Ash covered the earth—falling from the sky like snowfall, only heavier, grayer, and full of sorrow.
Xavier lay still in the rubble, dazed, his mind echoing with one name.
Was that... Misaki? he wondered, eyes scanning the smoke. No—it couldn't be. How would they even know where I am?
But there was no time to dwell. A groan pierced through the silence, carried by the wind like a warning. Not far off, a figure moved—pushing aside a massive slab of debris with raw grit.
Reginald.
Blood streaked his face, and his clothes were torn, but his stance was firm. Coughing out ash, he muttered irritably, "What the hell was that sneak attack? Everything today's been trying to piss me off."
Then, spotting Xavier, his expression twisted into a crooked grin.
"Ohh... I get it now," Reginald said, wiping blood from his lip. "You had that attack up your sleeve in case I backed you into a corner. Is that it?"
His tone wasn't angry—it was impressed.
"Didn't expect it. Can't say when you prepped it—but damn, you're one hell of a genius, Xavier."
Xavier groaned, forcing his body upright. Excalibur shimmered in his shaky grip, its edge scraped and dirty. Using it as a crutch, he stood, wobbling but alive.
"I don't know what delusion you're caught up in," Xavier said, breathing hard. "But one thing's certain. I'm not losing to you. Not today."
Reginald paused, confused. Xavier hadn't triggered the blast? He let out a short, incredulous laugh, running a hand through his singed hair.
"You didn't do it... Hah! Then what did hit me?"
But the truth didn't matter to him. Only one thing did: Xavier, bloodied and battered, still stood. Still defiant. Still ready to fight.
"That's what makes you interesting," Reginald muttered. "You don't know when to stay down."
Before either could act, voices rose in the distance. Reginald's men arrived, drawn by the earlier explosion.
"Boss! You okay?!"
Reginald rolled his shoulders. His wounds had started to mend, ever so slightly. "I'm fine," he replied with a grin. "Just need to finish off that brat over there, then it's back to my brand new mansion."
Hearing that, his henchmen advanced with bloodthirsty excitement. Their weapons glinted. They saw Xavier as prey. Easy reward.
Xavier's heart pounded. He was outnumbered, drained, but his fire didn't falter. If I let Reginald walk away now, he thought, he'll come back stronger. He'll take Teslaine again. I can't let that happen.
One of the thugs lunged.
Xavier turned, but his body was too slow. The enemy's blade soared toward him—merciless, final.
CLANG.
The sword halted—stopped by a bare hand.
A familiar hand.
Xavier's eyes widened. "Jupiter...?"
His best friend stood before him, calm and composed. Not a flicker of doubt. His eyes—once playful and warm—now glowed a cold, pale purple.
"You'll have to kill me first before you ever touch my brother," Jupiter said, voice low and unwavering.
Blood trickled from his hand as it gripped the blade tighter.
The thug panicked, fumbling for a hidden dagger—but Jupiter moved before the thought could finish. A flash of motion, a thunderous crack.
The attacker flew backward, crashing into a wall with bone-snapping force.
Then the earth trembled.
Roots burst from beneath their feet, thick vines wrapping around the rest of Reginald's crew. Nature itself moved at someone's silent command.
Jupiter's aura then exploded.
The pressure of it froze the air. The henchmen trembled—some stepping back, others unable to move. Jupiter didn't speak. He didn't need to. The message was clear:
Come closer, and you die.
Reginald snarled and leapt back, sensing something was wrong—very wrong.
But before he could retreat, Jupiter's ink brush was drawn. Multiple arrows, each glowing faintly, ready to strike.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked coldly.
He fired.
Reginald summoned a wall of iron just in time, the arrows pinging off it with deafening clangs.
Then—BOOM.
A bolt of lightning struck down like the wrath of the gods. Reginald barely rolled away.
From the smoke, a figure descended—lightning dancing along her arms.
Misaki.
She landed with grace, katana drawn, standing before Xavier and Jupiter as their shield.
