Leon found himself in the company of seven leaders of the Blackshirts, gathered inside Earth Dollows Dome at Vikora Palace's top floor. They appeared visibly shaken by Leon's overwhelming mana presence.
Amidst the tension, an unfamiliar figure barged into the room and abruptly kicked Leon from behind, leaving everyone stunned.
Zatora swiftly confronted the intruder, delivering a punch and scolding, "What do you think you're doing, Dune? How dare you touch this monster? What if he had killed us?"
"Monster? Me?" Leon replied with a saddened expression.
Sincerely apologetic, Zatora admitted her error, saying, "I'm extremely sorry, Leon. It seems I lost control for a moment."
Leon forgave her with a smile, saying, "It's okay, Miss Zatora."
Attempting to shift the focus, Zatora urged, "Dune, come here, you rascal. Apologize to Leon."
Dune, defiant, retorted, "Nope, why should I? He should be the one apologizing, not me."
Without hesitation, Leon humbly asked for forgiveness.
As the bizarre events unfolded, the observers collectively wondered, "What kind of pointless and foolish conversation are these people having?"
Kenneth intervened, "Leon, let us tell you about our group and your mother. Listen, and try to forget the events leading up to this."
Zatora chimed in, "Indeed, we apologize for wasting your time."
Kenneth proceeded once the commotion subsided, "Leon, you see, there are still civilians living in the upper layers of planets, those who never went underground or returned to the surface. This is due to one reason: Royals and higher-ups."
Zatora added, "You might wonder why we are still alive. It's true that our mana is being drained faster than underground, but the attire we wear slows down the mana-draining process, although it's not as effective as underground."
Kenneth elaborated, "So why endure all this? Because the Royals planned to transform the Dollows into Void creatures and pit them against the Voids."
Leon was appalled by this revelation, exclaiming, "That means the souls can never return to their bodies. How could the Royals even consider such a thing?"
Kenneth affirmed, "Yes, Leon, and that's precisely why we are fighting against them. There has been an internal conflict among us regarding the fate of Dollows for centuries, and your family initiated it."
Leon questioned with bewilderment, "My family? Are you suggesting that my ancestors started this?"
Kenneth confirmed, "Yes, your mother was the former Earth leader, a courageous woman who perished defending this Dome. I'm sorry we kept this secret until now. Your father instructed us to keep it hidden until you came here after the Solar Eclipse."
Leon pondered, "How does my father know that I would be here after the Eclipse? How is he aware of all this?"
Kenneth replied, "We don't know either. Everything has unfolded just as your father predicted – your enlistment in the Soul Corps this year, your participation in the Solar Eclipse, and the attempt on your life during it."
Leon struggled to comprehend, thinking to himself, "How does my father know all of this? Did he predetermine my path from the beginning? Why do I feel so frustrated and angry hearing this?"
Leon's mana began to surge, gradually enveloping the entire room. Zatora and Mickey started gasping for air and calling out to Leon, but he couldn't hear them. The holographic images of the leaders began to fade slowly.
Suddenly, Dune punched Leon in the gut, jolting him back to his senses.
Leon suddenly realized that he had harmed others and stammered, "I'm deeply sorry. I must have done something terrible to all of you. I was unaware. I apologize." He winced in pain from Dune's blow.
Kenneth thanked Dune and reassured Leon, "It's alright. It appears you're still struggling to control your mana and soul. We understand."
Zatora added, "Apologies to Dune for his punch. He's a Dollow, so your mana emission didn't affect him. But when he saw me suffocating, he must have reacted."
Leon, with an incredulous expression, questioned, "Dune is a Dollow?"
Zatora explained, "Yes, I utilized the Mana Soul Bind technique to imbue a small portion of my mana and soul into him, thereby asserting control."
The [Mana Soul Bind] technique enables one to employ their mana and soul as a binding thread, establishing a connection with Dollows to exercise control. It carries significant risk due to the ongoing need to infuse them with our mana to maintain control.
Leon, now upset, declared, "How is this any different from what the Royals are doing? How can you call yourselves rebels, fighting for Dollows, when you are doing the same?"
Leon's mana went berserk once more, slowly engulfing the room.
Dune stepped in front of Zatora and declared, "Mother, step aside. I'll protect you. Punch this idiot cousin of mine."
Leon stood frozen, his mind reeling. "Mother? Cousin? What is happening?"
Zatora clarified, "Yes, he's my son. He became a Dollow due to having a weak soul. But I couldn't bear to see him turned into a puppet, so I used the Mana Soul Bind. You're right; we're not so different from the Royals in the end."
Leon sought forgiveness and regained his composure, though a lingering sadness showed on his face.
Dune approached Leon, patting him on the back, and joked, "What a pitiful cousin you are. I can't believe Aunt Vikora told me to wait for you. What took you so long to come here? Apologize to me already."
Zatora explained, "You see, he isn't your actual relative. Vikora informed him about you, and he was genuinely eager to meet you until now."
Leon, somewhat baffled, asked, "My mother died during my birth. How does she know about me and my future?"
Kenneth disclosed, "Leon, your birth was destined. You already have a predetermined path to follow. You are the one who will lead us to the end."
Leon expressed his confusion, "I'm sorry, but I'm overwhelmed by all of this. I don't understand what's happening to me right now. Why did Zatora call me a monster? Why did everyone faint? Why was I on the Earth's surface?"
Tears welled up in his eyes as he continued, "I can't seem to grasp any of what you're saying. It's all too much. Can you all please forgive me for not meeting your expectations?"
Kenneth offered an apology, "You're different from what we've heard from underground. In person, you're kind, fearful, sorrowful, lonely, and, above all, a young person trying to find your own path. We're sorry for springing everything on you suddenly."
