"This was a bad idea… I should just go back," Alfie muttered nervously as he turned around inside the endless void.
However, no matter how far he walked, the same suffocating darkness surrounded him. There was no way out, no sign of anything beyond the endless blackness.
His breathing grew uneven, and his legs began to weaken.
"Wh-what's happening…?"
His voice trembled as it echoed through the abyss.
With every step, his body felt heavier, as though the darkness itself was dragging him down. He struggled to keep moving, but his strength gradually faded until he could no longer stand.
Alfie collapsed, losing consciousness as the darkness swallowed him whole.
Meanwhile, in the physical realm, Lucy hurriedly tore the chain from Fushira's neck. The locket swung open in her hand, revealing faint images of Dreamland shimmering inside.
Without wasting a second, she grabbed Fushira's finger and pressed it against the locket, channeling her Renshi through him.
The moment the energy entered the locket, the air began to vibrate. Ancient glyphs appeared across its surface, glowing brighter with every passing second.
Then, space itself began to crack.
A teleportation portal tore open before her, and Alfie's unconscious body suddenly fell through it.
Lucy caught him in her arms, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"What the hell…?"
She held him tightly, barely having time to process what had just happened before the ground began to shake violently.
A massive teleportation circle appeared high above the forest, its enormous formation spreading across the sky. Powerful Renshi poured from it, warping the air and sending shockwaves through the surrounding area. Its presence was so overwhelming that even the neighboring kingdoms could feel it.
Six figures descended from the circle.
Five men wore black cloaks, their faces hidden beneath their hoods. The sixth figure was a young woman dressed in white robes.
Lucy's expression changed the instant she saw her.
Her grip tightened around Alfie as she stared at the woman in disbelief.
"…Amanda."
The woman smiled faintly, showing no sign of surprise at seeing her younger sister.
"Long time no see, little sister. And here you are again, protecting another random child....you know nothing about" Her smile widened slightly. "Tell me Lu, do you really think you'll succeed this time?"
Don't forget he's not the only one here who needs protection."
Her voice was calm, but every word carried a mocking tone.
"You bastard!" Lucy shouted, her anger shaking the air around her. "If you dare lay a finger on her, I'll kill you with my own hands."
Amanda tilted her head, seemingly amused by her sister's anger.
"Relax...Relax.. I only took her in to protect her and turn her into an elite. You should be thanking me instead."
She turned away as the teleportation circle beneath her began to glow.
"Anyway, enjoy the rest of your life, dear sister. I'll be taking another one of your students away from you again."
"Amanda!"
Lucy thrust her wand forward, releasing a powerful beam of dark Renshi. The attack tore through the night, splitting the air apart as it shot straight toward Amanda.
One of the five cloaked men immediately stepped in front of her, summoning a massive shield.
But the shield couldn't withstand the attack.
Cracks spread across its surface before it shattered into countless fragments. The beam continued forward, striking Amanda directly in the chest.
For a brief moment, her body flickered.
Then, she dissolved into black smoke.
"Did you really think I'd come here to face you in person?" Amanda's laughter echoed through the forest as the smoke scattered into the air. "Don't push your luck, sisi. I'm still your sister, but I've become far more than that."
Lucy stood frozen, staring at the empty space where Amanda had been.
Before she could react, the five men moved toward the unconscious fighters.
Romero, Pascal, Onamuchi, Fushira, and Voldigo were seized one after another.
The teleportation circle began to shine brighter, within seconds, the five men vanished with their captives.
The circle disappeared soon afterward, leaving Lucy alone with Alfie and the silence of the ruined forest.
Lucy's entire body trembled as rage burned through her.
She couldn't afford to stay there any longer.
Lifting Sasaki over one shoulder and supporting Alfie with the other, she activated Switch Mode and raced back toward Lyon and the rest.
As she moved, her half-witch transformation gradually faded. The dark tattoos covering her body disappeared.
