The air within the grand chamber, still thick with the lingering tension from Leo's drawn sword, shifted abruptly as Pope Innocent cleared his throat. His gentle demeanor from moments before now held a distinct weight of authority.
"Now that the general affairs of the Glory Knights and their purpose have been illuminated," his gaze flickered towards Kojo, "we must proceed directly to the matter at hand. Time, as they say, is a luxury we can ill afford."
A hush fell over the assembled knights. The playful banter and curious inquiries of the preceding moments vanished, replaced by an unspoken anticipation of grave tidings.
The Pope's next words landed like a physical blow.
"Without immediate and decisive action, a cataclysm of unimaginable scale is imminent. This is not a threat to merely the Nexusworld, but the entire Nexuscosmia may suffer as well."
A collective gasp swept through the chamber. The vibrant torchlight seemed to dim, casting the knights' faces in stark relief, each etched with dawning horror as they grappled with the enormity of the Pope's declaration. The NexusWorld, the very core of their reality, threatened with destruction. The implications were staggering, a cosmic guillotine poised to fall, sending waves of backlash across the entire plane.
Kojo, despite the lingering unease directed his way, raised his hand. His voice, though calm, held a note of urgency.
"Um, Mister Pope Sir?"
"Please, call me Father," the Pope said in a gentle voice and with a kind smile.
"Okay, uh, thank you. Can this calamity be avoided, Father?"
Pope Innocent's expression turned somber, the earlier warmth replaced by a profound gravity. "The threads of fate have already begun to unravel. The initial stages of this event are long set in motion; there is no turning back the hands of clockwork. However," a flicker of hope ignited in his eyes, "we can prevent things from escalating beyond a point of no return. We can still fight to contain the coming storm."
"Okay," Kojo said, his mind already racing, piecing together the fragments of information. "Then may I ask... what does this have to do with me?"
A ripple of surprised glances went through the knights. Addressing the Pope with such directness, especially after the recent tension, was unprecedented.
"What I mean is, you guys are 'Super Heroes' who maintain the balance of the world, at least to an extent. Surely there's no need for me or my associates to be involved in this?"
Lin's eyes widened, and even the stoic faces of the Saints registered a hint of shock. Well, he wasn't wrong, though.
Pope Innocent, however, despite the way he was addressed, merely chuckled, a low, resonant sound that surprisingly eased some of the oppressive atmosphere.
"My dear Kojo Atari, it has everything to do with you. You are, as my daughter here can attest," he gestured towards Cassandra, who stood silently at his side, her gaze troubled, "a key variable in the events to come."
He continued, his gaze returning to Kojo. "According to Cassandra's… visions," his eyes held a deep concern as he looked at her, "within the span of a month, an army of Maajin will descend upon Ezkanur. Their purpose… is singular and terrifying."
Lin's voice trembled slightly as she asked, "What… what is their goal, Your Holiness? Wouldn't we be better able to deal with the threat if we knew what to prepare for?"
There were murmurs of approval from the gathered Saints and Paladins.
Lady Cassandra finally spoke, her voice soft but firm, tinged with an undeniable weariness.
"Unfortunately, I cannot divulge the specifics. To know more than simply that they are coming to attack Ezkanur… could inadvertently hasten their arrival or, worse, lead to a far more catastrophic outcome. Trust that the less you know in detail, the better prepared you can be in spirit."
Kojo nodded slowly, a grim understanding settling in his features. The weight of the unknown pressed heavily in the air.
Pope Innocent elaborated, his gaze sweeping over all of them. "This, my children, is the primary reason Cassandra summoned young Kojo here to Ezkanur with such urgency." He turned to Kojo. "Kojo, you are instrumental in our ability to protect this holy land. Should Ezkanur fall… it will not be long before the tendrils of this impending calamity reach out and engulf the rest of the world. And beyond."
Understanding dawned on Lin's face. The Paladins' constant struggle against the criminal underworld, holding back the tide of chaos, was a vital bulwark against a greater darkness.
Kojo, too, felt a chilling realization. The mention of interdimensional gates, the threat of Spectres… if Ezkanur were to be overwhelmed, the barriers between worlds could shatter, unleashing unimaginable horrors upon the NexusWorld.
†
Later, the War Room emptied as the knights, a newfound sense of urgency binding them, dispersed to begin preparations and forge the necessary bonds to face the coming storm together. Only Pope Innocent, Lady Cassandra, and the silent, hooded figure of the Unseen remained.
The Pope sighed, the weight of his years seeming to settle upon his shoulders. "I pray that we can prevent the Metatron Cube from falling into the hands of those monsters. The opening of even one of the Gates at this point in time would be disastrous."
Cassandra sank to the stone floor, leaning her head against her father's knee. The flickering light cast dancing shadows on her pale face. Fragmented images from her vision, violent and terrifying, flashed behind her closed eyelids: a blur of white hair and power, a world reduced to desolate ruin. She flinched, a small, involuntary movement that did not escape the Pope's notice.
He placed a soothing hand on her head, stroking her hair gently. "Do not worry so, my dear daughter. We will ensure that Kojo Atari does not succumb to the darkness that clings to him. Yes, he must not fall to the Darkside."
"I was wondering why you went to such lengths to shield that boy."
A voice, ethereal and resonant, echoed through the chamber, seemingly emanating from the very stones themselves.
Cassandra's head snapped up, her eyes wide with a sudden, profound recognition. She looked around the empty space, a tremor running through her.
Slowly, deliberately, the hooded figure of the Unseen got off the armrest. She reached up and drew back her hood, allowing her presence to be perceived by the world.
A choked cry of pure joy escaped Cassandra's lips. She scrambled to her feet and launched herself at the figure, embracing her tightly.
"What took you so long?" she sobbed, clinging to her. "I've missed you so much!"
The Unseen chuckled, a warm, melodious sound that filled the Hall. She gently stroked Cassandra's hair, her own features now fully revealed: strikingly similar to Cassandra's, yet possessing an ancient, timeless quality: the same smooth skin with blue hair, only she appeared to be more muscular and with sharper features than her sister's delicate ones. Still, she was nothing short of stunning.
"I had… business to attend to, but I'm here now," the Unseen said, her voice filled with affection.
"Rest easy, little sister."
***‡***
Back in Ekron,a portal opened just outsied Kojo's and a figure stepped out and made her way towards the door. She arrived just as Adriana was opening the door to step outside. The two women stared at each other.
"Nefaria." She said in surprise.
" What are you doing here? No before that,what happened to you?" Adriana asked,concern in her voice.
Even though Nefaria had no wounds on her body,she still looked very disheveled with rips and tears in her tunic as well as dirt and the aura of something akin to despair hanging around her. In her hands was a cute little rabbit with a fluffy mane and tail,a golden horn and runes on its body as well as a crescent moon under its horn. Tye jumped into Adriana's arms and rubbed against her affectionately.
Nefaria looked down at the Chimera rabbit then stepped inside.
" I'm going to take a bath." She said with a yawn as she moved towards her room.
" Is there anything to eat?" She called as she climbed the stairs.
Adriana just watched her ascend while gently stroking Tye's soft fur with a strange expression on her face.
Transcendence ,is a blessing and a curse.