The clearing became quiet.
Not awkward quiet.
Focused quiet.
The kind that happened before something important.
The stage had already been repaired.
Everyone had settled in.
The excitement from the tournament announcement still lingered in the air.
Top four.
Voidspire.
Team captain.
And now—
the final unofficial match.
Arthur Ravenheart stepped onto the stage, he had been waiting for a while month to finally get his hands on sunny because of all the trash talking and beef that has been going on.
Across from him—
Sunny walked forward calmly.
No weapons.
No dramatic aura.
No speeches.
Arthur rolled his shoulders once.
Sunny adjusted his sleeves.
Alex stood with Lucas near the edge.
Tom watched quietly.
Layla looked strangely tense.
Alexi crossed her arms.
Rivien had somehow created a paper banner.
Nobody questioned it.
Arthur looked at Sunny.
"…Ready?"
Sunny nodded.
"…Try not to almost die."
Arthur smiled faintly.
"No promises."
Then—
they stepped forward.
Slowly.
Not rushing.
The atmosphere changed.
Nobody understood why at first.
Arthur reached out.
Sunny did too.
Not an attack.
Just—
a light contact.
Like fighters greeting before a match.
Their hands touched.
And—
everything stopped.
Arthur froze.
Sunny froze.
The air went silent.
Too silent.
Their eyes widened.
Not from pain.
Recognition.
Suddenly—
they weren't on the stage anymore.
—
Black.
Endless black.
But not empty.
Arthur recognized it instantly.
That place.
That place again.
The endless dark he had seen while unconscious.
Except—
this time—
he wasn't alone.
Someone stood nearby.
Sunny.
Sunny looked around once.
Then looked at Arthur.
Neither spoke.
Because in front of them—
something impossible appeared.
Two enormous silhouettes.
Too large to fully understand.
Not bodies.
Not faces.
More like—
presences.
One was surrounded by endless black that moved like flowing shadows.
Silent.
Watching.
The other—
looked unfinished.
As if reality itself had not fully decided what it was supposed to be.
Shapes forming.
Breaking.
Reforming.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Yet somehow—
both Arthur and Sunny understood one thing immediately.
Those things…
were looking at them.
Then—
a voice.
Not heard.
Felt.
Calm.
Ancient.
—
"So."
—
Silence.
Then another.
Different.
—
"You finally met."
—
Arthur's eyes widened.
Sunny's expression changed for the first time.
Neither answered.
The first presence shifted slightly.
—
"Too early."
—
The second answered.
—
"Agreed."
—
Arthur stepped slightly forward instinctively.
The black around him stirred.
Sunny immediately frowned.
Something felt wrong.
Like they weren't supposed to be here.
Like they had opened a door accidentally.
Then—
both voices spoke together.
—
"Return."
—
The world shattered.
—
Back in Greenmire—
Arthur and Sunny hadn't moved.
Less than two seconds had passed.
Everyone was watching.
Then—
both of them blinked.
Stared at each other.
And immediately collapsed.
THUD.
THUD.
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Alex stood up instantly.
"…WHAT."
Lucas froze.
"…No way."
Layla's eyes widened.
"ARTHUR?!"
Alexi immediately ran forward.
Sunny was unconscious.
Arthur too.
Neither injured.
Neither reacting.
Rivien slowly lowered his banner.
"…Okay."
A pause.
"…That's concerning."
Tom stared quietly.
Then narrowed his eyes.
His expression changed.
Because for a brief second—
just before they collapsed—
he had seen something.
Not clearly.
But enough.
A faint black ripple.
And for the first time in a while—
Tom looked unsettled.
The captain match ended before it even began.
And nobody understood why.
Two days passed.
The house that had slowly become loud and alive again had turned quiet.
Too quiet.
No training.
No tournament.
No arguments.
No Rivien announcements.
Well—
fewer Rivien announcements.
Because for the first day he had tried explaining the incident with diagrams.
Nobody understood them.
The only thing everyone agreed on—
Arthur and Sunny were fine.
Physically.
No injuries.
No strange marks.
No damage.
They just… wouldn't wake up.
Alex checked.
