Rage surged through Saruto chest. In an instant, he sped forward, appearing before Bianca before anyone could react. He seized her by the neck, lifting her off the ground, his violet eyes blazing with fury.
"What are you saying?!" he hissed, his voice laced with anger and pain. "My mother died when I was five! And my father died only a week ago! And I never had a sister... ever!"
Sebastian and Judith moved instantly, ready to pounce and pull him away from her, but Bianca screamed at them, "Stop it!"
They froze. Though her breath came in ragged gasps, Bianca looked up at Saruto and said in a steady voice, "You look like my brother. You have the same last name. Your Darkness energy... is the same as mine. Even our parents' names are the same."
She paused, then added, "But unlike you, my parents died almost two years ago."
Saruto body stiffened. "What... are you saying?"
Deep down, Void voice echoed: "Calm down, Saroto. Leave her alone… and let's hear her story. Remember, ever since we entered the gate Darius opened… everything changed."
Saruto breath trembled, then he slowly loosened his grip. He lowered Bianca to her feet. "…I'm sorry," he said softly. "I lost control. Now… tell me everything."
Sebastian and Judith stepped forward. "Commander," Sebastian said anxiously, "how can you trust him?"
"At least… let me examine his mind," Judith added. "Let's see if he's lying… or telling the truth."
"What—" Bianca cried out.
But Saroto cut her off. "Well…" "Examine my mind if you wish."
Then, in a warning tone, he added, "But I am not responsible for what might happen to you inside… so be careful."
Judith scoffed at his words, stepped forward, placed her hand on his head, and her energy surged forth, seeping into his consciousness. Judith fell into an endless black void. No earth… no sky… no sound. She whispered in astonishment, "Why is his consciousness… so quiet?" Who is this person?
She moved forward until she reached what seemed to be the heart of consciousness. A giant black tree, its leaves glowing purple, threads of light dangling from them, each leaf bearing a memory. "The memory center…" she said.
She reached out to examine one of them, and suddenly, a deadly sensation overwhelmed her. She fell to her knees, gasping for breath, a crushing weight pressing down on her body. With difficulty, she raised her head and saw him. A colossal black dragon, its scales dark, its eyes violet, filling the horizon. "W-who are you?!" she gasped.
The dragon exhaled a smoky breath, its voice booming, "What insolence! I'm the one who should be asking that question."
Judith knew her end was near. But suddenly, another figure appeared between them. "Void… be gentle with her," he said in a quiet voice.
She turned and saw Saruto. "Who… is this dragon?" she asked, bewildered.
"He is my brother," Saruto replied. "Void."
"Come on, Void…greet our guest," he said, smiling.
Void transformed into a hybrid form and stood beside Saruto. "Hello…I'm Void. And I apologize for what I did to you earlier."
Judith calmed down. "I accept your apology," she said.
Then she thought, "This boy…is not the Emperor. I've entered the Emperor's consciousness before…and there was no dragon. Nor this stillness…nor these memories."
She raised her head toward the tree. "Aren't you going to look at the memories?" Saruto asked.
She shook her head. "No need. I've confirmed that you're not the Emperor."
Beginning to fade, Judith opened her eyes. "Have you figured anything out?" Bianca asked.
"Yes," she answered firmly. "He's not the Emperor."
A stunned silence, mixed with some doubt, hung in the air. No one dared argue; Judith was the oracle and patron saint of the rebels. After a few moments, the rebels began apologizing to Saruto. He laughed and said, "It's alright… I accept your apologies."
The charges against him were dropped. "And me?!" cried Gene from the platform. "Have you forgotten about me?! Let me go!"
They laughed and released him. Afterward, Saruto sat in a private hall with Bianca and the four leaders. "We've confirmed that you're not the Emperor," Bianca said. "But… where did you come from?"
"I came from the Dark Kingdom," Saruto replied. "My friends—Lucian, Rhyn, and Kyle—and I fought against someone who attacked our kingdoms. During the fight, we were pulled through gates and separated. When I awoke… I was here."
"Did you hear that?" Andrew exclaimed in surprise. "He mentioned the three kings."
"Do you know my companions?" Saruto asked.
"You mean… the Ice King, the Dragon King, and the Storm King?" Bianca said.
"Yes," he said.
Silence fell. "They were killed," Bianca whispered.
"What?!" Saruto froze.
"A year ago," Bianca continued. "They fought the Emperor… and were no match for him. They were killed by him."
"Impossible!" Saruto cried. "We were separated from my friends just two days ago!"
Everyone was taken aback. Saruto began to analyze everything they had said, and after a few moments of silence, he said, "It seems I've... been transported to another world."
"What do you mean?" asked Taios.
"The events I've experienced... contradict everything you're saying."
Suddenly, he remembered something. When he was at the gate, he had heard Umbra say, "Saruto, now you will enter the second test."
"Do you know someone named Umbra?" he quickly asked.
Everyone was surprised except Bianca. She paled and said, "That name... Two years ago, I heard my brother say, 'I accept the pact... just give me your power, O Ruler Umbra.'"
Saruto eyes widened. "So... this isn't a coincidence. And this world... is another test from Umbra."