The Return and the Confrontation
After some time the four leaders arrived at the palace and entered the hall with a majestic presence all standing before Nahira. The four bowed in respect to her and said in a unified voice "We are present my lady." Nahira smiled saying that she would introduce them to their old friend which made everyone focus on Arius in stunned astonishment unable to believe that this person was still alive.
One of them stood wondering and said "How can this person be alive?" Arius replied coldly "And when did I even die?" Everyone was shocked by his answer so one of them turned to Nahira and said "My lady please clarify to us what is happening." Nahira explained to them everything that had occurred so they could finally absorb the matter and understand what happened.
Then another person entered the hall and everyone stopped to see who it was. Upon entering he said "My dear lady you have returned from your special mission I hope you are in good health and safety." Nahira looked at him smiling and said "Oh come Gelius I have been waiting for you." He advanced further and as he drew near he was shocked by the sight of Arius before him so he shouted in bewilderment "What is this? What is the warrior of the Sixth World doing here? How dare you be present in a place like this?" Gelius rushed toward Arius to attack but he stopped suddenly at Nahira's gaze and a single word from her "Retreat." He complied immediately unaware of the reason behind his lady's order for him to retreat.
Afterward Gelius turned to Nahira saying in a voice full of questioning "My lady what is this person doing here? Is he not one of our adversaries?" Nahira looked at him with calm eyes and said "In fact what he is doing here is that he has returned to his home." Astonishment appeared on Gelius's face and he asked "Returned to his home? What does this mean?"
Nahira's gaze grew sharper and she continued her words firmly "Listen to me well Gelius before you joined us Arius was present here and he was my servant before you but he disobeyed my orders previously so I punished him. Now I have forgiven him for his mistakes and that is why I returned him to where he belongs."
Gelius looked at Arius trying to comprehend the matter and said "That is clear but my lady this person was against us in the Sixth World and on top of that he eliminated three of our world's fighters. How do we trust someone like him?"
Nahira smiled with confidence and said "Ah regarding that I was going to punish them myself because they wasted their time back then but Arius did the work for me."
Arius redirected his gaze toward Nahira then aimed it toward Gelius in silence thinking *This fighter is not ordinary as I expected since I saw him that day and how he was able to defeat Rhinos with a single blow therefore I must beware of him for he certainly cannot tolerate my existence at all.*
Then Nahira looked at Arius and said "Arius why are you so silent? Why do you not welcome your former friends and greet your colleague Gelius?"
Arius replied coldly "I am not here to make friends and I have a bad past with these rascals therefore I do not wish to deal with them."
Suddenly one of them nicknamed C shouted in anger "Calm down boy! What do you think of us? And how dare you describe those who are higher than you as rascals!"
Arius looked at him with coldness and contempt saying in a sarcastic voice "Disgusting."
C's anger ignited from his behavior and the atmosphere of the hall became charged with tension everyone watching in anticipation of Arius's next move.
## The Clash with the Generals
C stood before Arius his eyes gleaming with anger and condescension and he said in a voice full of disdain "You cowardly child… did we not always enjoy torturing you? You used to scream like women and beg us to pardon you to stop torturing you… or have you forgotten everything?"
C approached with arrogant steps toward Arius and said while turning to Nahira "My lady allow me to handle this filthy one and teach him his true place!"
Nahira smiled gently with deep malice and said in a calm voice "Do what you want."
C advanced toward Arius attempting to strike him but the surprise was shocking. In a single moment C collided with Arius's punch flying far away and falling unconscious. Everyone went silent for a moment unable to believe what they saw this was not the child they knew but a moving monster possessing incredible strength.
Nahira laughed lightly realizing that Arius was no longer that weak boy. Before anyone could respond A who was known for his prowess in combat stepped forward and said to Arius cautiously "Easy boy… I see you are using tricks… what is this farce?"
A tried to grab Arius but in a single moment dozens of energy soldiers appeared out of nowhere surrounding Arius as if they were catching a single order from him all their eyes gleaming with anticipation. A felt hundreds even thousands of murderous intents directing toward him from everywhere. Sweat poured down his forehead and everyone was shocked even Nahira did not hide her amazement.
Arius ordered his soldiers to disappear and upon his word the energies vanished as if they had never existed. Arius approached A his voice cold and cutting "Believe me if you scratch me even a small scratch you will find yourself nothing but cut in the air into millions of pieces… so be a polite boy and get away from me immediately."
A retreated sweat covering his face having realized that what was before him was not that crying child they used to ridicule but a being possessing a brutal strength that could not be underestimated.
