The dragon did not strike; it watched Rein, who stood waiting before the creature, combat-ready. Something in the great beast's gaze: sorrow? pity? It made Rein halt for a moment. The dragon spoke again, its voice soothing yet firm.
"You think killing me will end your pain, will bring you peace. But what awaits you is an emptiness that will devour you. I know because I've seen it before. The crystal you hold, the power you crave—that is something not meant to be wielded by one like you. You are no weapon; you are a man. A man who has lost everything, and in his pursuit of vengeance, is losing himself."
Rein's eyes flickered with a tinge of doubt, but his resolve hardened. "You are the enemy. You are all. I will destroy every last one of you."
The dragon's eyes softened a little as a tinge of ancient sorrow flowed through them. "I was once like you. A warrior, consumed with hate. But hate is a poison. It corrupts anything it touches. You think you are fighting for some sort of justice, but you are feeding the darkness you wish to destroy."
So it was that Rein remained for a long moment in silence with the weight of the dragon's words pressing upon him like an unseen force. The crystal pulsed once more, giving him another jolt of energy even as he hesitated: doubt flared in his heart.
"You are the last hope for this world, Rein," the dragon continued. "This world does not need destruction; it needs healing. You can still turn back. It is not too late."
But Rein shook his head, the fire of vengeance burning once more. "I don't need healing. I need to end this."
With his own magic unleashed, he set free an intensity no less than what could shake the air around him. The dragon raised its wings, and its whole form brighter than the sun, as it charged the incoming wave.