The faint and indistinct holographic leaders also extended their apologies.
Kenneth instructed Mickey, "Take Leon to his room, and we'll discuss the remaining details later."
Mickey complied, saying, "Roger, Leon, follow me."
As Leon, Dune, and Mickey departed, Zatora finally knelt on the floor, and the holographic leaders reappeared fully.
Zatora confided, "I don't know how to put this, but Leon may destroy us before saving us."
An Elfin woman concurred, "Indeed, you're right. Vikora and Cyrus left us with quite a conundrum."
A demonic being added, "This kid can emit and absorb mana without realizing it. He nearly drained our souls. I thought I'd vanish while in this holographic form."
A Rabisus entity chimed in, "Kenneth, do you really think it's wise to make him our future leader? He's emotionally unstable for his age."
Kenneth smiled and responded, "Everyone, Cyrus and Vikora didn't give us a savior. They bestowed upon us a tyrant who will obliterate everything in his path. We must stand behind him and follow his course until he vanishes."
Laughter filled the room as the holographic leaders faded away.
Mickey, Dune, and Leon proceeded to Leon's safe house.
Upon arriving, Leon noticed several people residing in the building and inquired of Mickey, "Are all these people Dollows, or are there humans among them?"
Mickey, wearing a melancholic expression, replied gently, "Listen, Colorless. Humans and Dollows coexist here. Humans are slowly fading away as we speak, but they remain here for the people they love, not just within this dome but throughout the entire Universe. They continue to live happily as they approach their end."
Leon continued to pose questions, pondering why the Royals were considered villains and why surface dwellers had never contacted underground residents.
Mickey, with a trace of irritation, said, "Hey, outsider, let me make it clear: your role is to fight for us and, if necessary, to die for us. We will handle the aftermath. That's your purpose. Don't inquire further about matters that don't truly concern you."
Leon felt disheartened, his emotions evident as he gazed downward. Dune noticed this and playfully punched Mickey in the stomach.
"Don't bully my cousin, Leon. Aunt Vikora instructed me to wait for you. When are you going to bring me back to life?"
Leon, with a somewhat forlorn expression, felt defeated.
Mickey, feigning sarcasm, quipped, "Well, Dune, as soon as he finishes his breakfast, he'll resurrect your soul. Now, go get him some food."
Dune playfully responded, "Roger, I'll bring it right away."
As Dune departed, Mickey, with a gentle smile, revealed, "Dune is 22 years old now. He lost his soul at the age of 10, that's why he still carries the mind of a 10-year-old. So, don't mind his questions."
As they reached the ground floor of Vikora's Palace building, Mickey handed Leon a gas mask and a suit, instructing him to put them on.
"Colorless, we're going underground. Put this on. The mana concentration will be overwhelming from here on out. Follow me carefully."
Leon, hesitant but curious, inquired, "Mickey, could you kindly explain why we need these?"
Mickey sighed and responded without enthusiasm.
"Listen, the underground civilization for every planet exists between 5 km and 20 km below the surface. We rebels live within the first 5 km below the surface.
In that initial 5 km, Belowgrounders construct a mana pipeline to block the Sun's mana absorption. We live in the space between these pipeline connections to avoid detection by the Belowgrounders. We're called Tunnelers, while the Belowgrounders reside deep below, and the surface inhabitants are known as Toplanders."
Mickey paused and sighed again, saying, "It's a lot to explain."
Leon remarked, "No problem, I think I understand the concept."
Mickey, now somewhat annoyed, retorted, "Colorless, don't play smart. Explain it to me then."
Mickey thought to himself, "I'm going to put you in your place; just wait, you rascal."
Leon responded, "My father used to tell me that there are seven pipelines built within the first 5 km below the surface, but only five of them are used regularly. The remaining two are activated only during the Eclipse or in emergencies."
Leon continued, "I estimate that these seven underground pipeline segments would be approximately 0.5143 kilometers in length each. In between them, there's about 0.2 km of space available. The Tunnelers likely reside within that 0.2 km pipeline space, correct?"
Mickey was astonished, his surprise evident as he grabbed Leon's shirt.
"You little rascal, you knew all along and were just asking questions to mock me, weren't you?"
Leon admitted, "I'm sorry; I made an educated guess. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
Mickey released his grip on Leon's shirt and directed him to follow.
They descended underground using the stairs. Along the way, Leon noticed numerous traps, fake tunnels, and scattered mana panels.
Leon thought, "These mana panels must be used to hide us from detection."
As they delved deeper, Leon began to struggle with the increasing pressure, but the suit and gas mask helped him maintain his composure.
Upon arriving at their hideout, Leon observed a small building resembling his childhood home, with a sign on the door that read, "Welcome home, Leon. Love, Father and Mother."
Tears welled up in his eyes as he pushed open the door, anticipating the truths he would uncover and the path he would ultimately follow.
[End of Chapter]
***
"After undergoing the transformation into Dollows, when brought under the control of another through Mana Soul Bind, they are known as 'Arcanes.'
Arcanes can only retain their past memories from before their transformation into Dollows. Once they have become Arcanes, they are able to move freely at will. However, they cannot remain separated from their master for too long due to the necessity of a constant Mana and soul link connection imposed by the Mana Soul Bind.
Arcane masters have the ability to freely control Arcanes, such as making them fight on their behalf. For instance, Zatora once employed Dune to strike Leon when everyone was suffocating, though Zatora later informed Leon that Dune had acted of his own free will. Arcane masters can also command Arcanes to build and perform various tasks. In addition, highly skilled Arcane masters have the capability to access their Arcane's memories and see the world through their eyes.
Arcanes remain unaware of the commands given by their Arcane masters, believing that they are acting of their own volition."
***