Nathan: Alan! Fail-safe!
Alan: I'm trying! But somehow, the black holes aren't appearing! Something's wrong!
After a few seconds, the machine powered down, and the beam ceased. The capsule smoked heavily, and when it opened, a thicker cloud poured out.
From within—
Zerathos stepped out.
He looked… refreshed and bo longer retained his entity form but his human form.
He cracked his neck, then his knuckles, flexing into a new, more muscular form.
Nathan felt it immediately.
A different aura.
He knew, without a doubt—
this was no longer the same person as before.
Suddenly, a call came through from the WHA.
Marshall informed him that two missiles were already heading toward their location and that immediate evacuation was necessary.
Nathan froze.
Save every life in Z City—
or stop Zerathos from escaping.
Fifteen seconds remained.
And still, he couldn't decide.
Zerathos hadn't moved yet.
The missiles entered effective range.
And then—
they detonated.
A blinding flash engulfed Nathan.
For a moment—
he saw nothing.
Seconds passed.
But he felt… nothing.
No pain.
No heat.
No impact.
When his vision returned, he looked up—
and all he could see was the aftermath, bursting across the sky like distant fireworks.
Zerathos: A celebration for my arrival? How thoughtful.
He steps forward, untouched.
Zerathos: At last, I am no longer Old Dominion, I am… Eclipse.
The air itself felt heavier.
Zerathos: I was once limited to seeing twelve seconds into the future.
He smiles faintly.
Zerathos: Now… I see every future. Jaded Angel—consider this my first advice… and my final warning. DON'T STAND IN MY WAY.
Meanwhile, back at Pluto—
Kael: Wait a second—how the hell am I able to talk? What kind of sorcery is this? Did i actually flew over here...? Across the solar system...? No, this isn't the time to think about that. I need to get back to Earth, and save Herald and my friends... But… how…?
Looking around, Kael finally focused on getting back. So, he steadies himself. And remembers how he did it before.
The step.
The motion.
The mistake.
He bends his leg—
and carefully pushes upward.
Slow.
Controlled.
And then—
He was floating.
Kael: OH, OH! OH! Holy shit—I CAN FLY! AHAHAHA!! THIS IS AMAZING! Okay… how do I fly forward?
Recalling all the fictional movies he watched before, he actually tried to mimic them. He leans slightly, and his body follows. He leans further, gaining speed—faster, then faster—until movement becomes instinct, control settling in naturally as he soars across the dwarf planet.
Kael: WOOHOO! I'M FLYING! YEEEAHHH!!
He slows, turning toward the distant light in the sky—the sun. If he wants to see clearly, he has to test it.
Kael: Okay… let's try this again. I defy… uh… my inability to clearly see distant objects.
He focuses on the sun—and suddenly, his vision sharpens. Mars comes into view, clear and real. The sudden view scared him and almost flips himself over but he focuses once more and steadied himself again.
This time, he focus with all he's got and controlled his vision, and finally, he could see every distant planets.
Kael: No way…
He pushes further, searching—until he finds it.
Earth.
The moment he locks onto it, his body reacts. He curls slightly, then snaps forward—
and launches.
Speed explodes as he tears through space, flying straight toward Earth, obliterating everything that stands in his way.
—
Back in the Ice Box, Jax stood tall, gripping Herald by the neck—
Jax: You're of no use to us anymore. I hope you make better choices in your next life… if there is one.
Suddenly, in that same hallway, Kael crash-lands—hard—snapping their attention toward him.
Kael: Uff… I really need to learn how to land…
Then he looks up—and sees it.
Jax. Herald.
In that instant, rage and fear floods him.
The thought of Jax killing Herald fires him up and launches towards Jax.
The floor cracks beneath him as he takes off, a shockwave bursting outward. In a blink, he slams into Jax, tackling him through multiple walls and straight out of the Ice Box.
Before Jax can recover—
Kael's fist connects.
A single blow.
Clean.
Violent.
Jax is sent flying, crashing deep into the glacier.
Kael: Woah… I didn't even put much strength into that punch. I need to power up too.
