"Aiden! Podbe!" everyone present shouted, their voices filled with anguish and despair. The echo of their cries was lost in the wind, as if the world itself had swallowed the two heroes without leaving a trace.
"Dear viewers, our two heroes saved the world by taking the beast Zeus with them... but at what cost?" Melisa said, her voice trembling as she tried to hold back tears. Her gaze remained fixed on the spot where the portal had vanished, as if hoping something—or someone—might miraculously return.
"They saved the world... but at what cost?" Billy repeated, sobbing as he clung to Elena and Maria. "We've lost them again… and now both of them," Maria added, her voice barely a whisper laden with sorrow. Elena lowered her head, unable to hide her guilt. "I… I wanted to apologize to Aiden properly," she murmured, clenching her fists in frustration.
"At least this way, my colleagues from the square no longer have to search for the boy if they're still watching the report," the general reflected to herself, her voice a faint murmur tinged with resignation and sadness. The weight of what had happened seemed to crush the atmosphere, as if even the air had grown heavier.
"Stop recording," Melisa told Creg, her voice firm but tinged with exhaustion. "Let our heroes rest." Her words carried an air of finality, reflecting the sacrifice Aiden and Podbe had made for all of them. Creg nodded silently, his hands trembling as he turned off the camera. The small click that marked the end of the transmission was almost imperceptible, yet it carried the full weight of what had just transpired.
Without saying another word, Melisa and Creg embraced, sharing a moment of silent mourning. Ian, who had been watching from a few steps away, slowly approached and joined the hug. Professor Kile, always reserved, also stepped forward, placing a hand on Ian's shoulder while bowing his head in respect. Philip and Choy soon surrounded them, forming a tight circle that seemed to shield each other from the void left by Aiden and Podbe's departure.
Michele observed the scene from a short distance, her glassy eyes filling with tears she didn't want to shed. She felt the weight of the loss crashing down on all of them, like an unrelenting wave threatening to sweep them away. Clenching her fists tightly, she tried to contain her emotions, but finally took a step forward and joined the group, breaking into silent sobs as she clung to those nearest to her.
The wind blew gently around them, carrying with it the salty scent of the sea. It was as if the world itself wanted to offer them a moment of peace amidst the emotional storm. But even that small gesture from nature couldn't erase the reality: Aiden and Podbe were gone, taking with them not only the hydra-Zeus, but also an irreplaceable part of those left behind.
The other agents slowly returned to the island after having protected civilians from the devastating impacts of Hydra-Zeus's attacks. Their faces were marked by fatigue and sorrow. "Those two sacrificed themselves to take that monster with them… but at what cost?" Gat reflected aloud, his tone filled with disbelief.
"At least they got together… friends," Gat added, trying to find something positive in the midst of tragedy. But Riota couldn't hold back and hit him on the head. "That comment is completely out of place," she scolded, though her own eyes were wet with unshed tears.
Azulema's team was exhausted, lying on the ground after using telepathic power on such a massive scale. Adrian, leveraging his ingenuity, quickly created a machine to recharge the great Azulema, who could barely stay conscious. "I can't believe they managed to do that," Adrian murmured as he adjusted the machine. "But now… what do we do without them?"
"I wanted to meet Podbe and Aiden—they seemed really cool," Floud and Benjamin said in unison, their voices full of nostalgia for something they would never get to experience. "They were good people," Adia added, her voice barely audible as she struggled to maintain her composure.
"They were good! They're not dead! They can't die!" Billy shouted, breaking into inconsolable sobs. No one contradicted him; they simply let his pain flow freely. The rest of the group felt powerless, knowing they would probably never see Aiden and Podbe again after what they had done.
Drake, for his part, sat on the ground, repeatedly punching the floor as he wrestled with his own internal demons. "I got to know my grandson, and now I've lost him. I see my children: one is in a coma, always by my side in the company, but all because of Adia, who erased my memories of them. And the other… I thought he was dead, he's alive and no longer recognizes his father," he said, his voice breaking with every word.
"Well, I thought it was a good idea at the time, but now I take it back," Adia admitted, her eyes brimming with tears as she faced the consequences of her actions. "I didn't want you to suffer too… it was selfish of me to ask Azulema and use a bit of magic to block everyone's memories. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"If I could do something to bring them back, I would... but I can't. I don't have that kind of powerful magic with me. I still have so much more to learn," Adia concluded, her body trembling as she collapsed to her knees, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the loss.
