Chapter 49 — "The Costs of the Catastrophe"
The dust hadn't even settled when Liora put her hands on her hips, surveying the smoking ruins of headquarters.
— I congratulate you, Valen. You managed to resurrect Drake… okay, Ryn, Béatrice, take care of the wounded.
Ryn sighed as he lifted a hunter trapped under a slab of wall.
— Easy to say. It looks like a meteor hit the HQ…
— Technically, murmured Lya, it was almost the case.
Liora looked up at the sky.
— The material damage is huge… it'll take weeks, maybe months to rebuild all this.
Valen crossed his arms, proud as punch.
— You're right, it will take time… and above all, money.
He grinned, then pointed at Zarion.
— And because some people watched the fight like it was a movie, the bill's probably going to be steep.
Zarion took a step back.
— Oh no, don't pin that on me. It was Naël who arrived early and didn't lift a finger!
Naël, offended:
— Excuse me?! You were there too, and Valen as well! You just wanted to see "how we would handle it," right?
Lya frowned.
— Wait, Naël — as far as I remember, you can teleport, right? So why didn't you?
Naël, eyes shifting, improvised:
— Uh… I was out of mana after my fight with the first-of-his-name Yzareth.
Lya raised an eyebrow.
— Mmh. Right. And I'm the Fairy Queen.
Liora interrupted, stamping her foot.
— What I want to know is why you didn't step in sooner! Without the barrier I put up, half the city would've disappeared!
Valen raised a hand, pretending to be calm.
— Relax, relax. You can cover the repairs, right? And let's be honest, most of the damage was caused by your hammer, Liora.
— WHAT?!
— Yeah. That hammer swing that leveled three buildings and blew up the central fountain… wasn't me.
Liora pretended to think, then sighed.
— Fine… okay. I'll take care of the repair costs.
Valen raised an eyebrow.
— …Oh yeah? You sure? Because I was just going to say Naël has a nice little treasure trove from Antares.
Lya, with a predatory smile:
— It's true, he came back with a mountain of gold, gems and artifacts and didn't share a thing!
Liora snapped her fingers.
— Perfect! So Naël, you're the one who's paying.
Naël's eyes went wide.
— What?! Why me? It wasn't me who destroyed everything!
Arthur, freshly healed, approached, still bandaged in places.
— That's true, how can you let a lady like Liora handle the costs alone? I'll contribute to the reconstruction.
Valen huffed, annoyed.
— Look at this show-off, Elyonna. Always playing the charming prince…
Elyonna raised an eyebrow.
— You say that because you haven't a penny, admit it.
Arthur placed a hand over his heart.
— Fear not, Lady Liora. I will handle it personally.
— You certainly know how to speak to women, she replied with a smile. But no, don't worry: it's Naël who will pay.
A nervous tic ran along Valen's temple.
— No but he's too pretentious… and besides, he escapes the costs?!
Naël, incredulous:
— How is it "I'm the one paying"?! He looked at Lya, furious. — You grassed me up, didn't you?!
Lya shrugged, looking innocent.
— If you'd shared the treasure, it wouldn't have gone down like this.
Zarion burst out laughing.
— Moral of the story: in this team, either you fight, or you finance!
Drake, still dizzy, timidly raised his hand.
— …And what do I do?
Valen slapped him on the shoulder.
— You? You're alive again thanks to me, so you say thank you and shut up.
The whole team burst out laughing while Naël, dejected, muttered:
— I swear, next time I'll just let everyone die…
Chapter 50 — "The Bill of the Century"
The sun was slowly setting over the HQ ruins. Hunters bustled everywhere: some repaired walls, others cleared debris, while Valen and Naël... argued in front of a mountain of paperwork.
— Explain it to me again, growled Naël, holding a bill. Why do I have a thirty-seven million credit invoice under "Naël Corporation"?!
Valen, sitting casually on a concrete block, sipping a soda, replied: — Because, my dear official financier, you've got the biggest treasure and the fewest excuses. You pay.
— But I didn't level half the HQ! That was Liora and her nuclear hammer!
Liora happened to pass by with an innocent look: — Oh, you exaggerate. "Leveled" is a strong word. Let's say I… restructured the area. Valen burst out laughing. — Yeah, restructured—apocalypse-style.
Elyonna arrived, arms crossed. — You're still talking about money? This feels like a tax meeting. Naël sighed. — I wish that were all. Now they're charging me for windows, roofs, and even the pigeons that died from the explosions!
Ryn, treating an injured man, said without looking up: — It's true, the pigeons—tragic. A real massacre. Valen immediately continued: — Yes, may their souls rest. By the way, we planned a small ceremony tomorrow; you're invited Naël. You're the official sponsor.
Naël nearly choked. — Will you cut the crap, yes?!
Lya arrived with a magic tablet and a big smile. — I totaled the repairs. So… between destroyed buildings, damaged artifacts, healing potions, and psychological trauma payouts for civilians… She swiped the screen. — We're at… fifty-two million.
