ARC 3 — Chapter 32: The Twelve Descend
The sky turned black.
Not dark.
Black.
The clouds above the ruined city twisted into enormous spirals, swallowing the moonlight until nothing remained except a massive crimson glow hanging behind them.
Adrian stood on the edge of the ruined rooftop, his ice katana held tightly in his right hand.
Adriana stood beside him.
Her old whip was wrapped around her arm, crimson energy crawling across its surface like living fire.
Between them stood Rin Kaito.
He stared at the sky.
He didn't move.
He didn't speak.
For several seconds, the entire city remained silent.
Then—
BOOOOOOOM!
A shockwave exploded across the horizon.
Buildings that were already damaged shook violently.
Windows shattered.
Pieces of concrete fell from rooftops.
Adrian raised his arm to protect his face.
"What was that?!"
Rin's eyes narrowed.
"They're coming."
Adriana looked at him.
"Who?"
Rin slowly raised his head.
"The Twelve."
Another explosion shook the city.
This time, the clouds opened.
A gigantic crimson symbol appeared in the sky.
It looked like an eye.
But inside the eye were twelve smaller symbols.
One for each Elite Warrior.
Adrian tightened his grip on his katana.
"So that's them?"
Rin nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian stared at the symbols.
"Then tell me something."
Rin looked at him.
"Why are they coming here?"
Rin's expression became serious.
"Because they know you're alive."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"And Adriana?"
"They know about her too."
Adriana stepped forward.
"Then let them come."
Her crimson whip snapped through the air.
CRACK!
The sound echoed across the rooftop.
Adrian glanced at her.
"You really want to fight twelve Elite Warriors at once?"
Adriana looked at the sky.
"No."
She tightened her grip.
"I want them to regret coming."
Rin almost smiled.
Almost.
But then his expression changed.
His eyes locked onto something in the distance.
"Wait."
Adrian followed his gaze.
"What?"
Rin pointed toward the opposite side of the city.
"There."
A dark figure stood on top of a broken tower.
It wore a long black coat.
Its face couldn't be seen.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Another one?"
Rin shook his head.
"No."
He stared at the figure.
"That's not one of the Twelve."
The figure suddenly disappeared.
Adrian spun around.
"Where did it go?"
Rin's eyes moved across the rooftops.
"Don't chase it."
"Why?"
"Because whoever that is..."
Rin paused.
"...wanted us to see them."
A deep voice suddenly echoed across the entire city.
"RIN KAITO."
The sound came from everywhere.
The voice continued.
"THE TIME OF HIDING IS OVER."
The sky split open.
A massive black gate appeared between the clouds.
Chains made of dark energy surrounded it.
Then the gate opened.
KRAAAAAASH!
A wave of demonic energy poured from the opening.
Adrian's ice katana immediately reacted.
Ice spread across the rooftop beneath his feet.
Adriana's crimson energy flared.
Rin's coat moved violently in the pressure.
And then—
A figure stepped through the gate.
A woman.
Long black hair.
Golden eyes.
A dark crown.
Her presence alone made the entire city feel smaller.
Adrian stared.
"Asmodra..."
The original Demon Queen looked down at them from the sky.
Her expression was calm.
Almost amused.
"Adrian Sanchez."
Her voice echoed through the ruins.
"You've changed."
Adrian raised his katana.
"So have you."
Asmodra smiled.
"I haven't changed."
Her eyes became brighter.
"You simply survived long enough to see more of me."
Adriana stepped forward.
"Where are the others?"
Asmodra looked toward her.
"The others?"
She laughed softly.
"You mean my warriors."
The twelve symbols behind her began glowing.
One by one, figures emerged from the gate.
The first landed.
BOOM!
The rooftop cracked beneath his feet.
He was enormous.
His armor covered his entire body, and two curved horns extended from his helmet.
A massive sword rested across his shoulder.
The second appeared behind him.
She was tall and thin, dressed in black armor covered with silver markings.
The third appeared on a nearby building.
The fourth landed in the street.
The fifth appeared behind Asmodra.
The sixth descended silently.
Then the seventh.
The eighth.
The ninth.
The tenth.
The eleventh.
Finally—
The twelfth.
But the twelfth did not land.
He remained floating above the others.
His face was completely hidden behind a white mask.
Adrian stared at him.
"Who's that?"
Rin didn't answer.
Adrian looked at him.
"Rin?"
Rin's eyes remained fixed on the masked warrior.
"I don't know."
Adriana's expression changed.
"You don't know?"
Rin shook his head.
"I know the identities of the Twelve Elite Warriors."
He looked at the masked figure.
"But I've never seen that mask."
The masked warrior slowly tilted his head.
Then he looked directly at Adrian.
Adrian felt something.
A strange pressure.
Not fear.
Recognition.
His ice katana began vibrating.
Adrian looked down.
"What's happening?"
The blade released a wave of freezing energy.
Rin noticed.
"Adrian."
"What?"
"Put the sword away."
