"This was a bad idea... I should just go back."
Alfie muttered nervously as he turned around inside the endless void.
But no matter how far he walked, the same suffocating darkness surrounded him. There was no way out, no sign of anything beyond the endless blackness.
His breathing grew uneven, and his legs began to weaken.
"Wh-what's happening...?"
His trembling voice echoed through the abyss.
With every step, his body felt heavier, as though the darkness itself was dragging him down. He struggled to keep moving, but his strength continued to fade until he could no longer stand.
Alfie collapsed.
Before he could understand what was happening, he lost consciousness, and the darkness swallowed him whole.
---
Meanwhile, in the physical realm, Lucy hurriedly tore the chain from Fushira's neck.
The locket swung open in her hand, revealing faint images of Dreamland shimmering inside.
Without wasting a second, she grabbed Fushira's finger and pressed it against the locket, channeling her Renshi through him.
The moment the energy entered the locket, the air began to vibrate. Ancient glyphs appeared across its surface, glowing brighter with every passing second.
Then space itself began to crack.
A teleportation portal tore open before her, and Alfie's unconscious body suddenly fell through.
Lucy caught him in her arms, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"What the hell...?"
She held him tightly, barely having time to process what had just happened before the ground began shaking violently.
"ALL OF A SUDDEN..."
A massive teleportation circle appeared high above the forest, its enormous formation spreading across the sky. Powerful Renshi poured from it, warping the air and sending shockwaves through the surrounding area.
Its presence was so overwhelming that even the neighbouring kingdoms could feel it.
Six figures descended from the circle.
Five men wore black cloaks, their faces hidden beneath their hoods. The sixth figure was a young woman dressed in white robes.
Lucy's expression changed the instant she saw her.
Her grip tightened around Alfie as she stared at the woman in disbelief.
"...Amanda."
The woman smiled faintly, showing no surprise at seeing her younger sister.
"Long time no see, little sister.
And here you are again, protecting another random child you know nothing about."
Her smile widened slightly.
"Tell me, Lu. Do you really think you'll succeed this time?"
She paused briefly.
"Don't forget, he's not the only one here who needs protection."
Her voice remained calm, but every word carried a mocking tone.
"You bastard. If you dare lay a finger on her, I'll kill you with my own hands."
Lucy's anger shook the air around her.
Amanda tilted her head, seemingly amused.
"Relax, relax. I only took her in to protect her and turn her into an elite. You should be thanking me instead,not making dry threat."
She turned away as the teleportation circle beneath her began to glow.
"Anyway, enjoy the rest of your life, little sister. I'll be taking another one of your students away from you again."
"Amanda."
Lucy thrust her wand forward, releasing a powerful beam of Dark Renshi.
The attack tore through the air, splitting the air apart as it shot straight toward Amanda.
One of the five cloaked men immediately stepped in front of her and summoned a massive shield.
But it couldn't withstand the attack.
Cracks spread across its surface before it shattered into countless fragments. The beam continued forward, striking Amanda directly in the chest.
For a brief moment, her body flickered.
Then she dissolved into black smoke.
"Did you really think I'd come here to face you in person?"
Amanda's laughter echoed through the forest as the smoke scattered into the air.
"Don't push your luck, sisi. I'm still your sister, but I've become far more than that."
Lucy stood frozen, staring at the empty space where Amanda had been.
Before she could react, the five men moved toward the unconscious fighters.
Romero, Pascal, Onamuchi, Fushira, and Voldigo were seized one after another.
The teleportation circle began to shine brighter. Within seconds, the five men vanished with their captives.
The circle disappeared shortly afterward, leaving Lucy alone with Alfie and the silence of the ruined forest.
Her entire body trembled as rage burned through her.
But she couldn't afford to stay there any longer.
Lifting Sasaki over one shoulder and supporting Alfie with the other, she activated Switch Mode and raced back toward Lyon and the others.
As she moved, her half-witch transformation gradually faded. The dark tattoos covering her body disappeared, and her appearance returned to normal.
By the time she reached the battlefield, the destruction was even worse than she remembered. Trees had been uprooted, massive rocks lay scattered across the ground, and deep cracks stretched through the earth.
