The eternal night of Vrasnia draped the city in a velvet shroud of indigo and violet, its crystalline spires glinting like frozen starlight beneath the purple moon's watchful gaze. Kazimir wandered the silent streets, his indigo-blue coat trailing like a whisper of shadow, his mind heavy with the echoes of Neve's scars and Riah's tender questions from the bath. The air was cool, laced with the faint hum of fading festival lights, a distant reminder of the world's fleeting joys. A sudden shout shattered the quiet, followed by an abrupt silence that set his senses ablaze. Quickening his pace, his galactic eyes—swirling with constellations and a crescent moon pupil—narrowed as he rounded a corner into a narrow alley.
Vanessa stood at the heart of the scene, her pale blue hair whipping in the night breeze like a comet's tail, her light purple eyes glowing with a fierce, unyielding resolve. Two men lay unconscious at her feet, their bodies slumped against the cobblestones, the air around them thick with the aftermath of her swift justice. She adjusted her stance, her voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. "And just like that, you now have a bigger court case to beat." Her gaze flicked over her shoulder, her light purple eyes catching the moonlight with an ethereal shimmer. "I can sense you, Kazimir. No need to linger in the shadows."
He stepped forward, his boots soft against the stone, his presence a quiet anchor in the tension. "I wasn't hiding. I was taking a night stroll and ran into you while you're on duty." His tone was calm, but his eyes scanned the fallen men, assessing the scene with a warrior's precision.
Vanessa's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile, her pale blue hair catching the moonlight like liquid starlight. "So, why are you out on a night stroll? Did something happen between you and Queen Riah?"
Kazimir shook his head, his expression softening, though the weight of the night's revelations lingered. "No, nothing happened. We're fine."
She nodded, her light purple eyes searching his face for unspoken truths, their glow piercing the darkness. "Anyway, since you're here, do you have time?"
He crossed his arms, the cool night air brushing against his skin. "I'm just strolling, so I do. Is there something you need?"
Vanessa's gaze intensified, her light purple eyes like twin amethysts, glinting with urgency. "Yes. It's about the future of our world—and this universe." Before he could respond, she raised her hand, her fingers tracing a shimmering arc in the air. A rift tore open, a vortex of abyssal energy swirling with cosmic hues, and from its depths emerged a colossal whale, its scales pulsing with bioluminescent patterns that mirrored the stars above. The creature's maw enveloped them, a gateway to another realm, and they were pulled into the void, the world dissolving into a kaleidoscope of light and shadow.
They emerged on the surface of an endless ocean, the whale's massive form buoyant beneath them, its scales shimmering like a galaxy trapped in flesh. Above, the universe unfurled in a breathtaking panorama—constellations blazing in vibrant hues, nebulae swirling like dreams, and a black hole crackling with indigo lightning on the horizon, its presence a silent omen. The air was thick with the scent of salt and starlight, the water lapping gently against the whale's sides, a rhythmic heartbeat in the stillness. Kazimir's breath caught, his galactic eyes wide with awe. "So, this is your Echoscape."
Vanessa nodded, her voice soft but resonant, carrying the weight of ancient secrets. "Yes, this is my Echoscape. You're the third person to enter it—Tyrone and Lihanna were the first." She stood beside him, her pale blue hair swaying in the cosmic breeze, her light purple eyes reflecting the starlight like twin beacons of resolve.
Kazimir crossed his arms, inhaling the otherworldly air, its coolness grounding him. "It's beautiful here—the abyssal waters, the universe and its constellations above us." They both gazed upward, the stars mirrored in their eyes, a shared moment of wonder amidst the looming threat.
Vanessa's gaze shifted to him, her light purple eyes piercing through the cosmic twilight. "Hey, King—no, Kazimir…" Her voice softened, a rare vulnerability threading through it, her words a delicate bridge between them.
"Yes?" he responded, turning to meet her gaze, his heart quickening at the intensity in her amethyst-like eyes.
"Have you been feeling it? Nebula's essence—it's growing stronger, meaning she'll soon break free from her seal."
Kazimir's brow furrowed, his stance shifting as he processed her words, a flicker of unease igniting within him. "No, I haven't felt Nebula's essence."
Vanessa's gaze drifted to the horizon, where the black hole pulsed ominously, her voice heavy with concern. "That's strange that you haven't felt it. But that could only mean one thing, Kazimir."
"What? What does it mean?" His tone sharpened, the weight of her words pressing against his chest.
"It means Nebula is likely after you. You're the Eye of Nullity, and you carry a strong fragment of Solaris' power. That makes you the one to end this calamity."
Kazimir's eyes widened, surprise rippling through him like a shockwave. "What? But isn't that Riah? Isn't she the one to bring the dawn to this calamity?"
Vanessa shook her head, her pale blue hair shimmering like a comet's tail. "No, she's not. None of us can take down Nebula alone—we'll need every ounce of power we can muster. Her other disciples are still out there, a threat we can't ignore. You resonate with Riah; she can't become a Nullity, but there's a chance Radiun, the Phoenix, will accept you. That's the same power Riah carries."
