Rhymus decided to end the matter on his own. He grabbed Black Eye and flew with him, penetrating the boundaries of the universes to reach a remote, empty cosmos, where he began charging his energy to the absolute peak. The entire universe glowed with a sharp purple hue, and his energy output soared: 10.. 50.. until it reached 110 septillion!
The entire Sixth World began to groan and tear apart under the pressure of this energy. Black Eye realized that the continuation of this madness would mean the end of the Sixth World and everyone in it. In the blink of an eye, at a speed Rhymus could not even process, Black Eye appeared directly before his face and delivered a single "holy" punch to the center of his chest.
At that exact moment, Rhymus's energy extinguished completely, his purple transformation vanished, and he lost consciousness as he plummeted into the void. Wang and Mythos arrived to witness this staggering scene; their powerful king had fallen to a single hit.
Black Eye grabbed Rhymus's unconscious body and threw it toward Wang like a bag of trash, saying coldly: "Take him away.. He is not even worth the trouble of killing." He then faded into nothingness, departing toward his true destination, leaving behind destruction and a sense of defeat that Rhymus had never tasted before. The three landed on the soil of Rhymus's planet, dust rising beneath their stumbling feet. Lena was waiting on the royal balcony, and the moment her eyes fell upon Rhymus being carried in Wang's arms—his body covered in bruises and unconscious—a cold shudder swept through her limbs. She screamed in terror: "What happened? Wang! Mythos! You are both injured.. and Rhymus.. is he dead?!"
Wang, panting from sheer exhaustion, was forced to tell her the bitter truth. He informed her about the burning of her family home on Earth, and about that black entity who crushed their pride with cold strikes. Contrary to expectations, Lena did not weep over the ruins of her home; her love for Rhymus had overwhelmed all her past memories. She said in a trembling voice: "I do not care about the house.. let the whole world burn, what matters is that Rhymus returns to me!"
Wang began using his magical energy to restore Rhymus's body. As the hours passed, the King's breathing stabilized until he slowly opened his eyes. Lena threw herself into his embrace, weeping intensely, while Rhymus stared at the hall ceiling in shock. He asked in a raspy voice: "Did he escape?"
Wang answered sorrowfully: "He vanished, my Lord.. He left as if we were never an obstacle in his path to begin with. Luckily for us, he did not decide to eradicate us all."
Rhymus slammed his fist into the ground as he tried to stand up with difficulty: "Damn it! Did I lose to that rat? How could a king like me be humiliated in such a manner?!"
Mythos said, clutching his pained side: "Let us be honest, Rhymus.. that person was not fighting us; he was playing with us like children. His level exceeds everything we have ever known about power."
Rhymus flew into a rage, but Wang interrupted him sternly: "I will go to my father (The Master). He is the only one who possesses the records of the ancient universes, and he must know the secret of this masked individual." Wang departed the planet immediately, heading toward "Karma's Palace" situated in the existential void, leaving Rhymus to drown in the wreckage of his pride.
While Rhymus was swallowing the bitterness of defeat, Mythos spoke, trying to analyze the situation: "He said he was searching for Arius.. perhaps if he encounters him, Arius-sama will crush him and relieve the universe of his evil."
Rhymus looked at him with eyes burning with malice: "I am the only one who will crush him! Do not mention that traitor in front of me."
Lena intervened calmly: "I agree with Mythos, my dear.. despite my hurt regarding Arius, he is the only one who might possess a power to match that darkness."
Rhymus flew into a fury and stood up, walking with stumbling, painful steps toward the training hall: "Damn you all! I will increase my strength even if I have to burn my own soul.. I will not let that bastard escape!"
Mythos watched his departure with sorrow and muttered: "What is with these Celestins? Do they never accept defeat?"
Lena replied bitterly: "Pride is what keeps them alive, and it is what will kill him one day." Mythos then bade her farewell and took off toward his own planet to heal his wounds.
Meanwhile, Wang arrived at his father's palace. The Master received him in his private chamber, which was filled with books and crystal spheres. The Master asked with surprise: "A sudden visit, my son, and your face carries ill news.. what is wrong?"
Wang said directly: "Father.. I wish to consult you regarding someone who nearly ended our lives. He wears a black plague mask, and his aura suffocates the stars."
The pen suddenly dropped from the Master's hand, and his fingers trembled as they touched the table. Wang noticed this and asked in shock: "Father? Do you know him?"
The Master swallowed hard and said: "Did you actually encounter him?"
