Lucas stood firm, his one-sided green wing glowing faintly as he explained the dire situation to Old Man Kapil.
"Samodiva Queen is regaining her powers by destroying entire planets. The longer we wait, the stronger she becomes," Lucas said, his tone heavy with urgency.
"Is there any way to stop her?" Old Man Kapil asked, his voice trembling with worry.
"There's only one way," Lucas replied grimly.
Kapil narrowed his eyes. "And what is that?"
"Destroying this universe," Lucas said, his words landing like a thunderclap.
Kapil's face twisted in disbelief. "Destroy this universe? If you do that, then what's the difference between you and her?"
Lucas paused, his gaze piercing. "The difference is, she wants to control the entire multiverse—not just this universe. Sacrificing one universe may be the only way to stop her from enslaving countless others. We have no choice."
The room fell into a suffocating silence. Kapil clenched his fists, torn between rage and helplessness.
Before anyone could respond, Lucas turned to Akhil. "Akhil, I need to speak with you alone."
Akhil hesitated but nodded. "Alright."
The two moved to a secluded spot, away from the others. The air between them was tense as Akhil finally broke the silence. "Now tell me, what's going on?"
Lucas's voice softened, but his resolve didn't waver. "You have to escape from this universe."
Akhil frowned. "Why? I'm not running away from this fight, Lucas."
Lucas shook his head. "It's not about running. If the Samodiva Queen escapes, I need someone who can stop her. That someone is you, Akhil."
Akhil's expression darkened. "No. I refuse. I will protect this universe. I will protect Yohan."
Lucas's face hardened as he delivered the painful truth. "Yohan is dead."
Akhil froze. "What... What are you talking about?"
"His body may be gone, but his soul will be reborn in another universe. I'm sure of it," Lucas said firmly. "But we can't afford to focus on that now. Please, Akhil—escape. You're the only one who can carry on the fight if we fail here."
Akhil's eyes glistened with a mix of anger and despair. "You're asking me to abandon everyone? To abandon you?"
Lucas placed a hand on Akhil's shoulder. "I'm asking you to do what's necessary. Sometimes, survival isn't cowardice—it's strategy. Please, Akhil."
Before Akhil could respond, Lucas turned and left, his figure disappearing into the distance. His destination was clear—the place where the Samodiva Queen was wreaking havoc.
As Lucas approached her location, the sky above the planets burned with her destructive energy, each planet shattering into fragments as she absorbed their essence. Lucas clenched his fists. "This ends here, Queen."
The battle to decide the fate of not just their universe, but the entire multiverse, was about to begin.
Akhil stood in the quiet stillness of the battlefield, his thoughts racing as he summoned Bel. In an instant, a shadowy figure materialized beside him.
"You called, my lord?" Bel asked, bowing slightly, his voice calm yet obedient.
Akhil blinked in surprise. "Whoa, that was fast!"
Bel smirked. "I'm always following you, my lord. Wherever you go, I'll be there."
Akhil exhaled, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Alright then. Listen, we need to escape from this universe."
Bel's expression didn't change, and he nodded almost immediately. "Understood, my lord."
Akhil raised an eyebrow. "Huh? You're agreeing that quickly? No questions, no arguments?"
Bel's gaze grew serious. "I know this universe is doomed. Lucas is determined to destroy it, and his resolve won't waver. Staying here would mean certain death for us both."
Akhil chuckled faintly, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Guess you're smarter than I give you credit for. Yeah, let's leave. I don't want to see any of them again... I'm done with all this."
Bel's sharp eyes softened slightly. "As you wish, my lord. Let's go."
The two turned toward the boundary of the universe, the fabric of reality rippling around them. Akhil glanced back one last time, his thoughts lingering on the chaos, the pain, and the sacrifices left behind.
"Goodbye, everyone," Akhil muttered under his breath.
Without hesitation, Bel opened a shimmering portal, the gateway to another universe. Together, they stepped through, leaving the crumbling universe behind them—a world consumed by destruction and despair.
As the portal closed, Akhil's heart felt heavy yet resolute. He didn't know what awaited him in the next universe, but one thing was certain: he would carry on, for Yohan, for Lucas, and for the countless lives that depended on him in the greater multiverse.