"It seems like this is going to be fun," 002 says with a smirk.
"His hair has turned white," 004 notes, observing Helios in the other dimension, chains binding his body.
A few years later, Helios stands beneath a colossal waterfall, the cascading water roaring like thunder. He draws his hand back and punches the torrent; the water parts instantly and the rocks behind it shatter into dust.
"It seems we are finished with his training," 002 says, a satisfied smile crossing his face.
"Aside from a few minor inconveniences, everything is fine," 005 adds, watching Helios closely. "Should we tell him that the King allowed him to see Sara and Luna?"
Suddenly, Helios appears directly in front of her, his eyes—shifting like a sunset—boring into 005.
"What did you say?" Helios asks, his voice chillingly cold.
"Even if you are handsome, you're too close," 005 says, reflexively stepping back.
"She was saying you can see your sister and your girlfriend," 004 clarifies.
"Anyway, the King had one more thing to say," 002 interjects.
"Speak up," Helios says curtly, picking his shirt off the ground and pulling it on.
"If you try to run away, you won't get far. All four kingdoms now know you as the Supreme Commander," 002 says, walking toward him.
"Basically, you are now the primary target of every kingdom, second only to the Royal Family," 004 adds, turning to walk away as the others follow.
"Are you coming?" 005 asks, glancing back over her shoulder. Helios begins to follow them.
"Wear this," 004 says, handing Helios a black mask.
"Why?" Helios asks, looking at the mask with a confused expression.
"What, don't you want to surprise them?" 004 teases. Helios takes the mask and fits it over his face.
In a nearby garden, trees are heavy with blossoms that drift gently in the wind. Sara stands in the centre, a blue spiral energy sword in one hand, and her pocket watch artefact in the other. Four P.O.C. members in black masks surround her.
The P.O.C. members brandish their weapons and charge. Sara instantly slows time for the first attacker and severs his head in one fluid motion. She blocks a slash from a second member, then slows time for a third, hurling her spiral energy sword through the air; it strikes the member's head with lethal precision.
Another member lunges with a sword, but Sara rewinds time on her. The attacker is yanked back to her starting position. As the woman tries to charge again, Sara infuses her legs with spiral energy, appearing instantly in front of her and cleaving her body in two with a brutal strike.
The last remaining P.O.C. member looks around the garden. A moment ago, it was peaceful; now, it reeks of blood, with bodies littering the grass. Sara appears before him like a ghost, decapitating him. Blood splatters across the flowers as the body collapses.
Sara takes a deep breath and looks up at the sky. "It seems I have finally become strong enough," she whispers, remembering the first time she fought the P.O.C., where she had lost horribly and coughed up blood from her injuries. "I wonder what Luna is doing now..."
She recalls the day the P.O.C. members took Luna away. Luna had cried out for her, and Sara had been helpless to stop it.
"I failed you, Helios," Sara says, wiping away tears that threaten to fall.
"Your future wife has been killing so many of our members," 002 says in a frustrated tone, watching Sara from the mansion roof.
Helios looks at her, and his empty, lifeless eyes regain a spark of emotion. He jumps from the roof and vanishes, reappearing in front of Sara.
"Why did you give him the black mask?" 002 asks, turning to 004.
"You know that's the only way Sara recognizes our members," 005 adds.
"What? Don't you guys like a little drama?" 004 asks in a theatrical voice, watching Helios face Sara.
A new figure appears behind them. "What are you guys doing here?" the person asks.
"003! It's been a long time," 004 says with a grin.
"Not long enough," 003 sighs.
"Why don't you sit down and watch the show with us?" 004 suggests. 003 sits down beside them on the roof.
Below, Sara stares at the masked Helios in shock, pointing her weapon at him. I thought I killed all my opponents for today, she thinks.
Why is she pointing her sword at me? I know my hair is white, and my gold and red eyes have combined, but still... Helios thinks. "Sara—" he tries to say.
She lunges, swinging her sword to take his head. Helios catches the blade with his bare hands. Startled, she lets go of the weapon and jumps back.
He's stronger than I expected, Sara thinks, gritting her teeth as she summons another sword. She charges again. Helios tries to speak, but she swings for his neck. He blocks the strike with his forearm.
Sara rewinds time. Helios's arm is forced down, and her blade reaches his neck, but it fails to cut him.
"With all the physical training I did, it would be shocking if you could cut off my head, Sara," Helios says as she leaps back.
He can't be this strong while wearing a mask, Sara thinks desperately. The only people stronger than me are the members ranked under 010, and they don't wear masks.
"Who are you?" Sara demands, her blue eyes glowing as her white hair blows in the wind.
"It's me, Helios. I've been gone for a while, but you still remember me, right?" Helios asks, his voice thick with pain. Did she forget me? If she did, what about Luna?
"How dare you use Helios's name, you imposter!" Sara shouts, her voice trembling with rage and unshed tears. "Never use his name again!"
She sounds as if she is breaking apart. She still remembers me, Helios realizes.
Sara runs at him, aiming to pierce his stomach. This is going to hurt, Helios thinks. Instead of defending himself, he opens his arms wide. She stabs him, but Helios simply pulls her into a hug.
"This is for the four years I left you two alone," Helios says, his wound bleeding freely.
Now that I'm closer and the mask isn't muffling him... he sounds just like Helios, Sara thinks. With a trembling hand, she reaches up and pulls off his mask.
"Helios..." she stammers, tears finally falling from her blue eyes. "Why didn't you dodge?" she asks, starting to sob.
"Like I said, this is for all your suffering," Helios says softly as Sara's sword vanishes from his wound.
"Now that was an interesting show," 004 says, standing up and stretching.