GARY HALL
My own breaths echoed faintly in my ears as I hastened towards the epicentre of the radiant burst that had encompassed the entire confines of the Void Order’s sanctuary. Even though I remained kilometres away from the hideout and was overseeing the Paladins vanquish the last remnants of void creatures, I witnessed the pervasive illumination suffusing the environment.
What intensified my apprehension was the profound silence that accompanied this phenomenon. The unfolding events transpired in eerie quietude, as if the battle had concluded in muted surrender.
Without wasting any time, I surged forward in the company of a squad of Paladins, enveloped in uncertainty. My only certainty was that the destiny of humanity hinged upon this encounter. The palpable rhythm of our footfalls reverberated through the surroundings, akin to sound being mirrored by the obsidian-glass floor beneath us, adorned with whirling purple specks.
After traversing a labyrinthine sequence of passages within this hideout, the entrance to the so-called observatory finally became distinguishable, marked by glimmering points of light radiating from within.
My heartbeat rose in volume as I cautiously approached the grand dome. Underneath me, the Paladins adopted battle-ready postures, primed for any conceivable outcome.
Upon entering the chamber, my surroundings gradually materialised in my perception.
“The aftermath appears to be tumultuous." I murmured, surveying the scene before me.
A viscous, blood-like substance adorned the area, tinted a pale azure hue. Interspersed with it were fragments of glass, their once-purple lustre drained as if by a million years of age. The floor exhibited telltale cracks, a testament to the vigour of the conflict that unfolded here.
“Could these be the fragments?” I speculated briefly, yet discarded this line of thought, recognising that this was not the opportune moment for such inquiries.
Pressing onward, a peculiar tableau materialized. Some sections of the ground and walls were frozen, radiating an icy chill, while other areas glowed with a searing heat akin to molten lava. The entire environment seemed to oscillate between these extremes, an enigmatic dance of temperatures.
Ultimately, as I reached the culmination of the dome, I discerned four prone figures strewn across the ground. They bore the signs of severe wounds; had there been no indication of faint breaths, I might have presumed them lifeless.
“Wallace… What transpired?” I inquired urgently, my voice a blend of concern and confusion, and my gaze locked onto his severed hand as I gently shook him in an attempt to rouse him.
After a brief interlude, his faculties seemed to reassemble, and in a raspy tone, he responded, “We emerged victorious...
Relief flooded over me; an overwhelming sense of burden was relinquished. Yet I refrained from jubilation, knowing that my priority was assessing the condition of those who had triumphed.
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I beheld Kabir Khurana, seated with a serene smile adorning his countenance. It was as though he had been transfigured into a statue of tranquil contentment.
“Kabir… Thank go—” My words faltered as I drew closer to him, my observation interrupted by a stark realisation: his skin had assumed an unnaturally pallid hue.
“Wait… No!” Urgently, I shook him with a measure of desperation, my motions becoming increasingly frantic. However, his stillness remained unbroken; there was no response to my entreaties. My actions were driven by the absence of any indication of breath.
The pang of despair coursed through me as I exhausted every conceivable attempt to elicit a reaction from him. What remained was an unloving body and a visage adorned with a smile that seemed to transmit a message of accomplishment in the face of the insurmountable. Ultimately, I acquiesced to the harsh reality that he was no longer among the living.
In the midst of this sombre moment, a hint of movement stirred within my awareness. Casting a glance backward, I exhaled a mixture of relief and grief. Eugene and Keichii had stirred from their unconscious states, each drawing rugged breaths. The Paladins arrayed behind me surged forward, extending their assistance in the form of remedies and support to the three reawakening figures.
“It was his actions that brought about the obliteration of Mirrikh and ensured our survival, even at the cost of expending his very life force. Through his employment of a divine art, he shielded us from the ensuing surge of light, an outpouring that would have consumed our defenceless forms. In this final act, he expended the last vestiges of his vitality. He stands as a true hero,” Wallace conveyed with a composed demeanour, his gaze unwavering.
“His memory will be etched into the annals of humanity. And not solely his memory, but this entire day will be indelibly inscribed as the moment when humanity emerged triumphant,” I proclaimed with unwavering conviction.
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A few weeks later...
GARY HALL
“Congratulations on your recovery,” I commended Wallace, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat. My smile encompassed both Kei and Eugene, who stood beside him.
Since that fateful day, the aftermath has been diligently managed by H.A.D.E.S. During the intervening weeks, these three received specialised care under the supervision of our most proficient doctors and individuals skilled in the art of sol-based healing. Today, after weeks of meticulous care, they finally achieved a full recovery.
“I’ve heard word that the successor to Kabir has been selected?” Wallace inquired in a composed manner.
“That’s correct. Following Kabir’s passing, Compound 001 has identified the next chosen Herald. His name is Divye; he hails from India, Kabir’s homeland. He played a pivotal role in this conflict, playing a significant part in dismantling almost a quarter of the Void Order’s forces through his third-phase story weaving abilities,” Gary responded with a sigh.
As my words subsided, the room settled into an eerie stillness, as if everyone present held unspoken thoughts on their tongues.
Eventually, it was Eugene who voiced the lingering question hanging in the air. “Wallace and Kei, what are your plans moving forward?” he inquired, his phrasing deliberate.
“I aspire to delve into the third power, the very essence that governs both sol and lune. On this journey, I seek to transcend my prior objective of unravelling the enigma of death. Now, my aim is to foster a connection with ‘death’ itself. In addition, I’m inclined to extend a helping hand to Wallace,” Keiichi replied, his voice carrying a blend of serenity and determination.
Our collective attention then shifted to Wallace. In that instance, a grin unfurled across his lips, as if he had anticipated this moment.
“My odyssey is but in its infancy. The universe sprawls infinitely before me, a canvas adorned with boundless possibilities. Parallel realms, ancient civilizations, primal energies, higher dimensions, extraterrestrial entities—countless realms remain untouched by humanity’s reach.”
“Who can predict if another ‘Mirrikh’ shall emerge or if an unfathomable enigma will descend upon Earth? My aspiration is to plumb the depths of these mysteries and venture into the nebulous realms of the unknown. This marks merely the prologue of my story!" His proclamation was accompanied by a heartfelt smile.