Dust still fell over the ruins.
The mountain, now silent, had buried what once was Michael's home beneath tons of rock.
The boy watched in silence, his face covered in dust, his expression one of weary resignation.
—Well… there goes my bed —he muttered.
Jack crossed his arms thoughtfully, surveying the disaster.
—Five meters of rock over your house. I have to admit, kid, you broke my record for losing a roof in less than a day.
—This is your fault for provoking him. By the way… what happened to him? —Michael asked, drained.
—Meh, he's probably fine. I can't imbue chi into attacks like that —Jack said lazily—.
But don't worry, I'll teach you something useful. If you can't sleep under a roof, make one.
Michael raised an eyebrow.
—What's that supposed to mean?
Jack smirked and stretched his hands. The shadow beneath his feet began to move, spreading along the ground and forming two long ears.
—Watch closely. Time to summon Kuro. He's adorable.
—You mean that forty-meter demonic rabbit that devoured a mountain?
—Exactly. Adorable.
Jack demonstrated the hand gesture, forming the silhouette of a rabbit as if playing with shadow puppets.
—Think of the shape. Visualize Kuro as part of your shadow. Don't force it—let it flow from within.
—From within?
—Yeah. From your shadow, not your stomach, idiot.
Michael closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to imitate the movement.
For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then his shadow trembled, distorting… and a small dark lump with long ears emerged from it.
—Ah, looks a bit small —Jack remarked.
—Did I do it?! —Michael asked, excited.
From the shadow jumped a miniature version of Kuro: fluffy, round, and barely two meters tall.
It had the same multiple eyes—though much larger in proportion—and looked ridiculously adorable.
—Looks like a bootleg copy of mine, but good job, champ —Jack said, amused.
—Kurooo… —the creature mumbled.
Michael stared at it.
—Why does it talk like a Pokémon?
—A poke-what? —Jack asked.
—You know, Pokémon. A game, cartoons, creature battles—
—I have no idea what you're talking about.
Michael looked forward.
—We probably shouldn't talk about that on camera. Nintendo might sue us.
Jack blinked.
—Who the hell is Nintendo, and why are you talking to a tree?
—What?
—That! Look at you, you're so tired you're talking to trunks.
Jack sighed and rubbed his temple.
—By the way, what year is it?
—Uh… 2020.
Jack went silent for a moment, blinking.
—…Great. I've been dead for over a hundred years. —He paused—. Well, that explains why everything's so weird.
Michael raised an eyebrow.
—Over a hundred years?
—Anyway, we'll talk about that tomorrow. For now, sleep —Jack concluded.
Michael looked at the small Kuro, who was watching him with its many glowing eyes.
—Sleep? Where exactly?
Jack pointed at the rabbit.
—There's your bed.
Michael stared in disbelief.
—You're telling me to sleep on the rabbit?
—Yeah, he's fluffy, warm, and doesn't snore.
—And if he rolls over on me?
—Then you wake up dead. Problem solved.
Michael sighed.
—No. There has to be a cave nearby or something. I'm not using poor Kuro as a pillow.
—Suit yourself, kid. Let's see how you find a cave in the middle of the night.
Michael focused his hands. This time, instead of trying to attack, he just imagined light.
A small white orb formed in his palm. It wasn't powerful or dangerous, but it was bright enough to illuminate the path.
—Hey, at least this worked —he said, smiling weakly.
—Congratulations, you're a human flashlight —Jack replied dryly.
After a few minutes of walking, they found a small cave between the rocks.
It was narrow, but dry and quiet. Michael stepped inside and slumped against a stone.
—Kuro, stay outside and keep watch, okay? Especially if you see an insect—don't even let it near me.
The little rabbit nodded softly.
—Kurooo.
Jack watched as Michael curled up on the floor.
—You seriously plan to sleep there?
—Never underestimate the power of a nap —Michael mumbled before instantly dozing off.
Jack stared at him for a few seconds, incredulous.
—No way… he actually fell asleep that fast?
Outside, the tiny Kuro munched on bugs approaching the entrance, squashing some with its paws.
Jack smiled faintly.
—Well… at least he's got good instincts.
He leaned against a rock, his shadowy form melting into the wall.
—Rest up, kid. Tomorrow, the real stuff begins.
The wind whispered between the stones, and the rabbit's soft voice echoed through the shadows:
—Kurooo…
---
Meanwhile...
Garland, still alive, dragged himself through the rocks, leaving a trail of blood behind. His breathing was ragged, his barely reconstructed body trembling with pain.
