Chapter 32: The Twelve Descend
The sky turned black.
Not dark.
Black.
The clouds above the ruined city twisted into enormous spirals, swallowing the moonlight until there was nothing left except a massive crimson glow hanging behind them.
Adrian stood on the edge of the ruined rooftop, his ice katana held tightly in his right hand.
Adriana stood beside him.
Her old whip was wrapped around her arm, crimson energy crawling across its surface like living fire.
Between them stood Rin Kaito.
He stared at the sky.
He didn't move.
He didn't speak.
For several seconds, the entire city remained silent.
Then—
BOOOOOOOM!
A shockwave exploded across the horizon.
Buildings that were already damaged shook violently.
Windows shattered.
Pieces of concrete fell from rooftops.
Adrian raised his arm to protect his face.
"What was that?!"
Rin's eyes narrowed.
"They're coming."
Adriana looked at him.
"Who?"
Rin slowly raised his head.
"The Twelve."
Another explosion shook the city.
This time, the clouds opened.
A gigantic crimson symbol appeared in the sky.
It looked like an eye.
But inside the eye were twelve smaller symbols.
One for each Elite Warrior.
Adrian tightened his grip on his katana.
"So that's them?"
Rin nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian stared at the symbols.
"Then tell me something."
Rin looked at him.
"Why are they coming here?"
Rin's expression became serious.
"Because they know you're alive."
Adrian's eyes widened slightly.
"And Adriana?"
"They know about her too."
Adriana stepped forward.
"Then let them come."
Her crimson whip snapped through the air.
CRACK!
The sound echoed across the rooftop.
Adrian glanced at her.
"You really want to fight twelve Elite Warriors at once?"
Adriana smiled slightly.
"No."
She tightened her grip.
"I want them to regret coming."
Rin almost smiled.
Almost.
But then his expression changed.
His eyes locked onto something in the distance.
"Wait."
Adrian followed his gaze.
"What?"
Rin pointed toward the opposite side of the city.
"There."
A dark figure stood on top of a broken tower.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
The figure wore a long black coat.
Its face couldn't be seen.
Adriana's expression changed.
"Another one?"
Rin shook his head.
"No."
He stared at the figure.
"That's not one of the Twelve."
The figure suddenly disappeared.
Adrian spun around.
"Where did it go?"
Rin's eyes moved across the rooftops.
"Don't chase it."
"Why?"
"Because whoever that is..."
Rin paused.
"...wanted us to see them."
A deep voice suddenly echoed across the entire city.
"RIN KAITO."
The sound came from everywhere.
Adrian and Adriana immediately became alert.
The voice continued.
"THE TIME OF HIDING IS OVER."
The sky split open.
A massive black gate appeared between the clouds.
It was enormous.
Hundreds of meters wide.
Chains made of dark energy surrounded it.
Then the gate opened.
KRAAAAAAAASH!
A wave of demonic energy poured from the opening.
Adrian's ice katana immediately reacted.
Ice spread across the rooftop beneath his feet.
Adriana's crimson energy flared.
Rin's coat moved violently in the pressure.
And then—
A figure stepped through the gate.
A woman.
Long black hair.
Golden eyes.
A dark crown.
Her presence alone made the entire city feel smaller.
Adrian stared.
"Asmodra..."
The original Demon Queen looked down at them from the sky.
Her expression was calm.
Almost amused.
"Adrian Sanchez."
Her voice echoed through the ruins.
"You've changed."
Adrian raised his katana.
"So have you."
Asmodra smiled.
"I haven't changed."
Her eyes became brighter.
"You simply survived long enough to see more of me."
Adriana stepped forward.
"Where are the others?"
Asmodra looked toward her.
"The others?"
She laughed softly.
"You mean my warriors."
The twelve symbols behind her began glowing.
"Of course."
One symbol disappeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Until all twelve began descending from the sky.
Rin's expression hardened.
"Get ready."
The first figure landed.
BOOM!
The rooftop cracked beneath his feet.
He was enormous.
His armor covered his entire body, and two curved horns extended from his helmet.
A massive sword rested across his shoulder.
The second landed behind him.
She was tall and thin, dressed in black armor covered with silver markings.
The third appeared on a nearby building.
