Chapter 12: Adolla Reawakened – Final Arc Pt. 3
The sight that unfolded before them left Kai and Kisuke speechless. The air in the ethereal realm hummed with an intense, otherworldly energy, thick with the presence of Adolla itself. The vast, shimmering hallways seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction, each one pulsating with a light that felt both distant and intimate, as if the very fabric of the universe was waiting for something.
Despite the separation between them, neither Kai nor Kisuke could deny the awe that filled them as they observed their surroundings. The space itself seemed alive, almost sentient, wrapping around them like a living thing, responding to their every step.
Kai's eyes darted around the hallway, looking for any sign of his companion. "Where the hell is Kisuke?" he muttered, rubbing his temple. "We touched the door at the same time... so why are we separated?"
Kisuke, in his own hallway, had similar thoughts racing through his mind. "This... this place isn't just some show. It's a trial. It has to be," he muttered under his breath. "It's testing us. I just know it."
With both boys now deeply entrenched in their separate trials, they slowly approached the Adolla orb that loomed ahead. A chill ran down Kai's spine as he hesitated, unsure of what would happen if he touched it. The orb, glowing faintly with an ethereal light, seemed to pulse in response to his presence, as if inviting him to step closer. He glanced around, half-expecting something to leap out at him, but there was nothing. It was just the orb.
As both boys reached out in sync, the air around them crackled with energy. They touched the orb in unison.
A sudden, blinding flash of light engulfed them. Kai staggered back, instinctively shielding his eyes as his heart raced in his chest. Kisuke, though a bit more composed, tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his plasma sword. The light dissipated as quickly as it had come, revealing a figure before them.
A ghostly figure, bathed in a soft, blue-white glow, hovered before them. Its form shimmered like a living mirage, eyes glowing faintly with an eerie calm.
Kai's heart skipped a beat, and he jumped back, nearly falling over. Kisuke, ever the fighter, immediately dropped into a defensive stance, ready for whatever came next.
"Woah, woah," the ghostly figure said, its voice soft but carrying an unmistakable power. "Calm down. You two act like you've never seen a faction of Adolla before."
Kai stumbled to his feet, still startled. "Warning! Next time, give me a heads up before you decide to jumpscare someone! And, of course, you're a damn ghost," he muttered under his breath.
Kisuke, eyes narrowing, stepped forward cautiously. "What do you mean by 'faction of Adolla'? We're here to see the mistress. We have to stop what's happening, and we need your help."
The figure's eyes flickered with a strange sadness, then motioned behind it.
Behind the figure, the air seemed to twist and swirl, forming a vision. The black ash of Adolla's previous form floated like smoke, her once-glowing skin now pale and muted. She was seated serenely, her eyes closed, as if lost in contemplation.
The spirit nodded to her, turning back to the two boys. "The mistress... she is Adolla, but she has taken on a new form, one that has been misused, corrupted. Her essence was to bring balance, but now it threatens to cause the cataclysm that will annihilate this universe."
Adolla herself opened her eyes slowly, her gaze settling on the two boys, an unreadable expression in her eyes. The stillness around her was oppressive, filled with the weight of centuries.
"I can already understand why you've come here," she spoke softly, her voice carrying a haunting, ancient tone. "My hobby... should have shown you this place... But the last faction of me, my last vestige, will disappear because of the misuse of my new form. The forces trying to merge with me are already too powerful."
Kai stepped forward, clenching his fists, determination flashing in his eyes. "Let us help stop that. The old man—he sensed Adolla in us. We can be reawakened with your help, we can stop this before it's too late."
Adolla's gaze softened for a moment, as if sensing the truth in their words. She sighed, her ethereal form shimmering. "I see... that's why I don't sense him here... He gave his last chance to you two."
Kai and Kisuke exchanged confused glances, both unsure of what she meant.
Kisuke spoke up, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean 'last chance'? What are you talking about?"
Adolla sighed, the weight of centuries heavy in her tone. "To put it simply, a human bound to a god such as myself can visit me only three times. These 'chances' are granted to the one who is bound to me. But... they're not replenished for another thousand years. And a human can only be bound to a god for ten thousand years... This is the tenth thousand year of my hobby's life."
Tears began to form in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. "He sacrificed his final chance... to you two."
Kai's face twisted in disbelief, but before he could respond, he snapped at her, his voice a little too loud for comfort. "Yo, stop all that crying!" He stepped forward, unshaken. "You'll be with the old man again. Just let us help you! You can trust me and Kisuke—together, we'll kick your new form's ass and make sure you're free from this mess!"
Adolla looked stunned, as if the words were something she never expected to hear. A skeptical expression crossed her face. "But how? I thought my essence was ripped away... that the Adolla cores were extracted by whoever used the red book."
Kisuke stepped up, more determined now. "It doesn't matter who did it. Sure, she was human, and she didn't know how to use the red book properly. But we still have our cores, and if you help us, we'll help you restore balance. You can trust us."
Adolla's form wavered slightly, and then she nodded slowly. "You're certain?"
Kai and Kisuke both nodded firmly. The spirit beside them, still hovering, nodded as well, seeming to recognize the sincerity in their words.
With a long, heavy sigh, Adolla spoke again. "Then... prepare yourselves. I will help you awaken your cores, and together, you will be ready for what's to come. But know this, young ones: Your training will not be easy. You'll face unimaginable trials to strengthen your abilities and unlock the full potential of Adolla within you."
The spirit beside them smiled, its form flickering. "Then let's begin."
The training that followed was intense, far beyond anything they had experienced before. Adolla's power surged through them like a wildfire, igniting their senses, pushing their bodies and minds to their limits. Every strike they made, every movement they learned, was more than just physical—it was an awakening of the very essence of Adolla that had been dormant within them.
Kai could feel the power surge within him, pushing him to new heights. His body felt lighter, yet more grounded, his movements becoming more fluid with each passing moment. Kisuke was no different, his plasma abilities evolving with a newfound intensity, each attack becoming more devastating, more precise. They had only begun to scratch the surface, but already, they felt a power stirring within them that could rival even the gods themselves.