Moments later, the towering tree vines bowed low—and on them stood Elowen, Jason, Sophia, and the others. The cavalry had arrived.
"Xavier!" Elowen cried out, her eyes widening in horror at the sight of his battered body.
She rushed to his side, hands glowing as ethereal flowers bloomed around them, their petals releasing a gentle warmth that slowly closed and healed his wounds.
"How could this have happened?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern.
"I'm guessing it's those guys over there," Misaki muttered, pointing toward the group of criminals nearby.
Xavier tried to speak—but nothing came. He was relieved, of course, to see the faces of those he loved, but the guilt hit harder than any wound. He had left them. No warning. No explanation. Just disappeared. And yet—they still came all this way for him.
That thought alone made his heart ache in ways the healing magic couldn't reach.
Suddenly, a sharp smack landed on the back of his head.
"Look what we have here," Jason snapped, his tone sharp but familiar. "My cousin, nearly dead, and he thought it'd be funny to run off without telling a soul."
"Jason!" Elowen scolded, glaring at him. "He's hurt! I'm trying to heal him and you're just making it worse!"
Startled by her tone, Jason threw his hands up. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry. No need to bite my head off."
But Elowen merely sighed in response.
A ripple of laughter passed through the group, softening the tension—except for one. Jupiter didn't laugh. He didn't even look Xavier's way.
Xavier noticed.
"Jupiter…" he muttered, but was quickly cut off.
"I don't know why you left, Xavier," Jupiter said, his voice eerily calm. "But you hurt everyone when you did. Including your family."
A heavy silence fell over the group as Jupiter continued, his expression growing colder by the second.
"You left us in the dark. No message. No warning. Nothing."
He paused, eyes fixed on Xavier.
"I thought we were your friends. People you could rely on—no matter the situation. I thought you trusted us."
"But I guess I was wrong."
Even Jack, the most easygoing of them all, stepped forward—an unspoken plea for Jupiter to stop. But the damage was already done.
Xavier dropped his gaze. Everything Jupiter said was true. His choice had consequences. And the pain behind his best friend's words—it was personal.
Behind Jupiter's hardened glare was something far more fragile: heartbreak. Betrayal. Sadness. Xavier saw it clearly. They had been brothers in everything but blood.
In a voice barely above a whisper, he choked out, "I'm sorry…"
Jupiter's expression softened just a little. With a sigh, he knelt beside Xavier, fist extended.
"Don't worry, bro. We're here. We always will be, alright?"
Xavier smiled through the tears threatening his vision and bumped fists with him—like old times.
The others were moved by the moment. Misaki, cheeks glowing, found herself staring a little too long at Jupiter.
"What a loyal best friend," she murmured dreamily.
Aria, noticing immediately, giggled.
"Why are your cheeks so red, Misaki? Don't tell me it's because of Jupiter?"
Flustered, Misaki's eyes widened. "N-No! It's not like that!"
Sophia and Emily joined in with teasing grins. "Whatever you say," Sophia responded.
The warm reunion was cut short by a voice echoing from above.
"What a touching little moment!"
Reginald stood on higher ground, laughing hysterically. "The loyal companions have arrived to save their pitiful friend! How very noble."
Dozens more criminals appeared behind him, each one armed and deadly.
"This was supposed to be an easy side gig," Reginald said, cracking his neck. "But I guess I was wrong."
His aura flared like a violent storm—dark and feral.
"But no complaints here. I get to play a bit longer."
He extended his arms, welcoming them.
"Come then! Show me what you've all got!"
Xavier tried to stand, but Jason placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Don't. We've got this. You focus on being healed by Elowen."
Xavier opened his mouth to protest, but the fire in his friends' eyes said everything. They wouldn't let him lift a finger. Not now.
With a faint smile, Xavier nodded.
"Fine. Just promise me one thing—shut him up for me."
"Gladly," Jason replied with a grin that promised trouble.
