“Hahaha… Look at you screaming for help, bitch,” J1 sneered, his grin twisted with cruel amusement as he watched Aria struggle, blood dripping from her wounds.
“B-Bastard!” Aria spat, gritting her teeth as she forced her battered body to move. She leapt just in time, narrowly avoiding another bullet aimed directly at her back.
“Tsk, she’s got a knack for dodging,” J4 muttered with frustration, his gun smoking as he adjusted his aim.
Aria’s breaths came in ragged gasps, her body screaming in pain from the endless battle. She had already taken down two of Jack’s puppets, but these last two had switched to guns—a weapon she hadn’t anticipated.
Several bullets had already pierced her flesh, making each movement feel like agony. And Kaelen… Kaelen lay motionless behind her, his blood staining the ground.
‘I’m hurt… Aether…’ Unconsciously, she called out his name.
J1 smirked, lifting his gun for another shot. But just as he squeezed the trigger—
SHING!
Out of nowhere, thin red swords sliced through the air, stabbing both J1 and J4 into the ground, and pinning them in place. Their eyes widened in shock as they fell, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
“What the…!” J1 gasped, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Before they could react further, a figure descended from the sky, landing with graceful yet deadly force. It was Aether, his expression cold and merciless as he dismissed the puppets with a wave of his hand.
Indigo flames disintegrated their bodies into nothingness.
“Aria!” Aether’s voice softened as he rushed to her side, his hands immediately glowing with healing energy. He gently touched her wounds, the black mist swirling as her injuries began to close. “Are you alright?”
Aria, her body still trembling from the pain, blinked up at him in shock, “Aether… you… you’re here,” she whispered, but then her gaze shifted to Kaelen’s motionless form. Her heart twisted with fear, “H-Help him, Aether! Please!”
Aether turned his attention to Kaelen, his eyes narrowing as he took in the severity of his wounds. Several gaping holes marred on Kaelen’s body and one was dangerously close to his heart.
“H-He saved me… He took the bullets that were meant for me,” Aria’s voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes.
Aether quickly knelt beside Kaelen, his hands glowing again as he tried to heal him. The familiar black mist enveloped Kaelen’s body, but the moment it touched his wounds, it flickered and faded. Aether’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No… no…” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as he tried again, forcing his power into Kaelen’s body.
But nothing happened.
“Cough, Cough”
Kaelen coughed, blood spilling from his lips as his eyes slowly fluttered open. His gaze met Aether’s, and despite the pain, a small smile appeared on his face. “Father…”
Aether froze for a moment, startled by the word. But he quickly composed himself, his hand trembling as he touched Kaelen’s shoulder, “Everything’s fine, Kaelen. You’re going to be okay,” he said, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his growing fear.
Kaelen coughed again, his body shaking as he struggled to breathe. His weak eyes shifted toward Aria, his smile widening just slightly. “I… protected her…” he whispered, his voice so faint it was barely audible.
Aria’s heart shattered at those words. Tears streamed down her face as she nodded, her hands clutching Aether’s arm, “Yes, Kaelen… you did. You did great.”
Aether’s jaw clenched, his eyes filling with desperation as he tried once more to heal Kaelen.
But the wounds didn’t close, “No… stay with me, Kaelen. Please… just hold on.”
But Kaelen’s eyes were already dimming. His grip on Aether’s hand weakened, his breath becoming more laboured, “Tell… m-my mother… I didn’t… -ha- run away…” he gasped, his chest heaving with each word. “Tell her…
I did…..hmm… Yes, I did great… I hope… -ha- she’s proud…” He coughed again, blood spilling from his lips, “Take care… -ha- of her… Father…” And with that, his eyes closed, his body going limp.
“…”
Aether stared blankly at Kaelen’s lifeless body, his mind refusing to accept what had just happened. Aria’s sobs broke the stillness as she knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she placed them on his shoulder.
“A-Aether…” she whispered, her voice breaking.
Aether didn’t respond. His eyes were locked on Kaelen, a single tear slipping down his cheek…
“Aether…” Aria called out again, her voice trembling, “I-I’m so sorry… It’s my fault—”
Before she could finish, Aether pulled her into a gentle embrace, his arms wrapping around her trembling form. “Don’t,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, “Don’t blame yourself.”
Aria sobbed against his chest, her guilt overwhelming her, “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” she cried.
Aether’s eyes darkened as he gazed over the devastated battlefield. His jaw tightened, and his voice became cold and detached, “What happened here?”
Aria blinked, startled by the sudden shift in his tone and his eyes…. something was wrong, “Y-Your eyes–“
“Just What happened here?”
She wiped her tears and nodded, trying to steady herself, “I… I don’t know. When I came out of the game, everything was already like this. Those monsters… they’re stronger than anything we’ve fought before. And…
some of us are acting strange.”
Aether’s brow furrowed, “Strange? How?”
Before Aria could respond, Aether heard a familiar voice echoing in his mind.
/Aether, can you hear me?/
It was Celestia, her tone urgent.
