Dark's eyes shot open, and he immediately felt the weight of the world pressing down on him. His breathing was heavy, uneven. For a moment, everything around him was a blur—a cacophony of indistinct sounds and flashes of muted color. He blinked rapidly, forcing his mind to focus.
He was lying on a cracked wooden floor. The faint smell of mildew and dust hung in the air, and the distant hum of something mechanical reached his ears. The room was dimly lit, with weak sunlight filtering through torn curtains. It wasn't Exodus. It wasn't the glowing realm of spires and crystalline monstrosities.
It was his world.
Dark: (thinking, panicked) No... wait. This isn't right. Is this...?
He sat up abruptly, clutching his head. A sharp ache lanced through his skull, and fragments of memory flooded back. The battle with the Luminescent Titan, the explosion, the overwhelming light. Then... nothing.
Dark: (thinking, disoriented) Was that real? Or just another trick?
His crimson eyes scanned the room. It was small, claustrophobic even. The faded wallpaper peeled away in jagged strips, and the faint creak of footsteps echoed from somewhere above him. He reached instinctively for Kyuketsu, and the blade materialized in his hand, its familiar weight grounding him.
Dark: (thinking, gripping the blade tightly) At least this is real.
The sound of hurried footsteps grew louder, and the door to the room creaked open. Dark spun around, his stance immediately defensive, shadows swirling faintly around him.
Cron stood in the doorway, his expression a mix of shock and relief.
Cron: You're awake. Took you long enough.
Dark stared at him, his grip on Kyuketsu tightening.
Dark: Cron? What the hell is going on? Where am I?
Cron stepped inside, holding up his hands in a placating gesture.
Cron: Relax, man. You're home. Back in our world. Took us a while to find you after... whatever the hell that was.
Dark: (thinking, skeptical) Home? After everything...?
Dark's eyes narrowed, scanning Cron for any sign of deception. But Cron looked genuine—exhausted, but genuine. Slowly, Dark lowered Kyuketsu, though the blade remained in his hand.
Dark: (coldly) Start talking. What happened?
Cron sighed, running a hand through his hair as he leaned against the wall.
Cron: We all got pulled back. Me, Tier, Leona, Gilmuar—everyone. Whatever that explosion was, it wiped the slate clean. The system's gone. The timelines... they're back to normal.
Dark's heart sank. Gone. That meant Lara was still out there, in a timeline he couldn't reach. He forced himself to stay calm, his voice sharp.
Dark: And Vorax?
Cron shook his head.
Cron: Gone too. Whatever bond you had, it's been severed. You're on your own now.
Dark clenched his fist, his knuckles whitening around Kyuketsu's hilt. The blade pulsed faintly, as if responding to his anger.
Dark: (thinking, furious) Back to square one. No system. No Vorax. Just me.
Cron: (carefully) Look, I get that you're pissed. We all are. But at least we're alive. And we've got a chance to fix things.
Dark: (snapping) Fix what, Cron? Everything's broken. Lara's still out there, and I'm stuck here.
Cron flinched but didn't back down.
Cron: (firmly) Then we figure out how to get to her. Together.
Dark turned away, his gaze falling to the floor. The anger in his chest burned hot, but it was tempered by the weight of Cron's words. Together. He hadn't been alone for two years, not really. The others had been there, fighting alongside him, even when he tried to push them away.
Dark: (quietly) Where are the others?
Cron nodded toward the stairs.
Cron: Upstairs. They've been waiting for you to wake up. Thought you were done for after how bad you looked when we found you.
Dark didn't respond. He sheathed Kyuketsu, the blade disappearing into the void as he stepped past Cron and made his way upstairs. The wooden steps creaked under his weight, the sound echoing in the quiet house.
When he reached the top, he found Tier, Leona, and Gilmuar sitting in the cramped living room. Leona glanced up first, her eyes widening slightly before a smirk crossed her lips.
Leona: Well, look who finally decided to join the living.
Gilmuar snorted, leaning back in his chair.
Gilmuar: Thought we'd have to start planning your funeral.
Tier stood, his expression more serious.
Tier: You alright? You've been out for almost a week.
Dark ignored their comments, his crimson eyes scanning the room.
Dark: (bluntly) Where's Lara?
The room fell silent. Leona shifted uncomfortably, and Cron, who had followed Dark upstairs, cleared his throat.
Cron: She's... not here.
Dark's gaze snapped to him, his voice cold and sharp.
Dark: What do you mean, not here?
Cron hesitated, glancing at Tier for support. Tier stepped forward, his voice calm but firm.
Tier: She didn't make it back with us. Whatever happened with the timelines, she's still... out there. In her world.
Dark's jaw tightened, and the shadows around him flickered faintly.
Dark: (thinking) Still out there. Waiting. Alone.
Leona: (softly) Dark... we'll figure it out. We always do.
Dark didn't respond. His mind raced, his thoughts consumed by the image of Lara's face. He had promised himself he'd find her, no matter what. And now, more than ever, that promise burned in his chest.
Dark: (quietly) I need some air.
Before anyone could stop him, Dark turned and made his way to the balcony. The cool night air hit him as he stepped outside, the city lights stretching out before him. He gripped the railing tightly, his crimson eyes burning with determination.
Dark: (thinking) I don't care how long it takes. I'll break through time, space, and reality if I have to. I'll find you, Lara. I swear it.
Dark: And you Cosmic, Oh you are in for a ride. A journey on how I will find Lara and bring her into our world. I'll show you.
The shadows around him coiled like living things, and Kyuketsu pulsed faintly at his side. The fight wasn't over. It had only just begun.
Two months later...
