"Greetings, Prince Cain!"
Achilles and Herau both bowed respectfully as Cain approached, one hand pressed over their chests in salute.
"There's no need for such formality," Cain said gently, helping them up. "You're members of the advance squad, aren't you?"
"Yes!"
"I'm Achilles of the advance squad."
"And I'm Herau."
Both introduced themselves swiftly. Cain nodded slightly, his gaze then landing on the nearby spacecraft — one he recognized immediately.
"This ship… isn't this Master Tiga's vessel?!"
His eyes widened in surprise before turning toward the two warriors standing nearby — Hudra and Darramb.
"If I'm not mistaken, you two were the ones who accompanied Master Tiga?"
"Yes!" Hudra and Darramb answered together, urgency filling their tone. Without delay, they recounted everything that had just transpired — from Tiga's battle against the Dark Lord to their desperate escape.
Most of all, they pleaded to know if there was a way out.
"What?!" Cain's face grew darker with every word. "Master Tiga… gravely injured under the Dark Lord's assault? His life… uncertain?"
He clenched his fists. "No… I can't just stand by. I must save him!"
But then his eyes shifted toward Camearra — lying motionless, her breath weak, her body wrapped in frost.
Camearra, the daughter of Chief Keshiva.
His heart twisted.
"I'll get you all out first," he decided firmly.
Cain knew that rushing into the Dark Domain now would be suicide. If Tiga had truly fallen, charging in blindly would save no one. The only hope was to retreat, gather reinforcements, and return stronger — to avenge his master and strike down the Dark Lord once and for all.
The exit from the Dark Domain had been discovered by the scouts of the Guard Corps — a narrow passage that could be traversed safely. Though they could not carry away Tiga's massive ship, they could at least bring Camearra to safety.
Using materials found nearby, they fashioned a crude stretcher. Hudra and Darramb lifted Camearra carefully, following Cain toward the tunnel.
The cold aura radiating from her body was intense. Frost crept across her skin, her lips pale and blue. Seeing her condition worsen, Cain's urgency grew — if anything happened to Keshiva's daughter, her father would surely lose his mind.
They pressed on. At last, they reached a mountain cave — the exit to the outside world.
Emerging from the tunnel, they found themselves in a wasteland of blackened rocks and jagged cliffs. The air was heavy, but free of darkness. Before long, they reached the island's coast — the staging ground for the Guard Corps.
Commander Yuzare — calm and regal as ever — stood waiting.
When the group arrived, she quickly received their report.
"Tiga… defeated by the Dark Lord?" Yuzare's eyes widened. Shock rippled across her composed face. Her gaze fell to the stretcher, to Camearra lying motionless beneath a veil of frost.
"For Tiga… she unleashed her ultimate power — the uncontrollable force of absolute frost," Yuzare whispered softly. "Even if it meant her life…"
Would I… have done the same? she wondered silently.
Her expression hardened. "Prepare the Velocity One craft. Camearra is to be sent to R'lyeh immediately for treatment."
She turned toward the armoured man beside her — a towering figure radiating strength.
"General An Cheng, I'm leaving the defence of the island in your hands."
"Understood, Princess," An Cheng replied with a respectful bow. His deep voice carried calm confidence.
An Cheng — the kingdom's Grand General.
Second only to Princess Yuzare herself, he was a warrior whose strength could rival even the light within her. During sparring, he could endure hundreds of exchanges without faltering. Since Yuzare's departure from the capital, An Cheng had overseen the recruitment and training of the Earth Guard's new members.
"Elder Sister, where are you going?" Cain asked, puzzled by their exchange.
"Camearra's body is bound by extreme cold," Yuzare replied, walking toward the Velocity One craft. "Her treatment requires the power of light to assist the healing. Without it, that frost cannot be dispelled."
"Then I'll go too!" Cain declared immediately. "I have the power of light as well. Let me help!"
With An Cheng guarding the island, there was little to worry about. Yuzare gave a faint smile and nodded. "Very well. Come along."
She then turned to Achilles and Herau. "You two — come as well. I need every detail about what happened in the Dark Domain."
"Yes, Commander!"
Soon after, the Velocity One lifted off — the fastest ship in the Guard Corps fleet — slicing through the clouds at incredible speed.
Inside, Achilles and Herau retold every moment of their ordeal. Yuzare listened in silence, her brows furrowed slightly as she pieced together the truth.
The Dark Lord — taking the form of an old man, seemingly powerless — had effortlessly defeated Tiga after he exited the temple.
Tiga's transformation item, the black crystal rod, had flown into Hudra's hands during the chaos.
And the miniature Plasma Spark — the source of light itself — was also in their possession.
"To defeat the Dark Lord…" Yuzare murmured, "…we will need a power far greater than any we've known."
She looked down, her eyes dim. "And to save Tiga… that same power will be the key."
Perhaps… the time had come to awaken the power of the giants once more.
Without that strength, no human — not even those touched by light — could stand against the endless darkness.
"According to Achilles and Herau," Yuzare said quietly, "the Dark Lord's form matches the records from the oldest texts… the ancient ruler who once dominated the Earth."
Her voice dropped, heavy with realization. "It's true then. The Dark Lord has returned."
A long silence followed.
Even for her — the commander of the Earth Guard, bearer of light — the pressure was immense. Against a being like that, her strength felt meaningless. To protect Earth… she needed more. They all did.
And yet… the Dark Lord had not acted.
"If he truly wished to conquer Earth again," she said softly, "he could have done so already."
That thought chilled her more than anything.
If the Dark Lord hadn't reclaimed the world yet, perhaps it wasn't because he didn't want to — but because, for now… he couldn't.