"Rebekah...?"
Lucy looked around, searching for the familiar figure.
Instead, she found Bash tending to Lyon's wounded shoulder. Marcel and Jackson sat nearby, their expressions grim as they stared at the destruction surrounding them.
Lucy's heart sank.
"Where is she?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "Where is Rebekah?"
Lyon lowered his head, struggling to find the right words.
"...A strange man appeared and took her away. We tried to stop him, but he was too strong. There was nothing we could do."
Lucy couldn't move.
Then her knees gave way.
She dropped to the ground, her face twisting in anguish as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her fists struck the dirt repeatedly, unable to contain the pain and helplessness building inside her.
"Damn you, Amanda... Damn you."
After a while, Lucy wiped the tears from her face and slowly stood up. Her expression hardened.
"Enough of this," she said coldly. "Take your sons and return to your kingdom. I've got a student to go fetch myself."
She adjusted Alfie and Sasaki in her arms, preparing to leave.
But before she could activate Switch Mode, Jackson stepped forward.
"Wait... Ma'am, please. Take me with you."
Lucy turned toward him, surprised.
"What?"
"I want to travel with you."
Jackson clenched his fists.
"I'm tired of sitting around cutting dolls all day. I can't even protect my own sister or father like this."
His voice grew firmer as he continued.
"Please, I'm not asking you to promise that you'll protect me. Just let me come with you. I'll fight alongside you, and I'll do my best to survive."
Lucy stared at him for a moment before turning her face away.
"...Go home with your father, kid. I can't afford to put another child in danger."
Her voice softened slightly.
"Rebekah and her brother were the only survivors of their family. Now Amanda has taken her, and I don't even know what she's planning to do with her."
Lucy clenched her jaw.
"I won't make the same mistake again."
Before Jackson could respond, Lyon stepped forward.
"He's already made up his mind, and I've accepted his decision. I won't try to stop him."
He looked at his son briefly before turning toward Lucy.
"The world is bigger than what I know. I want him to continue from where I stopped, and the only way forward is with you. I've seen what you're capable of. You're the only way forward for him."
He looked directly at Lucy.
"Please, let him go with you. This is what he wants. There's no future for him back there in Guhan."
Lucy remained silent.
The wind swept through the ruined forest, carrying dust and broken leaves across the battlefield.
For a while, nobody spoke.
Finally, Lucy let out a tired sigh.
"...Fine. You can come."
Jackson's eyes widened.
"But don't misunderstand me," Lucy continued, pointing a finger at him. "I won't be babysitting you. From now on, you'll follow my instructions. If you can't do that, I'll leave you behind."
Jackson immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
"Thank you."
Lucy glanced at him before turning away.
"Get up. We have a long way to go."
And just like that, Jackson joined them.
Lyon watched as his son began walking away.
Jackson had only taken a few steps when he stopped and looked back at his father. After a brief hesitation, he turned around and ran toward him.
He threw his arms around Lyon, holding him tightly.
"I love you, Papa."
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
"I love you too, my boy."
Lyon held him close, doing his best to keep his own tears from falling.
"Tell Scarlet her big brother will come back."
"I will."
Lyon bent down until they were at the same height.
"Listen carefully, Jackson. The path you've chosen today is the bravest decision you've ever made, and I'm glad you made it while you're still young."
He placed both hands on his son's shoulders.
"This world is no place for the weak, and it would be my mistake to let my emotions get in your way. You're a smart kid. Don't forget that. Even in the worst situations, always think things through before making a decision."
Jackson nodded and wiped the tears from his cheeks.
"Don't forget to come back once in a while, rock head. I won't stay weak while you're getting stronger."
Marcel spoke lazily from nearby.
"Shut up, Marcel."
Jackson glanced at him with a mocking smile.
"You're not as weak as you think. I'm just stronger than you."
Marcel blinked in confusion.
"Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?"
"It's both, dummy."
Jackson turned and walked back toward Lucy, who had been waiting for him.
"You're going to miss him more than you expected," Lucy remarked as they continued their journey.
Lyon watched them disappear into the distance.
