Ari walks down the empty hallway, his hands buried in his pockets.
"Yeah, right. Like I'd go to sleep after what we just returned from." he mutters, turning the corner toward the training room.
When he gets there, he drops his backpack onto the floor.
Ari walks over to the control pad and cranks the gravity to its maximum setting. The weight in the room shifts immediately. Pressing heavy against his muscles.
He selects: SDR Bot: Max Difficulty Sparring.
The bot transforms, taking on a humanoid form, tall, and armored. It gets into a fighting stance, it's eyes flashing red.
Ari exhales, pulling off his tracksuit jacket and letting it fall on the floor. Purple mana erupts around him.
He rolls his neck. The bot lunges first.
…
Somewhere far, in a densely populated country up north, known for its advanced cities and spotless streets, lays a country named Shiawase.
A hooded man stumbles through an alley, knocking over trash cans as he walks.
"H-here, I got some food for you, my boy." he says, manic and trembling, holding up a small glass jar.
Inside, a fist-sized insect-like creature taps frantically against the glass.
"You must be hungry, my boy," the man says again, crouching beside it. He pulls out a half-eaten sandwich from his pocket and tears off a piece, crumbling it into the jar's lid.
"I hate this fucking world…" he mutters, laughing under his breath as the insect begins to eat.
The creature glows faintly blue, light flickering through the cracks of its shell. The man watches, eyes staring in awe.
"There, keep eating, my boy… wow."
His laughter grows harsher, angrier.
"This world is so entitled to their beliefs. They wouldn't even sell me a fucking sandwich because I don't believe in some stupid religion! I almost beat the crap out of the guy!"
His hands tremble as he forms mana between them, blue sparks flashing in the air.
"Ugh… it just makes me so fucking angry, you know? It pisses me off!"
He keeps talking, ranting, oblivious to the jar in his hands beginning to vibrate. The insect is shaking violently now, its glow pulsing brighter.
"If I had the power, I'd kill everyone who judged me in the past… That fucking bitch Veronica left me for some younger asshole too… maybe I'll start with him, huh?"
He laughs, unhinged, not noticing what's about to happen.
The jar shatters in his grip. Glass cuts across his fingers as he jerks back in surprise.
"What the!?" He freezes, watching as the insect writhes on the ground starts growing, swelling. The blue light bursting from its body until it towers over him, nearly three meters tall.
"M-m-m-my boy?" he stammers, backing into the wall as the creature's mandibles click.
"W-w-w-what the fuck is this?!" he says in shock.
The insect spreads its wings, before lowering itself until its claws hover near his face.
"W-what are you doing?! Stop!" the man shouts, his back pressed flat to the wall. He tries to duck, but the creature's claw clamps onto his chin, forcing its arm deep into his throat.
His scream cuts short, replaced by choking gurgles. A few seconds later, silence.
The insect retracts its claw slowly. The man's body twitches, then dies down.
'Humans… so fragile.' the creature thinks
After a moment passes.
The man moves again. His body bends forward into a crouch, his face unreadable, his voice hollow.
"My lord."
The insect straightens up, watching him. It starts stepping toward the alley's exit, the man following behind.
"Humans… all over the place… Me hungry." the creature thinks, stretching its limbs.
The insect opens its arms wide, and from beneath its carapace, thousands of smaller insects burst into the air.
They scatter across the city, flying through vents, open windows, cracks, forcing their way down human throats. One by one.
"Bring them to me." the insect commands, the swarm obeys.
…
Far away, atop a tall mountain in Roxanne, a country bordering Citrobal.
Two graves are freshly dug. The wind cold and at this altitude.
Mari, Mela, Jane, and Zodiak are there. All dressed in black. Skai's torn clothing already buried.
Prince sits beside them, motionless in his wheelchair.
"So, this is it, then?" Jane's voice is small, breaking.
"I'm sorry, Jane. The girl wouldn't tell us how to remove her ability." Mari replies, her arm around Jane's shoulders.
Zodiak sits alone on a rock, staring out at the horizon.
Mela stands in front of Skai's grave, unmoving, eyes down.
Jane starts to cry quietly, covering her face.
Just then, footsteps approach. Ivy, Crowley, and Capone arrive, dressed in mourning black.
"How is it going?" Ivy asks softly, checking on Jane and Mari.
Crowley quietly walks up and stands behind Mela, his teeth shivering silently.
Capone sits beside Zodiak, lighting a cigar.
"They were good men…" Capone murmurs.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. They were…" Zodiak says, voice distant, unfocused.
Capone removes his fedora and presses it to his chest.
"Addio, Fratelli."
Then, more footsteps arrive.
Jovi appears, walking with Carmelo close behind him. The group turns. Jane lifts her head from her hands and stares.
"That man… he… he looks like… Saint?" she says quietly.
"Yeah, that's his father." Mari replies quietly. Ivy rubs Jane's back as they both watch.
Carmelo scans the mountain impatiently. "I don't see my son, Jovi." he says, voice rough.