Adrian looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because it's reacting to him."
The masked warrior raised one hand.
The ice around Adrian's feet shattered.
CRACK!
Adrian jumped backward.
Adriana immediately moved in front of him.
"Adrian!"
"I'm fine!"
The masked warrior lowered his hand.
He didn't attack again.
Instead, he spoke.
"Interesting."
His voice was calm.
Almost human.
Adrian stared at him.
"Who are you?"
The masked warrior said nothing.
Asmodra looked toward him.
"You've awakened early."
The masked warrior turned his head toward her.
"I was never asleep."
Asmodra's smile disappeared.
For the first time, Adrian saw something unusual in the Demon Queen's expression.
Caution.
Rin noticed it too.
"Everyone."
The Elite Warriors turned toward Rin.
Rin stepped forward.
"I know why you're here."
The First Elite Warrior finally moved.
Malraeth.
Her black cloak flowed behind her.
She stepped out from the other warriors.
"Then speak."
Rin stared directly at her.
"You're here because the dimensional breach failed."
Malraeth smiled.
"Continue."
"The ten alternate twins were supposed to become unstable after returning to their dimensions."
Adrian's expression changed.
"What?"
Rin continued.
"But they didn't."
Adriana looked at him.
"How do you know?"
"Because the dimensional connection is still active."
Adrian looked around.
The ruined buildings suddenly seemed different.
Faint blue lines appeared in the air.
Dimensional cracks.
They were everywhere.
Above them.
Below them.
Across the streets.
But none of the alternate twins appeared.
Adrian stared at the distant cracks.
"They're still connected."
Rin nodded.
"Yes."
Adriana looked at him.
"But they're in their own dimensions."
"Exactly."
Malraeth smiled.
"And that's the problem."
Adrian turned toward her.
"What problem?"
Malraeth pointed toward the sky.
"The dimensions are beginning to converge."
Rin's expression hardened.
"No."
Malraeth laughed.
"You understand."
Rin looked at Adrian and Adriana.
"The alternate twins aren't returning."
Adriana frowned.
"Then what is happening?"
Rin looked at the dimensional cracks.
"Their worlds are being pulled toward ours."
Adrian's grip tightened around his sword.
"Why?"
Malraeth answered.
"Because something is calling them."
A deep vibration suddenly passed through the city.
The dimensional cracks became brighter.
For a moment, Adrian heard something.
A voice.
Far away.
Almost impossible to understand.
He turned his head.
"Did you hear that?"
Adriana looked at him.
"Hear what?"
Adrian stared at the cracks.
"Someone called my name."
Rin immediately became alert.
"What did it say?"
Adrian looked at him.
"Nothing clearly."
He paused.
"But it sounded like..."
His eyes narrowed.
"...me."
The masked warrior suddenly spoke.
"It was."
Everyone looked toward him.
Adrian raised his sword.
"You know what's happening."
The masked warrior stared at him.
"I know what is coming."
"Then explain."
"No."
Adrian stepped forward.
"Why?"
"Because you aren't ready."
Adrian's eyes hardened.
"You don't get to decide that."
The masked warrior looked at his ice katana.
"Your sword does."
The weapon suddenly vibrated again.
A thin crack appeared along the blade.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"My sword..."
Rin immediately stepped forward.
"Don't move."
The crack spread.
Then stopped.
The symbol on the blade began glowing.
Malraeth's expression changed.
"Impossible."
Asmodra looked at the sword.
For the first time, her calm expression disappeared completely.
"What is that?"
Rin stared at the symbol.
His face became pale.
Adriana noticed.
"Rin?"
He didn't answer.
"Rin!"
He finally spoke.
"I've seen that symbol before."
Adrian looked at him.
"Where?"
Rin slowly raised his eyes.
"In the oldest records of the demon world."
Malraeth stepped closer.
"What did they call it?"
Rin answered quietly.
"The Origin Mark."
Silence.
Adrian looked at the symbol.
"What does it mean?"
Rin didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"The first weapon."
Adrian frowned.
"What?"
"The first weapon created to cross dimensions."
Adriana looked at the katana.
"And why is it with Adrian?"
Rin stared at him.
"That's what I don't understand."
The masked warrior suddenly moved.
He appeared directly in front of Adrian.
Adrian raised his katana.
But the masked warrior didn't attack.
Instead, he placed two fingers against the blade.
The weapon stopped vibrating.
Adrian froze.
The masked warrior spoke quietly.
"This sword doesn't belong to you."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"It chose me."
"No."
The masked warrior looked directly into his eyes.
"You chose it."
Adrian didn't understand.
"What does that mean?"
The masked warrior turned the sword slightly.
A second symbol appeared along the blade.
Adrian had never seen it before.
Rin's eyes widened.
"That symbol..."
Malraeth looked at him.
"You recognize it."
Rin's voice became quiet.
"It's connected to the first dimensional warrior."
Adrian stared at him.
"Who?"
Rin looked at Adrian.
Then at Adriana.