"Things turned around so fast... I'm still processing everything."
Bash stood beside him, watching Jackson walk away with Lucy. She carried Sasaki and Alfie over her shoulders.
"Do you really trust a stranger with your son, Lyon?"
Bash's expression was worried.
"Not one hundred percent."
Lyon shook his head.
"She's a mysterious being. A powerful, mysterious one at that."
He paused, his eyes following Lucy's distant figure.
"But there's something that caught my attention throughout all this. It's what made me allow my son to go with her."
Bash turned toward him.
"That Alfie kid isn't related to her in any way. I don't know what their relationship is, but I know she only showed up the day the boy awakened his Renshi. Since then, she's put everything on the line to protect him and that little girl we failed to protect."
Lyon smiled faintly.
"I don't know much about her, but I'll give her half of my trust. The other half goes to my boy."
A teleportation circle began forming beneath his feet.
"I'll meet you in Scale, Bash. I can't continue as a Pro Darkside Knight under Exca's leadership. This situation is going to change things for the entire kingdom."
Lyon sent the message to Bash through telepathy.
"You don't trust his little boy, huh?"
Bash replied through the same connection.
"Family comes first in any situation. Don't forget that."
"Alright, Marcel. Let's go back home."
Lyon stepped into the teleportation circle, and he and Marcel disappeared.
Bash soon formed a circle beneath himself and teleported away as well.
---
AFTER SOME HOURS
Lucy and Jackson made their way toward the Celestial Kingdom, the closest kingdom to the border of Ashura.
After travelling for some time, they finally reached the kingdom's gates through a teleportation circle.
The silver moon hung above the towering walls, casting a pale glow over the stone entrance.
The moment they arrived, four Shinra guards wearing white capes rushed toward them, their spears raised.
"Stop right there."
One of them stepped forward.
"Who are you, and why have you teleported into our kingdom?"
Lucy remained calm despite their hostile attitude.
"We're travellers. We only need a place to rest for the night. We'll leave by morning if that's what you want."
She shifted slightly, careful not to disturb the two unconscious boys she was carrying.
"If it makes you feel safer, we're willing to surrender our weapons until we leave."
However, the guards paid little attention to her explanation. Their eyes moved over the group's torn clothes and bloodstained bodies, clearly suspicious of the condition they were in.
One of them stepped forward and suddenly snatched Alfie's sword from Jackson's back.
He examined the weapon before looking at them with open distrust.
"Travellers who carry Renshi weapons?" he scoffed. "Don't insult me. I've seen people like you before. You're always heading toward Ashura, and you always have some story to tell."
His gaze shifted toward Alfie.
"But this time, you've made a serious mistake by bringing that boy here."
Lucy narrowed her eyes.
Before she could ask what he meant, the guard turned toward his companions.
"Arrest them."
Three guards immediately moved forward, reaching for Lucy and Jackson.
But one of them made a mistake.
Jackson caught the first guard by the wrist before he could touch his Master. His grip tightened, and the metal gauntlet covering the guard's hand began to crack.
CRACK.
The armour shattered beneath Jackson's fingers.
"Don't you dare touch my Master," Jackson warned, his eyes cold. "You're not worthy."
The other two guards reacted immediately, thrusting their spears toward him.
Jackson jumped into the air, narrowly avoiding their attacks. He twisted his body, caught both spears in midair, and infused them with his Renshi.
Before the guards could recover, Jackson spun around and hurled them toward the entrance.
Both men crashed into the massive gate with a deafening impact.
The remaining guards stared at him in shock.
"You brat."
The commander roared.
Raising his hand, he summoned thirty copies of his spear into the air. The weapons spread above him, their sharp points aimed at Lucy and her companions.
"I'll kill every last one of you for this."
Just as he prepared to launch the attack, a thunderous voice rang out from the watchtower above.
"That's enough."
The command echoed across the kingdom's walls, forcing everyone to stop.
The guards immediately looked upward.
Standing atop the towering Celestial wall was a shadowed figure, its cloak fluttering in the moonlight.
The figure looked down at the commander and the scattered guards before shifting its attention toward Lucy and her companions.