Seeing danger, Djuma swiftly swept aside the curtain, allowing a ray of light from outside to illuminate the room. The sudden brightness caught Mike off guard, and he froze, startled.
Christina's urgent cry pierced the air. "Mike!"
Instantly, the monstrous energy dissipated, and Mike's form transformed back to human. The glowing electricity orb dissipated, its energy releasing into the air.
Mike's limbs went limp, and he collapsed onto the floor, his breathing shallow. The group rushed to his side, concern etched on their faces.
"Mike, are you okay?" Rachael asked, anxiety lacing her voice.
Mike struggled to sit up, his gaze locking onto Djuma's face. A faint cut marred Djuma's cheek."What have I done?" he exclaimed, alarm rising.
Djuma's expression turned serious. "Don't worry about that now. Tell me, how did you feel earlier?" His voice held a hint of urgency.
Mike's eyes clouded, lost in thought. After a moment, he sighed deeply. "I felt overwhelming anger," he admitted. "When it surged through me, all I could think of was destruction. Nothing else mattered."
Confusion etched Mike's face. "But you said I was meant to protect the kingdom. Why did I feel such intense anger?"
Djuma's gaze intensified. He hesitated, his eyes evading Mike's probing gaze. "Perhaps you need time to clear your mind. We can try again later," he suggested, his tone cautious.
Mike's eyes narrowed. "You're avoiding my question," he said, rising from the floor. His gaze bore into Djuma, who averted his face.
"I sense you're hiding something from me," Mike pressed, his voice firm. "What are you withholding?"
Djuma's pause betrayed his reluctance. "I didn't intend to keep it from you. I expected you to discover the truth when you unlocked your memories."
"Now that it's failed, I was waiting for the right moment to reveal it. It seems I have no choice but to tell you now," Djuma admitted, his expression grave.
Mike's curiosity turned to urgency. "What are you talking about, Djuma?"
Djuma's words dropped like a weight. "You were briefly possessed earlier. The anger you felt was Jran's resentment."
Mike's eyes widened in shock. "What's Jran? And possessed?! You can't be serious!"
Djuma's expression remained somber. "It's not 'what', it's 'who'. Jran was the previous Jyuran. Dahra was born from his resentment toward Perebia."
Rachael's voice cut through the stunned silence. "But why? Why would Jran resent the people he was sworn to protect?"
Her question hung in the air, awaiting Djuma's revelation.
"That's for the Jyuran to discover," Djuma responded, his voice shrouded in mystery. "The truth remains unknown, but rumors whisper that Jran's desire for revenge consumed him, driving him to seek to destroy the kingdom. No one believed it then."
Djuma paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing.
"Jran was stripped of his power, but I never expected his soul to linger within the Krara. You must overcome him, my Jyuran, no matter the cost."
Djuma's intensity surged. "The fate of my world and yours hangs in the balance. You cannot fail. You must suppress Jran's influence."
Mike's frustration boiled over. "How? I lost control earlier. How am I supposed to stop him?"
Djuma's gaze shifted to Christina, his expression thoughtful. "True love holds the key," he replied, his voice filled with conviction. "Only by vanquishing Jran can you uncover the secrets of Dahra's birth and destruction. How did you acquire the Krara?"
Mike's thoughts retreated to the past. "It was hidden within a book, the power contained in the center, sealed in a box," he replied.
Djuma's interest piqued. "Do you recall the book's contents? Can you share them with me?" he inquired.
His eyes locked onto Mike, anticipation building.
Mike nodded resolutely. "Yes, I remember. It's strange; I'd forgotten about it until you asked. Now, everything's flooding back, as if the memories were dormant, waiting to resurface."
Djuma leaned forward, anticipation etched on his face. "Please, share what it said."
Mike's eyes drifted, recalling the words.
"Perebia, a kingdom on planet Noan, one of the rogue planets in the Milky Way galaxy, faces imminent danger. The sealed child has been reborn, carrying its father's intentions to bring destruction and chaos.
The chosen human must decide: fulfill the previous Jyuran's wish, bringing desolation, or uphold his duty as the kingdom's protector."
Mike's gaze shifted to Djuma, a hint of accusation. "You didn't tell me it was a choice."
Rachael intervened, her voice thoughtful. "Do you really have a choice, Mike? Would you have chosen destruction?"
Mike sighed heavily and slumped into the sofa chair. "What am I supposed to do now?"
Djuma's expression turned somber. "I'm not sure. The events began 500 years ago, beyond my knowledge. My understanding has limits."
He paused, collecting his thoughts.
"You can't return to Perebia unprepared. You need time to gather yourself, understand your role, and confront Jran's influence."
"I have an unshakable feeling that something is amiss," Mike said, struggling to comprehend the inexplicable sensations.
Djuma's eyes suddenly radiated an ethereal glow. His face tilted upward, fixed on the ceiling, as his body began to tremble. He rose into the air, suspended midair.
The group recognized this phenomenon, having witnessed it before. They watched in silence until Djuma's eyes returned to normal and he gently descended.
"I believe you sensed it too," Mike pressed, his curiosity piqued. "What did you envision?"
Djuma's expression turned grave. "They've already pinpointed your location. It's likely they're en route to this planet as we speak."
His tone turned urgent. "We have no choice; we must prepare immediately. We depart tonight!"
Christina's concern surfaced. "What about us? We don't possess wings like you. How will we traverse the distance?"
Djuma's response was somber. "Your role concludes here. You wouldn't survive in Perebia."
Stefan nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. We wouldn't be able to breathe in the alien environment."
Rachael's eyes widened, alarm creeping in. "What do you mean 'wouldn't survive'? What kind of dangers await Mike?"
"Perebia's atmosphere may be hostile to we humans," Christina chimed in.
Djuma's gaze met Rachael's, his expression unwavering. "It's not about oxygen," he clarified. "Perebia's kingdom has become a war zone. Survival depends on strength and cunning. The risks are too great."
He paused, his gaze locked onto Mike.
"Relying on the Jyuran's untested power is risky, especially since his memories remain incomplete. However, there's only one way to communicate with the Jyuran, and he can share it with only one person who…"
Djuma's voice trailed off as Mike approached Christina. In a swift motion, Mike transformed and enveloped Christina in a gentle hug. With a delicate precision, he nicked her neck with one of his claws, just below her right ear.
Christina winced, a sharp pain stinging her. She pushed Mike away, clutching her neck.
"What the hell, Mike? What did you just do?" she exclaimed.
Djuma intervened, his voice calm. "Mike has granted you the ability to communicate with him across any distance."
Christina's confusion deepened.
"How?" Stefan asked, incredulous. "No cellphone required?"
Djuma nodded, his steps measured as he approached Christina.
"The Jyuran's claw injected a fluid called Lav into your neck. It functions as a communication device."
Rachael's eyes widened. "That's incredible."
Djuma continued, "To activate it, simply double-tap the Lav. However, it only works when he, as the Jyuran, enables the connection."
"How do I know it's working?" she asked.
Djuma's smile hinted at reassurance. "You'll feel a subtle vibration when he connects. Trust the Lav; it's an ancient, reliable technology."
Christina's hand instinctively touched the spot where Mike had nicked her earlier, her brow furrowed in confusion. "I thought I was injured there, but...how is it gone?"
Mike transformed back into his human form, his eyes locked onto Christina's.
"There's nothing to worry about. I would never harm you," he reassured.
Djuma's expression shifted to quizzical.
"Wait a minute...Have you unlocked the memories?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity. "How did you know about the Lav?"