The glacier ruptures.
Jax bursts out, instantly retaliating—launching a storm of ice shards toward Kael.
But Kael doesn't move in panic.
He weaves.
Every shard misses.
Effortless.
Untouchable.
In that single moment, he already proven his superiority in both mobility and perception.
Jax:(Thought) How is this possible? I was sure I killed him. Yet somehow, he's returned—with new powers? And now… he already surpasses me in most stats? Then I can't hold back anymore.
Massive chunks of jagged ice erupt from the glacier at high speed.
Kael doesn't retreat.
He weaves through them—clean, precise—and shatters several mid-air with a single punch.
Jax:(Thought) I don't understand how this sonovabitch is still alive, even after I replaced all the oxygen around him with lethal gases, yet he shows no sign of effect… Is he…? No, he can't be!
Around them, bodies lie still.
Only Nathan remains standing.
Slowly, he straightens.
Nathan: You said I can't win against you, right? Then you must already know what I'm going to do next… don't you?
Zerathos: Yes. But what I want to know is why you're still fighting. Ego… or arrogance?
Nathan: No, shithead. I'm doing this because it's right.
Zerathos: Even if it costs you your life? You don't even know what my goal is… but I do admire your determination.
A faint smile forms.
Zerathos: Then let's make this fair. I'll remove your instant regeneration—level the field. Shall we?
Nathan: What—?
In an instant, something shifts.
Nathan feels it.
Subtle.
Wrong.
Testing it, he slices his left palm.
A second passes.
Then another.
The wound stays open.
Nathan:(Thought) "Shit… he wasn't bluffing. My healing's gone. One mistake now… and I'm dead.
He looks up.
Nathan: How the hell did you do that?
Zerathos smiles, circling him slowly.
Zerathos: I no longer control causality. I control reality itself.
His voice lowers—almost amused.
Zerathos: I can rewrite it… piece by piece, or all at once. Anywhere. And YOU have no chance of winning. I see every possible future. So choose—die… or surrender, and I'll spare you.
Nathan looks around—the destruction, the lives lost.
Nathan: Generous offer… but no. Even if I can't win—then I'll die trying.
Zerathos: How ironic.
He moves.
A single punch—
—and Nathan is gone, blasted from the underground into the open air.
Kael weaves through every attack, untouchable.
Then he commits.
Straight at Jax.
For the first time—
Jax feels fear.
He tries to escape—
just as Kael closes in.
Just as Kael is about to grab him—
Jax flips the ice beneath him and plunges into the freezing water.
He shifts the temperature instantly—cold to lukewarm—and uses the pressure to launch himself forward. An air pocket forms around his head as he cuts through the water at jet-like speed.
Jax:(Thought) To beat a monster… you lure it to a bigger one. I'll take him to the boss—and remain his right hand forever.
Then—
something latches onto his leg.
His speed drops.
Jax glances down—
Kael.
Clinging tight.
Unshaken.
Jax: No way… he's keeping up? Even at this speed—?
Kael intensely stare directly at Jax and even the cold icy water have not effect on him.
He grabs Jax's leg with both hands—
and spins.
Violent.
The water twists into a forming whirlpool—
—and Kael hurls him sky-high.
Kael surges forward, fist coiled—
Kael: This is for every guard you slaughtered.
He strikes.
Once—
Twice—
Then a relentless barrage, each blow chaining into the next, suspending Jax helplessly in the air.
Kael ascends above him—then drops like judgment.
Kael: And this… is for Herald.
The final strike lands.
A violent shockwave erupts—
Jax is driven into the mountain below, the impact blooming outward like a volcanic detonation.
Nathan steadies himself mid-air, blood slipping from his nose.
A heartbeat—
Zerathos is already there.
No motion. No warning.
A single blow to the chest—
Ribs collapse.
Nathan is hurled downward, crashing into the market beneath.
The impact is catastrophic.
Lives end instantly. Panic fractures the streets.
Nathan coughs blood, breath ragged, lungs failing—
as Zerathos descends with dreadful calm.