Tom checked.
Layla checked.
Even Lucas quietly checked once.
Nothing.
Just unconscious.
Again.
Which Arthur was starting to gain a reputation for.
---
Inside—
Arthur opened his eyes.
Except—
he didn't.
Because there was nothing.
No room.
No bed.
No ceiling.
Only black.
Endless black.
No sound.
No temperature.
No feeling.
Arthur stood there.
Or maybe floated.
He couldn't tell.
Silence.
He looked around slowly.
Nothing.
Then—
a voice.
Low.
Far.
Calm.
—
"Arthur…"
—
Arthur froze.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Who's there?"
No response.
Only silence.
Then—
again.
Closer.
—
"Arthur…"
—
Arthur turned.
Nothing.
No one.
His heartbeat picked up.
His voice echoed strangely.
"…Who are you?"
Silence.
Then—
something appeared.
Far away.
At first—
just two red lights.
Then—
a shape.
Black.
Humanoid.
Standing still.
Watching.
Its body looked incomplete.
Like darkness had taken the shape of a person.
Its eyes burned red.
Not angry.
Not cruel.
Just—
there.
Arthur stared.
The figure stared back.
No movement.
Then—
it spoke.
—
"Arthur…"
—
Arthur took a step back.
"…What are you?"
The figure tilted its head.
No answer.
Instead—
it slowly raised one hand.
Then—
the voice exploded.
—
"ARTHUR!!"
—
Arthur jolted awake.
His body shot upright immediately.
His breathing became uneven.
His eyes widened.
The room snapped into focus.
Blanket.
Window.
Ceiling.
His room.
Morning.
Arthur blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then looked around.
"…What…"
His chest rose and fell quickly.
His head hurt.
Not painfully.
Just…
heavy.
Arthur touched his face.
Real.
He looked at his hands.
Then whispered:
"…Who was that?"
Silence.
Then—
memory returned.
Stage.
Sunny.
Touch.
Black.
Collapse.
Arthur's eyes widened.
"…Wait."
He looked around again.
"…What happened?"
The door opened instantly.
Layla walked in—
and immediately froze.
Arthur stared.
Layla stared.
Her eyes widened.
Then—
"HE'S AWAKE."
The entire house exploded.
Footsteps.
People yelling.
Someone fell.
Rivien definitely screamed.
Arthur immediately regretted waking up.
---
Meanwhile—
another room.
Quiet.
Sunny slowly opened his eyes.
No jolt.
No panic.
Just—
slowly.
His vision blurred.
His head felt heavy.
His body felt strangely disconnected.
Sunny blinked.
Then closed his eyes again.
Opened them.
Still dizzy.
He sat up carefully.
Bad idea.
Immediate regret.
"…Ugh."
He rubbed his eyes.
Then stopped.
His hand paused.
His expression changed slightly.
Memory.
Black.
Arthur.
Voices.
Too early.
Sunny stared quietly.
Then muttered:
"…Weird."
He looked around.
Normal room.
Nothing unusual.
But something felt…
off.
Not outside.
Inside.
Like he remembered something important—
but only the outline.
Sunny stood slowly.
Immediately had to sit back down.
"…Okay."
Pause.
"…Maybe not."
Then—
he looked toward the door.
And quietly asked—
"…Did Arthur wake up too?"
Before anyone could answer—
he suddenly frowned.
Because for the briefest moment—
deep in the back of his mind—
he thought he heard something.
Not words.
Just—
a distant voice.
Then—
nothing.
Sunny looked away.
"…Probably nothing."
But for some reason—
he didn't believe that.
Arthur had been awake for approximately—
forty seconds.
And already regretted it.
The moment Layla announced it—
the room turned into chaos.
Footsteps.
Doors opening.
Someone nearly slipped.
Rivien definitely ran into a wall.
Within moments—
the room was full.
Alexi Ravenheart was first.
Immediately.
She practically appeared beside the bed.
Arthur blinked.
"…Hi?"
She looked at him for two seconds.
Then lightly hit his shoulder.
Arthur flinched.
"…OW."
Alexi stared.
"You scared everyone."
