The corridor continued to tremble.
The eye-like structure beneath the shattered floor remained focused on Oblivion.
It wasn't an eye.
Not truly.
It only resembled one.
Its surface rippled like cracked glass, surrounded by veins of black stone stretching endlessly into the darkness below.
The remaining Void creatures hesitated.
Then they screamed.
Hundreds surged toward Oblivion, Lazard, and the collapsing corridor.
Lazard raised his rifle.
"Here they come!"
Blue beams tore through the first wave.
Three creatures fell.
Five more took their place.
The horde seemed endless.
Oblivion stepped forward.
The fractures across his arm burned violently.
One creature reached him
CRACK.
Its body folded inward before collapsing into dust.
Another.
Another.
The corridor shook harder.
The
BOOM!
A streak of golden light burst through the tunnel.
The shockwave alone threw dozens of creatures against the walls.
The blur stopped.
A young man stood between the monsters and the group.
Silver-white hair.
A black combat suit traced with thin golden lines.
His pale blue eyes scanned the battlefield calmly.
"...Looks like I made it."
Without waiting for an answer
he disappeared.
BOOM.
One creature exploded backward.
BOOM.
Another was launched through solid steel.
Golden afterimages filled the corridor.
No one could follow his movements.
Not even Lazard.
Within seconds, the tide had changed.
Lazard fired from range.
Oblivion shattered anything that came too close.
The newcomer struck relentlessly from every direction.
Minutes later...
Silence.
The last Void creature collapsed.
Only broken metal remained.
The newcomer finally slowed to a stop.
He looked at Oblivion.
"My name is Veyron."
"I figured you could use a hand."
Lazard nodded once.
"...Good timing."
Before anyone could speak again
the eye-like structure pulsed.
The fractures across Oblivion's arm reacted.
He stared into the enormous shell beneath them.
"...That's not alive."
Veyron frowned.
"What is it?"
Oblivion clenched his fist.
"I don't know."
"...But it shouldn't exist."
He stepped toward the edge.
Lazard's eyes widened.
"Oblivion"
Too late.
Oblivion jumped.
His fractured fist crashed directly into the center of the eye-like shell.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The entire underground complex shook.
Cracks spread across the massive structure.
Another punch.
CRACK.
Another.
CRRRRRAAAASH!!
The shell shattered.
An overwhelming burst of frozen air erupted from within.
Oblivion was thrown backward.
He landed hard.
His right arm trembled violently.
Blood dripped from his knuckles.
"..."
"...It hurts."
For the first time since the fractures appeared...
Oblivion had actually injured himself.
The chamber fell silent.
Then
a wall of ancient ice split apart.
A figure stepped forward.
Tall.
White hair touched with icy blue.
A long navy coat.
Crystalline frost slowly formed around his arms.
His piercing blue eyes quietly studied the three strangers before him.
"..."
"So..."
"You were the ones who broke the seal."
No one answered.
The man looked down at the shattered prison behind him.
Then back at Oblivion.
"I've been trapped here for longer than I can remember."
He lowered his head slightly.
"You've given me my freedom."
A brief silence followed.
"I owe you."
"My name is Serak."
"If there is anything you require..."
"I will repay the debt."
Lazard looked toward Oblivion.
Oblivion simply replied,
" i think you can help us. "
Serak nodded once.
"Very well."
The four left the underground ruins together.
As they emerged onto the surface, sunlight covered the horizon.
Oblivion stopped.
For a brief moment...
he looked toward the sky.
Something about it felt...
different.
Behind him
Serak silently followed.
No questions.
No hesitation.
Veyron smiled.
"well i think it's time to say good bye"
Oblivion replied
"You can come with us. "
Waiting outside the facility was the Chrollo Slice Drive.
The sleek black vehicle hummed to life.
One destination had already been entered into its navigation system.
Planet Hurricane.
Hours later...
The city lights of Hurricane appeared beyond the horizon.
Lazard stepped out beside the vehicle.
"I've got business elsewhere."
He handed Oblivion and Veyron a pair of compact signaling devices.
"Press the button if you need me."
"A harmless red beam will mark your location."
Veyron caught one.
"Got it."
Lazard looked at the group one last time.
"...Try not to destroy the planet while I'm gone."
Without another word
he departed.
Leaving Oblivion...
Veyron...
and Serak...
to begin the next chapter of their journey.
To be continue.