Volume two introduction — allies from alternate universes
Scene 1 — Fractured -World: Haru Appears
The landscape shimmered with fractured chaotic mana, energy twisting like wild snakes across the ground. Black cracks appeared through the floating islands, and the air itself vibrated with unstable mana.
Jinyoung—still radiating the duality of black/purple and white/grey energy—stood at the center of the storm. His hunters were exhausted but stood alive, watching as he stabilized the rifts in reality around them.
This chaos… it's alive, but I can contain it. Just temporarily … Jinyoung thought.
A sudden flash of light caught his eyes. From the midst of a collapsing floating rock, a glowing cocoon descended. The air burned with raw untamed mana.
Who… or what is that?
The cocoon shattered, revealing a tall figure draped in robes that seemed made of liquid light. Mana spiraled around him uncontrollably, yet he moved with perfect calm.
"You…" Jinyoung said, narrowing his eyes. "Your power… it's destabilized, yet you're controlling it."
The figure's eyes glowed, white and intense. "Your Duality… it stabilizes the chaos inside me. Let me fight with you."
Jinyoung hesitated, assessing. A mage like him… if I can synchronize with his energy, my white/grey aura could stabilize faster.
"Fine," Jinyoung nodded. "But don't get in my way."
Haru smiled faintly, the mana around him settling into a controlled storm. "I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to fight with you."
Scene 2 — Eternal Night Realm: Riyomi Emerges
The team stepped through the next portal into a realm draped in darkness. No sun. No moon. Just endless shadows. The ground was jagged and sharp, the sky an oppressive black.
From the shadows, a figure moved silently, disappearing and reappearing in an instant. Every step left faint traces of black smoke.
That presence… precise, deadly… Jinyoung thought, tightening his grip on his aura.
"You…" The figure spoke without stepping into the light. "Duality… You're the only one who can kill the Monarch of Night. I'll follow you until that day."
An assassin… skilled, and she knows about the Monarchs already, Jinyoung mused.
"Then you're welcome to try," he said calmly. "But we move as a team. No lone shadows."
Riyomi stepped forward, her daggers gleaming faintly in the dark. "Agreed. But I won't hesitate if the threat is real. You'll see what I can do."
Scene 3 — Collapsed Timeline Universe: Riku Arrives
The sky tore into pieces above them as they entered a world caught between collapsing timelines. Entire cities were frozen mid-destruction.
From the ruins, a figure sprinted across the shattered streets at impossible speed, dodging falling debris and temporal anomalies.
Speed… timing… this one survived more than anyone here, Jinyoung observed.
The runner skidded to a stop in front of the team, eyes blazing. "If you're fighting Monarchs… I'm coming with you. I refuse to lose another world."
Unrelenting… perfect for keeping my aura spikes in check, Jinyoung thought. "You'll need to synchronize with Duality. Can you handle it?"
"I don't run from anything," Riku replied, smirking. "You'll see how fast I am."
Scene 4 — First Team Coordination Test
Jinyoung clenched his fists, feeling the chaotic swirl of white/grey and black/purple aura. Haru's mana flared to life, Riyomi melted into the shadows, and Riku became a streak across the battlefield.
This is it… testing synergy, Jinyoung thought, releasing a controlled wave of Duality energy.
Haru's mana storm amplified the white/grey side, stabilizing Jinyoung's aura. Riyomi struck with pinpoint shadow attacks, allowing him to focus on the black/purple devouring side. Riku zipped across the field, creating openings and timing attacks perfectly.
The battlefield erupted into coordinated chaos. Each attack, each movement, felt like a dance.
Together… we can take on a Monarch, Jinyoung thought, for the first time truly feeling the potential of his team.
Scene 5 — Reflection & Foreshadowing
As the three new allies stood beside him, Jinyoung felt a moment of calm.
I've faced lesser enemies… and now, I have allies who understand the stakes. But this is only the beginning. The real Monarchs are still out there… and I need to master Duality fully if I'm going to survive.
Haru, Riyomi, and Riku exchanged glances, understanding the unspoken truth. Together, they would face universe threats far beyond anything they had seen, but for now… they prepared.