/Celestia? Where are you—/
He started to ask, but she cut him off.
/Aether, come quickly! The Princess… she’s acting strange! Something’s wrong!/
Aether’s gaze snapped to the sky as he saw a small flare-like light crystal ball shoot up… a signal!
His frown deepened, “We need to move,” he said to Aria, his voice laced with urgency.
Aria nodded, though her eyes lingered on Kaelen’s still body.
Aether knelt beside Kaelen one last time, taking a deep breath as he placed his hand over his chest.
A thick layer of ice formed around Kaelen, encasing him in a protective shell. He then surrounded the ice with a wall of flame, ensuring no monsters would disturb his rest.
Taking a deep breath, Aether turned toward the signal, “Let’s go,” he said.
While they walking they saw a weird skeletal stone… though they wondered, focused on their current job.
Meanwhile…
“Princess, please, look at me!” Celestia cried out, her voice trembling with desperation as she knelt beside Aqualina, who lay motionless on the ground, her body limp like a broken doll.
Celestia’s forehead glistened with sweat, her expression filled with worry as she glanced around, taking in the chaotic battlefield surrounding them.
Not far from where she crouched, a monstrous scene unfolded—an enormous dragon was being swallowed whole by green, red snakes…. But these were no ordinary snakes. It was a creature that came out from the deepest parts of the valley, a beast with shimmering rainbow-coloured Arcane Crystals embedded in its flesh, radiating power.
“I’ve… I’ve never heard of anything like this,” Celestia murmured, her voice quivering in disbelief. The dragons, powerful and mighty as they were, were being felled by these monstrous snakes as though they were nothing.
The raw power these creatures held was terrifying, almost rivalling the strength of the Chosen Ones themselves.
Her gaze then shifted to Snowflake, the white serpent who was coiled protectively around them. The only reason they hadn’t been attacked yet was Snowflake’s presence. The other snakes kept their distance, wary of approaching one of their own.
For now, Snowflake was their shield.
But even Snowflake, usually carefree and mischievous, was on edge. Her head twitched from side to side, her forked tongue flicking nervously in the air. Her normally playful eyes were sharp, alert, and filled with unease,
“D-Dangeroouusssss~,” she mumbled in a low hiss, her body coiling tighter as her instincts screamed at her to flee.
Suddenly, Snowflake’s entire body jolted, her eyes lighting up with recognition.
“Masterrr~~!” she hissed excitedly, her voice carrying a note of relief as she spotted Aether flying towards them, his figure cutting through the darkened sky.
Aether landed softly beside them, the ground barely stirring beneath his feet. His eyes immediately went to Snowflake, his hand gently patting her smooth, cold scales. “Are you alright, Snowflake?”
“Yesss~ Master,” Snowflake responded.
[+4000 AP]
His expression turned serious as he shifted his focus to Celestia, who was still cradling the unconscious Aqualina in her arms.
“What happened?” he asked, his voice low and filled with concern.
Celestia shook her head, her brow furrowed, “I don’t know! She came out of the game like this… I’ve called her, and used every healing potion I have, but… nothing works. I don’t know what’s happening… everything’s going wrong so quickly—” Her voice began to crack, her usually composed demeanour unravelling under the stress.
Aether, seeing her distress, placed a gentle hand on her head, “Calm down,” he said softly,
Celestia blinked, before sighing and she stared at Aether… She frowned as she looked closer, suddenly noticing something strange, “Aether… what’s wrong with your eyes?”
“What do you mean?”
With a flick of her wrist, Celestia conjured a small pool of water, its surface rippling before reflecting Aether’s face. His eyes, which were once a brilliant blue, had turned a deep, ominous black…. The entire eye was black!
Aether’s breath hitched in his throat as he stared at his own reflection, “W-What… happened?” he muttered, ‘Isn’t that what Delphine saw in her vision?’ he thought with a weird feeling.
“It happened… after Kaelen’s death,” Aria’s quiet voice interjected from behind him… She saw his eyes changing before her very eyes.
Aether blinked and tried to think it’s cause…. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. He pushed the thought aside, turning his attention back to Aqualina, who remained eerily still in Celestia’s arms.
“Hm…” Aether knelt beside Aqualina, his brow furrowing as he attempted to use his healing abilities. His hand hovered over her body, the familiar black mist appearing again, yet there were no visible wounds to heal.
“Everything seems fine…” he mumbled, perplexed.
He gently opened her eyelids, trying to search for any sign of consciousness, but her eyes were unfocused and dull.
Suddenly, her lips parted, and a hoarse whisper escaped her throat. “K-Kill me…”
Aether’s heart clenched, and his eyes widened, “Aqua!” He shook her gently, his voice filled with alarm, “Aqualina, it’s me, Aether! Wake up! Please!”
Before they could make sense of the situation, a loud, menacing hiss cut through the air.
“HISSSSS~”
Everyone flinched, their heads snapping towards the source of the sound. What they saw made their blood run cold….. They were fully surrounded by the snakes!