Chapter 10: The Red Queen's Fall
The cosmic rift trembled faintly as Silvaris' ancient power stretched across realms. In a shimmer of golden light, he and the young Liriya emerged on a distant planet far removed from Earth's chaos. Behind them lay the echoes of battle, but for the moment—this was sanctuary.
Silvaris exhaled softly, his silver eyes narrowing as he scanned the tranquil alien horizon. At least here, she will be safe.
Silvaris: "Liriya, perhaps it is best that the Golden Luminara Wave continues to reside within you. For the balance of the Cosmos… it is safer this way."
Liriya bowed her head, gratitude shining in her tear-brimmed eyes.
Liriya: "Lord Silvaris, I… I owe you everything. Because of you, I was able to protect not only myself but also my parents."
Her voice quivered as memories resurfaced. Then, with hesitation, she added:
Liriya: "I know about you and the Goddess of Dreams… Lady Nyxara. I know how deeply you loved her. You tried countless times to reach her dream realm… and when you finally succeeded, your own power spiraled out of control. The dream world was consumed by darkness. And to save you, Lady Nyxara… she sacrificed herself."
Her tone softened, as if retelling a tragedy carved in the stars themselves.
Liriya: "It was like a love story cut short before its end. But don't lose hope, Lord Silvaris. With Orin's help, we will free her."
For a moment, the ever-stoic Silvaris' gaze faltered. He looked away, hiding the storm in his heart. Yet a faint smile touched his lips.
Silvaris: "You are wiser than your years, Liriya. For a mere child of Earth… you bear remarkable maturity."
Just then, Liriya's mother stirred faintly in the distance. Liriya rushed to Silvaris.
Liriya: "Lord Silvaris! My parents… how long will they remain unconscious?"
Silvaris: "A few hours at most. Do not be afraid. Should they awaken too soon, I will place them back into a gentle slumber. They will not suffer."
Relief washed over Liriya, and she bowed deeply once again.
Liriya: "Thank you… thank you for everything."
---
Meanwhile, on Earth, nearly five hours had passed.
The battlefield lay in uneasy silence. Orin stood tall, cloaked in the ominous aura of his new form—a manifestation born from the loneliness of his childhood, the hollow ache of his soul. His eyes glowed an abyssal black, and his body bore markings that resembled void-like holes, each pulsing with darkness.
Orin: "Fresnacio. Karisila. Be prepared. Haizuna could appear at any moment."
Fresnacio clenched his fists, his face shadowed by sorrow and determination.
Fresnacio: "Then it is time… time to end my sister's madness once and for all."
A tense silence stretched—until the ground split with a sinister force. Suddenly, Karisila and Fresnacio were yanked backward as if dragged by unseen chains. Behind them, a swirling violet-black hole tore into existence, devouring everything in its path.
Orin: "So… she's here."
Karisila and Fresnacio cried out, helpless as the vortex pulled them closer.
But before despair could take root, Orin sprinted forward. Darkness flared around his fingertip, condensing into a searing beam of shadow. With precision, he fired into the heart of the vortex. The attack shattered the anomaly, dissolving it into tendrils of pure darkness that were instantly absorbed back into Orin's void-holes.
The blackness rippled across his skin, and his aura surged.
Orin (grimly): "So… this Darkness Essence allows me to absorb abilities themselves. Dangerous. But useful."
---
Then—she appeared.
Haizuna. Queen of Planet Uttopis. Sister to Fresnacio. Her arrival was both regal and terrifying. Floating with an aura of violet and crimson, her beauty was tainted by cruelty. Yet behind her cold eyes lingered a trace of sadness… one that cut deeper into Fresnacio's heart.
He staggered forward, torn between love and betrayal.
Fresnacio: "Haizuna… why? Why are you doing this? Why chase after the Luminara Waves? Why slaughter innocents? Why don't you become a merciful queen and live happily?"
His voice broke.
Fresnacio: "You could still turn back. You could still return to being the merciful queen of Uttopis, the sister I loved. Please… tell me why you chose this path."
But Haizuna only laughed, a sharp, mocking sound.
Haizuna (smirking): "So the boy managed to counter my Violet Luminara Wave? Impressive. I didn't expect that. Had it struck true, you'd all have been sealed within my Violet Dimension forever."
Her gaze hardened as she turned to her brother.
Haizuna: "And you, dear innocent Fresnacio… I have no interest in your pleas. I want only your Orange Luminara Wave. You are a traitor to our planet… and I will deliver your punishment myself."
