The morning air was heavy with an unsettling silence, broken only by the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot. Kai and Kisuke trudged through the forest, their minds clouded with the aftershocks of everything they had just witnessed. Neither of them could quite grasp the horror of what Reina had done, nor could they shake the eerie sensation that they weren't just dealing with a woman seeking power—they were up against something far more insidious.
Kai stopped, his head throbbing as the rain began to fall, each droplet adding weight to his thoughts. "Kisuke… are we sure whatever the hell we just witnessed was real? I mean, the way she reached out to me… that chill, it felt almost…" His voice trailed off, unsure whether it was the power of Adolla or something far worse.
Kisuke gave him a hard look, cutting him off. "You need to stop thinking about that and focus on how we're gonna stop her. Who knows what'll happen if she fuses with the Great Cataclysm? You're not the only one feeling the aftermath of what she did."
Kai nodded, reluctantly following Kisuke as the two continued their aimless trek through the forest, drenched and exhausted. As the rain poured harder, the duo sought shelter in a dilapidated shed, huddling inside for the night.
The Next Morning
Kai rubbed his temples, trying to clear the haze of confusion. "Hey, Kisuke... do you feel weird? I'm not getting any more visions. Think it's because of that fucking spell she put us through?"
"There's a possibility," Kisuke answered, his tone grim. "Adolla wasn't ripped from our bodies—it was copied. Those orbs Reina's using are copies, and they're making her strong... but I still feel Adolla's presence, just... not active."
Just then, an old man appeared seemingly out of nowhere, overhearing their conversation. He had an odd, amused smile on his face, as if he knew something they didn't.
"Well, well… Adolla, you say?" he crooned, stroking his graying beard. "You young whippersnappers think you know a lot, but you don't know nearly enough... that's for sure." He chuckled to himself, watching their confused expressions. "Hehe, sorry for the outburst, but talk about Adolla—now, that's a fun topic for me!"
Kisuke's eyes narrowed. "And what the hell do you know about it, old man? You're talking like you've been romantically involved with a being that strong. You lying old head, we mean business."
Kai cut in, "Yeah, you don't know shit—"
Before he could finish, the old man moved with surprising speed, striking Kai in the gut with a powerful blow that sent him crashing into a boulder.
"I'd watch what you say, boy," the old man warned, his voice low and steady. "I may be old, but I'm way more experienced with Adolla than either of you two could ever be. Now pick him up and walk with me. I'll show you what you're dealing with." His eyes glinted with a mysterious wisdom. "I sense an awakening in you two."
Kisuke helped Kai to his feet, the latter groaning as he regained his bearings. They followed the old man, who led them through the woods to an ancient stronghold—a structure that had clearly been through countless battles, now barely hanging on by the energy of the Cataclysm herself.
"This is where the old energy of my mistress lies," the old man said, his voice thick with nostalgia and sorrow. "I'm showing you this because I trust that when you enter, you'll awaken your true potential and bring an end to her power being misused."
Kisuke and Kai exchanged wary glances, then nodded in agreement. The old man motioned to the massive door, instructing them to touch it and concentrate, hoping to transport them to the inner dimension of Adolla. But just as they were about to do so, a golden flare shot down from the sky, signaling a new arrival.
Captain Shin emerged from the smoke, his body still scarred from his earlier defeat by Red Howl, yet somehow still moving with purpose.
"Well, well, well," Shin sneered, "Where do you two think you're going? Trying to wander into a restricted area, are we?"
Kai was having none of it. "Step aside, asshole! There are bigger things going on than your pathetic little power struggles!"
Kisuke stepped forward, his eyes cold. "Didn't Red Howl beat you into the dirt a while back? You really want to play the hero now? What side are you on, Shin? This isn't some prophecy—back the hell off!"
Before they could say more, the old man stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Captain Shin. "I'll handle this. Are you a friend or foe?" His voice was calm, but the threat was unmistakable. "Depending on your answer, I'll decide how badly I'm going to beat you."
Shin sneered, "What's this old fool going to do?"
Without warning, the old man blitzed forward, his movements so fast they were nearly invisible. Shin barely had time to react before a massive punch slammed into his gut, knocking the wind out of him. The old man's laughter rang through the air, dark and mocking.
"This might be easier than I thought!" he taunted, immediately following up with a rapid series of strikes, each punch and kick landing with brutal precision. Shin staggered back, barely able to keep up with the relentless barrage.
Shin gritted his teeth and fired back, golden flames erupting from his fists. He swung them wildly, trying to land a blow, but the old man was already gone, his body a blur of movement. The flames grazed nothing but air as the old man weaved through them with ease, his ancient body still carrying the weight of decades of experience.
"You're too slow," the old man whispered, dodging another punch and countering with a brutal sidekick that sent Shin flying across the clearing.
Shin staggered to his feet, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His golden flame flared to life once more, but his body was clearly slowing. He had underestimated the old man.
"You can't keep up with me," the old man smirked, drawing from years of accumulated wisdom. He moved in again, each blow a textbook-perfect strike—jab to the ribs, elbow to the stomach, heel kick to the chest. The sound of Shin's armor cracking under the assault rang out like thunder.
"Now, get out of my way," the old man said, finishing the combo with a spinning roundhouse that sent Shin crashing into a nearby tree.
"You're done," the old man hissed. Shin tried to rise, but the damage had been done. His body was too battered to fight effectively.
Meanwhile, Kai and Kisuke had no time to waste. As the battle raged on, they touched the door, concentrating their energy. A blinding light enveloped them, and in an instant, they were transported into a vast, glowing hallway lined with the pulsating energy of Adolla. At the end of the hallway stood an obelisk—a dark, ominous presence that seemed to call to them, beckoning them deeper into the realm.
The door slammed shut behind them as they ventured further, now separated in the vast expanse of Adolla's domain, each unsure of what awaited them next.