ARC 3 — Chapter 33: The Vessel Awakens
Adrian collapsed.
His body hit the rooftop.
BOOM!
"ADRIAN!"
Adriana dropped beside him.
She grabbed his shoulder and shook him.
"Adrian! Wake up!"
Nothing.
His eyes were closed.
His body was completely still.
Rin immediately rushed over.
"Move."
Adriana looked at him.
"What's happening to him?"
"I don't know."
Rin placed two fingers against Adrian's neck.
His expression changed.
"His heartbeat is normal."
Adriana stared at him.
"Then why isn't he waking up?"
Rin looked at Adrian's hand.
The ice katana was gone.
Only a faint blue glow remained around his fingers.
"Because he isn't here."
Adriana frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Rin looked into Adrian's closed eyes.
"His body is here."
He paused.
"But his consciousness isn't."
A massive roar shook the city.
Everyone looked upward.
The enormous creature remained behind the dimensional tear.
Its eyes were fixed on Adrian.
"The vessel has entered the inner world."
Asmodra's eyes narrowed.
"The inner world?"
The creature turned toward her.
"Do not pretend ignorance, Demon Queen."
Asmodra's expression hardened.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The creature's voice shook the sky.
"You know exactly what he carries."
Asmodra raised one hand.
Dark energy surrounded her.
"Enough."
The creature laughed.
The sound echoed across the city.
"You still believe your crown gives you authority."
Asmodra's eyes flashed.
"You will not speak to me like that."
She released a massive blast of dark energy.
BOOOOOOM!
The attack struck the dimensional creature.
For several seconds, the entire sky disappeared behind smoke.
Then—
The smoke cleared.
The creature hadn't moved.
Asmodra's expression changed.
The Twelve Elite Warriors stared.
Even Malraeth looked surprised.
The creature slowly raised its hand.
A wave of energy exploded outward.
Asmodra was thrown backward.
Malraeth immediately caught her.
"Asmodra!"
The Demon Queen regained her balance.
She stared at the creature.
"Impossible."
Rin looked at her.
"Now you understand."
Asmodra turned toward him.
"Understand what?"
Rin pointed at Adrian.
"Why it's here."
Asmodra's eyes moved toward Adrian.
"The boy?"
"Yes."
Rin's expression became serious.
"It's not here for Earth."
He looked at the dimensional tear.
"It's here for him."
Adriana stood up.
"Then we'll stop it."
Malraeth stepped forward.
"You can't."
Adriana looked at her.
"Watch me."
Malraeth smiled.
"You're brave."
Her weapon appeared in her hand.
"But bravery won't be enough."
Adriana's crimson whip materialized again.
"Then I'll use something else."
Malraeth raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Power."
Adriana attacked.
Her whip shot forward.
Malraeth blocked it.
CRACK!
The impact shook the rooftop.
Adriana pulled the whip back and attacked again.
Malraeth dodged.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Adriana moved faster.
Her crimson energy intensified.
Malraeth suddenly disappeared.
Adriana looked around.
A hand struck her shoulder.
She was thrown across the rooftop.
"ADRIANA!"
Rin moved.
Malraeth intercepted him.
Their weapons collided.
CLANG!
Rin pushed forward.
Malraeth blocked.
"You should stay out of this."
Rin stared at her.
"She's my student."
"Exactly."
Malraeth kicked him backward.
"Which means I know how she'll fight."
Adriana stood.
She wiped dust from her face.
"Then you should know..."
Her crimson energy exploded around her.
"...I don't fight the way I used to."
Malraeth's eyes narrowed.
Adriana disappeared.
BOOM!
She appeared behind Malraeth.
The crimson whip wrapped around her weapon.
Adriana pulled.
Malraeth resisted.
Adriana smiled.
"Got you."
The whip released a powerful burst.
BOOOOM!
Malraeth was thrown across the rooftop.
She landed on one knee.
Adriana landed several meters away.
The other Elite Warriors watched.
One of them laughed.
