"The Weight of Surviving"
Ruby stopped directly in front of Frederin.
Her gaze was firm.
"Get up."
Frederin grimaced in pain.
"But… I can't."
Ruby slowly raised her left hand.
A green aura began flowing from her palm.
Soft… yet dense.
The energy wrapped around Frederin's body like living mist.
His wounds began to close.
His skin visibly regenerated.
Then—
His body trembled.
Violently.
His muscles contracted uncontrollably.
For five seconds, black markings appeared across his body.
They crawled over his skin like living cracks.
His eyes darkened.
Inside his subconscious…
Ray was watching.
Silent.
That aura is familiar… it's the boy's.
Who is this woman?
Suddenly—
Everything stopped.
The markings vanished.
Frederin's eyes returned to normal.
Ruby lowered her hand as if nothing had happened.
"Get up."
Frederin blinked.
Confused.
But he obeyed.
And… stood up easily.
On his feet.
No pain.
No stiffness.
Nothing.
He stared at his own hands in disbelief.
Then at Ruby.
"What did you do?"
She answered without hesitation.
"I used a potion."
She turned her back.
"Come with me."
Frederin began tearing the bandages off his body as he walked.
His gaze sharpened.
Suspicious.
"I'm not stupid… potions don't work like that."
He frowned.
"I felt… something."
Pause.
"An energy."
Another pause.
"A familiar aura."
Ruby kept walking down the hallway.
Didn't even turn her face.
"You're fine now."
"That's what matters."
The answer was too clean.
Too controlled.
They crossed the corridor.
Stepped outside the house.
The open air hit Frederin's face.
He looked around.
"Why are we in the backyard?"
Ruby stopped.
Pointed ahead.
"Look."
Under a tree…
They were there.
Julian.
Sebastian.
Kyra.
Ryane.
Maria.
Waiting.
Frederin narrowed his eyes.
Something inside him shifted.
"I feel like… I already know those two guys."
Then—
A memory invaded his mind.
Violent.
Fragmented.
Leonardo.
Ray.
Azazel.
Fighting a dark-skinned boy with white hair.
The world spun.
Frederin grabbed his head.
"That… was a memory?"
Ruby finally looked at him from the corner of her eye.
Serious.
"Definitely."
Pause.
"There are things you don't remember."
She began walking toward the tree.
"And that's exactly what…"
She glanced at the group.
"…we all want to talk to you about."
Frederin swallowed hard.
And followed.
When they got close, Julian stepped forward.
"Frederin Nekyun. The survivor."
"Uh… hi. How are you?"
"No need to be so formal with us. Pleasure. My name is Julian — also known as Ray's host."
"Oh… that explains why I feel like I know you."
"I'm Sebastian," the other said. "Azazel's host."
"And the three of them — who are they?"
"I'm Ryane Dinark," she said. "Third Sentinel of this Kingdom. Cousin of the First Sentinel — and of Ruby."
"You're family with Luis and Ruby?"
"I am."
"I'm Kyra. Fifth Sentinel of this Kingdom."
"And you, little one? What's your name?"
"Maria," she answered.
Ruby stepped forward.
"Now that you know most of us, let's talk."
Ryane's voice hardened.
"As you already know, you are Leonardo Dinark's host. You represent a danger to society. There are orders to kill you. If it weren't for my cousin, you'd already be dead."
Frederin nodded.
"I know that. That's why I want to find Leonardo's four missing rings… and then kill myself."
Kyra blinked.
"You want to kill Leonardo along with you?"
"If I do that, he won't be able to hurt anyone else. I want to protect people… so they don't go through what I went through."
Sebastian crossed his arms.
"If that's your goal, you're way behind."
Frederin frowned.
"What?"
"You've got aura. Great. But I bet you can't even cast a proper enchantment."
Maria looked at him sharply.
"Instead of criticizing him, Sebastian… maybe you should help him. Train him."
Sebastian smirked.
From the top of the tree, two figures dropped down, landing perfectly in the center of the gathering.
Luis.
Augusto.
"Move aside," Luis said coldly. "If anyone's training Frederin, it'll be me personally."
"Alright, alright…" Sebastian muttered.
Augusto stepped forward.
"Guys, I know it was a bit… selfish… bringing Frederin into our group without talking to you first. But anyway — I hope we can be good allies."
Julian spoke.
"Trust."
Everyone turned.
"It isn't earned through words. It's earned through actions. Frederin, come with me. We're going to do something important."
A faint red aura covered Julian's body.
Then he shot into the sky.
Frederin stared.
"I can't do that… yet."
Sebastian grabbed Frederin by the collar.
"Then hang on."
They flew after Julian.
Luis watched.
"They're taking the plan seriously."
Augusto nodded.
"Yeah. Let's begin Frederin's training."
"Luis. Augusto."
They turned.
"After your removal, I became First Sentinel. Luna is now Second. Kyra is Third."
"Good for you," Luis replied calmly. "But where's Luna? I thought she'd be here."
"She said the same about you."
Kyra added, "She told me she had something important to handle and left."
"That's strange," Augusto said. "Anyway… sweetheart, want to go out tonight?"
Ryane hugged him.
"Of course, my love. You know where I'll be."
Maria cleared her throat.
"Sorry to interrupt… but we're in a public place."
They quickly separated, embarrassed.
"And another thing," Maria continued. "Any news about Kevin?"
"Relax," Luis said. "He's alive."
Kyra frowned.
"How can you be so sure? It's been weeks."
