Ruo Qing's hands trembled as cold light shimmered off the shards of mirrors swirling around her.
"I am not a pawn of either of you," she declared firmly. "Time's chains should never decide our love."
Suddenly, the Mirror Cathedral trembled. Shards of glass fell from the walls, swirling in a storm of fragments.
A power unlike any before surged through her—the power of the Mirror Weaver.
She raised her hands. The shards obeyed her will, twisting and merging into a solid mirror.
Inside the mirror, two Murdochs appeared—one with tears in his eyes, the other icy and unreadable.
"Your fight is for me," she said, voice steady and resolute, "and for yourselves."
"I refuse to choose by sacrifice."
The future groom's expression twisted in rage as black flames roared wildly.
"You monster!" he spat. "Your very existence is an error in time!"
Murdoch surged forward, eyes locked on her protectively.
"Ruo Qing, I won't let him consume you."
Their powers clashed violently, time and memory colliding in an explosion of glass and light.
Ruo Qing focused, drawing the shards into a giant mirror shield, guarding herself and Murdoch.
Her mind cleared.
"We don't need fate's chains. We have our own choices."
Her voice pierced the time rift, echoing through all parallel worlds.
The shaking of the Mirror Cathedral slowed.
The future groom's figure blurred, then dissolved into radiant light.
Murdoch squeezed her hand, his gaze deep with love and certainty.
"No matter how many timelines, I will always find you."
Ruo Qing smiled through tears.
"And I will never let go again."