«”The deepest wounds are sometimes the ones inherited by the people who never caused them.”» The night air was thin and biting.
Manglet floated inside the cocoon Foshi had created—a shimmering sphere of energy meant to protect her.
To Manglet, it felt more like a coffin.
Her eyes burned.
Her hands trembled.
But her expression remained cold.
“Foshi,” she hissed, her voice carrying both venom and despair, “did you forget who I am?” Foshi stared at her.
“You cannot stop me from doing what I want.” His face hardened.
“I don’t care.” Manglet’s eyes narrowed.
Foshi stepped closer.
“I will not let you die.” For a moment, silence.
Then Manglet’s pupils darkened.
The black aura returned.
Foshi’s expression changed.
“No…” The energy surrounding Manglet began to freeze.
Cracks spread across the protective cocoon like a spiderweb.
Foshi pushed more energy into it.
“Manglet, stop!” CRACK.
The entire cocoon froze solid.
Manglet stepped through the fractured barrier.
Foshi’s eyes widened.
She had escaped.
Manglet immediately ran toward the window and jumped out.
“Manglet!” Foshi followed.
They landed outside the estate.
The snow-covered ground cracked beneath their feet.
Manglet continued walking.
Foshi rushed after her.
But then Manglet stopped.
She knew exactly what he would do.
She thought, “I knew he would follow me.
That’s the moment I needed.” She turned.
Ice erupted from the ground.
A massive pillar shot upward, trapping Foshi inside it and carrying him dozens of meters into the night sky.
“GAH!” Foshi slammed against the frozen prison.
“Manglet!” His voice echoed uselessly.
Manglet looked up at him.
For the first time, there was hesitation in her eyes.
Foshi’s energy flared.
A shimmering barrier formed around Manglet.
“No.” He breathed heavily.
“Control yourself.” Manglet remained silent.
“Think about your children.” Her expression twitched.
“You cannot leave them.” Foshi’s voice softened.
“Who will take care of them?” Manglet looked toward the estate.
“Their father…” Her voice almost disappeared.
“He will return from his mission.” “I won’t let you die.” Foshi’s voice was unwavering.
Manglet closed her eyes.
For one brief moment, the black aura weakened.
Then— It surged again.
The barrier shattered.
Foshi stared helplessly from inside the frozen pillar.
“Manglet!” She walked back toward the estate.
Step by step.
The snow swallowed her footprints behind her.
— Inside her room, everything was silent.
On the table sat an old family photograph.
Noctis.
Mangorak.
Maris.
Gurren.
A family.
A life.
Everything she had once tried to protect.
Manglet stared at the photograph for several seconds.
Her expression remained unreadable.
Then she pulled a sheet of paper toward herself.
She began writing.
To Mangorak Fruing.
Her hand stopped.
She looked at the photograph again.
For a moment, the black aura disappeared.
Her pupils returned to their natural color.
She whispered, “I’m sorry.” The room became completely silent.
Manglet then blazed her sword right through her stomach untill sword came our from her back.
Her clothes were slicken and damped in blood She feel down on floor.
Blood spreading on the floor.
Then nothing made sound noise inside.
The rest of what happened remained hidden behind the closed door.
— Morning The estate was no longer the same.
Maris awoke to screaming.
“Mom—no!” His voice cracked through the halls.
Gurren’s cries followed.
Maris stood frozen, unable to understand how the world had changed overnight.
His mother was gone.
His home was broken.
And his childhood had ended without asking permission.
Foshi eventually emerged from the frozen prison, exhausted and shaken.
In his hand was the letter.
Then— A familiar voice came from the entrance.
“I’m back, children.” Everyone turned.
Mangorak had returned from his mission.
He smiled faintly.
Then he saw the room.
His smile disappeared.
His eyes fell upon Manglet.
For several seconds, he didn’t move.
Lightning began curling around his fists.
“Who…” His voice trembled.
“Who did this?” Maris looked at his father.
“Dad…” His voice broke.
“Only three of us are left.” Mangorak’s gaze shifted toward him.
Then toward Gurren.
Then back to Manglet.
Foshi silently handed him the letter.
Mangorak opened it.
His eyes moved across the words.
Manglet s words begin to echo.
“«To Mangorak Fruing.
If you’re reading this, don’t blame anyone.
No one killed me.
The Fangs were behind this.
Lupharion’s right hand controlled me.
I destroyed the clan with my own actions.
I almost became a danger to our children, but my motherhood stopped me.
I cannot live with what happened.
Please protect Maris and Gurren.
Take my revenge.
Prevent the attack on Fruikler.
And give my faded love to our children.
—Manglet»” Mangorak’s hand tightened around the letter.
His expression became terrifyingly calm.
“Lupharion…” Lightning crawled across his arms.
“He will pay for this.” Maris looked at him.
Mangorak continued, “Every comfort he has.” A spark jumped from his fist.
“Every moment of peace.” Another.
“Everything he thinks he owns…” His eyes became cold.
“I will take it away.” He placed one hand on Maris’s shoulder.
“Take care of yourself.” Then he looked toward Guris but his words to Maris.
“And take care of your sister.” Maris stared at him.
“You’re leaving?” Mangorak turned toward the door.
“The work isn’t finished.” He paused.
“But you two…” He looked back.
“…you must survive.” Then he walked away.
Lightning followed him into the distance.
A father.
A warrior.
A man carrying an oath born from grief.
— The funeral passed like a dream.
Black clothes.
Silent faces.
Cold wind.
Whispers that nobody wanted to hear.
Maris stood before his mother’s grave.
He couldn’t stop thinking about her.
He thought, “Why didn’t I know?” Beside him stood Foshi.
Neither spoke.
They simply stared ahead.
Two people carrying the same impossible question.
Where are you now, Manglet?
For a moment, the wind stopped.
Somewhere far away, a man paused.
As if he had suddenly remembered something.
A strange connection.
A faint disturbance.
Then— The world shifted.
— “Enough rest.” Foshi’s voice pulled Maris back to reality.
Maris blinked.
The funeral disappeared.
The academy returned.
The battlefield waited.
Foshi looked at him firmly.
“Prepare yourself.” Maris looked ahead.
The final match was about to begin.
His eyes landed on Sophria.
She stood across the arena.
Maris smiled faintly.
“Sophria…” She looked at him.
“You did good.” Sophria’s eyes softened.
Maris continued, “You’re worthy of being my soulmate.” A tiny smile appeared on her face.
“I think…” Maris clenched his fist.
“Our relationship can last.” Sophria’s face turned slightly red.
Before either of them could say anything else— Foshi raised his voice.
“FINAL MATCH!” The entire arena erupted.
“MARIS FRUING…” Maris stepped forward.
“…VERSUS MELIO BERRUM!” Melio entered from the opposite side.
His expression was cold.
Fire flickered around his hands.
Maris looked at him.
His mother’s memory.
His father’s oath.
His sister.
Foshi.
Sophria.
Everything suddenly felt connected.
Maris slowly clenched his fists.
He thought, “I will win this match.” His eyes sharpened.
“I will prove…” Wind began swirling around him.
“…that I am not weak.” The bell rang.
The final match had begun.