Kori collapsed to his knees, his arms limp at his sides as the final sparks of his transformation faded into the air. The brilliant stars that had spun around him were gone, leaving only silence and exhaustion. His chest heaved, sweat dripping down his forehead as he muttered under his breath:
"That power… was it really mine? I can't… I can't even keep myself standing…"
His mind battled with indecision. Part of him longed to stay within the safety of the ruins and recover; the other half urged him to return and face Hono, to see if his friends were still alive. But the ruins gave him no time to think.
A deafening rumble tore through the chamber. The ground cracked, walls trembled, and ancient stones began to collapse around him. The ruins of the Star Nexus were crumbling.
Kori gritted his teeth, scooped up the small dragon Kumo, and bolted forward. "Hold on!" he shouted. His body blurred as arcs of electricity surged around him—he activated his Thunder Nexus, wings of lightning tearing open the air. With a single flash, he blazed through the collapsing gates, escaping into open skies.
The light blinded him as he landed in a breathtaking city above. Towers rose like pillars of crystal, streets shimmered with radiant stone, and streams of golden energy floated through the air like ribbons.
Kori exhaled sharply. "So this is it… the Kingdom of Light."
The kingdom felt alive. Villagers bustled about in garments that glowed faintly under the ever-present radiance of the sky. The warmth of the place should have been comforting, but Kori felt only like an outsider—someone who didn't belong.
As he walked, he accidentally bumped into a villager, nearly knocking Kumo from his shoulder.
"Watch your step, traveler," the man said, steadying him. His eyes drifted to Kumo's bandaged wounds. "That dragon is hurt."
Kori immediately stepped back, guarded. "And what's it to you?"
The villager raised his hands with a calm smile. "Nothing. I just… can help. Bring him to my shop."
Every instinct told Kori not to trust strangers, yet something in the man's tone disarmed him. He followed reluctantly. Inside the shop, shelves of herbs, crystals, and glowing vials lined the walls. The villager carefully set Kumo down, pressing strange leaves against the wounds before channeling light from his palms. In moments, Kumo stirred awake, his breathing smooth, his eyes bright.
Kori blinked in disbelief. "Already healed? That fast?"
The villager handed the dragon back, smiling. "Sometimes, light works quicker than time itself."
Kori frowned, suspicious. "How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing," the man said simply. "Consider it a gift."
Kori narrowed his eyes. "A gift? From a stranger?"
"Not from a stranger," the man corrected gently. "From a friend you just haven't met yet."
Kumo leapt onto Kori's shoulder, purring softly as if agreeing. Kori gave a small exhale that almost passed as a laugh. "Guess I owe you one then. Thanks."
As he returned to the streets, his eyes caught something that stopped him cold. Plastered across the walls were posters—drawings of a man he knew all too well.
Kudo.
Kori's fist clenched, nails digging into his palm. "Kudo… I swear, I'll find you. And when I do, I'll knock some sense back into your thick skull."
He asked nearby villagers how to reach the Castle of Kings, and their answer was the same: "Follow the light path."
So he did. The luminous road stretched like a river of gold beneath his feet, guiding him through the kingdom. But soon, he noticed Golden Soldiers watching him, their polished armor gleaming brighter than the sun. Their eyes narrowed as he passed, suspicion following his every step.
Not wanting a confrontation, Kori ducked into shadowed alleys and crossed bridges over streams of light-water. Each turn was careful, quiet, precise—until Kumo suddenly leapt from his shoulder and bounded ahead.
"Kumo, wait!" Kori hissed, chasing after him. The dragon scampered to a small wooden shed tucked between glowing buildings, clawing at the door before nudging it open.
The moment the door creaked, chaos erupted inside.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" Kaosu shrieked, stumbling backward as his eyes locked on the small dragon. He clung desperately to Supira, who yelped and instinctively held onto him in return.
"K-Kaosu, calm down! It's just a dragon!" Supira stammered, though his voice cracked as he too clutched tighter.
Kaiyo sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "You two are hopeless…" he muttered, before cautiously stepping behind Kaji. Kaji, pale as snow, was trembling himself, clutching his staff like a child clutching a blanket.
The door swung fully open.
Kori stepped inside. His eyes immediately found Kumo, wagging its tail happily in front of Kaosu. Kori exhaled sharply, shaking his head.
"Sorry about him," he said, his voice calm but carrying weight. "He's still getting used to people."
The shed went silent. Every eye turned to Kori, and every breath hung in the air like smoke.
Kori's gaze slowly lifted—until it locked with Kaosu's.
The room grew heavy. Kaosu froze, his grip on Supira tightening like iron. His chest rose and fell rapidly, as if his heart itself were trying to escape.
And then—Kori smiled. A quiet, calm, knowing smile.
"…Long time no see."
The tension was unbearable, the kind that threatened to shatter with a single word. The chapter ends there, with the weight of the reunion pressing down on everyone.