Wang replied: "Yes, Rhymus, Mythos, and I attacked him, and we all fell before him in the blink of an eye."
The Master looked at his son with a look Wang had never seen before; a look of pure terror. The Master said: "My son.. if you see him again in your path, leave everything and take another road. Do not even look back!"
The Master then pulled out a wanted poster and placed it before Wang. The bounty figure was 200 quadrillion.
Wang said: "The reward is massive, but it does not describe his true power!"
The Master answered in a low voice: "I know.. I met him a short while ago. And I have a shred of doubt troubling my sleep, my son."
Wang asked, his heart beating rapidly: "A doubt about what?"
The Master looked toward the distant horizon and spoke with painful honesty: "I suspect he is stronger than me, Wang."
Wang was horrified, and his staff fell from his hand: "Impossible! You are one of the Five Mighty Ones who govern the balance of existence! How could an unknown wanderer surpass you?"
The Master sighed deeply: "It is merely a suspicion, but my intuition has never failed me. That entity is not human, nor do I think he is among the mortals we know. He is a 'cosmic event' walking on two feet, and approaching him means suicide."
Wang asked his father, who was considered the ceiling of power in this existence, in a trembling voice: "Does this mean he rivals Lord Karma in power?"
The Master turned to him quickly and firmly, waving his hand as if dismissing an impossible thought: "Impossible! Lord Karma's power surpasses imagination and description; even I, in all my majesty, am but a grain of sand in the ocean of his infinite power. If Karma were to face this 'Black Eye', the latter would perish in the blink of an eye without leaving a trace. However... what is suspicious is his presence in the Sixth World; what is he doing there on Rhymus's land?"
Wang answered his father seriously: "In truth, he is hunting Arius.. and searching for him in every corner."
Signs of wonder appeared on the old Master's face: "Arius? And what does he want from an exiled boy?"
Wang said: "He wants to kill him, and he mentioned no convincing reason other than his personal desire to do so."
The Master muttered: "Strange... the matter of this person grows increasingly complex. Regardless, I will investigate this connection myself."
Wang bowed respectfully to his father and exited the hall. In the long corridor, he crossed paths with Karma, who was returning to his palace in his majestic cloak. Karma greeted Wang with a cold nod, then entered the Master's room, inquiring about the reason for the sudden visit.
The Master recounted everything that transpired, causing Karma's expression to change immediately. He said in a voice filled with caution: "Black Eye is in the Sixth World and hunting Arius? This entity is an imminent danger. Master, deploy a vast elite army there; I want him captured at the earliest opportunity. Eliminating this masked person will save us from countless disasters in the future... however, his presence there necessarily means that Dazai is planning something in the exact same region."
The Master said: "Perhaps, but what are their true objectives?"
Karma replied as he walked toward his balcony overlooking the universes: "We will find out very soon."
Weeks passed like glowing embers beneath ashes, and in the First World, noise filled every corner. Clarisse had transformed the planet into a hive of activity; the white wedding dress, decorations covering skyscrapers, and cosmic roses spreading their fragrance into space. She sat in her room, holding Arius's picture and kissing it obsessively: "Tomorrow is the awaited day... tomorrow every tongue will be silenced."
Nahira entered the royal wing, flanked by her hulking assistant Acropolis and her cunning assistant Zarda, saying in a mocking tone: "My dear sister, tomorrow is the promised appointment. Tomorrow we will know if your knight is truthful or if he is merely a lie you crafted in your imagination."
Clarisse looked at her with eyes burning with the madness of love and defiance: "You will see, Nahira... Arius will come. He promised me, and his promises are sealed with the soul."
Nahira left while laughing with a cackle that shook the hallway: "We shall see the great disappointment tomorrow... hahaha."
The next morning, Clarisse jumped out of her bed like a child, touched the wedding dress studded with real stars, and called the servants with enthusiastic shouts to begin preparing her. The atmosphere in the palace was unprecedentedly vibrant, while Nahira observed everything coldly. Zarda asked her in a low voice: "My Lady, what if he does not show up as he claims?"
Nahira smiled a malicious smile of satisfaction: "Then my foolish sister will kill him with her own hands, and that is the best show I could ever watch in my life. The princess whose heart is broken by a fraudulent knight... I love these kinds of dramatic endings."
Hours passed, and guests began pouring in from every direction; rulers from distant worlds and high-ranking residents. In the Sixth World, the invitation reached Rhymus. At first, Rhymus shouted while throwing the card away: "I am not going to that bastard's wedding!"