"Because he's a Dinark. When a Dinark dies, the universe reacts. That reaction hasn't happened. Come on, Augusto. We have someone to train."
Luis took off.
Augusto glanced quickly at Ryane.
"See you soon."
He followed.
Ryane stood there, flustered.
Watching him disappear.
Kyra sighed.
"Well, girls. Let's get to work."
Ruby nodded.
"We should go to the palace. Stay aware of whatever decisions the higher-ups make."
"Right," Ryane agreed.
Somewhere Far in the Galaxy
At that exact moment…
Something was reacting.
The sky of that planet was gray.
No sun.
No stars.
Only black clouds.
And the sound of rain.
Thick.
Heavy.
Constant.
Almost acidic.
The ground was cracked for miles.
As if something had torn the world apart from the inside.
At the center of the devastation—
A colossal body fell.
The impact echoed like distant thunder.
The atmosphere trembled.
Mountains shattered.
It was a dimensional creature.
Disfigured.
Gigantic.
Irregular limbs.
Multiple extinguished eyes.
Bone-like plates resembling natural armor.
Now…
Dead.
Standing before it—
Kevin.
Breathing heavily.
But controlled.
His aura wasn't green.
It was blue.
Deep.
Stable.
Dense.
His clothes were torn.
His muscles tense.
But not a single visible wound.
Not a drop of sweat.
He looked at the fallen monster.
Other creatures began fleeing.
The sky split open.
Red fissures appeared like bleeding cuts in reality.
Creatures large and small escaped desperately.
Silence.
Kevin closed his eyes briefly.
"This planet has been overtaken by these things…"
He opened them.
Cold.
"There's no salvation here."
He raised his arm.
The ground began to glow.
A green point emerged from the cracked earth.
It grew.
Expanded.
Within seconds—
A colossal creature rose.
A bipedal beast.
Elongated muscular body.
Black skin with neon-green luminous veins running like magma beneath rock.
Irregular dorsal spikes pulsed slowly.
Its head resembled an ancient reptile.
Sharper.
More predatory.
Its eyes glowed like radioactive slits.
Kevin showed no emotion.
"Gabu Jr… you may begin."
The creature slightly bowed its head.
Obeyed.
White light formed inside its mouth.
Small at first.
Then intense.
Then impossible to look at.
The air distorted.
The rain evaporated before touching the ground.
Then—
The beam was released.
A column of energy tore through the planet.
Not an explosion.
Annihilation.
The soil vaporized.
Fire consumed the horizon.
The seismic shock traveled like a massive nuclear detonation.
Oceans evaporated.
Skies were pushed outward.
Mountains became incandescent dust.
Continents vanished.
Earthquakes erupted.
Kevin watched.
Without blinking.
"Proceed."
He raised his arm again.
A precise blue crack opened in the sky.
He stepped through.
The rift closed.
Gabu Jr released a deep exhale.
Then fired again.
This time at the core.
The planet split.
First a luminous line.
Then two halves.
The exposed core glowed like an internal sun.
And exploded.
The world became fragments.
Meteor showers.
Cosmic dust.
Absolute silence.
Gabu Jr floated alone among debris and stars.
Space tore again.
A blue rift opened.
Kevin stepped through.
Different sky.
Different atmosphere.
He looked at the horizon.
Felt it.
The same presences.
The same creatures.
"A new world…"
His blue aura flickered.
"You fled here."
His eyes hardened.
Energy around him vibrated.
"I will not allow you to give this world…"
Pause.
"…the same fate."
Rain clouds formed.
He looked up.
"You vermin."
Thunder roared.
Lightning split the sky.
He began walking.
Climbed a small hill.
Below—
A city.
Lights on.
Cars moving.
Ordinary life.
He observed quietly.
"Maybe it's time I change clothes…"
Melissa's voice echoed dryly in his mind:
"And eat real food."
Kevin exhaled softly.
"Eating the remains of those dimensional fragments made me stronger… I think."
He walked into the city.
People stared.
Whispered.
Avoided him.
When he entered a restaurant—
The bell rang.
Silence.
Cutlery stopped.
The waiter approached nervously.
"Sir… I kindly ask that you leave. And if you attempt to rob us, I'll call the police."
"Good afternoon. Sorry about my clothes. I'm a traveler. Not a vagrant."
"It's your outfit. You're scaring customers."
"Is there a clothing store nearby?"
"Straight ahead. Turn right."
"I appreciate it."
He left.
Murmurs erupted.
Minutes later—
The door opened again.
A refined man entered.
Tailored dark suit.
Aligned shirt.
Elegant watch.
The same eyes.
"Table for one?"
"Hello again, my friend. Table for one."
"…You're the same guy from earlier?"
"I am."
"But those clothes are expensive…"
"Appearances deceive."
He dined.
Real food.
Normal meat.
Simple seasoning.
No destruction.
No dimensional energy.
Night fell.
Outside—
His body trembled.
His eyes changed.
My Hagan is active…
But I didn't trigger it.
He saw essences.
No aura anywhere.
Except—
Something calling him.
He leapt across rooftops.
Stopped.
Below—
A soccer field.
Young players.
Normal life.
His gaze locked on midfielder number 8.
Everyone else was opaque.
But him—
Green.
Not ordinary green.
Vibrant.
Rhythmic.
"A different frequency…"
Melissa asked,
"Going to talk to him?"
Kevin's blue aura flickered slightly.
"I feel like this is my mission."
The boy wearing number 8 lifted his head.
As if sensing something.
And looked directly at the cloudy sky.