Silence. Then Valen let out, amused: — There you go—a nice round number!
Naël exploded. — YOU'RE ALL INSANE!
Liora clapped her hands, delighted. — Come on, don't complain, you'll become famous. "The hero who paid for the HQ reconstruction." — I don't want to be famous, I want to be rich!
Arthur intervened, still immaculate despite his bandages. — Don't complain, Naël. It's a noble gesture. A true gentleman shares his fortune for the common good. Valen snickered. — Hear that, Elyonna? Mr. Poetry thinks highly of himself. Elyonna rolled her eyes. — Honestly, I'd rather have Valen's terrible jokes.
Naël, exasperated, raised a hand. — Fine, you know what? I'll pay… but after this, nobody asks me for anything for a year, understood?!
Lya: — One year? Dream on—next mission we'll probably need a ship, or a dungeon repaired. — Tch… I'm going to strangle you all one by one.
Drake arrived then, a little lost, carrying a bag of gemstones. — Uh… I found this in the rubble, is it worth anything? Naël lunged for it. — YES, IT'S WORTH SOMETHING! Give it here right now!
Zarion laughed, leaning against a wall. — Ah… I love these post-battle meetings. Always a mix of drama, comedy, and qualified theft.
Valen raised his soda can to the sky, smiling: — To the most explosive guild on the continent! Everyone raised a drink, a bandage, or a gemstone. — To us!
Then, after a short silence, Naël mumbled: — Yeah, to us… the freeloaders of the multiverse.
Everyone burst out laughing as the sun disappeared behind the ruins.
Chapter 51 – "The Hunter's Shadow":
---
One month later.
The reconstruction was finally complete.
The HQ walls gleamed with a fresh glow, the magical gates purred softly, and for the first time in ages, the hunters could breathe in peace.
Naël, adjusting his brand-new cape:
— "Well… that cost a fortune. I'm heading out on a mission before someone finds another hidden invoice."
He waved to Valen, Zarion, and the others, feigning casual ease.
Valen raised a hand with a mocking smile:
— "Safe travels… for our wallet."
Naël:
— "Aren't you ashamed to say that?!"
Valen:
— "Nope."
Naël took off with a sigh, leaving behind a cloud of golden dust.
---
Later, Valen and Zarion walked down a quiet street, hands in their pockets.
The wind gently brushed the still-warm ruins of past battles.
Valen yawned, arms folded behind his head.
> — "Hey, Zarion…"
— "Hm?"
— "It never crossed my mind before, but… how old are you, actually?"
Zarion slowed down, surprised by the question.
A faint, nostalgic smile tugged at his lips.
> — "Not sure you really want to know."
— "Oh, now I do. You got a weird age? Like a 300-year-old stuck in a hot guy's body?"
Zarion sighed, amused.
> — "...Let's just say I stopped counting after 400."
Valen froze, mouth slightly agape.
> — "400?! And not a single wrinkle?!"
— "Cosmic hydration."
Valen burst out laughing.
> — "Dude… you didn't just say that seriously, did you?"
— "I've lived long enough to master the art of sarcasm."
Then the tone shifted.
Zarion, gaze drifting toward the horizon:
> — "I've lived in other worlds. Other realities. Some beautiful, others… less so."
Valen:
> — "So you're like an immortal multiversal grandpa, huh?"
— "You could say that. And you—don't you feel like time's slipping away?"
— "I'm 21, man. Vael's the old one, not me."
Zarion smirked.
> — "If you say so…"
---
Suddenly, the ground vanished beneath their feet.
A black flash erupted — and reality shattered.
They reappeared in a temple of dead stars.
Silence reigned. Not a breath, not a shadow… except those that moved on their own.
Chains stretched from the floor to a throne of living darkness.
And on that throne… a figure.
White hair, ash-pale skin, eyes glowing red.
His irises, shaped like inverted stars, seemed to devour the light.
Zarion, calm but tense:
> — "Since when do you have a demonic twin brother?"
Valen:
— "Exactly. I don't. And that… isn't a brother."
The chains vibrated. The entity slowly raised its head.
A predatory smile split its face.
> — "So this is what I've become… an incomplete, confused version playing at being human."
His voice was soft, almost elegant, but each word rang like a blade.
Valen frowned.
> — "You're not me."
> — "Oh, but I am. I'm what you hide: the rage, the pride, the hunger for true power. The real Vael. Not the fragile copy you pretend to be."
Zarion stepped forward, hand on his sword hilt.
> — "So you're… Valen's dark-mode version?"
— "Call me whatever you want, ancient one. Words won't change what I am."
Valen chuckled nervously.
> — "Honestly, for someone who's me, you've got zero humor. Clearly, you never met Lya."
A cold, raspy laugh echoed.
> — "Lya? The friend? The bond? The weakness? You think love will save you? That's cute. You'll come to me, sooner or later. It's inevitable."
The chains trembled, cracking the temple floor.
Zarion stepped back, tense.
Valen stood still.
