Malacosteus crawled forward, exhausted after taking the attack and from the fight itself. Walking on all fours, the creature now appeared pitiful. Each step was sluggish, his long arms dragging limply against the ground, too drained of energy to extend. Despite his weakened state, his eyes locked firmly on Maxwell.
"Time to feast," Malacosteus growled as he crawled closer to Maxwell. "May your next existence in this universe's parallel bring you the peace you couldn't find here," he muttered, almost mockingly, as his long arms wrapped around Maxwell. His mouth opened wide, revealing the void of darkness within, ready to consume his prey.
Suddenly, a powerful blow struck the back of Malacosteus's head, sending the creature flying through the air before crashing into the side of a nearby building. The force of the impact echoed through the area, and Malacosteus released his grip on Maxwell, who fell to the ground.
"Never expected I'd see a 'NULL' here," Sidgroth said as he effortlessly lifted Maxwell from the ground and began to move him to a safer location. His eyes never left Malacosteus, still recovering from the impact. "I'm guessing you're the one responsible for the disappearances lately, huh
"Damn it, I never expected Sidgroth to be done so soon with those Forbidden that were here not long ago..." Malacosteus said to himself, his body trembling with exhaustion. The pounding in his head made it hard to focus, but he knew he couldn't afford to stay there for much longer.
Sidgroth began to walk forward, his warhammer gripped tightly in one hand. "What's your name? I'd like to know before I finish what my student started."
Malacosteus lifted his head, his strength draining with every second that passed. "My name is Malacosteus..." His voice was weak, barely above a whisper. Inside, he was panicking. I need to do something… anything… or I'll die here. The sense of desperation took over, and he knew time was running out.
"Malacosteus, huh?" Sidgroth said as he closed the distance between them. "And would I be wrong in saying you're responsible for the disappearances that happened in Calla Lily lately?"
Malacosteus let out a labored breath, his body trembling as he struggled to stay upright. His legs shook beneath him, but he forced himself to stand. "You'd be right," he said, "you see, I need to feed on mana in order to return to my humanity..."
Sidgroth's eyes harden as he approached Malacosteus. "Your sob story doesn't change anything," he said. "You've caused enough pain, and that's where your excuses end."
Malacosteus managed to let out a weak laugh, his body barely able to stay upright. "How fitting, the hero swoops in to save the day once again. It's almost... too predictable, don't you think?"
Sidgroth's expression remained unreadable, but his grip tightened on his warhammer.
"All the souls you've tormented can finally rest easy, knowing justice has been served!" Sidgroth yelled, raising his warhammer high. He swung it down, aiming to crush Malacosteus where he stood.
But before the hammer could make contact, Malacosteus opened his mouth, unleashing a dense cloud of pitch black smoke that quickly engulfed the area. Sidgroth instinctively leaped back as the creature slipped away.
Malacosteus dropped to all fours, his large body moving with surprising speed as he fled. "I just need to get some distance!" he muttered to himself.
Reaching what seemed like a safe spot, Malacosteus launched himself into the air, muttering, "This will have to be enough to escape... for now." His glowing eyes flickered as he flew away.
As the thick, black smoke finally began to dissipate, Sidgroth's piercing gaze swept the area, but Malacosteus was nowhere to be seen. The creature had already vanished into the night, leaving behind only the faint echo of his retreat.
"Tch, that one's on me," Sidgroth muttered, his warhammer still gripped tightly in his hand. "A 'NULL' prowling around Calla Lily... If it's been hiding this long, it must've found refuge somewhere secluded. The Elemental Forest of Calla Lily—bet that's where it's been lurking."
Sidgroth carefully approached Gladiolus as he crouched down to lift the unconscious monster. He carried Gladiolus over to Maxwell's side, laying him down gently beside the young warrior, who remained unconscious.
Standing over them, Sidgroth crossed his arms. "Remember this moment," he said quietly, his voice low but firm. "Every ache, every wound you have now—this is just the beginning. The road ahead will only grow more brutal, and the pain will be far worse."
He paused, looking down at Maxwell's battered body. His tone softened, a tone of pride in his words. "But you should hold your head high when you wake up. You stood your ground against a NULL—a feat most wouldn't live to tell about. You've undoubtedly saved lives tonight, even if you don't realize it yet."
Sidgroth turned away slightly, glancing at the sky before speaking once more. "Stand strong when you rise, kid. You're not just a fighter—you're a proud warrior."
Hours later, Maxwell's eyes opened, greeted by the soft glow of the lights. He was lying in a simple but comfortable bed, there was the scent of herbs faintly in the air. His entire body throbbed with a dull ache.