Arthur looked confused.
"…Sorry?"
That answer somehow made her more annoyed.
Behind her—
Kierran entered.
Lucas.
Alex.
Tom.
Layla.
Rivien.
Arthur's mother.
Even Sunny's room door could be heard opening somewhere down the hallway.
Arthur looked around.
Then slowly asked—
"…Why is everybody here?"
Silence.
Then everyone started talking.
"What happened?"
"Did you see anything?"
"Why did you collapse?"
"Are you okay?"
"Do you remember?"
"Did you eat something weird?"
Arthur looked horrified.
"…One at a time."
Nobody listened.
Eventually Alex raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
Alex looked at Arthur.
"…Start from when you touched Sunny."
Arthur blinked.
Then frowned.
His expression shifted.
He looked down.
"…I…"
The room became quieter.
Arthur thought for a second.
Then spoke slowly.
"…I touched Sunny."
Pause.
"…Then everything went black."
Layla frowned.
"…Black?"
Arthur nodded.
"…Not unconscious black."
His eyes narrowed.
"…A place."
Everyone listened.
Arthur continued.
"…There was nothing there."
His voice became quieter.
"…Then I saw…"
He stopped.
The room waited.
Arthur looked uncertain.
"…I saw something."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"…What?"
Arthur hesitated.
Then answered.
"…A figure."
Silence.
"…Black."
Another pause.
"…Red eyes."
The room became still.
Arthur looked uncomfortable now.
"…It called me."
Kierran blinked.
"…Called you?"
Arthur nodded slowly.
His expression tightened.
"…At first quietly."
He swallowed.
"…Then it shouted."
He looked down.
"…Then I woke up."
Nobody spoke.
Rivien slowly raised his hand.
"…Respectfully."
Everyone looked at him.
"…That sounds terrifying."
Arthur pointed.
"THANK YOU."
Tom watched quietly.
Too quietly.
Alex noticed.
"…Tom?"
Tom looked away.
"…Continue."
Arthur nodded.
"…That's all I remember."
Silence.
Then Lucas frowned.
"…That's weird."
Arthur immediately pointed.
"Exactly."
Layla looked at him.
"…Did it feel dangerous?"
Arthur thought.
Then frowned.
"…No."
Everyone looked surprised.
Arthur looked confused himself.
"…That's the weird part."
He looked at his hand.
"…I should've been scared."
A pause.
"…But I wasn't."
The room went quiet.
Then—
the door opened.
Everyone turned.
And stopped.
Sunny stood there.
Alive.
Awake.
Looking tired.
Very tired.
He looked like someone who got three hours of sleep and immediately regretted consciousness.
Sunny stood there for a second.
Then quietly said—
"…Why is everyone in here?"
Silence.
Arthur stared.
Sunny stared back.
The room became awkward immediately.
Then Rivien dramatically pointed.
"HE RETURNS."
Sunny looked at him.
"…Why are you like this?"
Rivien looked proud.
Sunny ignored him.
Then looked at Arthur.
Arthur looked at Sunny.
Long pause.
Then Sunny asked—
"…Did you see something?"
The room froze.
Arthur's eyes widened slightly.
"…You too?"
Sunny walked in slowly and sat down nearby.
Still dizzy.
He rubbed his forehead.
Then answered quietly—
"…I don't remember clearly."
He looked at Arthur.
"…But I remember black."
Silence.
Arthur stared.
Sunny continued.
"…And voices."
Nobody spoke.
Arthur slowly sat straighter.
"…What did they say?"
Sunny frowned.
Thinking.
Then—
his eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I don't remember."
A pause.
"…Only one thing."
Everyone waited.
Sunny looked directly at Arthur.
Then quietly said—
"…I think they said…"
He paused.
Then finished—
"…too early."
The room went silent.
Arthur froze.
Because—
that matched. The room became quiet again.
Not uncomfortable.
Thinking quiet.
Arthur sat still.
Sunny sat across from him.
Everyone else remained where they were.
Nobody joked.
Nobody interrupted.
Because now—
they had something.
Not answers.
But overlap.
Arthur looked at Sunny.