> — "If I ever become like you… I'll perform a self-exorcism."
Zarion raised an eyebrow.
> — "And I'll film it. Sell it to the Council. Make millions."
The entity chuckled, eyes glowing with abyssal light.
> — "You joke… as if humor could hide fear."
Valen lifted his head, a burning spark in his gaze.
> — "You're right. But the difference between you and me… is that I have people to pull me back when I fall. You have no one."
The shadow's laughter died.
The chains quivered… then shattered one by one with a dry, unreal snap.
The entity rose slowly.
Its shadow stretched to the walls, devouring the light.
Each step made the air tremble, as if the world itself hesitated to breathe.
> — "Then watch closely, Valen. Watch what you'll become… when there's no one left to save you."
He smiled. A hollow, terrifyingly calm smile.
And in that moment, even Zarion felt a chill run down his spine.
Chapter 52 – "The Chains of Creation"
The chains shattered.
Celestial bonds, forged to uphold the very laws of the cosmos, burst apart as if made of dust and faded light. A wave of energy surged, cracking the ground and warping the air.
The figure rose slowly, a predatory smile forming on his lips.
Elyonna, in her human form, stepped back, eyes narrowed.
— "Valen… this doesn't look good."
Valen, frowning:
— "Don't worry, I've seen worse. I think."
Elyonna:
— "Do you know him?"
— "First time I see him. But I already don't like his face."
The figure's voice echoed—deep, resonant, almost divine:
> — "Dear Valen… I am Valt. The incarnation of Vael. Today, I'll show you the true difference between us."
Zarion felt chills run down his spine.
His instincts screamed danger—not the usual kind, but the kind that makes you question reality itself.
The entity, eyes like twin black stars, slowly lifted his head. His white hair cascaded down, his aura unleashing in a whirlwind of ancient, chaotic energies.
> — "Want me to tell you something, Valen?" he said with a cruel smile.
— "You're just an incarnation. One expression among many. There are other versions of me out there… some awakened, others still asleep. But they're watching. And one day… you'll have to face them all."
A tense silence settled.
Then, a light of gold and silver suddenly tore through space.
An invocation circle opened in the air, etched with ancient symbols, slowly rotating in the void. A figure descended, bathed in a supernatural glow.
It was him.
The Architect Aeternus.
Master of Balance. Weaver of the structures of Creation.
His presence commanded immediate respect: half-black, half-white hair, golden eyes that seemed to read the foundations of the world, and an aura so pure even shadows hesitated to approach.
His white and gold attire shimmered softly, each movement tracing luminous lines in the air.
He looked upon the scene.
> — "Cursed entity… Those chains were crafted by me. They were meant to hold even the absolute."
He turned sharply.
> — "Zarion? What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to set foot in this space. Not without permission."
Zarion raised his hands, a nervous smile tugging at his lips:
> — "We got sucked in, okay? And this guy looks like… some kind of inverted version of Valen. And… I think we've met before, right?"
Aeternus narrowed his eyes.
— "Yes. But it's not time for you to remember yet."
Valen remained silent, fists clenched, heart pounding like a war drum.
Valt burst into a deep, distorted laugh.
> — "You knew very well those chains could never hold me, Aeternus. It was only a matter of time. You locked me away… here, in this zone where time itself doesn't exist, thinking you could contain me forever."
The Architect frowned.
> — "If you're free… then the other fragments of Vael may awaken."
Valen's eyes widened.
> — "The… others?"
— "Yes, Valen," Aeternus replied calmly. "You're not the only one. But you are… the most stable. For now."
Valt stepped forward.
His shadow swallowed the ground.
> — "And one day, you'll have to choose… Be him. Or be us."
Valen took a deep breath.
His voice rang out, firm and clear:
> — "I'll be neither you nor any of you. I'll be myself."
Elyonna, understanding the message, instantly transformed into a sword, her blade glowing with golden and blue light.
A rumble shook the air.
Valt laughed.
> — "Oh? And what do you plan to do with that twig?"
The blade vibrated, releasing a colossal aura.
> — "Who are you calling a twig?!"
Valen smirked.
— "Bad idea to provoke her, man. She even cuts inflated egos."
Zarion, whispering:
— "Yeah, you're screwed, bro. She hates that word."
Valt raised an eyebrow, amused, but his gaze gleamed with a dark light.
> — "Perfect. Show me, 'Valen', what your independence is worth. Make me laugh."
His aura expanded violently, tearing the ground beneath their feet.
Space bent, the stars above collapsed, and the entire temple morphed into a dimensional battlefield.
Aeternus, in a grave voice:
> — "Be careful… if Valt fully awakens, even reality will struggle to endure him."
Valen raised Elyonna, a sly grin on his lips.
> — "Good. It's been a while since I punched a mirror."
Elyonna:
— "Then don't miss your reflection, hunter."
Valt, laughing:
> — "Very well. Show me… if your humanity is worth more than my perfection."
The clash of auras made the void tremble.
The battle could begin.