The Divine Hall crackled with a strange silence after White's voice faded. His tone was calm, steady, but every word carried a weight like the toll of an ancient bell.
White: "Now… meeting dismissed. Return to your stations. Prepare yourselves."
The servants, generals, and warriors all bowed in unison.
Everyone (roaring together): "YES, MY LORD!"
The sound shook the pillars of the holy chamber, echoing like a war drum.
But whispers began spreading even before the crowd dispersed.
Servant A (whispering): "Did you hear? Lady Ixia has returned…"
Servant B: "I must meet her after battle. Please, I've waited centuries just to see the one who tamed the untamable."
Servant C: "Hush! If Lord White hears…"
White raised one eyebrow, lips tugging into the faintest smile.
White (calm, yet firm): "Everyone… please. I understand your eagerness. But stay focused. When this battle ends, each of you shall have the honor of greeting her. Until then—discipline."
Everyone (shouting, relieved): "REALLY, LORD?!"
White: "Yes. Really."
For a moment, relief washed across the hall like a warm tide. But the air quickly cooled again as White's aura flared—reminding them this wasn't a festival, it was a war.
---
On White's Side
The generals gathered closer. HIDORI cracked his knuckles, lightning rippling across his skin like restless serpents. His gaze burned with battle-lust.
HIDORI: "So, Lord… I take it I'll crush Hikari myself?"
Before White could answer, one of the strategists began to speak:
Strategist: "Yes, HIDORI, you shoul—"
White (cutting in sharply): "No."
The word snapped like steel. The strategist froze. HIDORI tilted his head, confused, sparks buzzing at his fingertips.
HIDORI: "No…? But isn't that why you summoned me here?"
Zygord (leaning in, whispering with venom): "Hmph. What's the meaning of this, Lord White?"
White turned, his silver hair glowing like burning frost under the holy torches.
White: "Hikari comes not to destroy… but to terrify Flux. He believes fear will shatter the boy. But he is wrong. Completely wrong."
HIDORI narrowed his eyes.
HIDORI: "Then what is the truth?"
White (voice low, yet absolute): "You'll understand when the time comes."
The silence that followed was heavier than iron. Even Zygord swallowed his questions, sensing White's words were not to be challenged.
HIDORI (finally): "…Very well. Then who shall I face?"
White (softly, but with lethal intent): "Hiko and Piko."
The room trembled at the names. Even HIDORI's grin faltered for a moment.
HIDORI (grinning again, sparks crackling): "Heh. As you command."
---
On Flux's Side
Flux sat slumped against a white crystal bench, his hair messy, his ruby eyes half-lidded. His aura was faint, his body still fragile from two weeks of unconsciousness.
Suddenly, a soft telepathic voice brushed his mind like silk.
Alicia (telepathically): "Ixia, what about Fruxiya?"
Ixia (calm, concentrating): "Checking now…"
She closed her eyes. Her silver aura expanded, scanning across divine dimensions. After a long pause, her eyes snapped open.
Ixia: "She's on the ninety-ninth floor. Facing the last boss before the end."
Alicia: "Good… only one floor left."
Ixia (smiling faintly): "Yes. Once she comes, she'll be beyond anyone's expectations. Even she doesn't realize it yet."
Flux shifted nervously, tugging at his tunic. His ruby eyes darted between the two women.
Flux (softly, hesitating): "M-Mom…"
Ixia turned immediately, her expression melting with motherly warmth.
Ixia: "Yes, darling?~"
Flux scratched his cheek awkwardly, lips trembling.
Flux: "I-I know it's stupid, but… I'm hungry…"
For a moment, silence. Then Ixia's laughter bubbled like bells. She knelt, ruffling his hair.
Ixia: "Oh, sweetheart, that's not stupid at all. You've been unconscious for two whole weeks. Of course you're hungry."
Flux (jumping, shocked): "T-TWO WEEKS?!"
Ixia (smirking playfully): "Yes~ Two weeks. You worried us all, you know. But don't fret—everything is fine now."
Flux buried his face in his hands, groaning.
Flux: "Ughhh…"
Ixia (giggling, cupping his cheek): "Come. Let's eat. We have time before war finds us."
Flux nodded weakly. Then a voice cut in.
Alicia (hesitant): "F-F-Flux…"
Flux blinked.
Flux: "Y-Yes… angel ma'am?"
Alicia froze. Angel ma'am? Her heart skipped. Something twisted in her chest, unfamiliar yet sharp.
Alicia (thinking): Angel… ma'am? Does he not realize…?
She swallowed hard and forced a smile.
Alicia: "Tell me… how much do you love your real mother?"
Flux tilted his head. His ruby eyes narrowed as if something clicked.
Flux (thinking): Real…? Wait. Does she know?
He hesitated, then whispered:
Flux: "I… I don't know how to explain. But I love my mother more than anything. More than the stars, the skies, or even my own life."
Alicia's hands trembled, her heart aching at his words. She turned her face away, hiding tears.
---
On HIDORI's Side
Far beyond, Hikari clenched his fists inside his blazing warship. His golden hair fluttered in divine winds, his expression sharp as broken glass.
Hikari (snarling): "How much longer?!"
Servant (nervous): "We… we will arrive by Luthyra, my lord."
Hikari (growling): "Luthyra…? That's hours away. Ugh! My patience wears thin."
The air crackled around him, servants shrinking back in fear.
---
A Different Battlefield
Far, far away, in a realm unmarked on maps, the ground shivered like it would swallow itself whole. Massive cracks zigzagged across the land, glowing with molten fury.
The sky, however, was the opposite—pure, soft, so beautiful it hurt to stare at. Clouds shimmered like silver silk, as if angels might descend at any moment.
And in that paradox stood a titanic monster. Its body shook violently, limbs barely holding together. Its breath sounded like collapsing mountains.
SFX: THOOM… THOOM… THOOM…
Blood sprayed, staining the once-pure soil.
In front of the beast, a lone figure swayed on her feet. A girl. Fragile, yet unyielding.
Her hair shimmered like Silvanus-white snow, matted with streaks of crimson. Her skin was pale, smeared with blood, but her eyes—those eyes burned like galaxies.
She was trembling. Gasping for air.
Girl (panting): "Huff… huff… huff…"
But then, with a voice that shook heaven and earth, she declared:
Girl: "J-Just remember… who I am… The one who shredded you… the one who refuses to fall!"
The beast stumbled, nearly collapsing under her gaze.
She raised her hand, blood dripping down her fingertips, and roared:
Girl: "Remember my name! It's… ARIE FRUXIYA!!"
The sky cracked like glass. Lightning split the heavens. Even the land bowed, trembling before the name.
Her aura exploded outward like a tidal wave, so vast it swallowed the horizon. Monsters across dimensions shivered. Gods themselves turned their heads.
The era of waiting was over.
The mischief of fate had ended.
The true storm had arrived.