After a few seconds he stopped and closed his mouth.
That had to kill him, he thought.
The cave was still covered in smoke.
"It was luck that you survived Kazanari" yelled Draqueth.
"My Dad's waiting for me out there. And I can't fail him!" screamed Kaito jumping up on his head.
"Can't kill me if you can't see," yelled Kaito stabbing his eyes.
He screamed in pain.
Kaito went towards the pillar and started running up.
He was halfway up now.
He's healing his eyes, thought Kaito as he looked down.
He had finally climbed up the pillar.
On the stone, there was some writing in an ancient language with the shape of a hand chiseled next to it.
I think I have to put my hand here, thought Kaito as he placed his hand on it.
What's... Happening? he thought as he stared in awe.
The Ember floated upwards, out of the stone with white fog swirling around it.
He reached his hand out to get it.
The Ember burst into flames.
He was suddenly startled by the sound of wings flapping behind him.
Draqueth had arrived up there.
"How? How'd you make it work?! Did it recognize your lineage? Is that it?! Well it doesn't matter because I'm gonna kill you-"
Kaito grabbed the Ember.
There was a huge explosion of white light.
It was big and destructive, but was surprisingly quiet.
Draqueth fell to the ground.
Kaito wasn't affected.
A rumbling could be heard across the entire Pocket Realm.
Kaito rushed down the pillar.
"It's dying," groaned Draqueth.
Kaito ignored him and ran straight towards the tunnel.
Rocks and stones started falling all around them.
"The Pocket Realm is dying damn it!" barked Draqueth, chasing Kaito through the tunnel. "And it's all your fault!"
I'm almost there, thought Kaito, tightening his grip on the Ember.
He finally went through the Realm Gate.
He looked behind.
"No don't leave me here! I'm gonna die!" yelled Draqueth.
He morphed into a large snake and started slithering out of the tunnel.
"This isn't the end... Kazanari," he exclaimed.
His head made it out of the Realm Gate, but before Kaito could react, the cave and the tunnel both collapsed and the Realm Gate fell apart.
His head separated from his body which still remained inside the dead Pocket Realm.
Kaito stood there, shocked.
He died because of me. I killed someone. I'm a murderer, he thought.
He stood there for a while, before returning to his father.
His father had wrapped a ripped sleeve from his shirt around his wound.
He was sitting under a tree's shade, waiting for his son.
"Here Dad. Your legacy," said Kaito to his father, handing him the Ember.
"No son," he pushed it back. "It's your destiny."
"I'm proud of you son," his father smiled.
"Thank you Dad," said Kaito, embracing the ownership of the Ember.
Kaito finally finished telling his story to Harry and King Midas.
For a moment, neither Harry nor King Midas spoke.
"That's a lot for a kid. And I'm sorry about your father," said King Midas.
"Huh? You really expect me to believe this? So you fought an ancient magical demon, who could heal himself by the way, to the death and took his flaming sword? And all this happened when you were 12!?" said Harry sarcastically.
"Yes," replied Kaito.
"And how'd you escape that island?" asked Harry.
"We took the ship and went straight ahead till we could get signals to reach out for help. After we contacted someone, the EIA came in with helicopters and took us."
"Didn't they see your sword?" questioned Harry.
"Before they arrived, my father told me to drop the sword in the ocean so they don't find it. After all, I can summon it back at will."
"And what'd you tell them huh? That you fought a demon?" continued Harry.
"We just told them that we were kidnapped by some men from the Helix Foundation but managed to escape. They treated my father but unfortunately, he was now wheelchair bound for the rest of his life. Then they took us back home but told us to never speak of this incident."
"So why'd you come fight the Beast?" said Harry.
"I started spending my time catching criminals and bringing them to justice. And I wore a cloak to conceal my identity. One day, I heard about the massacre of Aurelia. And when the Beast struck again, I knew I had to help."
"What about you Midas? You're telling me the King didn't know about the Helix Foundation business? Oh and wait a second. Didn't you hand over the Beast to them?" Harry confronted King Midas.
"I actually didn't know anything about this. Nothing was reported to me. And this is unusual because the EIA is told to report anything major to me. Yet they didn't. This means there's a traitor at work," replied King Midas.
"And listen to me Harry. I'll let you go free on one condition. You use Harry Corporation's profits to rebuild the city and the damage you caused. You'll help the people of the city. And most importantly, you'll help me catch Helix Foundation. Deal?" continued King Midas.
"Fine. Deal. Now unlock my handcuffs," demanded Harry.
King Midas's finger turned to gold and morphed into a key.
He used it to unlock Harry's handcuffs.
"That's freaky," taunted Harry.
"King Midas. Can I also help?" asked Kaito. "I hate them too. After all, they hurt my father."
"Sure Kaito. It'd be my pleasure," answered King Midas.
"Hold on a second. Why does the King need help from two 15 year olds? This is weird," said Harry.
"There is a traitor among me. He will most likely try to stop me from finding the truth. With your technology and Kaito's experience with the Helix Foundation, we can put an end to them. Fate has brought us together for a reason Harry," replied King Midas.
"I don't think that fate is a good name for the Beast," said Harry jokingly.
"The Beast isn't something to joke about Harry," replied Kaito.
"Kaito's right," said King Midas.
"Tough crowd," commented Harry.
The Gold Eagle had now landed at the Royal Palace.
— Arc End —