Nahira nodded her face toward Arius and a tone of questioning mixed with amazement and contempt was heard "Tell me Arius what is the secret of those creatures that come out of you? I have not seen you use them before… how do you summon them?"
Arius answered her with cold calmness "These soldiers… I make them myself. And I do not have large numbers of them."
Nahira smiled a gentle smile hiding poison then said "Do you remember that day when we fought the Sixth World? That fighter you sent — what was his name?"
Arius replied briefly "Rhinos."
Nahira murmured as she remembered "Yes… Rhinos. I felt a tremendous capability in him… a truly very great power."
Arius nodded in agreement and added "True. Rhinos is one of my strongest and most formidable soldiers. However I cannot rely on him alone in the hardest missions."
Nahira said with malicious sarcasm "So you are developing in secret while hiding your matters from me you cunning one."
Arius breathed in a light voice then completed "Previously my lady I discovered that the reason for my slowness in development was a restriction — a curse on my back. But that curse has disappeared now and I have regained my true capabilities."
Nahira interrupted him "So that is how it is. I remember there was a mark on your back… I tried to remove it repeatedly and did not succeed. Now I understand the reason. But what is the origin of that mark?"
Arius answered in a voice that could barely be heard "In my opinion it is a preparation for the fighter a way to make the body rely on itself before its true power explodes. This is what I understood at least."
But inside himself Arius was lying to himself before anyone else — for he never knew the true reason for the mark.
Nahira smiled with a deadly eagerness "I am excited to test your capabilities Arius. Be diligent I will never allow you to rest."
Arius bowed his head then said with apparent coldness "As you wish."
As for his inside a silent oath took place *I must get close to her. I must show my obedience and loyalty to win her trust. And when the time comes… I will take my revenge on you. A black revenge for what befell me in the past. Believe me no matter how long it takes.*
## The Proclamation and the Servant
A servant of faded prestige arrived carrying the Great Mirror that Nahira had requested and entered the hall carrying a strange gleam that reflected a magical light upon the faces. The mirror settled in the middle of the edifice then opened its surface like a window and behold Nahira's reflection manifested before every creature in the First World — the image of a queen whose features were shared by no one in her cruelty.
Nahira raised her head and looked at her nation and her soldiers with eyes that did not hide her pride. She said in a mellow voice filled with steadfastness and condescension "My great people today I am in a good mood. I have decided to grant you a day of rest from your hard labors. I want everyone who works or is burdened by a load to rest because today I have obtained an irreplaceable spoil and you — I think — know it well."
She signaled with her hand so Arius stepped forward to her side standing as a silent symbol before the eyes of the soldiers and all creatures of the First World. The gathering stared at him in astonishment and caution then Nahira continued in a voice overflowing with pride "Today I have regained one of the most precious things I ever owned. Rejoice for my joy everyone."
The mirror closed quietly and expressions of boredom ascended upon Nahira's face she said with dry frankness "I hate delivering ridiculous speeches I am not good at it anyway."
She sat on her purple throne slightly annoyed then called a servant saying "Come take Arius to his room he must miss it very much."
The servant bowed respectfully and said "Master Arius follow me please" so Arius distanced himself with the servant leaving the hall and the gazes of the generals and Gelius turned toward him during his exit.
Craftsman B advanced toward the throne hesitantly and said in a trembling voice "My lady… have you truly trusted a person like this after all that we exposed him to?"
Nahira looked at him coldly her answer devoid of condescension "And what can he do in the face of my presence?"
B swallowed his saliva then muttered with apparent anxiety "My lady… this person is very dangerous he was previously a farce before the lowest of our soldiers and now he was able to fell C with a single punch and stopped A with a single movement from strange creatures that came out of him. This is not normal… and behind it lies a disaster."
Nahira nodded calmly and ordered "Withdraw now I want to be left alone."
The attendees retreated one by one. Gelius inclined a deliberate step toward her then said "Your command my lady."
So Nahira remained alone on her throne and the hearts in the hall fluctuated between astonishment and fear while Arius was being brought away as if he were a precious piece returned to its place according to a will that had not yet been understood.
## The Broken Past and the Premonition
Arius walked with the servant in the wide dark corridors and every step was returning to him the echo of a painful memory every corner here whispers a memory and every stone in it carries the consequence of the pain he lived. He steps in silence while observing the walls parchments and inscriptions as if they were pages from his past reciting their story to him in a low voice.