Some embraced each other, inconsolable over the loss of Aiden and Podbe. In other places, the cadets and the two scientists who had been with them also mourned their disappearance. Marie cried silently, her tears falling like raindrops onto the cold ground. The sisters of the convent, who once knew the young Aiden, also grieved in silence, remembering his bravery and sacrifice.
While everyone was immersed in sorrow, inside the portal that Aiden had opened, the scene was very different. The hydra-Zeus, now with thousands of heads writhing in every direction, plummeted through the darkness alongside Podbe, who was bound by some of the creature's heads. Wrapped tightly around the beast's tail was Aiden, who had yet to fully recover his strength after the immense effort of creating the portal.
The three finally fell into what appeared to be a completely dark place, with no signs of a path or visible exit. Podbe acted quickly, using his STAR CLAW attack to tear apart the heads that held him captive. Once free, he rushed to Aiden and broke the bindings that kept him imprisoned. "Are you alright?" asked Podbe, his voice worried but firm.
"Yes, I'm just a bit tired," Aiden replied, taking a deep breath. "Using my power to create something as massive as that portal drained me more than I expected."
Before they could fully recover, the hydra rose before them, ready for another assault. Aiden and Podbe tensed up, alert and prepared to face it, when suddenly a voice resonated from all directions, deep and commanding. "Who are you, and what are you doing in my domain?"
"Who said that?!" roared Zeus in his hydra form, his tone a mix of fury and defiance. "And what do you mean, 'your domain'? This place belongs to no one!"
At that moment, what seemed to be the surrounding sky began to transform into walls covered with giant eyes that surrounded them like a cube. The eyes glowed with a faint but penetrating light, staring at them intently from every angle.
"I did not grant you permission, creatures. What are you, and what are you doing in my dimension?" the voice asked again, this time with a severe and authoritative tone that made the air around them tremble.
"You dare insult me!" shouted the hydra, mocking arrogantly. "Show yourself! You must be as weak as these fools!"
"Insolent," the voice responded, laced with restrained anger. "You invade my domain and then insult me. You will pay for your insolence."
Suddenly, enormous hands made of pure energy emerged from the ground, seizing the hydra with unimaginable force. The beast tried to resist, thrashing frantically, but it was futile. A deafening roar filled the space, but this time it wasn't a cry of ferocity—it was one of fear and helplessness as the creature was dragged onto the ground and vanished completely, as if it had never existed.
"That thing destroyed the hydra that took us so much effort to defeat in an instant," Aiden murmured, incredulous.
"So it seems," Podbe replied, his gaze fixed on the spot where the hydra had disappeared. "What are you?" Aiden asked, his voice trembling.
"Silence!" the voice roared, cutting off any attempt at dialogue. "I am the one who asks the questions here."
Podbe and Aiden fell silent immediately, feeling all the eyes surrounding them focus directly on them, as if they could peer into their very souls.
"Now, I hope it's clear to you that these are my domains. Your so-called friend was extremely impertinent," the voice continued.
"I'm sorry, whoever you are, but he's not our friend," Podbe interjected, trying to remain calm.
"I told you—silence!" The voice thundered with such intensity that both felt the air vibrate around them. All the eyes stared at them with unsettling focus, as though they were prey caught under an omniscient gaze.
"Now, I will ask again: What are you, who are you, and why are you in my domain?" the voice demanded, each word heavy with gravity.
Aiden spoke up, swallowing hard before answering. "I apologize for intruding into your dimension. It was my fault. With my powers, I created a portal to somewhere, and by mistake, we ended up here. I deeply regret the intrusion. We are living beings from the planet Earth... well, sort of. Half-alien, I think. My name is Aiden, and this is my companion, Podbe."
"Humans... I haven't seen one in millennia," the voice said, its tone thoughtful and laced with curiosity. "But you don't have human features." It paused, as if inspecting each of them carefully. "I can see that you are from a distant planet: Lux. And that your companion, Podbe… has animal ears." The voice stopped abruptly as it refocused on Podbe, this time with a tone of disbelief. "It can't be… He has the JORGS system inside him. How can an inferior creature wield such power? I must remove it; it's far too dangerous a weapon," the voice declared firmly.
