Fitran still stood with his back to Serise, his eyes closed, his face suffused with doubt. The sounds of medical instruments and the ritual healer outside the room formed a backdrop—becoming a melody of moments that seemed to count down the last chance for Rinoa. The wings of Leviathan's isolation had been sealed with two rune sigils, while the audit of the Mirror-Law recorded every measured breath within.

  “I know this sounds disgusting, even cruel,” Serise began, her voice soft yet filled with conviction. “But we are not discussing a routine procedure, Fitran. To ensure its effects, this transfer must be performed through soul binding. This is not merely a clinical donation.”

  Fitran turned slowly, gazing at Serise over his shoulder. His eyes dimly sparkled, as if struggling to believe what he was hearing. “Soul binding? What kind of contract are you proposing?” His question slipped out, laden with fear and doubt that loomed over him.

  Serise looked directly at him, determination shining in her face. “The energy and spiral-void code that flows within you can only be transferred through a high-level spiritual agreement, not just via genetic fluid. We are confronting a power far greater than mere physical healing,” she asserted, her tone rich with sincerity and concern. “This is a risky step, but utterly necessary. Many lives depend on our decision.”

  Fitran bit his lip, battling the clamor of thoughts that gnawed at his confidence. "What are the consequences if we're wrong, Serise?"

  Serise let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of that question pressing down on her. "If we fail, the impact won’t just be felt by Rinoa. We could lose more than just lives. The souls bound in this process will become ensnared in deeper darkness if we don’t get it right."

  Fitran fell silent for a moment, absorbing the tension that filled the air. "Are you truly ready to take this risk? To abandon everything you believe for a while?"

  Serise squared her shoulders, her eyes shining with conviction. "I’m doing this for something greater, to save those who have no voice, including you. We have no other choice."

  Fitran nodded slowly, although tension still filled the gap between them. "Alright, let’s go ahead," he said at last, his voice heavy with resolve, even as doubt lingered in his thoughts. "But we must ensure every step we take is safe."

  Serise sensed Fitran’s determination and gently grasped his hand, providing the support he needed. "We will do this together, step by step. But we must be prepared to face whatever consequences may arise."

  Serise approached the glass table, her movements calm despite the subtle tremor in her hand. She picked up a rune contract sealed with a blood magic stamp and handed it to Fitran. "This is an ancient soul contract manuscript from Terranova," she said, gazing at him with a piercing look full of meaning.

  "You will give a 'seed of life'—not just in the physical sense, but also allowing the core of your Voidwright to merge with the circulation of my body, through a long-established ritual." His voice was firm, "If I bear your child, a portion of your void power and spiral will flow into the fetus and the subsequent bloodline." Serise bit her lip, her voice dropping lower, "However, the dark side of this... there is pain, trauma, and the burden of your curse that will also transfer with it. This contract," she paused briefly, "cannot be undone, it can never be forged." The technical tone in her voice cast a grave atmosphere, "The procedure involves magitek in vitro using a void-shell ampoule—not merely forced proximity. The key is not the True Name, but a silent alias that only you can produce."

  “The two-key audit ensures that this contract is valid,” Fitran read the manuscript closely, his brow furrowing as each word began to weave a clear picture in his mind. “Every line within this contract binds not only the body,” he vocalized attentively, “but also the soul and the deepest memories.” He regarded Serise with an unmistakable hint of uncertainty, “I’ve witnessed rituals like this in the past... many have failed. Many ended in madness or a loss of identity. Why are you so certain you can bear the stakes?” Serise held her breath, her gaze filled with an unwavering determination, as if challenging every doubt that shrouded the space between them.

  “Because I have lost more than anyone else on this ship,” he replied firmly, his voice sharp yet trembling with emotion. “Because I am willing to sacrifice my entire life—including the generations to come—for one last chance to repair this world. And because I know you will not allow me to waver.”

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  Serise held her breath again, her gaze fixed on Fitran with eyes gleaming, filled with a mix of conviction and obsession. “I’ve lost more than anyone else on this ship,” she stated with determination. “I want to wager my entire life—and future generations—for the sake of a final chance to deconstruct this shattered world. You know I will do it. And you will not let this curse swallow your descendants without a fight.”

