The ether spear that kisses the air to the right of Zelos' head stops him in his tracks, breath caught in his throat as the shot misses him and lands elsewhere before the Aegis. The air then stills, all of Zelos' body tense as he stares wide-eyed at where Kratos' ether landed, as he takes in the other blade's words.

He doesn't want to let Zelos go? When he's stolen away his freedom selfishly, undeserving of it as he doomed the rest of the world for it? Zelos grits his teeth. Why? Anyone with half a brain would let him go. It's the right thing.

He deserves this.

Zelos turns around again, slowly, face carefully hidden behind a blank mask as he regards Kratos, as he tucks away all his fear to the bottom of his being. A breathless chuckle escapes him. "What, you plan to stop me?" he asks, slowly breaking into a smile that is anything but gentle. "You really think you can take me on?"