Arou slowly pushed open the door to his house.
Inside, Shion, Rei, and Airi were sitting casually, as if the day had gone completely normal. None of them knew that Arou had just met someone extremely dangerous.
Airi only glanced at him briefly. Her gaze remained cold.
"You're late," she said quietly, more like a flat comment than a complaint.
Shion leaned forward. "Arou, where did you go? We thought you'd just stepped out for a bit."
Arou let out a breath. "Just taking a walk."
Rei nodded. "As long as you're okay. After yesterday's battle, this city still feels… strange."
Airi stood up, crossing her arms. "If there's training later, make sure you're not late again."
Her tone sounded more like a warning than a reprimand.
Arou gave a tense smile. "Yeah, yeah…"
Shion patted his shoulder. "Relax. We'll do some light training this afternoon."
Arou nodded, burying the secret about Nova deep within himself.
Not yet, he thought. It's not time for them to know.
Outside, the wind moved gently.
In the distance, atop the roof of a building, Nova stood silently, watching Arou's house—undetected.
"This is only the prologue of something far greater," he murmured, before vanishing without a trace.
---
Evening slowly crept in as Arou and his team gathered in the backyard—their usual training ground. The air was calm, yet Arou felt a weight pressing against his chest since morning.
He tried to hide it, but Airi, known for her sharp perception, occasionally glanced at him as if reading straight through his thoughts.
Shion stood in the center of the field, stretching.
"Alright. Light training today. Focus on reflexes and coordination."
Rei nodded, spinning his sword. "Got it."
Without a word, Airi took her stance.
"Arou. You're sparring with me first."
Arou blinked. "Huh? With you? That's sudden."
Airi stared at him expressionlessly. "You've been unfocused. Fighting will reveal the problem faster."
Arou swallowed. "O-okay…"
Shion stepped back, giving them space. "Begin when ready."
Airi vanished in a fraction of a second.
Her attack came faster than usual. Arou barely managed to block, stumbling a few steps backward.
"Focus." Airi appeared right in front of him. "If you're like this, you'll die anytime."
Arou tightened his grip on his sword. His heart pounded—not because of Airi… but because of Nova.
Rei leaned toward Shion, whispering, "Arou's really off today. He's never this weak."
Shion nodded slightly. "He's hiding something."
The fight continued. Airi moved like a cold, unpredictable wind.
But suddenly—
Arou froze.
Airi stopped her attack just inches from his neck.
"You're careless," she said flatly, lowering her hand.
Arou exhaled heavily. "Sorry… my mind's a mess."
Shion walked closer. "Arou, what's going on? If something's wrong, you can tell us."
Arou opened his mouth—
BOOM!!
A violent tremor shook the ground. Birds scattered into the sky.
The explosion came from the eastern part of the city.
Rei immediately went on guard. "That's not normal."
Airi turned toward the rising smoke in the distance. "Something's happening."
Arou stiffened.
It wasn't just the explosion…
He felt a familiar aura.
Shion looked at him sharply. "You feel it too, don't you?"
Arou didn't answer—but his eyes said everything.
That aura… was a monster.
Or something far worse.
---
From afar, a shadow leaped across rooftops, moving rapidly toward them.
Airi drew her weapon. "Get ready."
Arou's heart nearly stopped.
Not because of the enemy—
But because he knew who it was.
Nova had returned.
---
Nova landed with a wide, confident grin, staring at Vendico with mocking eyes.
"Vendico…!"
He raised an eyebrow, his tone light yet sharp.
"How are you still alive?"
Shion held his breath.
Arou stood frozen.
Nova stepped forward slightly, still smiling.
"If I remember correctly, I erased you without leaving any chance of return. So… who forced you back? Or did you cling to life using some dirty trick?"
Vendico hissed in anger. "Don't underestimate me, Nova…"
Nova chuckled softly.
"I'm just asking. But judging by your condition… even death didn't want you."
Time itself trembled around him, like cracks forming in reality.
Vendico roared, "NOVA, I'LL CUT YOU DOWN!"
Nova sighed lightly, still smiling.
"Try me. If you can."
---
They clashed instantly.
A massive explosion shook the ground as their powers collided.
Blue light erupted. The air vibrated violently. Leaves were pulled unnaturally, as if gravity itself had warped.
Nova clapped his hands lightly.
"I have to admit… I didn't expect to see you again," he said cheerfully—completely unfitting for the terrifying scene.
"But tell me… how did you come back?"
Vendico glared, his dark red eyes burning. "Not as important as why you returned to this world."
Nova laughed.
"Then let's start simple. Who gave you a second chance?"
Vendico raised his hand. Dark energy flowed like living mist.
"A power you will never understand."
Nova snapped his fingers.
Time stopped.
Falling leaves froze mid-air. The wind fell silent. The world stood still.
Nova casually walked toward Vendico, frozen mid-motion.
"I understand enough," he muttered, observing the strange energy binding Vendico's body.
"This power… isn't yours."
He waved his hand—
Time resumed.
Vendico immediately launched a dark energy strike.
DOOM!
The blast pushed Nova back several steps. Yet he smiled, as if it meant nothing.
"Still slow."
Nova raised his hand. Blue light gathered at his fingertips, forming a spinning temporal circle.
"Temporal Rift."
Space cracked like shattered glass. Fragments of time shot toward Vendico.
Vendico roared, raising a wall of dark aura.
The time shards shattered upon impact—but the ground beneath split apart.
"Don't get cocky, Nova!"
Dark energy condensed around Vendico's arm. Strange red symbols pulsed like veins.
Nova narrowed his eyes.
"I recognize that pattern… So there is someone else behind this."
Vendico lunged forward.
His body transformed into a stretching shadow—
BAM!!
A powerful punch struck Nova's stomach.
Nova was sent flying, crashing into a massive tree that split instantly.
Before the dust settled—
"Nice hit."
Nova vanished—then reappeared right behind Vendico.
"Too bad it's not enough."
He spread his arms.
Blue light curved through the air.
"Chrono Slice."
Time itself was cut.
Vendico's body froze as his personal timeline split apart.
But the red symbols flared violently.
"NO! You can't—"
ZRAAACK!!
Time forcefully reconnected.
Vendico shattered the effect using that foreign power.
Nova frowned slightly.
"So that power was designed to counter mine."
Vendico raised both arms.
"DARK ASCENSION!"
Dark energy surged skyward, forming a massive pillar that devoured light.
Nova watched—not with fear—
But excitement.
"Then I'll show you something you've never seen."
He closed his eyes.
Thousands of timelines appeared in the air, spinning like stars in a cosmic orbit.
The wind stopped. Sound vanished.
The world bent to a single will.
Nova opened his eyes—silver light blazing.
"Time Convergence."
All timelines collapsed into a single point in his palm, forming a blue sphere filled with countless possibilities.
Vendico swung his dark pillar.
Nova threw the sphere.
DUAAARRR!!
The collision swallowed the sky. Thunder shattered the forest. The ground split apart as trees were torn from their roots.
Blue and black energy devoured each other.
Nova didn't move.
Vendico screamed with everything he had.
And then—
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion carved a giant crater.
Dust rose, covering everything.
As it slowly cleared—
Both figures still stood.
Vendico trembled, barely able to remain upright.
The red symbols on his body began to fade.
Nova stood calmly, with only a slight scratch on his cheek.
His arrogant smile returned.
"I hope that wasn't your strongest form, Vendico."
Vendico glared—filled with hatred… and fear.
Nova crossed his arms.
"Because if that's your limit… then your resurrection was nothing but a waste."
The battle wasn't over.
But the outcome…
Was already clear.
Nova still hadn't gotten serious.