But Wang approached him and whispered: "My Lord, Lord Karma ordered all rulers to be present there. Your absence will be considered rebellion or weakness after your recent defeat."
Lena also refused to go, as she could not stand seeing Arius or remembering the past. However, Rhymus—under pressure from Wang, who told him that his prestige as a king demanded his strong presence—convinced her with simple words: "We will go to show him that we are above him, and to prove to everyone that we are the new kings of the Sixth World."
Rhymus, Lena, Wang, and Mythos set off toward the First World, carrying their psychological wounds and injured pride, heading toward a party that could turn into a bloody battleground at any moment. The outer courtyard of the royal palace in the First World had turned into a piece of paradise; cosmic lights hanging from the sky formed necklaces of light, and crimson carpets extended for miles, while Nahira stood in her usual grandeur, distributing her artificial smiles and welcoming the elite of society and rulers coming from all corners of the universes, like a spider waiting for its web to be complete.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Sixth World, Dazai was sitting in his secret hideout, monitoring data screens tracking the movements of the rulers. He turned to his subordinates and said in a calm tone: "The news has reached me.. all rulers of the universes, including Rhymus and his entourage, are gathered now in the First World for that legendary wedding. This is our golden opportunity that we have been waiting for; the Sixth World is now without masterminds, and it is the ideal time for us to delve deeper into its secrets."
Red Eye adjusted his sword and said cautiously: "Even so, Chief, the security here is suspiciously intense; patrols do not stop. I think news of our presence has leaked to them somehow."
Dazai nodded: "I know that.. Karma is no fool."
Yellow Eye interjected, saying: "I believe the real reason is 'Black Eye'; he has been at large in the Sixth World for weeks, hovering here and there like a ghost, instilling terror in every planet he sets foot on. They must be tightening security because of him."
Dazai said as he pulled out his device: "I will try to contact him now; we need to coordinate our steps." He pressed the call button, but the ring continued without an answer. Dazai furrowed his brows: "Strange.. he has never done this before. Black Eye always answers on the first ring. He must be deeply immersed in a grave matter right now. Very well, we will not wait.. over the past weeks, I built a network of contacts with some rebels here, and they helped us get closer to what we seek. Let us move now; time waits for no one."
Returning to the First World, as the sun set and painted the planet's sky in magical purple hues, the royal carriage of Rhymus landed. He stepped down accompanied by Wang, Mythos, and Lena, amidst the awe-filled gazes of the attendees. Nahira received them with a sly smile gleaming in her eyes, saying: "Welcome to my distinguished guests.. Rhymus, Lena, we are honored by your presence on this historic day."
Rhymus shook her hand with royal coldness and replied: "The honor is ours, Miss Nahira."
They entered and sat in the seats reserved for VIPs. While the atmosphere buzzed with music, one of the maidservants approached Lena and whispered in her ear: "My Lady, Princess Clarisse requests to see you personally in her private suite before the ceremony begins."
Lena looked toward Rhymus, and he nodded in agreement. She stood up and followed the servant through the luxurious palace corridors until they reached Clarisse's room.
The massive doors opened, causing Lena to catch her breath for a moment. Clarisse stood before the mirror, wearing a bridal gown as pure white as snow, woven with threads of light that made her radiate luminosity. She was exquisitely beautiful, with her flowing hair and purple eyes shining with a gleam of obsession and hope.
Clarisse turned quickly and ran toward Lena, grabbing her hands warmly: "Lena! You cannot believe how happy I am that you came today! Thank you for coming."
Lena replied with a gentle courtesy while taking in her breathtaking beauty: "You look truly wonderful, Clarisse; your dress is beyond description.. but may I know why you called me here specifically?"
Clarisse said in a tone filled with certainty mixed with underlying fear: "I wanted to thank you personally. You know? Arius will be so happy when he sees you here among the guests. Your presence will make him feel safe and will encourage him even more to appear and come to me.. he loves you like a sister, and seeing you by my side will mean so much to him."
Lena looked at her with sorrow and said sincerely: "In truth, Clarisse, I am here because my husband Rhymus had to attend; I am not here for anyone else.. but with all my heart, I wish you a happy life with Arius always, if that is what your heart desires."
Clarisse laughed a soft laugh, then began showering Lena with a barrage of personal questions about Arius: "Tell me, Lena.. what is his favorite color now? Does he still love silence? What makes him smile? I want to know everything to make him happy."