By the time she reached the battlefield, the destruction was even worse than she remembered. Trees had been uprooted, massive rocks lay scattered across the ground, and deep cracks stretched through the earth.
"Rebekah…?"
Lucy looked around, searching for the familiar figure.
Instead, she found Bash tending to Lyon's wounded shoulder. Marcel and Jackson sat nearby, their expressions grim as they stared at the destruction surrounding them.
Lucy's heart sank.
"Where is she?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "Where is Rebekah?"
Lyon lowered his head, struggling to find the right words.
"…A strange man appeared and took her away. We tried to stop him, but he was too strong. There was nothing we could do."
Lucy couldn't move.
Then her knees gave way.
She dropped to the ground, her face twisting in anguish as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her fists struck the dirt repeatedly, unable to contain the pain and helplessness building inside her.
"Damn you, Amanda… damn you!"
After a while, Lucy wiped the tears from her face and slowly stood up. Her expression hardened.
"Enough of this," she said coldly. " Take your sons and return to your kingdom. I've a student to go fetch myself.
She adjusted Alfie and Sasaki in her arms, preparing to leave.
But before she could activate Switch Mode, Jackson stepped forward.
"Wait.... Ma'am please.....Take me....with you."
Lucy turned toward him, surprised.
"What?"
"I want to travel with you," Jackson said, clenching his fists. "I'm tired of sitting around cutting dolls all day. I can't even protect my own sister or father..like that"
His voice grew firmer as he continued.
"Please, I'm not asking you to promise that you'll protect me. Just let me come with you. I'll fight alongside you, and I'll do my best to survive."
Lucy stared at him for a moment before turning her face away.
"…Go home with your father, kid. I can't afford to put another child in danger."
Her voice softened slightly.
"Rebekah and her brother were the only survivors of their family. Now Amanda has taken her, and I don't even know what she's planning to do with her."
Lucy clenched her jaw.
"I won't make the same mistake again."
Before Jackson could respond, Lyon stepped forward.
"He's already made up his mind," he said quietly. "And I've accepted his decision. I won't try to stop him... The world is bigger than what I know...I want him to continue from where I stopped,and the only way forward is with you.... I've seen what you're capable of, you're the only way forward for him."
He looked directly at Lucy.
"Please, let him go with you. This is what he wants.... there's no future back there in Guhan"
Lucy remained silent.
The wind swept through the ruined forest, carrying dust and broken leaves across the battlefield. For a while, nobody spoke.
Finally, Lucy let out a tired sigh.
"… Fine. You can come."
Jackson's eyes widened.
"But don't misunderstand me," Lucy continued, pointing a finger at him. "I won't be babysitting you. From now on, you'll call me Master, and you'll follow my instructions. If you can't do that, I'll leave you behind."
Jackson immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
"Thank you, Master."
Lucy glanced at him before turning away.
"Get up. We have a long way to go."
And with that Jackson joined them.
"Lyon looking at his son as he walks away, Jackson turns back one last time to look at his father,then run back to him and gives him a tight hug.."
I love you papa.
Jackson said with tears rolling from his cheek.
I love you too my boy.
Lyon replied holding back his tears.
Tell scarlet her big brother will come back to her.
Jackson said still crying.
I will.
Lyon replied as he bent down to match his son's height.
Listen carefully Jackson,this path you chose right here and right now,is the bravest decision you've made,and I'm glad you made it while you're still young.
This world is no place for the weak,and it will be my mistake if I let my emotions get in your way.... You're a smart kid,don't forget that,in worst situations always think things through before making any decision.
"Jackson nods in response as he wipes the tears from his cheek."
"Don't forget to come back once in a while rock head,I won't stay weak while you're getting stronger."
"Marcel said lazily."
"Shut up Marcel."
You're not as weak as you think...I'm just stronger than you.
"Jackson said Mockingly."
"Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult."
Marcel asks confused.
It's both dummy... Jackson said as he walks back to Lucy who had been waiting.
You're going to miss him more than you expected.
