Chapter Four – Unwelcome Guest
The Emperor Returns from Ruin
Ethan set foot on Voltera, the planet renowned across the galaxy for the Bloom of the Sun of Alim, the greatest star whose light is said not only to illuminate but to reveal the truth itself. The moment his feet touched the surface, he felt a different kind of weight, as if the air itself was saturated with scrutiny and caution. He barely had a chance to observe; within moments, Voltera's defense forces surrounded him from all directions with precision and discipline, as though his arrival had been anticipated long ago.
Without warning or attempt at communication, the attacks began. Flashes of energy, blinding steps, and weapons aimed directly at him. Ethan did not lift a hand to block, nor did he take a single step. Instead, he released his aura in a measured calm—a wave that was neither violent nor threatening, but spread through the area like a steady pulse, sending a clear message: this is not an invasion, but a presence.
The response was harsh. From the ranks of soldiers, violet chains radiating dense Ki energy sprang forth. They moved with serpentine flexibility and coiled around Ethan in an instant, binding his arms, chest, and legs with precise restraint—force intended not to harm but to immobilize completely. Ethan made no attempt to resist. He lowered his head slightly, planted his feet, and silently offered respect.
Then the stranger stepped forward. Taller than most soldiers, his body lean but taut, exuding latent strength that required no display. His skin was unnaturally pale, and his long black hair streaked with silver fell behind him carelessly, more concerned with essence than appearance. A dark, rough cloth covered his eyes, threaded with fine metallic lines resembling engraved symbols. His attire consisted of a long, dark coat open in front, under which was a light armor engraved with precise geometric lines. Small metallic chains hung from his shoulders and waist—not for decoration, but seemingly part of his power.
He stopped before Ethan and said in a cold, emotionless voice, "You are not welcome here."
Ethan lifted his head and replied calmly, "I come by Jichang's request."
A brief silence fell. Then the man smirked sideways, a warmthless, mocking smile. "Let the world perish… and what business is it of ours?"
At that moment, everything changed. Ethan did not shout, nor did he act recklessly—but his anger exploded from within. The violet chains evaporated as if dissolving in thin air, his eyes turned completely black, and all trace of hesitation vanished. He surged forward, a single strike aimed directly at the man's chest, intent on finishing the fight in one decisive blow.
The man dodged with a slight tilt of his body, as if the attack merely grazed his shadow. He then raised his leg and delivered a powerful kick to Ethan's abdomen. The strike connected, but Ethan stepped back only once, leaving a clear imprint on the ground. In that moment, his aura shifted, revealing his third form. His pupils glowed crimson, surrounded by dense blackness, and his energy spiked sharply.
Ethan unleashed a series of rapid attacks: fists flying in short, precise bursts, each strike carrying enough force to break defenses. The man barely managed to block, stepping back repeatedly, using the chains hanging from his body to deflect or weaken the blows—never able to counter with a real strike.
Suddenly, the man paused, raised his hand to his eyes, and slowly removed the covering. One eye appeared, filled with intricate symbols and swirling energy chains, like an ancient mechanism operating under laws different from the rest of the world. In that instant, the demonic smile left Ethan's face, and his gaze hardened. He immediately remembered the Time King, and that same eye carrying the marks of control and power.
Ethan realized he was facing an opponent of another caliber. He focused all his energy, compressing it into his fist until it became a single pulsating mass, and charged with full force. At the same moment, the man's chains wrapped around his arm, the symbols in his eye flaring, and he surged toward Ethan.
Before the fists could collide, before the accumulated power could erupt, a massive cloud-like spirit emerged between them—a colossal mist entity that stopped both attacks simultaneously. Energy froze, and a heavy silence fell, as if Voltera itself had decided to intervene.
✦ End of Chapter Four ✦