Dark stood atop the longest tower on Earth, his crimson eyes surveying the endless expanse below. The world stretched out beneath him like a canvas of chaos and beauty. His cloak billowed in the wind, the weight of his power coursing through him like an unending storm.
Dark: Alright. Time to test how much I've grown in just two months...
His right hand moved to the side, gripping the Kyuketsu as it materialized in its katana form. The blade gleamed with a dark aura, the essence of shadow and mystery imbued in its core. He unsheathed it in one smooth motion, the metallic hum resonating through the air.
Dark exhaled, centering himself. He raised the blade dramatically, his stance firm as he focused on the energy around him. With a single, powerful slash, he sliced the air in front of him.
Nothing.
Dark: (thinking, annoyed) Still not enough.
He repeated the motion, pouring more of his strength into each strike. Again, nothing.
Dark: (muttering) Come on...
With determination tightening his grip, he slashed again. And again. And again. Each motion precise, powerful, but yielding no result.
Dark: (thinking, frustrated) Two months of training, and still...
But then, as his patience thinned and his resolve sharpened, he swung the Kyuketsu once more, pouring everything into the strike. The air trembled. A tear appeared—a rift of swirling darkness, crackling with shadow and energy. The void shimmered like a portal into the unknown.
Dark smirked, his eyes glinting with satisfaction.
Dark: (thinking) Finally.
Without hesitation, he stepped through the rift.
The other side opened to the familiar grounds of Halewick Academy. Dark found himself just outside the sprawling campus, the building's ancient stone architecture radiating familiarity and nostalgia. He scanned the area and froze. There, on a bench beneath a tall oak tree, sat Lara. Her shoulders were hunched, her hands covering her face as soft sobs shook her frame.
Dark: (softly) Lara?
At the sound of his voice, she froze. Slowly, she lowered her hands, her teary eyes locking onto him. Her expression shifted from sorrow to shock, then to anger.
Lara: No... no, no, you are not Dark. You can't be him. Go away!
She stood abruptly, stepping back as if the sight of him was a cruel hallucination. Dark's heart twisted at the sight, but he stepped closer, his tone calm yet firm.
Dark: Lara. It's me.
She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Lara: You disappeared! You're gone! You... you can't just show up now like this!
Dark: Look at me. It's really me.
His voice carried a weight of conviction, and for a moment, she hesitated. Her gaze locked onto his, searching for the truth. And then she saw it—the fire in his crimson eyes, the essence of the Dark she knew.
Lara: (whispering) Dark?
Before he could say anything more, she ran to him. Her arms wrapped tightly around him, her face burying into his chest as her sobs returned, this time with relief. Dark held her close, one hand resting gently on her back, the other cradling the back of her head.
Dark: (softly) I'm here. I'm not going anywhere.
They stood like that for a moment, the world around them fading away. Dark whispered soothing words, his voice steady, grounding her as she clung to him.
Dark: (gently) Come with me. There's something I want to show you.
Lara nodded, wiping her tears as Dark turned back to the rift. He extended a hand, and she hesitated for only a moment before taking it. Together, they stepped through.
The world on the other side was breathtaking. Towering cities of crystalline structures shimmered under a glowing sky, vibrant with streaks of purple and gold. Rivers of light weaved through the landscape, and the air itself seemed to hum with life and energy.
Lara gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as her wide eyes took in the spectacle.
Lara: (whispering) This... this is where you've been?
Dark: (nodding) Welcome to my world.
Lara turned to him, her expression a mixture of awe and disbelief.
Lara: It's... beautiful. I've never seen anything like this.
Dark smiled faintly, guiding her forward.
Dark: Come on. There's more to see.
He led her to Tier's home, a sprawling structure nestled within the luminous cityscape. Inside, familiar faces awaited. Tier, Cron, Gilmuar, and Leona were gathered in the living room, their casual chatter halting the moment Dark and Lara stepped inside.
Cron: (grinning) Well, well. Look who decided to show up.
Tier: (smirking) And he brought company.
Leona's gaze immediately landed on Lara, her expression darkening. The faint flicker of jealousy was unmistakable, though she said nothing.
Lara, overwhelmed but excited, clung to Dark's arm.
Dark: (calmly) Everyone, this is Lara.
Lara: (shy smile) Hi... it's nice to meet all of you.
Tier: (grinning) Nice to meet you, too. Any friend of Dark's is a friend of ours.
Cron: (nodding) Welcome.
Leona remained silent, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall, her gaze fixed on Lara with a mix of curiosity and resentment.
Dark guided Lara to the couch, sitting down beside her. She rested her head on his shoulder, her body relaxing as the unfamiliar tension of the day began to fade.
Dark: (softly) You're safe here. With me.
Lara looked up at him, her eyes glistening with gratitude.
Lara: (whispering) Thank you.
As the night wore on, the room filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation. Eventually, Cron and Tier found themselves distracted by a game of cards, while Gilmuar shared one of his many stories.
Meanwhile, on the couch, Dark and Lara were lost in their own world. They cuddled close, their voices hushed as they shared quiet moments. Dark kissed her forehead gently, his fingers tracing idle patterns along her arm.
Leona, sitting across the room, clenched her fists, her jaw tightening as she watched them. The sight of Dark with Lara was a painful reminder of the feelings she harbored but could never express.
Cron: (calling out) Hey, Dark! You're gonna join the next round or what?
Dark glanced over, a faint smirk on his lips.
Dark: Maybe later.
Cron rolled his eyes, laughing as he returned to the game.
For now, Dark stayed where he was, his focus entirely on Lara. The world outside could wait. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to savor the moment.
End Of Arc 3 Chapter 14.