"She's stronger than expected."
Another answered.
"She awakened the crimson energy."
A third looked at Adrian.
"But the boy is the important one."
Rin heard them.
"Stay away from him."
The Elite Warrior smiled.
"Why?"
Rin raised his weapon.
"Because if you touch him..."
His eyes hardened.
"...you'll have to go through me."
The Elite Warrior stepped forward.
"Gladly."
Rin prepared to attack.
But then—
Adrian opened his eyes.
They were completely white.
"Adrian?"
Adriana turned.
Her expression changed.
"Rin..."
Rin looked at him.
"Don't move."
Adrian slowly stood.
His body moved strangely.
Like he wasn't fully controlling it.
Adriana walked toward him.
"Adrian?"
He didn't respond.
She reached for his shoulder.
His hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Adrian!"
His grip wasn't painful.
But it was unnaturally strong.
Adriana looked into his eyes.
"You're scaring me."
Adrian's head tilted.
Then he spoke.
But it wasn't his voice.
"I remember."
Rin froze.
"What?"
Adrian looked toward him.
"I remember the beginning."
Rin's expression changed.
"Adrian?"
Adrian's eyes remained white.
"I remember the first door."
A pulse of blue energy exploded from his body.
Everyone stepped backward.
"I remember the first world."
Another pulse.
"I remember the first choice."
Rin stared.
"What are you remembering?"
Adrian suddenly looked at his own hand.
"The sword."
The broken pieces of his ice katana began floating around him.
Adriana stepped closer.
"Your sword?"
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
The fragments began merging.
"It wasn't my sword."
The pieces formed a new blade.
It wasn't the same ice katana.
It was darker.
Blue energy surrounded its edge.
A strange symbol appeared near the handle.
Adrian stared at it.
"The sword belonged to him."
Rin's eyes widened.
"Who?"
Adrian looked up.
"The original."
Silence.
The creature in the sky suddenly spoke.
"YES."
Adrian's eyes flashed.
"You know him."
The creature answered.
"I knew him before this world had a name."
Adrian tightened his grip.
"Where is he?"
The creature smiled.
"You are standing inside his shadow."
Adrian looked confused.
Then—
A voice came from inside his mind.
Adrian.
He froze.
The voice was familiar.
It sounded exactly like him.
But older.
Stronger.
More experienced.
Adrian.
He closed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
The voice answered.
The one who came before you.
Adrian's surroundings disappeared.
He was standing in darkness.
No city.
No demons.
No Rin.
No Adriana.
Nothing.
Only a massive door stood in front of him.
Adrian approached it.
"What is this?"
The voice answered.
The first door.
Adrian touched it.
The door opened.
A massive world appeared behind it.
He saw a city.
But it wasn't his city.
It was older.
Different.
Demons walked openly through the streets.
Humans ran from them.
Then Adrian saw someone standing on a rooftop.
A boy.
He looked almost exactly like Adrian.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same body.
But older.
He wore a long dark coat.
An ice katana rested at his side.
And behind him stood a girl.
She looked exactly like Adriana.
Her crimson whip was wrapped around her arm.
Adrian stared.
"What is this?"
The voice answered.
The beginning.
The older boy turned.
He looked directly at Adrian.
Adrian froze.
The boy spoke.
"I knew you would come."
Adrian stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The boy smiled.
"My name doesn't matter."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Then why do you look like me?"
The boy looked at the sky.
"Because you're not my descendant."
Adrian froze.
"I'm what?"
The boy looked back at him.
"You're my replacement."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Replacement for what?"
The boy didn't answer.
Instead, the world around them began shaking.
The girl behind him looked toward Adrian.
"He's waking up."
The older Adrian nodded.
"Then we don't have much time."
Adrian looked between them.
"Who is waking up?"
The sky above them cracked.
A massive eye opened.
Adrian recognized it immediately.
The same creature.
The same presence.
The same darkness.
The older Adrian looked at him.
"That."
Adrian stepped backward.
"What is it?"
"The first enemy."