Fresnacio's sorrow gave way to fury.
Fresnacio: "Then so be it! If you admit to your cruelty, then I'll show you no mercy either. You are no longer my sister—you are a tyrant, drowning in the blood of millions. And to show mercy to a tyrant is… a crime itself."
Orin stepped between them, his voice calm but commanding.
Orin: "Enough. Fresnacio, stand back. If you fight her, you'll only throw your life away. This battle is mine."
With that, Orin lunged forward. His fist cut through the air, aimed straight at Haizuna's chest. She dodged, countering with a sharp kick, but Orin leapt high—his agility unnatural. From one of his void-holes, a spectral fist burst forth and smashed into Haizuna, sending her crashing across the battlefield onto a crumbling building.
Seizing Fresnacio, Orin dashed away with ninja-like swiftness, scaling walls and darting across rooftops with inhuman speed.
Fresnacio (struggling): "Orin! Where are you taking me?"
Orin: "Somewhere far from the city. If we fight her here, everything will be reduced to ash."
Moments later, they reached a dense jungle. The air was thick with silence—until suddenly, a scarlet flash split the forest. The ground groaned and caved inward, as though crushed beneath a thousand times its natural weight. Trees sank like stones into the earth.
Orin set Fresnacio down, his eyes narrowing.
Orin: "What… kind of power is this?"
High above, Haizuna hovered, her body shimmering with crimson light. Her laughter echoed ominously.
Haizuna: "Surprised? My Red Luminara Wave grants me control over mass itself. I can increase or decrease it at will. That's how I fly—I've reduced my own mass to that of a bird. And no matter how many times I use it, the ability leaves no biological strain on me."
She raised her hand. Crimson energy flared, and claws of living red light extended from her fingers—sharp, deadly, unnatural.
Haizuna (mocking): "One scratch, and your body's mass will increase a hundredfold. Imagine it—your bones shattering under the weight of your own flesh."
The battle resumed, faster and deadlier than before. Orin dodged her relentless strikes, weaving through the collapsing jungle. Every tree she touched with her claws splintered apart, dragged down into the earth's depths.
Haizuna: "How long can you run, child? In the end, you'll die like the rest."
Orin (defiant): "Not today."
But her claws stretched suddenly, piercing through the air. One drove deep into Orin's shoulder. He gasped, blood spilling freely.
Haizuna (grinning): "Fool. Did you think I revealed all my tricks? Now… you're finished. Each claw carries a thousand times the weight. Five claws… that's five thousand times your mass. The moment they strike, your body will collapse into dust."
The claws descended—yet in that instant, Orin's void-holes shifted, converging upon his wound. The claws pierced into them instead, disappearing into the portals.
Haizuna (shocked): "What?! Impossible!"
Above her, the remaining void-holes reappeared, opening like black suns. From them, her own claws emerged—only now aimed at her head.
She barely had time to scream before the attack struck. The claws impaled her skull, and her mass multiplied uncontrollably. Bones cracked. Organs ruptured. Her entire body became impossibly heavy.
The ground below shattered. Lava erupted as Haizuna's colossal weight dragged her down, deeper and deeper, until at last she plunged into the Earth's core.
Her voice echoed faintly, filled with agony and disbelief.
Haizuna: "My… my power… how could it… turn against me…"
Her words dissolved in fire. The Red Queen of Uttopis was no more.
---
Orin collapsed onto one knee, blood dripping from his wounded shoulder. Slowly, the enchantment binding his body faded. He forced himself upright and leapt clear of the collapsing jungle.
Outside, Fresnacio waited anxiously.
Fresnacio: "Orin! Are you alive?"
Orin stumbled into view, his form returning to normal. His face was pale, his shoulder torn—but his eyes still burned with determination.
Orin: "I'll live. The wound will heal. More importantly—your sister… Haizuna is gone. She won't be coming back."
Tears welled in Fresnacio's eyes, though he forced a faint smile.
Fresnacio: "Thank you, Orin. You saved us all. You ended her suffering… even if it cost you your own blood."
Orin gazed into the distance, his voice low and steady.
Orin: "I didn't do it for glory. I did it because I swore… no matter what, I would protect Liriya. And the rest of them."
The jungle lay in ruins, the earth still smoldering with Haizuna's final fall. But amidst the ashes, a fragile hope flickered to life.
The war for the Luminara Waves was far from over. Yet in this moment, Orin stood undefeated.