Flux looked at Mike and gave a sharp nod.
Mike instantly understood and nodded back.
White: All right… now, begin.
Ixia: Okay, Lord… here it goes.
The Tower began to glow bright, bright enough that the ground itself hummed. The energy surged so wildly it felt like the air could explode.
---
Meanwhile, in a dark and distant place…
A faint, familiar voice echoed through the shadows.
Familiar Voice: Ugh… is it still happening…?
Unknown Voice (annoyed): Quiet. I need to focus.
Familiar Voice: But it's pitch dark! At least take this thing off my head
Unknown: Fine, fine. Here.
The cloth was removed revealing Hikari, weak, shaking, and covered in faint scars that still shimmered with traces of divine energy. His breathing was rough, his body trembling like he'd endured endless trials.
Hikari (tired): Just how much longer are you planning to keep me here…?
Unknown Voice (coldly calm): Until you understand what your actions caused.
The faint light revealed strange symbols glowing across the walls ancient runes pulsing in rhythm with the Cratple Tower's energy.
Hikari: What… are you doing?
Unknown Voice (mildly amused): Something that'll make the world a bit more… interesting.
Hikari (in thought): This person… she's insane. Completely insane. But why do I feel like she's connected to all this?
---
Flashback begins…
When Flux cast Hikari away into the unknown realm, he fell through a storm of light and void, crashing into a place that wasn't earth or sky.
A voice had echoed from the darkness smooth, playful, but terrifying.
Unknown Voice: Oh~ a visitor?
Hikari: Who are you?
Unknown: The one you'll remember forever. The one you'll wish you'd never met.
Hikari tried to fight back, sending a beam of divine power but it did nothing.
The light passed through her chest, leaving behind no wound, only a faint purple working core glowing where her heart should need to be.
Hikari (shocked): What… what are you!?
Unknown: Someone who doesn't break easily.
Chains of purplish darkening energy suddenly wrapped around Hikari, pulling him to the ground. Then others appeared shadows that looked like people, each one representing a different force: one of gravity, one of blades, one of energy, one that stripped him of his power, and one that struck directly at his soul.
Pain surged not from physical wounds, but from his essence being rewritten, reshaped, broken.
Unknown Voice (quietly): Remember this, Hikari. Every choice has a cost. You wanted power without control so I'll show you what that power feels like… when it's used against you.
---
Back to the present…
Hikari sat slumped against the cold wall, breathing heavily. His body was weak, but his mind still alive.
Hikari (whispering): What… is she planning?
The Unknown figure turned toward him, faint light glinting in her eyes.
Unknown (smirking): Just keep watching. The world's about to get interesting again.