Lena answered her patiently, recounting some personal details and the colors he preferred, while Clarisse consumed every word as if it were a sacred spell.
With the preparation ceremony complete, Clarisse held Lena's hand and both exited the palace toward the outer courtyard. The grand doors opened, and the "bride" stepped out amidst the astonishment and grand applause of the attendees. Clarisse stood on the high platform, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon.. waiting for the appearance of the man who promised to return three years ago. A terrifying silence settled over the royal courtyard, and the music stopped suddenly as if the breath of the entire world had been cut short. When Clarisse appeared, the attendees were mesmerized by her beauty, which seemed like a fabric made of starlight, to the point that Karma himself, despite his coldness and power, could not prevent himself from muttering in admiration: "What is this angel that has descended upon us? Is the earth capable of giving birth to such majesty?"
Clarisse ascended the platform with confident, royal steps and sat at the wedding table decorated with rubies, her eyes shining with a gleam seen only by those who know the waiting of lovers; she was gazing toward the horizon, confident that "Arius" would split the sky at any moment to hold her hand. Lena returned to sit beside Rhymus, who asked her in a low tone: "What did she want from you? Did something suspicious happen?"
Lena answered in a voice overcome with emotion: "Nothing, just questions about his small details.. she is excited to a degree that makes me feel afraid for her."
Rhymus shook his head, muttering: "I see.. love makes even rulers lose their minds."
While everyone was immersed in the heavy silence of waiting, a knight from the elite guard shattered the quiet of the place, rushing toward Karma with features as pale as death, whispering words in his ear that made Karma suddenly leap from his seat, his eyes widening in uncharacteristic shock. Karma shouted in a voice that thundered over the attendees: "What are you saying?! Display the scene now! Immediately!"
The soldier opened a massive projection screen in the middle of the courtyard, its light reflecting on everyone's faces, turning expressions of joy into pure terror. The live broadcast was coming from the deepest point in the Sixth World.. a scene no mind could have imagined.
Arius.. the knight of dreams and the awaited one, was there, but not in wedding attire; rather, in tattered clothes soaked in blood. He was fighting Black Eye in a suicidal battle. Arius was staggering, his wounds deep, his energy groaning from fatigue, while that masked monster stood before him like an unshakeable mountain.
Clarisse was devastated; she stood up from her place, pressing her hand against her chest as if her heart had stopped, while Rhymus and Lena froze in their seats. Arius tried in the broadcast to land a final blow with all the strength he possessed, but Black Eye did not move; with mere simple "pushes" in the air, Arius was thrown far away like a trivial insect, his body shattering against the cold rocks.
Black Eye advanced with slow, terrifying steps, and with a strange movement of his fingers, Arius's body rose into the air against his will. Black Eye began controlling Arius's movements as if he were a wooden puppet, saying in a hissing voice that penetrated the projection speakers to reach the ears of the rulers: "You insect.. you do not deserve life at all; your presence is a mistake in the records of existence."
Arius screamed in heart-wrenching pain: "What are you doing to me?! How are you controlling me like this?!"
Black Eye answered with divine coldness: "Your blood is merely a toy in my hands.." and he suddenly flicked his palm, causing everyone to hear the sound of Arius's bones and ribs fracturing and bending inside his body against his will. Black Eye pulled Arius directly in front of him, grabbed his head with brutal force, and in a moment of shock that stopped the pulse of everyone at the party, Black Eye pierced Arius's chest with his bare arm, bringing his hand out the other side holding Arius's beating heart.. then tossed it aside with indifference.
The masked man approached the dying face of Arius and whispered words recorded by history in ink of terror: "You are strong, boy.. but I am strength itself. Now, sleep the sleep of a dog that never wakes up again."
He released his head, and Arius's corpse fell into the mud beneath the pouring rain, blood flowing to stain the ground deep red. What increased the horror even further was that Arius's body began to fade, turning into black ash blown away by the wind before their very eyes.
Black Eye suddenly turned toward the surveillance camera, as if looking directly into the eyes of Karma, Nahira, and Clarisse, saying with a coldness that could freeze galaxies: "Victory is mine.. and destruction to whoever opposes it."
Then, with a single strike, he destroyed the camera, cutting off the broadcast. Darkness prevailed over the screen, and a silence settled over the First World resembling the silence of graves, before exploding with a single scream that tore through the peace of the universe.. the scream of Clarisse.