"That's the problem."
Adrian stepped forward.
"Tell me."
Rin hesitated.
"Before the ten alternate dimensions existed, there was supposedly one warrior whose power could cross every dimensional boundary."
Adrian waited.
"What was his name?"
Rin shook his head.
"No name survived."
Adriana frowned.
"Then why are you looking at Adrian like that?"
Rin's expression became darker.
"Because every record describes the warrior the same way."
Adrian asked:
"How?"
Rin answered.
"Blue energy."
Adrian looked at his sword.
"And a crimson counterpart."
Adriana looked down at her whip.
The crimson energy surrounding it suddenly intensified.
WHOOOOM!
The entire rooftop shook.
Adriana stepped backward.
"What is happening?"
Rin's eyes widened.
"Your weapon is reacting too."
The blue energy around Adrian and the crimson energy around Adriana began pulling toward each other.
The twins tried to resist.
They couldn't.
Adrian shouted.
"Adriana!"
"I'm trying!"
The two energies collided.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive wave blasted across the city.
Every window within several blocks shattered.
The dimensional cracks opened wider.
But still—
No alternate twins appeared.
Only their worlds could be seen through the openings.
Different cities.
Different skies.
Different versions of the world.
And somewhere inside those dimensions, the alternate Adrian and Adriana were still living their own lives.
They were not being summoned.
Not yet.
Something else was coming through.
Rin stared at the largest crack.
"Everyone back."
Adrian looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because that's not a portal anymore."
The crack widened.
Something was pushing through.
Not a person.
Not a demon.
Something enormous.
A massive black hand appeared inside the dimensional tear.
The Elite Warriors immediately became silent.
Even Asmodra looked up.
The hand grabbed the edge of the crack.
Then pulled.
BOOOOOOM!
The sky split farther.
A gigantic silhouette appeared behind the tear.
Adrian's heart began pounding.
"What is that?"
Malraeth didn't answer.
Asmodra did.
"I don't know."
Adrian looked at her.
The Demon Queen stared at the creature.
Her expression had changed.
She wasn't angry.
She wasn't amused.
She was afraid.
Rin noticed.
"Asmodra..."
The Demon Queen looked at him.
"Do not say my name."
The creature's eyes opened.
Two enormous crimson lights appeared behind the clouds.
The Twelve Elite Warriors immediately lowered their weapons.
Adriana stared.
"Why are they backing away?"
Rin answered.
"Because they're afraid."
Adrian couldn't believe it.
"The Elite Warriors?"
Rin nodded.
"All twelve."
Malraeth looked toward the creature.
Then she turned to Asmodra.
"What do we do?"
Asmodra didn't answer.
The creature finally spoke.
Its voice shook the entire city.
"THE DIMENSIONS HAVE FAILED."
The ground cracked.
"THE BOUNDARIES HAVE FAILED."
The sky trembled.
"THE ORIGINAL PATH HAS BEEN FOUND."
Adrian's sword began vibrating violently.
The crimson energy around Adriana's whip erupted.
The creature's eyes locked onto them.
"THE TWO HALVES HAVE AWAKENED."
Adrian raised his sword.
"What two halves?"
The creature answered.
"You."
Then it looked at Adriana.
"And her."
Adriana's eyes widened.
The creature extended one enormous hand.
The dimensional cracks began pulling toward Adrian and Adriana.
Rin immediately grabbed Adrian's shoulder.
"Don't let it take you!"
Adrian planted his feet.
"I'm not going anywhere!"
Adriana wrapped her whip around a broken pillar.
"I'm staying with him!"
Rin stepped between them and the creature.
"Then we'll fight."
Malraeth looked at him.
"Against that?"
Rin raised his weapon.
"Yes."
Malraeth stared at him for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"You're still insane."
Rin looked at her.
"You've known me long enough."
Malraeth raised her weapon.
"Then let's see how long your students survive."
The remaining Elite Warriors raised their weapons.
Adrian looked around.
Asmodra stood above them.
Malraeth and the other warriors prepared themselves.
Rin stood beside Adrian and Adriana.
And above them—
The unknown creature emerged farther from the dimensional tear.
Its body was still hidden by darkness.
Only its eyes could be seen.
Then it spoke.
"ADRIAN SANCHEZ."
Adrian raised his sword.
"WHAT?"
The creature's voice became louder.
"YOU WERE NEVER THE ORIGINAL."
Adrian froze.
Adriana looked at him.
Rin's expression changed.
The creature continued.
"BUT YOU ARE THE VESSEL."
Adrian's eyes widened.
"For what?"
The creature's hand opened.
A strange symbol appeared in the center of its palm.
It was identical to the symbol on Adrian's sword.
The creature spoke one final sentence.
"THE ORIGINAL IS STILL ALIVE."
The ice katana suddenly shattered into pieces of frozen energy.
Adrian stared at his empty hand.
Then a voice whispered inside his mind.
Wake up.
Adrian's eyes went completely white.
And he collapsed.
To be continued