A faint, light blue flame flickered in the pitch-black void, its glow piercing the oppressive darkness. Zarek's narrowed eyes locked onto it, suspicion and confusion clouding his mind. What is that? Slowly, he approached, his guard up, the dim illumination revealing the form of someone familiar. His steps faltered as realization hit him—standing before him was the Lightning Knight, the powerful foe he and his team had defeated earlier.
Zarek's eyes widened in disbelief. "How are you alive? We.. defeated you!" His voice carried both shock and anger, memories of their brutal battle flashing vividly in his mind.
The figure didn't answer, remaining motionless. Suddenly, across the dark plane, a shimmering screen materialized like a projection unfolding from thin air. Zarek'sgaze darted to it, curiosity laced with unease. The screen showed the outside world, the current state of the battlefield.
His heart sank as the image burned into his mind—utter devastation. The ground lay shattered, scorched and broken from relentless combat. In the midst of the destruction stood a white figure, Namior, his golden spear held aloft. Cain was facing him, his body battered and bleeding. His movements were labored, the strain of the fight evident.
Zarek staggered back, his breath hitching. "Captain… Captain!" he shouted desperately, his fists pounding against the screen. His voice echoed in the void, but no sound seemed to pass through the barrier separating him from the real world. He struck the screen again and again, but it was unyielding, like an impenetrable wall of glass.
Then, his eyes caught something on the periphery of the projection—a horrifying sight that stopped him cold. There, lying lifeless in a pool of blood, was his own body. The scene was disturbingly clear: his corpse clutched the crystal core of the Lightning Knight, crimson staining the ground around it.
Zarek fell to his knees, his strength leaving him as despair washed over him. "No… no, this can't be," he whispered, his voice trembling. His hands trembled as they reached for the screen, unable to tear his gaze away from the scene. "Why? Why are you showing me this?"
Memories of failure surged within him, each one cutting deeper than the last. He clenched his teeth, his voice rising into a broken scream. "I couldn't save my mother! I couldn't protect anyone!" His fist struck the ground beneath him, the faint glow of his own body flickering with his despair. "And now Captain… Cain… he's out there fighting, dying—why are you doing this to me? Aren't I supposed to be dead? Why show me this?"
The Lightning Knight finally spoke, his voice deep and commanding, resonating through the dark void. "Because you aren't supposed to die, Zarek."
Zarek's eyes widened as he stared at the figure before him. Slowly, he rose to his feet, confusion and disbelief written across his face. "How do you know my name?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"There isn't much time to explain," the Knight replied, urgency cutting through his tone. "Listen carefully. You must go and stop the Valtarian from entering your world."
"Valtarian?" Zarek echoed, his mind racing to make sense of the word.
"They are beings from the planet Valtar," the Knight began, his blue flame flickering brighter as he spoke. "They came to Earth seeking its complete annihilation. My duty was to guard the seal that kept the Valtarian imprisoned—Namior included—and to ensure they would never breach into your world."
Zarek's breath quickened as the realization struck him. "Namior... the one Cain's fighting now. He's one of them, isn't he?"
The Knight's flames flared, casting an ominous glow across the dark plane. "Yes. Namior is their vanguard, their strongest warrior. By defeating me, you didn't merely win a battle—you broke the seal that kept him contained."
Zarek staggered, his hands balling into fists. "So we... we released him? Is this our fault?" His voice cracked, the weight of the revelation bearing down on him.
"Even if you hadn't defeated me," the Knight continued solemnly, "the seal's collapse was inevitable. Your arrival in the dungeon merely hastened it. The seal was already weakening—your interference only quickened its destruction."
Zarek felt his knees buckle, his gaze drifting toward the screen showing Cain locked in battle with Namior. Bloodied, his captain was barely holding on. "Why are you showing me this? Aren't I dead?
There is nothing i can do."
"This isn't the end for you, Zarek," the Lightning Knight said, his voice steady and resolute. "You were brought here because there is still a chance to set things right."
