Darkness loomed over the silent void where Xenos found himself trapped. A voice, distant yet strangely familiar, echoed through the abyss.
"Xenos... Xenos... do not lose hope. There is a way to escape. You can reach the outside..."
His consciousness stirred. The words carried both comfort and urgency, yet as Xenos's eyes fluttered open, reality struck him like a dagger. He sat up, his expression devoid of hope. It was already over. The weight of his existence pressed down on him, and for a brief moment, he remained still, lost in his thoughts.
A sudden presence snapped him out of his daze. David had approached, his voice tinged with concern.
"Are you alright?" David's eyes searched Xenos's face for an answer. "What are you trying to do? These past few days, you've been helping the princess, revealing the secret paths of the Xing tribe. And now, they've succeeded in their escape. So... what now? Are we really going to stay by the princess's side?"
Xenos met his gaze, his face now calm, his mind calculating. "Don't worry. We will assist her only as long as it serves our purpose. Once the opportunity presents itself, we'll escape. For now, we proceed with the plan."
David exhaled, running a hand through his hair. He's always like this… calm, unreadable. But as he looked closer, he saw something else—fatigue buried deep in Xenos's expression.
"He's suffering," David thought. "PTSD… that must be it."
The nightmares. The murmurs in his sleep. The same name over and over again.
"Leron… don't go."
David clenched his fists. "He's just like me. We both suffered at the hands of our parents."
---
At the Princess's Camp
Zenith sat inside her tent, deep in thought. Her fingers idly traced patterns on the table as she contemplated her next move.
"Xing Ming… he's been an asset to us."
A small, hopeful smile played on her lips. "I wonder if I can convince him to fully join our side."
Her thoughts were interrupted when one of her warriors entered, his face tense.
"My lady, we have a situation. Currently, four regions have gathered in Valhalla besides us. They include—Neo Region: the Ansortin and Nexus factions, Drago; Apex Region: Titans and Ivor; nearly every clan from Valhalla itself; and from the Dark Region… unknown clans."
Zenith's expression turned grave. The battlefield was becoming more dangerous by the second.
She raised a hand, silencing the soldier's report. "If I'm not mistaken, Mortis from Ansortin has begun killing indiscriminately, hasn't he?" Her voice was sharp.
The warrior nodded hesitantly. "Yes, my lady. He is merciless, killing anyone in his path."
A cold glint flashed in Zenith's eyes. "Then if we slay him, our clan's morale will soar. Isn't that right, Arth?"
Arth, her trusted right hand, stepped forward. "No, my lady. It is too risky. Mortis is a Type-3 Diviner, and his 'Rust Power' is unlike anything we've seen. Even though you are also a Type-3, you lack the experience to face him head-on. It's not time yet."
Zenith exhaled sharply. She hated waiting, but she knew Arth was right.
Arth continued, "Then what about the Xing Tribe escapees? Shall we bring them into our fold?"
Zenith shook her head. "No. They're powerless. If they follow us into battle, they will die before they even get the chance to fight. Instead, we will eliminate the Xing Tribe's remaining supporters. They must all be executed."
Arth's lips curled into a faint smile of admiration. "As you command, my lady."
---
Elsewhere,
Decario stood alone in the shadows, his mind clouded with suspicion.
"Clara lied."
His expression darkened as he mulled over the possibility. "Xenos isn't dead. He can't be."
He folded his arms, his mind racing. "That boy is too intelligent, too adaptable. But if he survived… where is he?"
His fingers twitched. "There's only one way to be sure."
Taking a deep breath, he activated his Dimensional Power. The space around him twisted, warping into an endless void. His body separated from the planet, and before he knew it—
He was traveling.
The first timeline he arrived at was eerily familiar. His eyes widened in frustration.
"Damn it. This is when Xenos was born! I wasted one chance!"
He clenched his fists and activated his power again.
The next moment, he found himself in a place of absolute silence.
Darkness. A thick, nauseating stench of blood hung in the air.
His breath hitched.
"No… this place… this…"and is it shadow someone?''oh shit...
Realization struck him like a hammer.
"The Void."
His heart pounded violently. This was a place he should never have come to.
Panic surged through him. His instincts screamed at him to leave—now.
"SHIT! I wasted another chance!"
His power flickered, and in a desperate move, he tore through the dimensional fabric and forced himself back into his own timeline.
Landing back on solid ground, he stumbled forward, gasping.
David, who had been nearby, turned to see Decario trembling. His breath came in short bursts, sweat dripping down his face.
"Ah… ah…!" Decario gritted his teeth. "I… wasted my power… because of that damn Xenos!" He seethed in frustration, his body still shaking.
He gripped his forehead, exhaling sharply. "If I only had the Supreme Divine Power…" his voice trembled with fury and exhaustion. "Damn it… Damn it all!"
As he clenched his fists, his mind repeated the same thought over and over again.
"Xenos, are you truly dead? Or have you done the impossible yet again?"