16 years ago.
The location was on an uncharted island off the coast of the Night Continent.
The name of this island had been long forgotten, and its inhabitants had died countless years ago.
The only thing that could be found there were ruins of a lost civilization.
On such an island, an elderly man walked with a cane.
The way that he walked made one realize that the cane was only for decoration, and that the man didn’t need anything to support him while he walked.
He walked with such vigor that it was like he was a boy rather than and an old man.
This man who was dressed in all white was Ringo.
He walked through the desolated island with a smile and certainty.
It was as if he knew where exactly he was heading, and what he was gonna experience.
He walked until he reached the center of the island.
There, he found a huge temple covered in vines and moss.
There was a craving of a sun in the shape of an eye at the top of the temple.
“This seems to be the place.”
Ringo said as he looked at the craving.
He walked into the temple without the slightest hesitation.
The temple interior looked like what you'd expect from any abandon temple.
It was filled with cobwebs, insects, wild plants, and a few snakes here and there.
However, there was hot wind coming from deep inside the temple.
Ringo walked towards the source of the hot wind, and soon came across a strange scene.
There was an altar inside a large room filled with gold and countless beautiful gems.
On the altar was a coffin like structure made of gold.
It had the sun, the moon, and all the constellations engraved on it with gems.
Above the coffin, there was gigantic diamond absorbing the sunlight and reflecting it on the coffin.
It was without a doubt a breathtaking scene.
Ringo ignored the treasure scattered about, and approached the coffin.
When he got close, he saw that a piece of the coffin was missing and smiled.
He took out a piece of gold in the shape of a star.
He then placed that star into the slot of the missing piece on the coffin.
*Flash!*
The moment he did, every treasure in the room started to lit up like small stars and Suns before firing a bright light into the gigantic floating diamond.
The Diamond absorbed them and then shone an intense light on the coffin.
“Looks like it worked.”
Ringo muttered to himself with a satisfied expression.
The light shone on the coffin, while the engravings lit up.
Ringo then saw them moving around as if they were real celestials in the sky.
*Clank!*
The sound of locks being opened reached Ringo’s ears.
He then saw the coffin’s cover levitate and then turned into particles of light.
The same thing soon happened to the entire coffin, as it turned into particles of light blowing in the air.
The treasures and the Diamond above soon turned into beams of light that condensed in the spot the coffin once was.
The already bright room soon became blinding, as all the lights meddled together.
Ringo stood there with a calm expression as he watched the light condense in the shape of a human.
The light slowly fade and a person was left behind.
When Ringo walked up to them, he saw that it was a young boy around 4 years old.
He had long blonde hair that shone like it was the made of gold. His eyes were opened, so his gem like blue eyes were out in the open.
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This beautiful boy that looked like he was from the land of the gods, was dressed in a white gown that looked like it was made of the purest silk.
Ringo looked down on him with a smile.
“Are you a survivor of the legendary Prime Celestial Tribe of humans?”
Ringo asked.
The boy only stared at him without answering.
“Well, I suppose you wouldn’t know, being as young as you are.”
Ringo said.
“Then again, since your from the first tribe of humans you should be biological millions of years old despite being physically a toddler.”
“……..”
The boy still didn’t respond.
“I don’t know what your people faced back then and why they used such a grand method to preserve you, but I need you. The new era needs you.”
He stretched his hand out to the boy.
“My name is Klick. You can call me grandpa.”
He said with a smile.
The boy stared at the hand as if he was trying to process what Ringo was doing.
Eventually he took his hand, and Ringo pulled him up.
When he did, he failed to notice that his mind was being tainted by Ringo's Chaotic Qi.
An devious smile appeared on Ringo's face, but it disappeared a second later.
“What’s your name, little boy?”
Ringo showed a sincere smile and asked.
“……Little Sky.”
The boy answered.
“That’s a strange name. Let’s give you something more common.”
Ringo then put on a pondering expression before smiling.
He placed his hand on the boy’s head and rubbed it gently.
“How about Sora?”
“Sora?”
The boy repeated the name with a strange expression.
“It means sky, so it’s not like you’ve changed your name that much. I just made it simpler.”
Ringo said with a smile.
“Sora….”
The boy repeated the name again.
He smiled and then nodded.
“I like it.”
Present day.
Sora was lost in his thoughts as he recalled the day he met Ringo.
It was also the day he awaken in this era after millions of years of hibernation.
The conversation between Miko and Arsene popped up in his mind.
From it he confirmed something that was bugging him for years.
It was whether Klick was truly dead or not.