Zarek's eyes widened, disbelief flooding his expression. "What?" he whispered.
The Knight's glowing figure leaned closer. "I can bring you back to life, Zarek. You can save your friends... you can save your mother."
Zarek's heart skipped a beat. The mention of his mother stung, reopening old wounds. "How?" he asked, shaking his head. "Even if you brought me back to life, there's no way I could beat that thing. Even Captain is struggling to hold his ground."
"When I revive you," the Knight began, his voice unwavering, "all my powers will become yours. The crystal clutched in the hand of your own dead body is my energy core. It holds the essence of my strength."
Zarek's eyes darted back to the screen, to the sight of his lifeless body holding the glowing crystal. He clenched his fists. "The core…?"
The Knight nodded. "Your skill is unique, Zarek. It allows you to absorb the essence of anything, a power unlike any other. If you absorb my core, you will inherit my abilities, my strength. But know this—it is not a gift to be taken lightly.
Zarek took a shaky breath. "You're telling me I can do it?
"Yes," the Knight said. "But the path will be perilous. I know you have questions—about me, about your skill, about all that's happening. I assure you, in time, you will understand. For now, the question is this: Are you willing to take on the responsibilities that come with my power?
Determination slowly etched itself into Zarek's face. He raised his head, his eyes no longer filled with despair but with resolve. "Yeah," he said firmly. "I'm ready."
The Knight's blue flame flared, and suddenly the crystal appeared in Zarek's hands, glowing brighter than ever—like a miniature sun in the darkness of the void. Its radiance warmed him, filling him with a strange sense of hope and purpose.
"Now," the Knight said, his voice commanding. "Absorb it, Zarek."
Without hesitation, Zarek gripped the crystal tighter, its energy surging into him like a tidal wave as he embraced his destiny.
Cain's breath grew unsteady as he pressed his hand against the wound on his side, blood seeping between his fingers. "Damn it," he muttered, his voice strained.
Namior, standing tall and unscathed, smirked at the sight. "Give up, human. Your time has come to an end. No matter what you do, your fate is sealed. Your world will die."
Cain clenched his teeth, refusing to respond, his mind racing for a way to turn the tide. Suddenly, a radiant burst of blue mana erupted in the distance, its brilliance tearing through the battlefield like a beacon in the dark. The energy soared upward, lighting the dungeon with its intensity and spreading an immense radius that forced even Namior to take notice.
"What is this?" Cain whispered, his voice barely audible as his eyes widened in shock. The sheer force of the mana was overwhelming, a power so foreign yet unmistakably immense.
Namior's smirk faltered, his gaze narrowing as he turned toward the source. "Impossible," he muttered, feeling the weight of the mana surge pressing against him.
Before either of them could react further, the Lightning Knight's sword—previously lying discarded on the ground—began to crackle with lightning. Bolts of energy danced along its edge, growing stronger until the sword lifted off the ground, as if called by an unseen force. It spun in the air like a boomerang, its trajectory aiming straight for the heart of the mana outburst.
Cain and Namior both watched in stunned silence as the sword shot through the air. At the center of the glowing pillar of energy, a figure emerged, catching the blade with a single, firm hand. The crackling energy of the sword surged into the figure, merging with him as he stepped forward, the mana radiating from his body like an unstoppable storm.
Zarek stood tall, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly blue light, shimmering like crystal. His entire presence exuded raw power, the air around him charged with lightning.
Both Cain and Namior stared, captivated by the impossible sight. The battlefield seemed to still for a moment, the tension thick as Zarek turned his gaze toward them.
Cain's voice was barely a whisper. "Zarek…?"
For a moment, his disbelief held sway, but then his lips curled into a warm grin. "That kid," Cain muttered, shaking his head in awe. "Never ceases to surprise me." His eyes sparkled with anticipation, a renewed sense of hope igniting within.