"He'll be here." Jovi answers coldly.
He walks to Skai's grave and crouches down, pressing a hand into the dirt.
'Skai… rest up, my friend. Look over us and Vida with all your might.'
"What's he doing here?" Zodiak mutters to Capone as they stare at Carmelo standing behind Jovi.
"I'm in the dark, same as you. I don't know nuthin'." Capone replies, blowing smoke into the air.
Mela and Crowley move closer, watching as Jovi finally stands. He steps toward Prince.
"Mari. I'll do it quickly."
Mari nods, her face unreadable. She leads Jane a few steps back. The rest of the group follow, forming a formation.
Jovi exhales, steadying himself.
"I know you'd want me to end this, Prince."
He places his palm on Prince's forehead. Prince's empty eyes stare up at him, lifeless. Jovi's hand trembles slightly.
Just as he gathers the strength to finish it, a voice cuts through,
"Wait!"
Mela runs forward, stopping Jovi.
"Mela?" Mari calls out, surprised.
Everyone watches as Mela kneels beside Prince and looks up at Jovi.
"Let me check his brain first, to… to see if he left us some final words. Maybe a message."
Jovi closes his eyes, breathes out, and steps aside.
"Go ahead."
Mela stands up and places her palm on Prince's forehead.
Her mana starts glowing faintly as she dives into his mind, flashes of his memory are covered in static and noise.
Then suddenly, words begin to form.
'Don't die like a dumbass, Saint. Live like you've got something to prove.'
Her breath catches.
'You'll be fine without me. You've got my fire… and none of my bad habits.'
'Now go on. Make 'em remember our name.'
Mela's eyes open wide. She jerks her hand back, gasping for air, falling onto the ground.
"Mela, are you okay?" Jovi kneels, offering a hand.
She grips it, unsteady.
"Y-yeah… it was just hard… going through it."
"Did you see anything?" He stares intently.
Mela hesitates, then shakes her head.
"I didn't." She lies, voice barely a whisper.
Jovi studies her face for a moment, then turns back to Prince.
Mela quietly steps back to the group, trying to hold her composure.
He raises his hand again.
"See you in heaven, brother."
A faint pulse of invisible energy shockwaves through the air.
Ending Prince's life.
The group bow their heads.
…
Two hours later, at the training room in Sangre De Reyes,
Ari sits on a bench, drenched in sweat, breathing heavy as he gulps down water. His tank top clings to his skin, muscles trembling with exhaustion.
'It's not enough… I have to get faster…' he thinks, clenching his jaw.
The water bottle runs out of water, he tosses it aside.
"Fuck this."
His stomach growls as he stands up. He sighs,
"Maybe I should call it a day."
The door slides open behind him.
Monita steps inside, holding Dori Dori close to her chest and a small white bag in her other hand.
Ari blinks. "Monita? What are you doing here?!"
She walks up silently, her steps light. She sits down on the bench and pats the space beside her.
"I saw you sneak in here. I think you're working hard, so I decided to get some rest, then make you some food." She says softly,
Ari stands frozen for a second, confused. He walks over slowly and sits down.
"Um… really? Uh… I don't understand…"
For the first time, Monita genuinely smiles as she opens the bag and takes out a small food box.
Ari's eyes widen in surprise, he blushes for a moment.
"You must be hungry." She picks up a piece of meat with chopsticks and holds it near his mouth.
Ari hesitates, then leans forward and lets Monita feed him, his eyes widen.
'This is… this is so delicious… did she do this for me?'
"Dori Dori suggested I do this for you. He likes you." Monita says softly.
"Dori Dori?" Ari mumbles, still chewing.
"Yes. Dori Dori, my younger brother." she replies.
He laughs softly, wiping his mouth.
"Thank you…"
…
Back in Roxanne, a cabin is silent. Fire crackles in the corner.
Jovi finishes his speech, honoring Skai and Prince. The air feels heavy, grief, and respect intertwined.
Just then, the front door opens…
A figure steps inside.
Saint.
Every head turns, the air tightens instantly. Everyone freezes.
'Saint?!' Jane's mind races.
'What is this mana pressure?!' Mari thinks, her eyes wide.
Carmelo's breath catches. His hands tremble slightly.
Jovi stands calm, watching Saint's arrival.
Saint walks forward slowly, his expression unreadable.
Jovi takes a step toward him and raises a hand in greeting,
but Saint walks right past him, not even glancing his way.
He makes his way straight to Jane. Jovi's eyes widen for a moment,
Jovi lowers his hand, smiling faintly to himself as he watches Saint's back.
'Saint?! Is that really you?' Carmelo thinks, frozen, eyes wide as his son approaches from across the room.
"Saint… great to see you here." Mari forces a laugh, her tone uneasy.
Saint reaches for Jane and wraps his arms around her.
Jane hesitates for a moment, then hugs him back tightly. Tears form in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Jane," Saint says softly.
Jane breaks down, clutching him closer.
Saint's eyes land on Carmelo with a frown across the room.
…