Ace and Hina might hadn't find it strange, but Sora couldn’t understand how someone like Darius was able to kill someone like Klick, who was able to free him from his slumber.
It was just too inconceivable.
But he now knew that he was alive and was also a possible enemy. This made Sora very conflicted.
‘Now then, what should I do?’
He asked him.
“A war between the two sides seems unavoidable, meaning that I will need to make a choice. The earlier the better.”
Sora was the type of person who moved by logic rather than emotion. This was what made him different from Ace and Hina, who were constantly driven by their emotions.
Yet, despite knowing that the Dragna Clan didn’t have a chance against New Era, he didn’t immediately chose to change sides.
In fact, he was reluctant to do so.
“I’m grateful towards Ringo and everything, but I don’t like the idea of being Miko’s enemy. Besides, Hina would definitely take Miko’s side. Ace is a mystery though.”
He said to himself.
“But if I side with Miko the chances of we all dying are extremely high.”
Other than the first time they've met Klick never mentioned New Era to him again. However, Sora could tell from how Miko and the rest of Branch reacted towards them that new era was a terrifying organization.
He knew that going against them might mean certain death.
Even so…..
“I don’t want to betray my friends.”
He muttered to himself.
To Sora, Ace, Miko, and Hina were his family.
Ace was his playful little brother.
Hina was his little sister that he had to protect at all cost.
And Miko was like his mischievous little brother who he sometimes fights with.
They were all irreplaceable to him and he didn’t want to turn any of them in his enemy.
However, the same went for klick.
Klick was Sora’s first family in this era and he didn’t want to fight him either.
“Maybe I should just go into hibernation for another couple million years and avoid all this?”
He jokingly said with a sigh.
He walked towards the palace with a gloomy expression.
“Yo, partner.”
That’s when he heard a too familiar voice.
He looked and saw Ace walking towards him with Hina behind him.
“What’s wrong? You look like you were dumped or something.”
Said Ace.
He looked at Ace for a while before answering.
“Yeah. I thought that she liked me, but she was just only using me.”
He said.
“What? You really got dumped?”
Ace suddenly burst out laughing.
“Stop laughing, Ace. I heard your phone call earlier, you just got dumped too.”
Hina said from the side.
The smile on Ace’s face frozen when he heard that.
It was Hina’s time to laugh.
Sora looked at the two with a gentle expression.
“Hm? What is it, Sora?”
Hina noticed his gaze and spoke to him.
“No. It’s nothing.”
He looked up at the sky and stared at its endless width.
‘For now, lets just enjoy our time together and think about the future another time.’
A memory from a long time ago flashed in his head.
It was back in the Primordial era, when the heavens and earths were still in development; and the gods, demons, beast, and heroes lived in harmony.
Sora who was just three years old stood on the highest peak in the world along with his people.
He could sense peace wherever he looked as it was a time without wars and violence. The Golden Age.
He still remembered the beautiful music played by the gods, which rang in his ears.
Even a young boy like him could be moved by such sounds.
“Little Sky.”
It was then that he heard a soothing voice.
Sora couldn’t remember who this voice belonged to, but he could never forget its words.
“You are the future of our race, but don’t let this burden you. Live your life as free as the birds in sky. Only then will you find true happiness.”
Sora didn’t remember anything past this scene, but this memory was enough to help him walk his path without hesitation.
He looked at Ace and Hina and wrapped his arms around them.
“Hey, man. I understand that you were rejected, but that doesn’t mean that you need to change teams.”
Said Ace.
Hina didn’t say anything and let Sora embrace her.
After a while Sora released them and stepped back.
“Listen, you two. No matter happens in the future, even if we’ve become enemies hellbent on killing each other, I want you two remember this.”
He smiled.
“No matter what we’re family.”
Sora’s smile stunned Hina and Ace, thus making them unable to react.
Soon the two nodded.
“Of course. We’ll always be family.”
Said Hina.
“Brother all in his feels and shit.”
Said Ace.
He patted Sora’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Sora. If the time comes when we’re enemies, I’ll be sure to take it easy on you.”
Sora laughed.
“The day I need you to go easy on me is the day hang myself in shame.”
He said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll have your rope ready.”
Ace laughed.
Hina smiled as she watched the two.
It was a heartwarming scene.
Sora scanned his friends faces one last time and the smile disappeared from his face.
‘I’ll be sure to protect their freedom. Even if I have to die to achieve it.’
He thought to himself.
Sora, previously known as Little Sky of the primordial era.
This boy would soon realized that protecting one’s freedom was easier said than done no matter the era.