As Elowen continued her healing, the others stepped forward, ready to face the overwhelming threat before them—fearless, outnumbered, and unwavering.
The fight wasn't over.
But this time... Xavier wasn't alone anymore.
In a flash, Jason charged forward, the roar of battle echoing around him. A swarm of enemies surged in, weapons drawn, their eyes wild with bloodlust. Jack, Aria, and Sophia followed close behind, blades ready. Without hesitation, Sophia shifted—her body rippling into the form of a jaguar. She tore through the ranks with fluid grace, claws slicing like razors, leaving behind only broken bodies and silence.
With a swift motion, Jason unleashed a volley of energy beams that tore across the battlefield, blasting apart stone and soil, ripping through the enemy lines. One beam flew straight toward Reginald, who stood in the center of the chaos, completely still.
With a single, effortless swing of his bare hand, Reginald deflected the blast, the air splitting with a hiss. His eyes narrowed as Jupiter blinked into view before him, blade raised and mid-air, descending fast.
Reginald smirked.
His arm shifted, transforming into iron just in time to meet Jupiter's blade. The clash echoed with a thunderous boom, sending shockwaves that cracked the earth beneath them.
What the hell is this? Jupiter thought, his eyes wide.
"Ohh," Reginald murmured, grinning. "You seem interesting. Let's play for a bit."
He slammed a fist into Jupiter's side, sending pain jolting through his ribs. Jupiter grunted but didn't fall. He flared his aura, energy pulsing outward in defiance. With renewed strength, he retaliated with a flurry of rapid slashes. Reginald took each one with a maddening smirk, like he was toying with a child.
Meanwhile, further back on the field, Misaki stretched lazily, watching the chaos unfold. Xavier, still catching his breath, glanced at her and asked, "How did you guys even find me?"
Misaki shrugged, casual. "I tracked you. There was still a faint electrical current on your cat, Ark. Guess you never noticed."
"Wait, seriously?"
She nodded. "Also, it doesn't take a genius to look for you in the one place that just so happens to randomly explode in the middle of the night."
Xavier couldn't help but laugh faintly. "Okay... fair."
Just then, the clouds overhead turned dark, rumbling like a beast waking from slumber. The wind shifted. Sparks crackled around Misaki's form, a calm, rolling aura weaving with the rising static.
In a single moment, lightning struck from the sky, enveloping her body in a blinding burst. When it cleared, she stood transformed—hair floating upward, spikier, with eyes razor-sharp like an eagle's. Lightning surged across her body, wrapping her in raw power.
"Heavenly Retribution..." she whispered.
"Ruinous Current," she declared.
Xavier stared, jaw slack. "What... is this?"
"Ruinous Current," she repeated. "It's a family technique. It boosts speed and physical power immensely, but only works with aura. I finally unlocked it after months of brutal training. Still a little rusty, though."
Xavier blinked, stunned. He hadn't expected this—not from Misaki. Somehow, all his friends had grown so much stronger... without him even realizing it.
Misaki gave him a small, proud smile, a hint of pink rising in her cheeks. "Stay here. We'll take care of the rest."
And just like that, she vanished.
A sonic boom echoed as she appeared behind Reginald mid-fight, her katana slashing clean through the same spot Xavier had cut before—his chest.
Reginald reeled back, gritting his teeth. "Who the hell are you?"
She didn't answer.
Her fist followed the slash, slamming into his face with terrifying force. Reginald turned his body to iron, but it didn't matter—the punch dented through, sending him flying like a meteor. The shockwave shattered the air, creating a massive crater beneath them.
Before he could recover, Misaki and Jupiter attacked in perfect sync—blades and fists dancing together in a rhythm too fast to follow. Reginald tried to adapt, but every move was countered. Jupiter struck with surgical precision while Misaki delivered bone-crushing blows that shook the battlefield.
Each attempt Reginald made to retaliate was either intercepted or punished. Misaki's martial arts were sharper, stronger, faster.
