanted the same thing he did—to stop the Pillar System—but ironically, she was the one caught in the cycle of fate. She didn't want the Pillar position, so how could she have entered? How could she be a candidate?!

Lantis stared at the towering, gold-plated iron door in front of him, so superior. He realized how small and weak he was. He remembered when his hand almost reached her, but his fingers only grasped empty air... then the door closed tightly, and he fell to the ground. If only he had chased faster, if only he had tried harder... that girl would be safe.

Why did I let her go? This is my fault.

"Lord Lantis!" Primera called out anxiously.

But Primera's voice seemed so distant. Lantis sat down, bowing his head deeply... an aura of despair surrounded him. He felt like disappearing into the earth, taking all his sorrow for his failures with him. All memories about her come at once...

"Is this... what Cephiro has done to you?" … "Alright. I can... understand..."

"What do you understand?! What is on your mind?! What do you think of me?! You don't know that I'm ready to do the worst to end the Pillar System! I'm ready to kill and I'm ready to die..." Lantis roared. He gathered his strength and raised his sword again... But his heart humbly pleaded for mercy. He expected nothing more, but he so desperately wanted God to grant this one wish: Not her. Please, not her! No matter what happens, I am determined to kill Eagle, but with you... no.

"CRESTA!"