Suddenly he noticed a strange matter: the servant walking beside him does not outpace him as servants used to but chose to walk behind him. Arius stopped firmly and turned to him with a cold gaze then said in a calm voice carrying a gentle threat "Servant… I want to ask you something: do you hide now an intention to kill me?"
The servant trembled immediately and fear was painted on his face until he appeared like one facing a judgment that had been issued without a trial. He stammered with words "No my master… I do not dare to do something like this…"
The words availed nothing before a single action from Arius; he gripped his neck sharply and raised him until his feet touched the wall his eyes sharp as lightning cutting the darkness. He said to him in a cold deadly voice "Listen to me well… I know all these movements. It is clear that you are new here so you do not know who I truly am. You have heard talks about me from the old servants and you thought you could do to me as they did."
He stopped for a few seconds as if it were a short punishment then completed in a low but firm voice "I will give you three seconds only… flee from before me now or else I will erase your existence from history."
The servant did not wait longer; he dashed running like a madman not daring to turn back thinking he sees the tape of his life passing before his eyes.
Arius turned again as if returning to a dream that had passed and went on his way as if nothing had happened.
Arius walked with steady steps through the long corridor until he reached a huge majestic door that resembles the gate of a prison woven from painful memories. He stood before it a moment contemplating its cold iron details that carry the traces of time and the old scratches that he knows well then he took a deep breath as if gathering what remained of his patience and extended his hand to open the door with a single hand with heaviness and calmness.
And when he entered the smell of the past welcomed him. Everything was in its place as he left it a long time ago — his old belongings his table some scattered books training tools and… there in the corner what he feared to see… the cage.
He approached it slowly and his sight was dim as if he sees his old ghost imprisoned there the child who used to scream without anyone hearing him. He raised one of the old chains that used to bind his body looked at it long then said in a low voice tainted with a suppressed anger "I am not forgetting… sixteen years and I am bound with these chains like a dog that fell into a pit full of snakes… but that has ended. That was from the past."
He closed his fist on the chain with power until the metal rings shattered between his fingers then he turned toward the vacuum and said with a sharp coldness "Come come."
In a moment one of his energy soldiers appeared kneeling before him waiting for the order. Arius pointed with his hand toward the cage saying "Swallow this cursed cage… and swallow everything in this room. I do not want anything of these old wastes to remind me of what I was."
The energy soldier bowed and obeyed beginning to absorb everything in the room as if the past is literally erased from existence while Arius stood on the balcony contemplating the sunset. The golden colors were blending with the shadows just as light and darkness good and hatred memory and revenge blended inside him.
## Echoes from the Sixth World
On the other side in the Sixth World the sun was also setting over the planet of Arlin. Rhaemus Arlin and Wang arrived a short while ago and the place around them calmed after a long journey. The three sat in a small hall in which dim lights hung and between them silence prevailed until Rhaemus cut it saying while he was tense "I do not know what I will say to Yuna and Lina when I return to Earth… do I tell them that Arius… the son and brother they trusted betrayed us all and returned to his old world?"
Arlin looked at him with a calm gaze and said "No it is better that we do not tell them the truth now. Let us say only that he went on a long cosmic mission and that his absence might be prolonged…"
Wang intervened with his sober voice saying "I do not agree with this. Lying does not prolong peace but postpones it. The truth no matter how painful it is frees in the end. Sooner or later everything will be revealed so it is better that they hear the truth from you not from anyone else."
Rhaemus lowered his head and said with anxiety "But they will collapse… especially Yuna I do not think she can bear news like this."
Wang answered him with a calmness befitting his wisdom "Yes the matter will pain them and perhaps they will cry long… but with the passage of time they will begin to forget. We holy creatures do not possess the feelings of mortals but we understand their nature well. The pain they have is temporary and time is capable of making them forget everything."
Silence prevailed anew while their three glances were lost toward the horizon… where the sun of the Sixth World meets with the sun of the First World — a symbol of two destinies drawing further and further apart.
## The Invisible Threat
Arius entered the room united with the silence of the past his eyes scanning every corner and corner but he did not find anything at all. He stopped a little then said in a calm voice but loaded with authority "Well done… I appreciate your effort."
The soldier bowed silently then disappeared suddenly returning to the body of his master leaving Arius alone with the emptiness of the room and its eerie calmness. Arius sighed and said to himself "Well… now what shall we do?"
