Morgath was finally dead. Only his ideals and the traces he left behind remained. Eighty-five percent of the vegetation covering the Legion Continent—home to thousands of plant species—had been devastated. There wasn't a single home nor any standing structure left behind.
Gein had finally reunited with his family. During the journey, Hanken and Gein had gotten to know each other and become friends, yet Gein would be staying in Nyxia with his family. So, halfway through the voyage, they said their goodbyes.
Gein:"I love you all, my friends. We walked through this together, risked our lives together. I will never forget this for as long as I live. Thank you for helping me save my family."
Xers:"Don't mention it, brother. We fought for humanity here. If you ever come to Shadowia someday, we'll welcome you as our guest."
Hanken:"Even though we met later on, I felt the gravity of everything down to my bones in your final moments. Take good care of yourself."
Gein:"See you, my friends."
Xers and Hanken wave together.
After Gein disembarked at the port of Nyxia, Xers began wondering what Hanken had experienced during his coma—how he obtained his powers—so he asked:
"Hanken, what did you feel while you were in the coma? How did you obtain your abilities?"
"It's better if I tell you. During the days I started getting weaker, I kept hearing a voice in my dreams. It continued for twenty-five days. Then one morning, when I opened my eyes, I wasn't in my hospital room. I was in a place where white and black clashed. Someone was standing in front of me. He looked demonic. He approached me and began speaking."
"Hanken, you are someone who experienced a Spiritual Pressure eruption at birth. You're exactly the one I've been searching for."
"W-Who are you? Where am I?!"
"You are in the transcendent void above reality, Hanken. Do you see the white and black? One represents the good in the universe, the other evil. The universe is built upon their balance, Hanken. But the white has begun tearing into the black, expanding. The universe needs both good and evil. And I… I am your spirit of evil, Hanken."
"W-What evil are you talking about?!"
"Hanken, you were born to be evil. It is in your fate."
"N-No! I'm a good person—evil doesn't suit me!"
"This is the balance of the universe, Hanken! You resist it!"
"I don't care about the balance of the universe! Get me out of here!"
"It's not that simple, Hanken. I am giving you forty-five days. Right now everyone believes you are in a coma. If by the end of forty-five days you accept your fate and join the forces of evil—binding your will to me—I will keep you alive. But if you refuse… then I will take your life here."
His true name was unknown. All that was known about this dark figure was that perhaps only one percent of the essence of pure evil had taken form in him. He was also the one who had granted Sabre the Sakuran Kriega.
"Do you remember Sabre, Hanken?"
"S-SABRE?!"
"No, I am not Sabre. I am the source of Sabre's power—the Hell Curse. In this universe you can possess three different types of epic abilities: Hell Curse, Heaven's Pride, and Galactic Myth.
Join me and spread evil across the world. Otherwise, the balance of the universe will collapse!"
"O-Okay… let me think."
"You have forty-five days, Hanken. Think carefully. Or suffer the consequences."
And so Hanken spent his long coma contemplating only his own future…
When the forty-fifth day arrived, Hanken made his decision. No matter what happened, he would never betray his family, his friends, or his comrades. He would either defeat this evil spirit here—or die in his coma.
The evil spirit appeared before Hanken once more.
"Have you made your decision, human?"
"I have."
"Then come with me. Join—"
"Why jump to conclusions so quickly? Did you really think I would accept?"
"So you refuse. Hmph… to think you were this bold. Very well—then your death will come by my hand."
A black scythe emerged from the spirit's back, and he lunged toward Hanken. Hanken barely dodged it, taking only a graze to the shoulder.
"Ahhh! What is this cursed speed?!"
Suddenly, Hanken spotted Ahez's corpse and his sword to his right. The evil spirit lunged again. With a burst of speed, Hanken pulled Ahez's sword from the ground and struck back against the scythe.
The metallic clash echoed across the entire transcendent realm.
"So you intend to resist? Then I'll show you my ability!"
"Your ability, huh? Going to use your mask against someone who's in a coma… pathetic."
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY?!"
But Hanken, using his Battle IQ, prevented the evil spirit from activating his ability.
With all his strength, Hanken slashed at him.
"HIIIIAH!"
The evil spirit tried to block with his scythe, but the impact sent him rolling hundreds of meters back.
"I could cut this fool apart even without my mask. But even with just raw power… he's truly strong."
The spirit rose again and charged. His scythe was moving at 1,235.5 km/h—the speed of sound. Hanken, having the advantage of distance, saw the charge in time. He raised his sword. By sheer luck, the scythe struck it, shattering the blade. Hanken was hurled nearly 500 meters away, rolling violently. His head slammed into the obsidian ground repeatedly. His arm broke. Blood streamed from his nose. His breathing grew weak.
"T-This p-power… c-can't be… resisted…"
"You're drifting closer to the black, Hanken. I'll give you one more chance. Join the dark side and dominate the world!"
Hanken slowly lifted his hand. He grabbed hold of the spirit's scythe.
(Internal) "What is he doing? Is he going to join me?"
In that moment, Hanken poured all his Spiritual Pressure into the scythe. Nearly a thousand times the pressure he released at birth surged into it. The scythe turned from pure black to glowing white. A white mask formed on Hanken's face. The evil spirit was stunned.
"W-WHAT IS HAPPENING?! T-THE SCYTHE… TURNED WHITE?! (Internal) I must use my ability—CHRONOSIS!"
Even in a transcendent realm, atoms existed to keep the space inhabitable—yet their vibration stopped. Time itself halted.
"YES! I STOPPED TIME! YOU! HOW DARE YOU LAY YOUR HANDS ON MY SCYTHE! I WILL KILL YOU!"
But the evil spirit couldn't move.
"I-I CAN'T… M-MOVE! HOW?!"
"Because I am the one who stopped time."
When Hanken transferred his Spiritual Pressure into the scythe, all of the scythe's and the spirit's powers transferred into him. In truth, when the evil spirit shouted "Chronosis," the ability hadn't even activated. Time had been stopped by Hanken—without him speaking a single word.
"I now understand all the powers of your scythe and mask. They all flowed into my mind. I'm not sure how long I can move in this state, but my potential is twenty seconds. Every movement counts as one second. I will end you with a single strike."
"N-N-NO, WAIT!!"
Hanken plunged the scythe into the evil spirit. At that moment, time resumed. The spirit began turning to dust from the wound outward. The transcendent realm dissolved, and Hanken awoke from his coma.
"That's exactly how it happened."
"W-WHAT?! My brain can't even process any of that!"
"It's fine, Xers. I didn't understand at first either. Unless you're there, it's almost impossible to grasp. When I woke up, all my injuries were gone. Later, I used Chronosis again. The white mask appeared on my face once more, and time stopped. At first, I could only hold it for one second. Then I pushed my stamina and reached three seconds. I don't know if it'll grow further, but the potential is twenty seconds. If I raise my stamina near infinity, it might reach twenty… but for now it's three."
"I see, brother. You truly have a technique that can rival Gomerai."
End Of Season 2
Author's Note:Dear readers, we have reached the end of Season 2. As Averche, I sincerely thank you all for reading. We have greatly surpassed our seasonal goal of 25k reads. After a half-week or one-week break, I'll begin Season 3. Have a great day.