The fourth landed in the street.
The fifth appeared behind Asmodra.
The sixth descended silently.
The seventh.
The eighth.
The ninth.
The tenth.
The eleventh.
And finally—
The twelfth.
But the twelfth did not land.
He remained floating above the others.
His face was completely hidden behind a white mask.
Adrian stared at him.
"Who's that?"
Rin didn't answer.
Adrian looked at him.
"Rin?"
Rin's eyes remained fixed on the masked warrior.
"I don't know."
Adriana's expression changed.
"You don't know?"
Rin shook his head.
"I know the identities of the Twelve Elite Warriors."
He looked at the masked figure.
"But I've never seen that mask."
The masked warrior slowly tilted his head.
Then he looked directly at Adrian.
Adrian felt something.
A strange pressure.
Not fear.
Recognition.
His ice katana began vibrating.
Adrian looked down.
"What's happening?"
The blade suddenly released a wave of freezing energy.
Rin noticed.
"Adrian."
"What?"
"Put the sword away."
Adrian looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because it's reacting to him."
The masked warrior raised one hand.
The ice around Adrian's feet shattered.
CRACK!
Adrian jumped backward.
Adriana immediately moved in front of him.
"Adrian!"
"I'm fine!"
The masked warrior lowered his hand.
He didn't attack again.
Instead, he spoke.
"Interesting."
His voice was calm.
Almost human.
Adrian stared at him.
"Who are you?"
The masked warrior said nothing.
Asmodra looked toward him.
"You've awakened early."
The masked warrior turned his head toward her.
"I was never asleep."
Asmodra's smile disappeared.
For the first time, Adrian saw something unusual in the Demon Queen's expression.
Caution.
Rin noticed it too.
"Everyone."
The Elite Warriors turned toward Rin.
Rin stepped forward.
"I know why you're here."
The First Elite Warrior finally moved.
Malraeth.
Her black cloak flowed behind her.
She stepped out from the other warriors.
"Then speak."
Rin stared directly at her.
"You're here because the dimensional breach failed."
Malraeth smiled.
"Continue."
"The ten alternate twins were supposed to become unstable after returning to their dimensions."
Adrian's expression changed.
"What?"
Rin continued.
"But they didn't."
Adriana looked at him.
"How do you know?"
"Because the portals are still active."
Adrian looked around.
The ruined buildings suddenly seemed different.
He could see them.
Faint blue lines.
Dimensional cracks.
They were everywhere.
Above them.
Below them.
Across the streets.
Between buildings.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"The portals..."
Rin nodded.
"They never completely closed."
Malraeth smiled.
"Exactly."
Adrian raised his katana.
"Then what do you want?"
Malraeth looked at him.
"Not what."
She pointed toward Adrian's sword.
"Who."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"What are you talking about?"
Malraeth's eyes narrowed.
"That weapon."
She looked at the ice katana.
"Where did you get it?"
Adrian looked down.
"It was mine."
Malraeth shook her head.
"No."
The word echoed across the rooftop.
"That weapon existed before you."
Adrian froze.
Rin looked at Malraeth.
"Enough."
Malraeth laughed.
"You still protect him."
Rin stepped forward.
"I protect my students."
Malraeth's smile became wider.
"That's your weakness."
Rin disappeared.
In an instant, he appeared directly in front of Malraeth.
His fist struck.
BOOM!
Malraeth blocked the attack with one arm.
The shockwave destroyed the rooftop beneath them.
Adrian and Adriana jumped backward.
Malraeth pushed Rin away.
Rin landed several meters away.
The First Elite Warrior slowly lowered her arm.
"You've gotten slower."
Rin wiped a small cut from the corner of his mouth.
"You're still talking too much."
He vanished again.
The battle exploded.
Rin and Malraeth collided across the rooftop.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Every strike sent shockwaves through the ruins.
Adrian watched.
Rin wasn't fighting like the man who had trained them.
He was fighting like someone who had spent years surviving against monsters.
Adriana looked at her brother.
"We can't just watch."
Adrian nodded.
"Agreed."
The second Elite Warrior suddenly appeared in front of them.
She swung her blade.
Adrian blocked.
CLANG!
The force pushed him backward.