Not even seconds passed until he heard the sound of a light knocking from the door before he could move he suddenly felt a crushing murderous intent penetrating his mind and soul. Not just an ordinary intention but a conscious studied power carrying all the consequences of death in the blink of an eye. His body froze from the intensity of his realization:
> "What is this? Impossible… this is not the intention of a servant or a guard… this is the intention of a conscious person fully aware of what he does. If I open the door now… the percentage that my head is cut off is 100% the percentage of my turning into pieces is 100% the percentage of my survival is 0%. All probabilities are present… probabilities of my being killed with a single blow: 1000% and my survival: non-existent!"
>
A few moments of thinking and soon the decision was made. Arius stood firmly released the teleportation and disappeared from the room in a moment leaving the place empty.
The sound of knocking stopped suddenly at the door so the door was opened from the outside by an unknown person who did not find anyone and made sure of the emptiness of the room then closed the door and left leaving behind a mysterious question: who was this? And why did he want to kill Arius?
Arius returned after moments raising his hand to his face with a sigh of anger and whispering "Damn it… he was truly here… he was intending for me… damn this to me!"
The air in the room is still heavy with mystery and threat leaving Arius catching his breath and preparing for what will come next.
## The Gauntlet of Nahira
Arius hesitated for a text before the door then after a moment of hesitation he gathered his courage and pushed the door lightly casting a quick look at the long corridors but he did not see any person nor any trace of any threat. There was nothing at all so a strange calmness pervaded the place.
With the absence of the sun and the arrival of night Arius headed toward the throne room where Nahira had summoned him. Upon his arrival he opened the door and found the hall filled with people standing in rows organized with accuracy staring at him without movement. Arius advanced prepared his eyes scanning the place with caution until they fell upon Nahira sitting on her throne contemplating him with a mysterious smile.
Nahira said to him calmly "Finally you came… do you know why I summoned you now?"
Arius raised his head to her his voice tense "No… I do not know my lady."
Nahira smiled with a coldness that mystery mixes with and said "Well since everyone is here… here is Arius whom I missed seeing. Attain what you want from him."
Everyone advanced suddenly surrounding Arius from every side. He was astonished and said "My lady… what is the meaning of this?"
Nahira answered him in a calm but firm voice "In fact my dear… I would like to see the extent of your determination before those who used to humiliate you one day. So be an obedient boy and amuse your lady with an attempt to survive them."
The attack began suddenly evil laughs filling the hall and everyone rushing toward Arius. But he did not show any hesitation; with coldness and confidence he grabbed them one by one and threw them away which struck them with clear astonishment. And with the continuation of the attack Arius began to eliminate them all one by one with amazing ease despite the massive number that was surrounding him.
Every movement from him was calculated powerful fast revealing a supernatural capability making everyone puzzled by their matter while Nahira watches him with a hidden smile enjoying the sight of the true power of that boy whom they used to think was weak one day.
After a short period Arius dropped all the fighters with absolute ease until they were unable to move. He advanced toward Nahira saying in a calm and steady voice "I have finished everything."
Nahira smiled and said to him "Come… we have just begun."
She knocked with her fingers and suddenly Arius fell from the ground toward a strange tunnel dragging him with amazing speed until he reached a very huge transparent bubble. Arius rose standing while he scans the place wondering "What is this strange place?"
He headed toward the wall of the bubble and tried to touch it to discover its hardness. He directed a powerful punch to it but it did not cause any effect.
Nahira entered the upper room and sat on another throne contemplating him from above and said "Do not try… it will not shatter no matter how much you try. Wait a little."
Arius looked at her unable to understand her cunning mind then turned around him to see thousands of soldiers gathering upon him as if they were a swarm of ants devouring a single prey. And from among those he noticed familiar faces and others new all of them radiating with hostility and hatred.
Nahira looked at him and said in her cold voice "Come on… all of you shatter the worthless one!"
The soldiers who reached their number about 100,000 soldiers inside the huge and vast bubble shouted and rushed toward him without hesitation. Beside her Gelius and Nahira's assistant stood watching the battle from above. Gelius said with anxiety "My lady… are you confident that this person has a chance against all of these? From what I see it appears like mere nonsense."
Nahira smiled coldly and said "Oh I like your view my dear Gelius but wait… you will see a surprise of the heavy caliber below."
Arius looked at all those massive numbers and said in an angry voice charged with defiance "Damn it… what do you think of me? Do you bring me all this? The matter is ridiculous."
The soldiers rushed toward Arius at one time so the engagement began. With his fast and powerful strikes he was flying them one by one crushing them without any trouble as if every movement from him is calculated with a deadly accuracy showing the true power of that boy whom they used to think was weak one day.