Sunny looked away first.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"…You heard voices too."
Sunny nodded once.
Arthur looked down.
"…And we both saw black."
Sunny nodded again.
Arthur leaned back.
The room stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then—
Layla slowly blinked.
Her expression changed.
She looked at Sunny.
Then at Arthur.
Then back at Sunny.
"…Wait."
Everyone turned.
Layla sat up straighter.
"…A few weeks ago."
Arthur looked at her.
"…What?"
Layla looked uncertain.
Then glanced at Sunny.
Sunny immediately knew.
His expression changed slightly.
Too late.
Kierran noticed.
"…What?"
Layla looked between them.
"…When Arthur was unconscious…"
Arthur frowned.
Layla continued slowly.
"…Kael explained some things."
Arthur straightened immediately.
"…Kael?"
Alex looked interested.
Tom opened one eye.
Layla nodded.
"…He explained… what he knew."
Sunny stayed quiet.
Layla noticed.
Then continued.
"…About dimensions."
Arthur frowned.
"…Dimensions?"
Lucas crossed his arms.
"…Here we go."
Layla nodded.
"…He said reality isn't whole."
The room quieted.
She continued.
"…He called them Fragments."
Arthur listened.
Layla folded her arms.
"…According to him… the Collapse wasn't random."
Arthur's expression shifted.
"…Go on."
Layla nodded.
"…Reality split."
She looked at everyone.
"…Different dimensions."
"…Different rules."
"…Different outcomes."
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
Layla continued.
"…One of them was called Fragment."
She paused.
"…And another."
Her expression changed slightly.
"…Echo."
Arthur froze.
That name felt strange.
Like hearing something familiar.
Layla continued.
"…Kael said after the Collapse…"
Her voice lowered.
"…Dimension Echo swallowed eighty percent of the population."
Silence.
Arthur slowly looked up.
"…Swallowed?"
Layla nodded.
"…Not destroyed."
"…Taken."
Nobody spoke.
Arthur frowned.
"…That doesn't make sense."
Tom quietly muttered:
"…That's the problem."
Layla looked down.
"…Kael didn't know exactly what happened."
She looked at Arthur.
"…But he said boundaries between places became unstable."
Arthur thought.
Then—
he looked at Sunny.
Then at everyone.
Then slowly said—
"…Wait."
The room looked at him.
Arthur frowned.
"…If different places can overlap…"
He looked at Sunny.
"…And if touching caused us to go somewhere…"
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Then…"
Lucas slowly caught up.
"…You think you both entered something?"
Arthur looked uncertain.
"…Maybe."
Kierran frowned.
"…But why both of you?"
Arthur looked at Sunny.
Sunny looked away.
Silence.
Arthur blinked.
Then looked back.
"…Wait."
He narrowed his eyes.
"…Why only us?"
Nobody answered.
Sunny quietly looked at the floor.
Layla noticed.
Her expression shifted.
She knew Sunny wasn't saying everything.
But she also remembered.
He had asked her not to.
So she stayed quiet.
Arthur looked between everyone.
"…There's more."
Sunny immediately answered.
"No."
Everyone looked.
Sunny paused.
Then corrected—
"…There's probably more."
Arthur looked at him.
Long silence.
Then Arthur asked quietly—
"…Do you think that place was one of those dimensions?"
Sunny thought.
Then answered.
"…No."
Arthur frowned.
Sunny looked at him.
"…It felt smaller."
That made everyone quiet.
Sunny looked down slightly.
Then added—
"…Like it belonged to us."
Nobody understood what he meant.
Not fully.
But nobody laughed.
Arthur looked at his hand.
Then quietly muttered—
"…So touching each other sent us somewhere that doesn't exist…"
Rivien raised his hand.
Everyone looked.
Rivien nodded seriously.
"…I hate that sentence."
Nobody disagreed.
Arthur leaned back.
Thinking.
Then looked at Sunny.
Sunny looked back.
No hostility.
No challenge.
Just—
questions.
And for the first time—
Arthur had the strange feeling—
their fight never started.
But somehow—
they had already learned more than if they had fought.