—That bastard… cut me in one blow… —he muttered between gasps—. And the worst part… he didn't even use chi...
He spat blood onto the ground.
—That cut… was different. It didn't just hurt my body… it hurt something deeper…
He tried to stand, but his legs wouldn't move. Then, a shadow fell before him.
A pair of black shoes stopped right in front of his face. Garland forced his gaze upward.
Before him stood a young man with blond hair, tan skin, and calm eyes.
He wore a black monk's robe, and a golden rosary hung from his neck.
His hands were clasped behind his back, his smile serene—yet unnerving.
—Hello, Garly —the young man said softly—. Looks like you got quite the beating.
So? What happened with the target?
Garland coughed, spitting more blood.
—The old man… died. We overestimated his healing ability. When he healed the boy, his body gave out… he died instantly.
The priest sighed lightly.
—A shame… but I suppose if he wasn't useful, he saved us some time. —He smiled—. And the boy?
—We tried to capture him —Garland continued weakly—. But the red crystal… chose him.
We couldn't contain it. He had… something inside.
A consciousness. A specter.
Garland shuddered at the memory.
—That ghost was strong… it killed Kenshin. Even using my Awakening, it almost killed me too…
The priest went silent for a few seconds. Something about those words unsettled him.
—What kind of power did it use? —he asked finally.
—Darkness —Garland replied without hesitation.
For an instant, the priest's smile vanished.
A fleeting image flashed in his mind: red eyes, burning within shadows.
He forced himself to smile again, chuckling softly.
—Darkness, you say? Interesting…
—Why? —Garland asked, confused.
—Nothing important. —The priest tilted his head—. In any case, you're no longer useful to me.
Garland's eyes widened in panic.
—W-what did you say, Lord Adam? My power can still serve you!
—True —the priest admitted with a calm smile—. It would be a waste not to use it.
He placed his hand atop Garland's head.
—Let's see what I can make of you.
Garland screamed. His body twisted, breaking and shrinking as his soul was drained away.
In seconds, only a dark ring remained, which the priest picked up delicately and slid onto his finger.
—Lovely —he murmured, admiring it—. Don't worry, your power will still serve me.
From his back sprouted wings covered in eyes, opening with a faint crimson glow.
The priest—now Adam—closed his main eyes and whispered:
—Now, where are you, boy?
---
In moments, Adam soared above the valley, extending his sight through the many eyes of his wings until he found a small cave.
Inside, he saw the sleeping boy… and beside him, Jack's shadowy form leaning against the wall.
Adam descended slowly, watching as the dark rabbit dissolved into shadow, reabsorbed by Jack.
Jack opened one eye, looked at him without surprise, and smiled calmly.
—Well, look at that… you're still alive. Good. I was afraid you'd finally kicked the bucket. —His tone was mocking—. As you can see, I'm a bit… limited these days. Stuck to this kid, no body of my own. But if it makes you happy, you can kill him while he sleeps. Very on-brand for you, huh?
Adam spread his wings, smiling smugly.
—I'll give you two years.
—Two years? —Jack raised a brow.
—Yes. Two years to prepare your host. I want a fair fight when I erase you for good. —His tone was calm, but his eyes burned with restrained rage.
Jack laughed.
—How generous of you, heavenly dove. But before you go, one question:
Did you come for the kid… or for the old man?
Adam paused before taking flight.
—The boy was a coincidence. I came for the old man. But he turned out to be a disappointment.
—I see… —Jack narrowed his eyes—. So you really are just like him.
Adam smirked.
—Don't waste my mercy —he said before taking off into the night sky.
As he flew away, his thoughts twisted in turmoil:
Why am I running? He should fear me… I'm a god. So why do I fear a ghost?
Back in the cave, Jack exhaled with a bitter smile.
—Good to see you're still the same egocentric bastard, Adam.
He looked at the sleeping boy.
—Honestly, I couldn't have fought you right now anyway… but this kid can use light.
And light… —he smiled— doesn't kill light, idiot.
---
Post-scene
The next morning.
Michael woke up with dark circles under his eyes, his back stiff and neck twisted.
—Damn… everything hurts —he groaned, rubbing his shoulders.
Jack, lounging in a shadow, chuckled.
—I told you to sleep on the rabbit.
—Yeah, well, I'm not a fan of dark fur and multiple eyes.
Jack stood up.
—Anyway, we've got two years to get you from human flashlight to living sun.
He smirked.
—Get ready, kid. It's time for the training montage.