## The Million-Man Massacre
Arius proceeded to smash anyone who intercepts his path with his crushing punches and kicks so he was sending hundreds of soldiers into the air with a single blow and crushing thousands of soldiers with his successive crushing blows. Not a long period passed until everyone became under his sweeping power for he eliminated everyone who tried to approach within measured minutes.
Nahira's assistant said in astonishment "A magnificent thing… he crushed them all during about five minutes and without using any skill or energy."
Gelius was surprised for he used to think that Arius is a mere weak fighter hiding behind energy soldiers to protect him and his heart filled with anger and hatred toward him despite his hatred for him previously.
Nahira smiled and said to her assistant "Open the gate."
More and more soldiers began entering but Arius looked at them coldly and said "Damn it… do they truly want to provoke me?"
This time multiples of the previous numbers appeared and all of them are powerful to a degree that every one of them can destroy planets easily. They rushed toward him but the same scenario repeated: Arius's strikes and crushing kicks dropped them one by one and the matter continued for long hours whenever one of them fell others entered more powerful and more hostile.
Arius felt anger rising inside him more and more with the passage of time.
Nahira said "What time is it now?"
Her assistant answered her "It is five o'clock in the morning."
She asked "How long have we remained upon this same condition?"
The assistant said "About 12 full hours."
Nahira smiled and said "This is enough… I will go to sleep now. Stop the remaining soldiers."
The assistant looked in astonishment "My lady… which soldiers do you mean? Arius has crushed everything… the numbers cannot be counted about 1,000,000,000,000 soldiers during 12 hours."
Nahira looked down to see a sea of injured soldiers stacked on top of each other tons and tons of corpses. And there Arius sat staring with a dark face as if he were thirsty for more above heaps of crushed soldiers.
Nahira said smiling coldly "This is very good."
Then she directed her words to her assistant "Tell Arius to go and rest for the matter is finished now. And also adjust the system of the planet to make the night period last longer so I can know how I can rest."
The assistant answered her "Your command my lady."
Nahira said "Correct… where is Gelius?"
The assistant looked at her coldly "He has gone down to the bottom."
Nahira raised her eyes to see Gelius heading to enter the bubble and a malicious smile was painted on her face as if she expects what will happen after a short while.
## Rivalry Ignited
After moments Gelius entered the bubble while stepping with arrogant slow steps stepping on the bodies of the soldiers cast upon the ground without care as if they are nothing but stones in his path. His gazes were full of vanity and his inner voice was repeating that he is the highest and that no one deserves looking at him from below.
Arius raised his eyes toward him with absolute coldness a deadly gaze drowned in darkness as if it mixes between deep hatred and silent ignition. He rose from his place quietly his dust scattering with every movement from him until he settled standing in the face of Gelius who approached him with an excess of confidence.
Gelius said in a condescending tone "You newcomer… you are not as bad as I used to think. To fell all these formidable numbers alone… this is an excellent achievement for a fighter of the second class."
Arius's features changed for a moment as he felt a direct insult from his words. He raised his head slowly and looked at him with a rigid gaze and said in a cold voice devoid of emotion "Thank you for this praise… from a fighter whom I consider at the level of my soldiers."
Gelius's eye trembled and features of suppressed anger appeared upon him. He said with frowning and disdain "What did you say just now? Do you know who I am originally?"
Arius replied while pretending calmness observing his opponent with a half-closed eye "And who are you 'your presence'?"
Gelius smiled maliciously and said with a despicable pride "I am the first fighter in the First World. The supreme commander of Lady Nahira's armies. The right hand she relies on in everything. As for you newcomer you are nothing but a small soldier to us."
Arius smiled a sarcastic smile not devoid of madness then said in a biting tone "A soldier? Yes… but I am a soldier to your mother."
The hall froze for seconds before the fires of anger ignited in Gelius's eyes to shout "What did you say you rascal?!"
And in a single moment he rushed with a legendary speed to the extent that the air itself compressed behind him and struck Arius with a crushing punch that sent him flying through the internal space of the bubble to collide with the ground causing a powerful shaking in the entire arena.
The assistant watched the scene and said with anxiety "My lady shall we stop them?"
But Nahira did not raise even an eyebrow rather she said with a cold smile while leaning on her throne "Sit… the real fun has begun now."
And at the bottom Arius rose from the rubble slowly passing his hand over his face where he received the punch then said in an angry tone "Damn it… it seems that you do not like joking you rogue."
He disappeared suddenly with a speed that made the air vibrate around him then appeared beside Gelius like a deadly flash and dealt him a crushing blow. But Gelius remedied the situation in the last moment and raised his arm to block it so his feet retreated slightly to the back.