But—
Suddenly…
Someone grabbed him.
------------------------------
And shouted in a piercing voice:
"Worry about yourself first!"
------------------------------
Kim…
Had lost consciousness.
------------------------------
The man gritted his teeth hard.
"Damn it… The Metorados…"
------------------------------
Then—
He manifested a platform beneath his feet.
To stop his fall into the void.
------------------------------
And suddenly—
The sound of clapping.
------------------------------
From above.
------------------------------
A girl appeared.
One of the followers of the Holy Light.
------------------------------
She looked at him with a cold smile.
"What is an 'Exalted' person… doing here?"
------------------------------
"Leave the boy… now."
------------------------------
Before he could answer—
Space itself cracked behind her.
------------------------------
And there appeared…
More than fifty people.
------------------------------
The Children of Light.
------------------------------
The man said to her:
"Leave him to me."
"I don't care what you say."
------------------------------
She scrutinized him.
"These are… the Mother's instructions."
------------------------------
Rage surged in his eyes.
And across his face.
------------------------------
He spoke slowly:
"Do not make me… repeat myself."
"Do you understand… Alonsa?"
------------------------------
But she interrupted him:
"We left him with several men."
"And they said he caused massive losses…"
"And killed many."
------------------------------
"I am sorry, Amon…"
"If you do not leave him…"
"You will die… and so will he."
------------------------------
Then—
------------------------------
He laughed.
------------------------------
A laugh…
Loud.
Dark.
------------------------------
Terror struck their hearts.
------------------------------
His laughter alone…
Was enough.
------------------------------
He raised his foot—
And struck the platform beneath him.
------------------------------
In an instant—
A world manifested.
------------------------------
Encompassing everyone.
------------------------------
He said in a terrifying voice:
"Alonsa…"
------------------------------
"Have you forgotten… my title?"
------------------------------
"I was…"
"The Harbinger of Doom."
------------------------------
"Do you want me…"
"To remind you… of my power?"
------------------------------
Everyone trembled.
------------------------------
And they fell…
To the ground.
------------------------------
Simply—
From the weight of his presence.
------------------------------
Then he said:
"Go back…"
"And tell Rona…"
------------------------------
"That he is with me."
------------------------------
"In my First World."
------------------------------
"And if she wants him…"
"Let her come."
------------------------------
He opened a portal.
------------------------------
And stepped through.
------------------------------
Amon…
Had reached him.
------------------------------
Despite everything Kim had said to him…
Despite the harsh words…
------------------------------
He never left him.
------------------------------
Never.
------------------------------
In the end…
A true friend…
Does not walk away.
---