The battlefield had finally fallen silent. Only the faint hum of the teleportation pads and the soft clinking of armor remained. Alicia knelt beside Flux, clutching his face between trembling hands.
Alicia: "Flux… a-are you okay?" Her voice cracked like glass.
Zygord glanced at them, his usually unreadable face showing a rare flicker of concern.
Zygord: "He's unconscious again…"
White exhaled slowly, his gaze soft but sharp at the same time.
White: "Well… it's better than losing him, right?"
Alicia closed her eyes and whispered, as if the words themselves were a prayer.
Alicia: "Thank God…"
---
The Tense Circle
The group stood in a wide circle, the air heavy with fatigue and unspoken questions. Flux's armor had dissolved completely now, leaving him looking almost fragile—nothing like the terrifying figure he had been just minutes ago. His fingers twitched slightly, and for a moment everyone thought he might wake.
Vantres was the first to break the silence.
Vantres: "Hmm… but her presence is gone. I think…"
White nodded, his eyes lowering as though staring into some far-off memory.
White: "Yeah."
Flux's eyelids fluttered open for a brief second. His whole body trembled as he tried to lift his head.
Flux (weakly): "M–m–Miss… c-can… I ask something from you?"
Alicia's heart jumped; tears pricked her eyes.
Alicia (almost crying): "Y–yes. Anything you want to ask. Please, I'll tell you everything…"
Flux's lips quivered.
Flux: "W–who… are… you? I… ask that 'cause my mom is not that emotional… she knows I'm strong… b–but… you feel like someone I need to kno—"
Before he could finish, Flux's body went slack. His head rolled to the side, unconscious once more.
Alicia's arms tightened around him, tears slipping freely down her cheeks.
White crossed his arms.
White: "He really has super IQ, I think."
Vantres gave a dry chuckle.
Vantres: "Yeah… but first give him rest. Ixia, Alicia—take him to his room and heal him. Okay?"
Alicia & Ixia: "O–okay."
They lifted Flux carefully, his head lolling between them. With one last worried glance back at the group, they disappeared into the corridor toward the living quarters.
---
Questions That Must Wait
Mike leaned against a cracked pillar, arms folded. His tone was casual but his eyes were sharp.
Mike: "Hmm… can I ask, Mr. God… why is Flux that important to you?"
White didn't answer immediately. He stared out toward the horizon where the collapsed portal had been, the sky stained in streaks of crimson and purple.
White (quietly): "You'll understand when the time comes. Just wait. Also… time is almost here. When Flux wakes up, I'll tell the history of Sectorism. For now…" His eyes flicked back to Mike. "…just go and rest. All of you."
Mike tilted his head but said nothing.
In the background, Hiko and Piko were already fidgeting.
Hiko: "Hey, Piko. Let's go. Boss is gone."
Piko: "Yeah. Fast."
They marched back toward their small battleship. The servants bowed as the two approached, clearly intimidated.
Piko: "Hey—start this thing fast."
A servant stepped forward hesitantly.
Servant: "B–but, lord?"
Piko (snapping): "Do you want to die yet? Just warp somewhere!"
Servant: "O–okay!"
A blinding blue light filled the chamber as the warp engines engaged. In a heartbeat, their ship was gone.
---
Hidden Relief
Silvana, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. Her voice was low, almost childlike.
Silvana: "L–lord… is Fruxiya…?"
White shook his head.
White: "Nope. It's all a plan. She's safe. We created a supreme binder before the fight so she's protected."
Silvana let out a long, shuddering breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Silvana: "Thanks… it's a relief she's safe."
White gave a faint smile.
White: "For now, go rest."
Silvana nodded.
Silvana: "O–okay."
The chamber gradually emptied as everyone dispersed. Only the soft echo of their footsteps remained.
---
Time Skip — A Week Later
The White Castle's medical wing was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of a diagnostic orb hovering above Flux's bed. Sunlight streamed in through translucent crystal walls, casting soft rainbows across the room.
Flux lay still, his face pale but peaceful. Ixia sat at the foot of the bed, head resting in her hands. Alicia was by his side, fingers gently brushing through his silver hair.
After nearly seven days, his fingers twitched. Then his eyes opened, unfocused at first but slowly sharpening.
Flux (weakly): "Ugh… w–where… am… I?"
His voice was hoarse, but it was his voice—no strange echoes, no hidden power behind it. Just Flux.
Alicia's heart leapt. She pressed a hand over her mouth to stifle the sob threatening to escape.
Alicia: "Flux… you're awake…"
Ixia leaned forward, relief softening her usually sharp features.
Ixia: "Don't move too much. You've been asleep for a week."
Flux blinked, looking between the two women.
Flux: "A… week?"
Alicia nodded, tears sliding down her cheeks again.
Alicia: "Yes. But you're safe now. Just rest."
Flux frowned slightly, his mind already moving faster than his still-recovering body.
Flux: "Miss… can I… ask again…? Who are you… really?"
Alicia froze. Ixia looked at her, equally tense.
Alicia forced a small smile but her hands were trembling.
Alicia: "Rest first. I promise… I'll tell you everything when you're stronger."
Flux studied her face, then closed his eyes with a faint sigh.
Flux: "O–okay…"
His breathing evened out as he slipped back into a light sleep, exhaustion pulling him under once more.
---
Outside the Room
White stood in the hallway, his arms crossed as Vantres approached.
Vantres: "So… he's awake?"
White nodded slowly.
White: "Yeah. But not for long. His mind's still recovering."
Vantres leaned against the wall.
Vantres: "You know… he's starting to ask questions. The kind you've been avoiding."
White gave a faint smirk.
White: "I know. And soon, he'll have his answers. But for now, he needs to heal."
Vantres studied White's face for a moment.
Vantres: "Sometimes you look more like a father than a god, you know that?"
White chuckled softly, the sound echoing through the empty corridor.
White: "Maybe. Or maybe I just know what's coming."
The two men stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the future pressing down on them both.
---
To Be Continued…