He let out a sigh, his muscles aching as he attempted to move. Slowly, he pushed himself up into a sitting position, each motion feeling as though it dragged an immense weight. Even though the deep wounds and visible injuries were mysteriously gone, the exhaustion and pain still remained.
Maxwell rested his back against bed, his hands gripping the sheets tightly for support as he tried to piece together what had happened.
Maxwell noticed Gladiolus, lying curled up on the ground beside the bed. The creature's massive body rose and fell steadily with each breath, its injuries from the battle seemingly a thing of the past. Despite its monstrous appearance, there was a strange tranquility in the way it slept.
Maxwell managed a weak smile as he muttered to himself, "Lucky. If only I had recovery like that, I wouldn't feel like I've been hit by a truck."
Sidgroth walked into the room, his heavy boots thudding softly against the floor. "Looks like you're finally up, kid," he said, crossing his arms and leaning casually against the wall. "Fair to say you've had yourself quite the battle."
Maxwell shifted uncomfortably, wincing as his sore muscles ached. "The creature's name is Malacosteus," he said.
Sidgroth nodded, "I know. The NULL told me when I came to pull you out of that mess."
Maxwell let out a chuckle, glancing at Gladiolus, who was still sleeping soundly on the floor. "Guess that explains why Gladiolus and I aren't food for that monster," he muttered.
Sidgroth let out a low chuckle, shaking his head in amazement. "I gotta say, kid, I'm impressed. Not everyone who crosses paths with a NULL can say they managed to harm it—let alone live to tell the tale," he said, his tone of genuine respect.
Maxwell furrowed his brow, the unfamiliar term catching his attention. "NULL? What exactly is that?" he asked,
Sidgroth crossed his arms, his gaze turning serious. "You see, kid, a NULL is... well, the simplest way to put it is they're like vampires—at least in terms of what they've become. But the process is far different. To become a NULL, you have to willingly give up your humanity, bathe yourself in void energy, and endure the transformation. It's not a guaranteed outcome, either. People who try don't survive—or worse, they lose all sense of self and become mindless beasts of the void."
Maxwell leaned back against the headboard, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I think this case might be different. You see, Malacosteus isn't from this universe... just like me. I think he might've unwillingly transformed into that monster when he fell through his own universe's rift, just like Juno explained before." He said.
Sidgroth raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?" he said, stroking his chin.
Maxwell nodded slowly. "Yeah, and if that's true, maybe he's not the only one out there. There must be others from other universes like him and I."
Sidgroth straightened up, his tone taking on a more serious edge. "Well, kid, that's something you're gonna have to investigate."
"Don't you mean we?" Maxwell asked, his brow furrowing as he shifted in his bed.
Sidgroth glanced at him briefly, a serious expression on his face. "Kid, I'm afraid it's not as simple as that. I've got business to attend to. The Forbidden are back, and that's no small matter. I'm going to Magnolia to reunite with an old teammate of mine, Aoki Kana."
"Aoki Kana... that's the pureblood wolf beastkin, right?" Maxwell asked, trying to remember what little he knew about the individual.
"That's right," Sidgroth confirmed, "with Aoki, Vaos, The White Crusader, and I, their return will be brief. But we've got to be prepared for whatever's to come."
"Does that mean you're going to leave me to defend Calla Lily all by myself?" Maxwell asked.
Sidgroth chuckled lightly, though there was no humor in his tone. "Exactly," he replied, his gaze hardening slightly. "This will be a good test for you, kid. If you're going to keep up, you need to learn how to handle things on your own. But don't worry," he added, his tone softening just a little. "I'm not leaving right away. I'll stick around for at least a week after you've recovered. I'm not that cruel, after all."
"I'm not so sure about that. Your training back then was grueling," Maxwell chuckled, recalling the harsh methods Sidgroth used to push him to his limits.
Sidgroth smirked, "I actually have a new program lined up for you. Thanks for reminding me."
"Damn it..." Maxwell sighed, already dreading whatever Sidgroth had planned.
"Well, for now, rest easy, kid," Sidgroth said, his voice softening slightly as he gave Maxwell one last look. "And don't cause any trouble while you're here. You're at the only healing magic user's house in Calla Lily, so make sure you take advantage of it."
Maxwell nodded, too tired to argue, and watched as Sidgroth walked out of the room. The sound of his footsteps fading into the distance left the room feeling quiet.
Maxwell laid back on the bed, his body still aching from the battle.
There was nothing more he could do for now, except rest and recover...