The older Adrian's expression became serious.
"The one who destroyed my world."
Adrian stared.
"You fought it?"
"Yes."
"Did you win?"
The older Adrian was silent.
Then he answered.
"No."
The world shook violently.
"That's why you exist."
Adrian's eyes widened.
"What?"
The older Adrian walked toward him.
"You were created because I failed."
Adrian couldn't speak.
The older Adrian continued.
"The dimensions were not created to make alternate versions of us."
Adrian looked toward the distant worlds.
"Then why?"
"To hide you."
"From what?"
The older Adrian pointed toward the massive eye.
"From him."
Adrian clenched his fists.
"Then why did he find me?"
The older Adrian's expression became grim.
"Because someone betrayed us."
Adrian immediately thought of Asmodra.
"Who?"
The older Adrian shook his head.
"You'll discover that yourself."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Tell me!"
The world suddenly cracked.
The older Adrian's body began fading.
"Wait!"
Adrian grabbed his arm.
But his hand passed through.
"Who betrayed you?"
The older Adrian looked at him.
Then he smiled.
"The person standing closest to you."
Adrian froze.
"What does that mean?"
The older Adrian disappeared.
The world shattered.
---
Adrian's eyes snapped open.
He was back on the rooftop.
Adriana was standing beside him.
Rin was in front of him.
The Twelve Elite Warriors surrounded them.
The enormous creature remained above.
Adrian breathed heavily.
"Adriana..."
She grabbed his shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
Adrian looked at her.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked toward Rin.
"Someone betrayed the original."
Rin's expression changed.
"What?"
Adrian looked at the Twelve.
"The original Adrian failed."
Malraeth's eyes narrowed.
"Where did you hear that?"
Adrian looked directly at her.
"From him."
Malraeth suddenly became silent.
Asmodra stepped forward.
"What did he tell you?"
Adrian looked at her.
"He said someone betrayed him."
Asmodra's expression changed.
For a moment, something almost like fear appeared in her eyes.
Adrian noticed.
"You know who it was."
Asmodra didn't answer.
"Tell me."
Still nothing.
Adrian raised his sword.
"ASMODRA!"
The Demon Queen looked at him.
Adrian's voice became colder.
"Who betrayed the original?"
Asmodra slowly looked toward the Twelve Elite Warriors.
Then toward Malraeth.
Finally, she looked back at Adrian.
"I can't tell you."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
"Because the answer..."
Asmodra paused.
"...would destroy what remains of your trust."
Adriana stepped forward.
"Trust in who?"
Asmodra looked directly at her.
"Everyone."
Before anyone could respond—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The dimensional creature slammed its hand against the sky.
The entire city shook.
Buildings collapsed.
The rooftop cracked.
Rin grabbed Adrian and Adriana.
"Move!"
They jumped away.
A massive energy beam struck the rooftop.
KRAAAAAASH!
The building exploded.
The Twelve Elite Warriors scattered.
Asmodra disappeared into the smoke.
Malraeth landed on another building.
The creature's voice echoed across the city.
"THE VESSEL HAS AWAKENED."
Adrian stood inside the smoke.
His sword was glowing.
Adriana stood beside him.
Rin stood behind them.
Adrian looked toward the creature.
"Then come and get me."
The creature's eyes brightened.
Rin immediately turned toward him.
"Adrian, don't!"
Adrian raised his sword.
"I'm done running."
The blue energy around him exploded.
Adriana's crimson energy answered.
The two powers formed a massive aura around the twins.
Rin stared at them.
"Those powers..."
The creature laughed.
"YES."
The sky began collapsing.
"SHOW ME THE POWER OF THE TWO HALVES."
Adrian stepped forward.
Adriana stepped beside him.
Rin raised his weapon.
And for the first time—
The three of them stood together against the Twelve Elite Warriors and the unknown creature above them.
Then Malraeth raised her weapon.
"The first battle of Arc 3..."
She smiled.
"...begins now."
TO BE CONTINUED.