In a display of power that defied human understanding, Azar raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The sound echoed with cosmic resonance, and in that instant, the void children vanished from Earth's atmosphere, finding themselves suddenly stranded on the Moon's desolate surface. Their forms flickered in confusion within the airless void, temporarily neutralized by Azar's effortless display of superiority.
Without wasting a moment, Azar descended toward the heavily fortified Nevada facility, his form cutting through the black rain like a falling star. He materialized directly in the main laboratory, his arrival causing energy monitors to shatter and emergency lights to flare.
Before him, encased in a crystalline cylinder that glowed with painful intensity, lay Naira. Dozens of luminescent filaments connected her small body to the massive weapon that had annihilated Pluto, draining her essence with mechanical precision. Sarah Mitchell stood protected by a phalanx of elite guards, their advanced weapons humming with charged energy.
"Step away from the child," Mitchell commanded, her voice tight though her posture remained defiant. "This extraction is necessary for human survival. Your very existence proves we need this power. We're protecting our species from cosmic threats."
Azar's gaze remained fixed on Naira's peaceful yet pained expression. The celestial patterns on his skin pulsed with soft, rhythmic light as he analyzed the energy transfer matrices. "You speak of protection while committing the ultimate violation," his voice resonated through the chamber, calm yet filled with cosmic judgment. "This child chose life, chose to experience existence in all its beauty and pain. You have reduced her to a power source, becoming the very monsters you claim to fear."
Across the globe, the black rain intensified into a torrential downpour. Emergency broadcasts confirmed the terrifying truth - direct eye contact with the rain caused immediate and irreversible blindness. Hospitals overflowed with victims clutching their faces, their world suddenly and permanently darkened. The once-bustling streets of major cities transformed into scenes of chaos as people stumbled blindly, their screams echoing through the unnatural twilight.
It was amidst this chaos that Elyra and General Zhang made their escape. While Mori and his officers struggled to navigate the blinding deluge, the duo slipped through the confusion, boarding a waiting submarine that would transport them to China. The very phenomenon that threatened humanity had become their unexpected salvation.
In a Tokyo command center struggling to maintain order, one of the void children materialized before Detective Mori's team. It appeared as a shimmering darkness that seemed to drink the light from the room.
"The being you know as Azar is the catalyst for your world's suffering," it communicated directly into their minds, its voice like frozen starlight. "His presence violates cosmic laws. The fractured sky, the poisonous rain, the very sickness in your children - all are symptoms of his disruption. He must be eliminated to restore balance."
Mori raised his service weapon, his face a mask of grim determination. "I don't make deals with monsters," he stated coldly. "You're all threats to my people." He gestured sharply to his team. "Fire at will!"
The bullets passed through the entity harmlessly, their trajectories warping around its form. The void child simply dissolved into shadows, leaving behind only a psychic echo of mocking laughter.
The entity reappeared across the city where Dimitri Orlov stood observing the rain's devastating effects from a protected vantage point.
"Your practical approach is... refreshing," the void child communicated to Orlov. "Unlike the idealistic detective, you understand that true solutions require decisive action. We share common interests."
Orlov studied the shimmering entity, a slow, calculating smile spreading across his face. "I've always believed in using the right tool for the job," he replied. "Tell me more."
At a overwhelmed Tokyo police station, chaos reigned as officers struggled to assist the growing number of blindness victims. Through the confusion, an elderly Japanese woman fought her way to the front desk, her traditional kimono soaked through with the black rain. She leaned heavily on an ornately carved wooden cane, her movements suggesting great age yet surprising determination.
"Please," she begged the harried desk sergeant, her voice trembling yet clear. "My granddaughter Naira - the Americans have taken her. She's just a sick child! You must help me save her!"
The sergeant, overwhelmed by the crisis and suspicious of yet another strange occurrence, began to dismiss her - until he noticed something impossible. Despite the blinding rain that had affected everyone else, the old woman's eyes were clear, focused, and completely unaffected by the toxic downpour. Her gaze held a depth and knowing that seemed to see straight through to his soul.