The woman's plea grew more fervent. "Even if you are a demon, please ensure he meets his end. He's committed atrocities far worse than any demon has ever inflicted upon me." Her hands gripped the stone railings tightly, her distress palpable.
However, her words were met with hostility from the crowd. Boos echoed around her, and she soon became the target of thrown food and various objects. The scene was a stark display of the crowd's fickle nature, their reactions swayed by the spectacle before them.
As Ty's gaze lifted through the settling dust, he caught sight of the woman above him. For a brief, heart-stopping moment, her long black hair and fair complexion reminded him of Jade. This fleeting illusion triggered a vivid memory – the last moment with Jade, and the pink thread she had entrusted to him.
Moving almost instinctively, Ty noticed a pink thread materializing in his hand, a tangible connection to that poignant memory. Brushing off the remnants of the rubble, he saw Fernando basking in the chaos he had incited. Unfazed, Ty leaped onto the railing, drawing the attention of the crowd and the distraught woman.
"Here, this is for you," Ty called out to her, his voice cutting through the noise. The woman's tears flowed freely, her confusion evident. "Huh? What are you talking about?" she responded, her voice shaky with emotion.
Ty's eyes, now a soft blue, conveyed sincerity and compassion. "Just hold out your hand," he said gently, as drones buzzed around him, capturing this unexpected act of kindness amidst the turmoil.
With a tremulous hand, the woman extended her palms. Ty carefully placed the coiled pink thread in her grasp, his touch gentle. "I believe this belongs to you. Keep it close for now," he advised softly.
As a warm light began to envelop Ty once more, he reached out, tenderly wiping away her tears. "There's no need for tears, especially from someone as strong as you. You've come here to see justice served for your parents. Let yourself be part of this moment, and enjoy the show," he reassured her with a compassionate smile.
The woman, her cheeks flushed with a light pink hue, nodded silently, her speech momentarily lost in the wave of emotions stirred by Ty's gesture.
Ty, unfazed, quickly conjured a wall of black flames in front of him, ready to deflect the incoming attack. "You think I need my—" he began, but his words were cut short. In a stunning display of agility, Fernando maneuvered around the flame barrier, reappearing on the other side with the knife in hand.
Before Ty could react, Fernando's electrified hand made contact with the black flame shield, dispersing it with a burst of energy. In one fluid, ruthless motion, he plunged the blade into Ty's neck and followed with a forceful kick to the chest. Ty was sent tumbling across the arena floor, rolling until he crashed against the wall.
Fernando stood tall, his voice laced with mockery as he called out, "I'd like to see you counter that."
The crowd erupted into a mix of gasps and cheers, the brutality of the moment captivating them. Ty lay by the wall, the seriousness of his situation now starkly evident.
Inside the depths of his own mind, Ty found himself confronting a solitary, floating eye. The eye spoke with a sense of urgency, "I told you to let me take control. I could have handled him. Once you lose consciousness, I'll do what I can to save you, but it's likely you'll die."
Ty, despite the dire situation, managed a smirk. "I pushed myself to the brink of death deliberately. I wanted to meet you, face to face." He paused, collecting his thoughts. "His blade didn't truly pierce my neck. The moment it began to penetrate, I melted it with my flames. But now, I've exhausted my energy and can't continue the fight.
So, I'll leave the rest to you."
He looked directly at the eye, a new understanding dawning within him. "I've denied your presence, your help, and that might have limited my ability to confront Erebos. But seeing you now, in this weakened state, I'm willing to trust you more. Please, take over and resolve this. I promise to find a way to balance our partnership in the future."
With this newfound trust, Ty relinquished control, allowing the entity within to emerge and take charge. It was a pivotal moment, marking not just a shift in the physical battle but also a transformation in Ty's internal journey, as he acknowledged and accepted the entity's role in his life.