"Calm down," Aiden quickly intervened, trying to sound composed but with urgency in his voice. "In the wrong hands, it would indeed be a terrible threat, but we use it for good—to fight against evil."
"I don't believe you, boy," the voice responded, impassive. Suddenly, enormous hands emerged from the ground, just as they had done before with the hydra, ready to extract Podbe's powers.
"Hold on," said a familiar voice that resonated from another point in the space. The feminine cloud appeared before them, floating gracefully. "I apologize for these two barging in without notice," she said, bowing slightly as a gesture of apology.
"Do you vouch for them?" the voice asked, now directed toward the cloud.
"Something like that. I'm kind of their guide," the cloud replied calmly. "If you're not convinced of their intentions, you can read the minds of the boy and the dog. You'll see they mean no harm."
"Very well, I will do that, since they come on behalf of the Cosmic Cloud," the voice said, its identity now becoming clear. "The Cosmic Cloud?" Aiden and Podbe murmured in unison, looking at each other in astonishment.
"Guys, it's a long story. For now, just let the Superiority read your minds," the cloud explained quickly, her tone urgent yet calm, as if trying to reassure them while preparing them for the inevitable.
Aiden and Podbe exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting both curiosity and concern. "The Superiority?" Aiden murmured, almost to himself, as he tried to grasp who or what this entity truly was. Podbe, on the other hand, tilted his head slightly, as if weighing whether to fully trust the situation. But before they could ask more questions, the weight of the moment settled over them: there was no time for doubts or explanations. They had no other choice.
With a slight mutual nod, they silently accepted, mentally preparing themselves for what was to come next.
The enormous hands reemerged from the ground, but this time with gentleness. With an index finger, they touched Podbe and Aiden respectively, placing them on their heads. A flash of light coursed through their bodies as the Superiority explored their thoughts and emotions.
The Superiority remained silent for a few moments, processing everything it had seen in their minds. Finally, it let out a deep sigh, a mix of astonishment and compassion. "Wow! You surprise me, humans. I didn't think you'd been through so much or suffered to this extent." Its tone was softer now, less imposing.
"Boy, you shouldn't have come here. And bringing such a powerful enemy into my domain for me to defeat with my abilities… That's cheating," it continued, though there was a hint of humor in its voice. Then it addressed Podbe: "I see the JORGS justice system is well-placed in your hands… well, in your paws. But I cannot intervene directly in your fight. So I must release the subject, and you will have to face him again."
"But you defeated it quickly," Podbe argued, confused.
"Surely you wouldn't keep it as a gift, oh great Superiority?" Aiden said with a slight smile, attempting to lighten the mood.
"No!" the Superiority replied immediately, though its tone suggested it appreciated the flattery. "Guys, relax. The fact that I've spared your lives is already significant," the cloud added with a reassuring smile.
The Superiority gestured with its hand, and a wave of energy restored Aiden and Podbe's mana. Both felt their strength gradually returning, preparing them for the next confrontation. However, they knew this time there would be no external help. The challenge would be entirely theirs.
"Lord Superiority, would you allow us to fight in your domain so we don't destroy the Earth?" Aiden requested with determination, his voice firm but filled with respect.
The Superiority fell silent for a moment, as if carefully weighing the request. Finally, it responded: "Very well, boy. Your story of confusion and friendship has touched my heart." Its tone was warmer now, less imposing. "But you only have 30 minutes, as you humans say… though for me, time is relative." With an elegant gesture, a timer appeared on one of the walls, displaying the remaining time in glowing numbers that floated in the air. "Defeat your enemy, or I'll send you back to your world," it added firmly.
"Wow!" the cloud thought to herself, observing the scene in astonishment. "I didn't think Aiden would dare ask for a favor, despite my signals to discourage him. But it's strange for the Superiority to show empathy toward anyone. No doubt, this boy is special."
Aiden turned to Podbe, placing a hand on his shoulder confidently. "Are you ready, Podbe?" he asked, his gaze reflecting assurance and support.
"As long as you're by my side, everything will be fine," Podbe replied, offering a reassuring smile despite the tension of the moment.
"Good," the Superiority interjected, its voice resonating like a soft yet clear thunderclap. "In 3, 2, 1… let the spectacle begin!"
The atmosphere changed instantly. The dark space seemed to vibrate with energy, and the distant roar of the hydra-Zeus returned, this time louder and more menacing. They were ready to face the final challenge, knowing every second counted.