Chapter 7: The Escape
The ground trembled. Pebbles floated midair, dust swirling like a vortex. Every creature in that dungeon froze — even the air itself dared not move. Yamato's eyes widened, his voice trembling.
> "What is this…? This Arcis… it's devastating!"
Rocks began to float, spinning like they were caught in an invisible storm. Rhian's aura flared in response, golden flames wrapping his hands.
> "Brace for a fight, Class C!"
Tensho, Renjiro, and Akiko stood frozen. From behind the talking Rex, a massive figure emerged — tall, stone-like skin covered in ancient markings, eyes glowing molten gold.
> "W-what… what is that?" Akiko whispered, her voice shaking.
"Oh no…" muttered Yamato, his body stiff. "It can't be…"
The Rex's laughter broke the silence.
> "HAHAHA! YOU'RE ALL DEAD! SEE YOU IN—"
SMASH!
The figure's palm swung lazily, slapping the Rex into the wall. The monster exploded into dust.
> "Trash," the figure said flatly, brushing his hand off.
The air shifted again as his deep voice echoed through the cavern.
> "Leaving so soon, Yamato? Won't you stay and play a little?"
Yamato's face turned pale.
> "N-No… no, it can't be… not you…"
Tensho stepped forward.
> "Who is that, Gramps?"
Rhian squinted.
"Wait… is that—?"
Renjiro interrupted, "I might not be smart, but I definitely read something about this in the academy…"
The figure's golden eyes glared down at them.
> "I am Veylor."
Tensho blinked.
> "Veylor? Like—VEYLOR, THE—"
> "Silence, insect."
The figure's voice boomed like thunder. "I am Veylor, Guardian of the Conflictioners. My purpose… is to capture scum like Yamato."
Gasps echoed around.
Veylor paused, then his eyes narrowed.
> "Wait. I sense it… Hybrid Arcis… from you as well."
He pointed at Tensho.
> "What?!" Rhian shouted. "Tensho… did you—?"
Yamato raised a hand.
> "Get ready. Don't underestimate him — this is no ordinary Guardian. This is a god at his peak form!"
Veylor smirked arrogantly.
> "Do you truly expect me to waste time on children? Still… one of you radiates divine Arcis. Tell me, boy — what's your name?"
Tensho clenched his fist.
> "My name is Tensho Imura! And I'm gonna kick your arrogant butt right back to Evil!"
A grin cracked across Veylor's stone-like face.
> "I like you already, scum."
He raised his hand. The entire dungeon began to shift — walls melted into sand, the ground flattened into polished stone, torches ignited by themselves.
> "Now… isn't this more open and peaceful?" he said mockingly.
"An arena…?" Akiko whispered.
"This is bad," Yamato muttered. "Run if you can. I'm too old for this — and none of you can last a second against him!"
Renjiro turned to Akiko.
> "Akiko, you said you had a plan?"
"Yeah," she replied quickly. "Before we got pulled in here, I placed a shadow in the real world. I can use it to open a portal — but I'll need time."
> "How long?"
"At least a minute!"
Yamato nodded.
> "Then I'll buy you that minute."
"But you said—" Tensho started.
"I said I'm old, not useless!" Yamato snapped, smiling faintly.
Veylor cracked his knuckles.
> "Should I fetch tea while you plan your funeral?"
> "Already planning it," Yamato said, slamming his hands together.
The ground shook — gravity rippled outward, pressing even Veylor slightly down. Yamato hurled a gravity slam toward him.
> "Hmph." Veylor raised both hands.
Boulders materialized midair, intercepting the blast. The shockwave shattered stone, air bursting like a bomb. Some rocks slipped through, hurtling toward Akiko and Renjiro—
Tensho's black hand flared.
> "Not today!"
He smashed the debris aside.
> "I'll help, Gramps!"
"If you insist," Yamato said, smiling grimly.
Veylor blurred. One instant, he was far; the next, right in front of Tensho.
> "Too slow."
He swung. Yamato barely blocked, bending gravity around his punch. Tensho countered with a right hook — his black hand connecting to Veylor's chest.
> CRACK
Veylor didn't even flinch.
> "Impressive," he said — then flicked his wrist. Tensho went flying.
Yamato caught him midair with gravity but stumbled.
> "Sorry, boy—"
Veylor's next strike came like lightning. Tensho barely dodged, slamming his black fist down. Veylor side-stepped, caught his leg, and whipped him into the ground.
> "TENSHO!" Akiko screamed.
Yamato unleashed a gravitational pulse, pushing Veylor back.
> "You monster!"
Inside Tensho's mind, a whisper echoed.
> "Hey, idiot… it's me again."
"Wh-who are you?!"
"Shut up and listen. If you want to live, focus your Arcis in your legs. Now."
Tensho gritted his teeth.
> "Fine!"
Dark energy surged. His legs turned black, crackling with shadowed power.
> "What… what's this…?" Tensho gasped.
Everyone stared — even Veylor froze.
> "No… impossible. That power—he's inside you!"
Tensho vanished — faster than sound — and appeared in front of Veylor.
> "Shut up and fight, rock face!"
Their fists collided.
BOOM.
The explosion sent shockwaves across the arena.
Veylor's grin widened.
> "You've piqued my interest, boy."
They blurred, clashing again and again — each strike tearing the air apart.
Dust and light burst everywhere.
Even Yamato couldn't track them anymore.
> "Incredible…" he whispered. "His body's moving beyond its limit!"
But power has a cost. Tensho's breath shortened.
Veylor's next punch sent him crashing into a wall.
> "TENSHO!" Rhian shouted.
"The portal's ready!" Akiko screamed. "Let's GO!"
Veylor turned sharply.
> "A portal? So that's what you've been doing."
Renjiro raised his gun of Arcis.
> "You're not stopping us!"
Rhian, Renjiro, and Akiko dashed into the glowing black portal. Tensho staggered to his feet. Yamato turned—
CRACK!
Veylor's hand grabbed him by the neck.
> "No one escapes me."
> "Tensho! Forget me—GO!" Yamato shouted.
"No!" Tensho screamed.
Akiko's voice echoed:
> "Three seconds left!"
> "Tensho!" Rhian yelled. "We'll close it without you!"
Tensho clenched his fists.
> "I couldn't save that kid before… but this time… I WILL!"
The voice in his mind whispered again:
> "Push past your limits."
Tensho's aura exploded. He shot forward, faster than ever before.
Veylor turned — too late.
Tensho snatched Yamato, his legs tearing through the air, and dove through the portal just as it sealed.
The dungeon imploded.
---
Tensho blinked awake.
Yamato's hand slapped his face.
> "Wake up, brat!"
> "Oww! You didn't have to hit me!"
His hand and legs were back to normal.
Rhian sighed.
> "We need to regroup. We've got a lot to discuss — about you, the hybrids, and what just happened."
Everyone nodded quietly. The air was heavy — but alive. They survived.
---
Far away, back in the shattered dungeon, Veylor stood amid the ruins. He bent down and picked up a single shoe — Tensho's.
A grin carved across his stony face.
> "Tensho Imura, huh? Hahahaha… fascinating. I've finally found a mortal worth killing."
He looked up at the sky, his eyes glowing like suns.
> "Until we meet again… child of shadow."