Kazimir's gaze sharpened, his mind racing through the implications. "So, you know about Radiun?"
She nodded, her light purple eyes steady, glowing faintly in the cosmic light. "How do you think Nebula was stopped? Radiun took action after Solaris' death, but in their battle, Nebula wasn't killed. She left a permanent scar on Radiun—a wound that couldn't be healed, even by the god of immortal flames."
Kazimir's fists clenched, his voice low with a mix of awe and dread. "You're saying Nebula wounded a Phoenix, the god of flames that never die? How could an ex-angel of Solaris do that?"
Vanessa stood calm, her gaze fixed on the black hole's crackling indigo lightning. "Honestly, Kazimir, I don't know. Nebula craved everything Solaris had and despised humanity, believing they weren't worth living. That's why their war began. Her power can halt Radiun's rebirth—she can erase matter, memories, and even beyond that, wielding a force that defies the natural order."
She turned, gesturing to the horizon where the black hole loomed like a cosmic wound. "But look behind you." They both turned, the indigo lightning illuminating the void, its energy a silent warning. "You're special to Nebula. Your power—your Primal Catastrophe—could swallow this entire universe."
Kazimir's expression darkened, his voice resolute, cutting through the stillness. "That attack is one I refuse to use alone. At its full power, it could destroy everyone. I could've ended many battles with it, but it's too catastrophic for this solar system."
Vanessa's light purple eyes softened, her lips curving into a gentle, bittersweet smile. "You're my king, my emperor, and my hero all at once. But this is a battle where many will fall."
Kazimir's gaze hardened, his resolve crystallizing like the stars above, each word a vow etched in the cosmic night. "Then I know what I must do. I'll defeat Rygar and consume his power, along with Abiba's. I'll take their essence and make it mine. Nebula will soon be free, and we can't stop that. Cytherea is likely manipulating reality to ensure that future, so here's my plan, Vanessa. If I'm her target, like this Echoscape we're in, I'll face her and weaken her from within while you handle the rest. Nebula plans to merge with me—I understand now what she meant when she said 'mine.'"
Vanessa's light purple eyes widened, her breath catching, fear and awe warring within them. "That's suicidal, Kazimir. You can't do that—there's another way without risking yourself."
He shook his head, his voice unwavering, a beacon in the darkness. "I understand your concern, but I won't sacrifice our allies for a chance at defeating Nebula. That's the path Cytherea expects—a path of despair, playing into her hands. I'll choose this option and trust you to defeat her while I fight from within."
Vanessa stared at him, her light purple eyes shimmering with unshed tears, awe overtaking her fear. "You said it yourself—I'm the one capable of defeating Nebula. In this Echoscape, Riah can't hear us, so this is a secret between you and me. Do not tell the others."
Speechless, Vanessa could only nod, her throat tight with emotion, her light purple eyes reflecting the constellations like twin galaxies. "I understand, King. I can't stop you, but you're acting as a hero—not just for the world, but for the multiverse. If Nebula wins, it's over."
Kazimir stood silent for a moment, then spoke, his voice steady as the ocean's rhythm. "Maybe this once I'll accept the role of hero. Letting Nebula take over this universe's equations won't lead to a good future. This is a universal—soon multiversal—threat. Everyone, especially humanity, must unite."
Vanessa's lips softened, her gaze drifting to the constellations above, her voice thick with nostalgia. "You speak just like Karah." She paused, her light purple eyes tracing the stars. "Do you remember when you, me, and Jessie were in the special unit?"
Kazimir's galactic eyes softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips, memories flickering like starlight. "I do. I was a higher rank than both of you, though."
She laughed, the sound a gentle ripple in the cosmic stillness, like waves against the whale's side. "Yeah, you were. Naturally talented, stronger than warriors with sixty years of experience, even at your young age. I remember our missions, eliminating threats across Vrasnian lands. The three of us were a fun group. I was nowhere near your strength then, but now I stand on equal ground with you—at least for now. Karah built us strong, and now we're ready to face the gods for our future. Solaris died, and the universe suffered, but Vrasnians don't follow gods. We carve our own path and refuse to accept fate."
Her voice grew fierce, her light purple eyes blazing like twin stars. "Know this, Kazimir—I'll keep your word. I love and appreciate you so much, and I'll always walk behind you. I'll save you from Nebula when that day comes—she will fall. I won't let you die, even if it costs my life. I'll ensure you live."
They stood together, gazing at the universe above, the ocean brushing against the whale's sides and their feet, a gentle reminder of their shared resolve. Vanessa's voice softened, trembling with raw emotion. "Because I love you, and I want you in my future. There's no one better to continue what Karah left behind. For me, a future without you isn't worth living. I stepped out from Nebula's shadow and consumed her power, surviving it. So, I'll stand in her presence, no matter the cost."
Kazimir stood speechless, his galactic eyes reflecting the constellations, the weight of her words settling like stars in his heart. The ocean's whispers and the whale's steady presence anchored them in this fleeting moment, as two warriors faced the abyss of their destiny, bound by love and an unbreakable vow to defy the darkness.