Adriana's whip shot forward.
CRACK!
The crimson weapon wrapped around the warrior's arm.
Adriana pulled.
The warrior barely moved.
"You're strong."
Adriana's eyes narrowed.
"Thanks."
The warrior suddenly pulled the whip.
Adriana flew toward her.
But before the warrior could strike—
Adrian appeared.
His ice katana slammed against her weapon.
CLANG!
Adriana landed beside him.
"Nice save."
Adrian nodded.
"You're welcome."
The warrior stepped backward.
Her eyes glowed silver.
"You two fight together."
Adrian raised his sword.
"That's what twins do."
Adriana smiled.
"Now let's show her."
Their energy exploded.
Blue.
Crimson.
The two forces collided and formed a massive spiral around them.
The Elite Warrior raised her weapon.
"Interesting."
Adrian charged.
Adriana moved from the opposite side.
The warrior blocked Adrian's katana.
Adriana's whip came from behind.
She ducked.
The whip missed.
Adrian twisted his sword.
Ice exploded from the blade.
The warrior jumped.
Adriana pulled her whip upward.
The crimson energy struck the ground.
BOOM!
The explosion forced the warrior into the air.
Adrian jumped after her.
His sword became surrounded by freezing energy.
"Ice Breaker!"
He swung.
The warrior crossed her arms.
CRAAASH!
A massive wave of ice spread across the sky.
The warrior was thrown backward.
Adriana immediately followed.
Her whip extended.
It wrapped around the warrior's waist.
Adriana pulled her down.
The warrior crashed into the rooftop.
BOOM!
Adrian landed beside his sister.
They looked at each other.
"One down?"
Adriana shook her head.
"Definitely not."
The ice covering the rooftop shattered.
The Elite Warrior stood.
She wasn't injured.
Adrian's expression changed.
"That's bad."
Adriana nodded.
"Very."
The warrior removed her outer armor.
Dark energy erupted from her body.
The other Elite Warriors watched silently.
One of them laughed.
"Now this is interesting."
Another spoke.
"Let them fight."
A third said:
"We should see what the twins have become."
Adrian heard them.
"They're treating this like entertainment."
Adriana's eyes narrowed.
"Then let's ruin their show."
She charged.
Adrian followed.
The battle became faster.
The Elite Warrior moved with impossible speed.
Adrian blocked one strike.
Then another.
Then another.
Adriana attacked from the side.
The warrior dodged.
She kicked Adrian backward.
He crashed through a wall.
"ADRIAN!"
Adriana's whip shot toward him.
He grabbed it.
"I'm okay!"
He pulled himself out of the rubble.
Blood wasn't visible.
But his breathing was heavier.
Adriana looked at him.
"Still standing?"
Adrian smiled.
"Always."
Then the masked warrior spoke.
"Stop."
Everything stopped.
Every Elite Warrior froze.
Asmodra turned toward him.
Even Malraeth stopped fighting Rin.
The masked warrior slowly descended.
His feet touched the rooftop.
He walked toward Adrian.
One step.
Then another.
Adrian raised his sword.
"Don't come any closer."
The masked warrior stopped.
He stared at Adrian.
Then he raised one hand.
The ice katana began glowing.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"What's happening?"
The sword suddenly pulled itself from his hand.
Adrian tried to hold it.
It was impossible.
The weapon flew through the air.
The masked warrior caught it.
Adrian's heart dropped.
"Give it back."
The masked warrior examined the blade.
"This is not your weapon."
Adrian clenched his fists.
"It chose me."
"No."
The masked warrior looked at him.
"You chose it."
Adrian didn't understand.
"What does that mean?"
The masked warrior turned the sword.
A strange symbol appeared along the blade.
Adrian had never seen it before.
Rin's eyes widened.
"No..."
Malraeth looked at Rin.
"You recognize it."
Rin didn't answer.
Malraeth smiled.
"Of course you do."
Adriana stepped toward Rin.
"What is that symbol?"
Rin's voice became quiet.
"It belonged to the first dimensional warrior."
Adrian looked at him.
"Who?"
Rin stared at the sword.
"The original Adrian."
Silence.
Adrian's expression changed.
"The original... me?"
Rin nodded.
"Before the ten alternate dimensions were created."