Lucy said as they continue their journey.
"Things turned around so fast...I'm still processing everything."
Bash said as they're staring at Jackson walking away with Lucy.
"Sasaki and Alfie on her both shoulders."
"Do you really trust a stranger with your son...Lyon."
"Bash asked with a worried expression."
"Not one hundred percent."
She's a mysterious being...a powerful mysterious one at that..
"But.... there's something that caught my attention in all of this that made me allow my son go with her."
That Alfie kid is not related to her in any way...I don't know their relationship but I know she just showed up the day the kid awaken his Renshi....and since then she had put everything on the line to protect him and that little girl we failed to protect.
Lyon explains.
"I don't know a lot about her...But I will give her half of my trust and the other half goes to my boy."
"Lyon smiled as he makes a teleportation circle under his feet."
I will meet you in Scale Bash...I can't continue as a pro darkside Knight under exca leadership...this situation will turn things around for the whole kingdom.
"Lyon said to bash through telepathy."
"You don't trust his little boy huh."
"Bash replied through the telepathy."
"Family comes first in any situation...don't forget that."
"Alright Marcel let's go back home."
"Lyon said as they teleported out of sight,same with Bash who already made a teleportation circle beneath him."
AFTER SOME HOURS
Lucy and Jackson made their way toward the Celestial Kingdom, the closest kingdom to the border of Ashura.
After traveling for some time, they finally reached the kingdom's gates with a teleportation circle. The silver moon hung above the towering walls, casting a pale glow over the stone entrance.
The moment they arrived, four Shinra guards wearing white capes rushed toward them, their spears raised.
"Stop right there!" one of them ordered. "Who are you, and why have you teleported into our kingdom?"
Lucy remained calm despite their hostile attitude.
"We're travelers. We only need a place to rest for the night. We'll leave by morning if that's what you want."
She shifted slightly, careful not to disturb the two unconscious boys she was carrying.
"If it makes you feel safer, we're willing to surrender our weapons until we leave."
However, the guards paid little attention to her explanation. Their eyes moved over the group's torn clothes and bloodstained bodies, clearly suspicious of the damage they had suffered.
One of them stepped forward and suddenly snatched Alfie's sword from Jackson's back.
He examined the weapon before looking at them with open distrust.
"Travelers who carry Renshi weapons?" he scoffed. "Don't insult me. I've seen people like you before. You're always heading toward Ashura, and you always have some story to tell."
His gaze shifted toward Alfie.
"But this time, you've made a serious mistake by bringing that boy here."
Lucy narrowed her eyes.
Before she could ask what he meant, the guard turned toward his companions.
"Arrest them."
Three guards immediately moved forward, reaching for Lucy and Jackson.
But one of them made a mistake.
Jackson caught the first guard by the wrist before he could touch his Master. His grip tightened, and the metal gauntlet covering the guard's hand began to crack.
Crack.
The armor shattered beneath Jackson's fingers.
"Don't you dare touch my Master," Jackson warned, his eyes cold. "You're not worthy."
The other two guards reacted immediately, thrusting their spears toward him.
Jackson jumped into the air, narrowly avoiding their attacks. He twisted his body, caught both spears in midair, and infused them with his Renshi.
Before the guards could recover, Jackson spun around and hurled them toward the entrance.
Both men crashed into the massive gate with a deafening impact.
The remaining guards stared at him in shock.
"You brat!" the commander roared.
Raising his hand, he summoned thirty copies of his spear into the air. The weapons spread above him, their sharp points aimed at Lucy and her companions.
"I'll kill every last one of you for this!"
Just as he prepared to launch the attack, a thunderous voice rang out from the watchtower above.
"That's enough!"
The command echoed across the kingdom's walls, forcing everyone to stop.
The guards immediately looked upward.
Standing atop the towering Celestial wall was a shadowed figure, its cloak fluttering in the moonlight.
The figure looked down at the commander and the scattered guards before shifting its attention toward Lucy and her companions.