Morning arrived peacefully over Planet Kael'Ar.
Soft rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains of Tessandra's home as the world slowly awakened. Birds sang outside the windows, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh grass through the quiet neighborhood.
Tessandra slowly opened her eyes.
Still drowsy, she blinked a few times before instinctively looking toward the chair beside her bed.
Someone was already sitting there.
John. He was no longer wearing his black suit or mask.
Instead, his long blue hair rested neatly over his shoulders, swaying gently with the morning breeze flowing through the slightly open window. His ocean-blue eyes calmly overlooked the sunrise while a cup of tea rested in one hand. The peaceful expression on his face made him appear almost regal.
Tessandra stared at him for several seconds before speaking.
"How long have you been here?"
John calmly sipped his tea before answering.
"I got here before sunrise."
He stood from the chair and casually walked toward the window.
With one smooth motion, he opened it completely.
Warm sunlight immediately poured into the room, illuminating everything inside and forcing Tessandra to shield her eyes.
Without another word, John walked toward the door.
"Get up, Tess. Come to the living room."
Tessandra sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
After John left the room, she slowly climbed out of bed, changed into fresh clothes, and made her way downstairs. The living room was quiet.
John sat beside the large window overlooking the garden, one arm resting casually against the chair while the morning wind gently blew through his long blue hair.
For a brief moment…Tessandra simply stood there. She couldn't help staring. John noticed immediately.
A small smile formed across his face.
"Thanks but snap out of it. I'm trying to tell you something."
He casually picked up an apple from the table, took a bite, and continued.
"There's a group of beings coming to Kael'Ar."
Tessandra's expression immediately became serious.
"Humans from a different planet?"
John thought for a moment before nodding slightly.
"You could see it like that…Some of them are from nearby universes. Others came from much farther away."
Tessandra folded her arms.
"So…Are they here to destroy Kael'Ar?"
John looked at her.
"Destroy?"
He suddenly laughed.
"No. They can't destroy Kael'Ar. No matter what they try."
His smile remained calm.
"Because he is here."
Tessandra tilted her head.
"Who is he?"
John answered without hesitation.
"My creator."
Before Tessandra could ask another question—
A portal quietly opened in the middle of the living room.
Alzwalt stepped through first.
Britanya followed beside him.
Alzwalt smiled brightly.
"Hey, bro…Hey, sis."
The two of them took seats nearby.
Alzwalt leaned back comfortably.
"I brought Brit so she could know too."
Tessandra looked back toward John.
"Your creator?"
John nodded.
"Yes. Alzwalt and I weren't born normally like everyone else. We were manifested into existence. We're opposites."
He pointed toward himself.
"I am the shadow of my creator."
He then gestured toward Alzwalt.
"Alzwalt is the light."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"While he is everything…and the unknown."
Britanya blinked several times.
"I don't understand."
Tessandra looked equally confused.
"So…You were born from magic?"
John slowly shook his head.
"No…Magic doesn't last long. It serves for a time."
He leaned back in his chair.
"We're real people. We have independent thoughts, We experience emotions. We're no different from humans…We simply exist on another plane."
His voice remained calm.
"We're called…Absolute Conceptual Beings."
At that exact moment a familiar voice interrupted the conversation.
"Seems like everyone's gathered."
Everyone instinctively turned.
Arata was already sitting in a chair in front of them.
No portal had opened. No one had sensed him arrive. It was as though…He had been sitting there the entire time.
John and Alzwalt immediately stood.
"Creator."
Arata smiled casually.
"How's it been?"
He stood before walking toward Tessandra. He extended his hand. She instinctively shook it.
He then turned toward Britanya and shook hers as well before calmly returning to his seat.
Tessandra blinked.
"You're the boss of Hoshigawa?"
Arata's eyes lit up with genuine excitement.
"Yes. That's right, I am a restaurant owner."
He leaned back comfortably.
"So…Let's get down to the main topic."
The atmosphere instantly became serious.
"There are twelve beings currently approaching Kael'Ar. They are the Circuit users of the First Circuit Being Era."
He calmly folded his hands.
"Some of them aren't enemies but the majority…will wage war."
His crimson eyes swept across everyone in the room.
"So make sure you're at your strongest when they land."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"But before they arrive…I'll take every land where humanity currently lives…and store it inside a safe dimension. They won't find it. I'll place every human into a state of sleep. They won't notice anything."
Britanya stared at him.
"Is that really possible?"
Arata looked directly at her.
"Princess Britanya…All things are possible for me."
He stood from his chair.
"You all can do whatever you want. Fight to your hearts' content. No innocent person will be around."
A portal silently appeared beside him.
Before stepping through, Arata looked back one final time.
"Oh Tess…Kaelen and his friends are on their way here. I trained them while you all were on Zerathis. They're all now true Stage Seven Circuit Masters. They'll also be part of this fight."
With those final words…Arata stepped through the portal. It closed behind him. Silence filled the living room.
Several moments passed before Tessandra finally looked toward John.
"Who is he…really?"
John smiled softly as he gazed out the window.
"My creator, The Unknown, The beginning…and the end."
Alzwalt suddenly burst into laughter.
"I can see the similarities between you and him, John. That regal attitude…It's inherited, I tell you."
Britanya immediately kicked his foot beneath the table.
"Shut up. You're like that too."
Alzwalt rubbed his foot while pouting.
John simply continued looking outside. Tessandra quietly walked over before wrapping her arms around his back.
Her voice became gentle.
"No matter if you were manifested or born…you'll always be my John."
John slowly turned to face her.
Their eyes met. For a brief moment…Neither of them spoke.
Then a loud rumble echoed from outside. The front door opened. Kaelen stood at the entrance.
He looked inside before smiling awkwardly.
"Hey, everyone…Am I interrupting?"
Behind him, Jess, Denma, Gene, Faith, Kimotsu, and Kaelven all walked through the doorway.
The very instant they stepped inside Tessandra pointed toward the entrance with narrowed eyes.
"Take off your shoes!"
The hero's felt a sudden chill ran down their spines.