Adriana looked at her brother.
"What are you saying?"
Rin continued.
"Those alternate twins weren't copies."
Adrian's eyes widened.
"They were fragments."
The masked warrior slowly turned toward Rin.
"Now you understand."
Rin's expression hardened.
"The ten dimensions weren't created randomly."
Malraeth smiled.
"They were created from a single source."
Adrian stepped forward.
"Me?"
"No."
The masked warrior answered.
"Something older."
The entire sky suddenly shook.
The twelve symbols above them merged.
A gigantic dimensional crack opened behind Asmodra.
And from inside that crack came something neither Adrian nor Adriana had ever seen.
A hand.
Massive.
Covered in black armor.
It grabbed the edge of the dimensional tear.
Everyone stopped.
Even Asmodra looked upward.
The hand pulled.
The crack widened.
Rin's eyes widened.
"Impossible."
Malraeth looked at him.
"You know what that is."
Rin slowly shook his head.
"I know what it means."
Adrian raised his voice.
"Then tell us!"
Rin turned toward him.
His expression was more serious than Adrian had ever seen.
"The Twelve aren't the final enemy."
Adriana looked at the sky.
"Then what is?"
Rin looked directly at the enormous hand.
"The reason the dimensions exist."
The hand pulled again.
The sky split open.
A gigantic silhouette began emerging from the darkness.
Asmodra suddenly raised her hand.
"Everyone."
The twelve Elite Warriors turned toward her.
"Fall back."
Adrian froze.
Asmodra had ordered them to retreat.
The Demon Queen herself was retreating.
Malraeth looked surprised.
"You want us to leave?"
Asmodra stared at the dimensional tear.
"Yes."
Her voice was no longer amused.
"Because that thing doesn't serve me."
The masked warrior turned toward Adrian.
For the first time, his voice carried urgency.
"Adrian."
Adrian looked at him.
"What?"
The masked warrior threw the ice katana back.
Adrian caught it.
"Your sword isn't the key."
Adrian stared at him.
"Then what is?"
The masked warrior looked at Adriana.
"Her."
Adriana froze.
"What?"
The masked warrior pointed toward her crimson whip.
"The other half."
Adrian looked at his sister.
The crimson energy around her weapon suddenly changed.
The whip began glowing brighter.
Blue energy from Adrian's sword reacted.
The two weapons pulled toward each other.
Adrian tried to resist.
"Adriana!"
"I can't control it!"
The weapons released a massive wave of energy.
The entire city shook.
The ten dimensional cracks opened simultaneously.
And through each crack—
An alternate Adrian and Adriana appeared.
All ten dimensions.
All twenty alternate warriors.
But this time, they weren't fighting.
They were looking at the sky.
Every alternate Adrian raised his weapon.
Every alternate Adriana raised hers.
Then all of them spoke at exactly the same time.
"He's awake."
Adrian's blood ran cold.
Rin stared at the dimensional tear.
"What..."
The gigantic silhouette finally emerged.
Two enormous eyes opened in the darkness.
The masked warrior looked at Adrian.
"Now you know why the ten dimensions were never supposed to disappear."
Adrian raised his sword.
"Who is that?"
The masked warrior looked toward the creature.
"The first."
The creature's voice shook the entire world.
"ADRIAN."
Adrian froze.
The voice continued.
"COME BACK."
The ice katana cracked.
Adriana's crimson whip released a violent burst of energy.
Rin stepped forward.
"Adrian!"
The creature opened its massive hand.
Every dimensional portal began pulling toward it.
Buildings started collapsing.
The sky twisted.
The twelve Elite Warriors disappeared into the darkness one by one.
Asmodra vanished last.
But before she disappeared, she looked directly at Adrian.
Her expression was no longer one of confidence.
It was fear.
Then the darkness swallowed her.
Adrian stood frozen.
Adriana grabbed his arm.
"Adrian..."
He looked at her.
She was staring at the sky.
The creature's eyes were fixed on them.
Then the creature spoke one final sentence.
"You were never the original."
The world went silent.
Adrian's eyes widened.
The ice katana shattered in his hand.
And somewhere inside Adrian's mind—
A voice whispered.
Wake up.
TO BE CONTINUED