Watching the storm unfold, Xavier felt a strange mix of awe and pride twist in his chest. "No way... Misaki's matching my RealmHeart form... while using that Ruinous Current."
He smiled to himself.
"What a monstrous genius she is."
Time passed slowly, each second stretching into eternity. Elowen knelt beside Xavier, hands glowing faintly as she examined his wounds. At last, she gave a small sigh of relief.
"They're closing," she said softly. "But it'll take a bit longer before you're stable."
Xavier clenched his jaw, staring up at the blood-soaked sky. His breath was ragged, pain pulsing through every nerve like wildfire—but his heart burned hotter than any wound.
I can't let them fight my battle for me, he thought. This is my burden. I started it... and I need to end it.
With a strained grunt, he forced himself upright. His body screamed in protest, muscles trembling from exhaustion. Blood still clung to his torn clothes.
He reached out with trembling fingers and called Excalibur to him. The blade flew into his grip like an old friend answering a final call.
"Wait, Xavier!" Elowen exclaimed, panic in her voice. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I have to finish what I started," he said without turning.
"But you haven't healed! Your body's falling apart—if you keep pushing, you could bleed out or worse!"
He paused, then looked back at her with a tired smile. "I know. And thank you, Elowen... truly. But I can't keep running from this."
Elowen opened her mouth, but no words came. She could only watch in silent horror as Xavier stood tall, body still torn and bloodied—scars fresh from her healing touch.
Then... something changed.
A faint, alien presence stirred the air, thick and ancient. Every warrior on the field felt it at once—a force unlike anything they had ever known. A pulse of fear rippled through their instincts, primal and pure.
It was the feeling of prey beneath the gaze of a predator.
The moon vanished behind a colossal shadow that cut across the sky. A silhouette loomed high above the clouds, wings like continent-wide curtains casting a suffocating darkness.
Everyone turned to Xavier, still gripping Excalibur.
Before anyone could speak—before Jason could question how Xavier was still standing—the air around him ignited.
A radiant, golden aura erupted from his frame, swirling with divine heat. His hair shimmered, turning bright gold and lengthening in the wind. Runes etched themselves into his flesh, glowing along his right side, crawling up to his face.
RealmHeart.
His friends could hardly process it. His body seemed almost... draconic. Changed. Something ancient stirred within him.
But what struck them the most wasn't his transformation.
It was the blade.
Excalibur pulsed with otherworldly energy, now drenched in the golden blaze of Xavier's essence. Its glow wasn't just bright—it was terrifying. Its presence devoured all other auras, like a divine eclipse swallowing the light—something no mortal blade could ever dream to mirror.
Only an ethereal instrument could wield such sovereign grace and terror.
And then, the world itself seemed to hold its breath.
A roar.
Not a sound, but an event. A monstrous cry that echoed through the battlefield, through London, through the Lantern Society—a sound so ancient and full of fury it made even the bravest drop to their knees.
Civilians froze. Soldiers trembled. Creatures of myth and man alike looked to the sky, unable to speak or move.
And in a blink, it descended.
A grand silver dragon, its two wings large enough to blanket the horizon, tore through the heavens. It wasn't just big—it was impossibly vast, dwarfing everything like ants beneath a god.
Its golden eyes burned with molten power. Its mouth opened wide, revealing a void of razor-sharp teeth and smoke—a hellish furnace ready to unmake the world with a single breath.
King of Dragons. Prince of Stars. Former Grand Herrscher of the Cosmic Realms. Son of the Dragon God, Eldoria.
Dragon King—Alcmena.
The earth quaked beneath them as Alcmena landed behind Xavier. Soil cracked, air split. People fell to their knees involuntarily, overcome with awe and terror.
The duo stood together—Xavier in front, Alcmena looming behind, wings still unfurled. Their combined presence was suffocating. It crushed the will of even the most hardened warriors.
Silence fell.
A silence born not from peace... but from pure, soul-gripping fear.