Zerathos: Behold what your choice has wrought. You could have spared them all… had you surrendered. Their blood is on your hands, Jaded Angel. I am the only future this world has. I am its saviour—not you.
He steps forward and comes to stand beside Nathan.
Zerathos: Only I see what lies ahead. No one else. So stay down… and watch.
Kael lands softly beside Jax.
All that remains is the hollow, defeated look on his face.
Without a word, Kael seizes his arm, fly him back into the Ice Box, and locks the collar around his neck.
Then he turns—moving quickly to Herald, slumped against the wall.
Herald: Kid…? How did you get here? How did you even survive?
Kael: It's a long story. Are you hurt?
Herald: Just a bump on the head… Did you… defeat Jax?
Kael: Yeah. I took him down. You're holding your arm… I'm guessing it's either fractured or broken.
Herald: Nah, it's fine. I'll walk it off.
Kael: H—hold still. I'm going to try something.
Kael draws a slow breath, steadying himself, clearing the noise from his mind.
Kael:(Thought) I defy all the physical harm Jax inflicted on Herald.
In an instant, something shifts.
Herald blinks—then looks down at his arm.
No pain. No damage.
He flexes it once… twice.
Herald: Holy shit—how in the mother of biscuits did you do that?!
Kael: I… just did.
Herald studies him, something softer behind the shock.
Herald: With power like that… you could save your mother.
A beat.
Kael: Yeah… but stopping Zerathos matters more. This is bigger than me. It's the fate of the world.
Herald exhales, a faint smile forming as Kael steps back, readying himself to take flight.
Herald: Thank you. You really are the chosen one.
Kael: And you're still a pain in the ass.
Herald: Hmm. I get that a lot. Now go—go save the world.
Kael smiles, then lifts off, soaring toward Z City.
The Dark Knights who escaped the Ice Box gathered in Z City within minutes, assembling around Zerathos. One by one, they demanded what had been promised to them—wealth, fame, power.
Zerathos laughed.
Zerathos: Naive fools. Mere tools for my ambition… and you dare ask for a reward?
A ripple of anger spread through the crowd. Some began to turn against him—
—but before they could act, Zerathos rewrote their reality.
In an instant, their powers vanished.
Zerathos: In my new reality, there is no place for insignificant beings like you. For five centuries, I have watched humanity repeat the same pathetic cycle without exception.
He pauses, his voice lowering, colder.
Zerathos: Mankind grovels for power… and calls it purpose, always hungry for more, without end. Dominance, control, desire, envy… they let their pride consume them. Humans speak of empathy as if it defines them, yet I have seen the truth beneath it. Compassion is conditional. Morality is circumstantial. Given enough distance from consequence, even the righteous become indifferent. What you call virtue is not inherent—it is enforced.
A faint, almost disappointed smile forms on his face.
Zerathos: So if you thought you would gain anything from me… you were gravely mistaken.
He ascends into the sky.
Zerathos: …and now, a new reality shall take hold—the perfect reality.
But just as he begins to reactivate his power—
—a blur.
Kael tears through the sky at blinding speed and drives a fist straight into Zerathos' face, launching him across the ocean in a single, devastating strike.
Looking down, Kael saw how badly Nathan was wounded, and assumed his friends had suffered the same fate. Without hesitation, he made a decision.
Kael:(Thought) I defy all the harm inflicted upon my friends, their allies, and every soul touched by Zerathos and the Dark Knights.
In an instant—
The pain vanished.
Nathan blinked, his body suddenly whole.
Deep within the temple, the same held true for everyone else. Wounds closed. Damage undone. It was as if nothing had ever happened.
Confusion spread like wildfire.
Diego stirred first, pushing himself up.
Charlie burst out from her position, followed by Eric and Angela, all rising as though pulled back from the brink.
Lyra: What the hell just happened?
As Diego look around, he noticed a shadow cast on him from the hole of the ceiling after a lightning strike from the clouds. And as he look up—
Diego: Guys… look!
He pointed upward where a familiar figure hovered in mid-air.
Diego: …Kael?