  With a tone heavy with emotion, he continued, “Since SCV-7 shattered the birth curve, every surviving child has become the foundation for the civilization we are striving to rebuild. I will not let this opportunity slip away, not for a single moment.”

  Fitran fell silent, feeling the weight of every word spoken by Serise. His hand gripped the contract tightly, and my breath felt deep and trembling. In his mind, images of the past raced through—failed experiments, lost children left powerless, and now Rinoa, whose fate hung precariously between love and despair. He stared at Serise with a look full of doubt, “But… what if we fail? What if this child is not the answer we seek, but rather a new curse?”

  Serise took a deep breath, trying to hold back the doubts gnawing at her heart. “Yes, that is a risk we must accept. Every ritual carries the possibility of failure. But without risk, we will never know how far we can go. This is the only path to save Rinoa and the others.”

  His mind was filled with anxiety, yet he understood that a decision had to be made swiftly. It’s always like this, he thought to himself. When the world demands a price for love, that price is invariably steeper than I can fathom. It’s not merely physical, not just blood—but the core of the soul. How long must I remain ensnared in their game? Yet if I leave, Rinoa will lose hope. If I stay... I risk losing the last part of myself that I’ve hidden from the world.

  He let out a long sigh and gazed at Serise with a penetrating stare. “But what if this ritual fails? What if the child is... not the solution we hope for, but a new curse?”

  Serise furrowed her brow, her gaze sharp and filled with emotion, nearly trembling. “Fitran, I am willing to bear the full weight of the risk. Should this all go awry, I will safeguard its remnants from the world’s gaze. You can leave without feeling burdened.” She diverted her eyes briefly before adding, her voice steady, “But I am certain. This world has been overshadowed by fear for far too long. It is time for us to act, not merely hide. We cannot keep waiting forever.”

  Fitran steadied his voice, flat yet resolute. “How long is this process supposed to take? What must I do to ensure this ritual is successful?”

  Serise responded with a tone that was remarkably detailed, though emotion still lingered in his voice, “Tonight, after we sign the contract and seal it with blood, the ritual will take place in the spiritual isolation chamber. I will prepare the binding altar myself.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “You only need to insert your blood and essence into the rune seal. After that, let me handle the rest. There will be no physical coercion involved. This process will last between two to three hours—after which, we will soon see the results on my body and the stability of the spiral in Rinoa.”

  Fitran gazed seriously at Rinoa, “If this works, Rinoa will regain consciousness within twenty-four hours. We will witness that change, Fitran.” He paused briefly, clutching a hope that was subtle yet filled with meaning, before adding, “Clinically, her chances of recovery have significantly increased. Though the world offers no guarantees, we endeavor to bridge that gap one step at a time.”

  A silence crept in around them. Only the sound of steady breathing and the soft hiss of medical apparatus could be heard beyond the glass walls. Inside the isolation chamber, the light of the Harmony Lattice flickered gently, responding to the presence of the anchor. Rinoa’s breath, though fragile, began to show a more regular rhythm, as if fighting to return.

  Fitran glanced at the contract manuscript once more. "This is for you, Rinoa," he said quietly, his voice trembling, before finally reaching for the small ritual knife lying on the table. Carefully, he pressed the blade against the palm of his hand. "With this, I bind my soul to this pledge." Drops of black-purple blood fell onto the contract, causing the runes upon it to glow and slowly transform into a shimmering light. "Only this once, I gamble with love, not out of coercion or hatred. If I lose my soul tonight, make sure the world knows… I dared to choose my own path."

  Serise closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the blend of relief and tension raging within her. "Fitran," she said slowly, her voice trembling with deep uncertainty, "what you are doing is incredibly risky." She clasped his hand, trying to offer her support despite the weight in her heart. "But… if this is the only way to bring Rinoa back, I will stand by you." She nodded, her face filled with a rare display of respect and sincerity. "And I swear, Fitran, this life, along with the child that will be born… will not be in vain."

  They stared at each other, not a single word left unspoken, understanding that tonight would mark a turning point—for them, for Rinoa, and for the world waiting with bated breath to see if this sacrifice could truly save the last remaining glimmer of hope.