Chapter 405: Come back

Darkness.

It was the sole entity that embraced me in this peculiar realm. Within its embrace, I found myself devoid of sensation, devoid of the awareness of my body or soul space. The world around me had become an empty void, stripped of any perceivable reality, and all that remained was the faint but constant hum of cosmic mana. Even the notion of time seemed to slip through my grasp, evading my understanding like a wisp of smoke.

Stranger still was the absence of emotions that should have surged within me. There was no grip of fear, no spark of anger, no pang of anxiety. As I floated within this surreal nothingness, I came to understand that my emotions were muffled, as though concealed by a gossamer veil.

The question lingered: "What had happened?"

The silence that enveloped me was initially bearable, but as moments transformed into an eternity, a haunting sense of isolation and disconnect crept over me. My muted thoughts echoed through the void.

I couldn't help but ponder my own state. Was this the realm of the deceased, or perhaps some unforeseen outcome of my actions? An ironic chuckle rumbled within my thoughts; death wouldn't have been a novelty for me.

What should have been a storm of emotions was strangely placid. My own unease lingered at the edge of my awareness, threatening to rise to the surface but always withheld by some unseen hand.

Recollections of my journey and the battles I had faced filled the void. Flashes of my existence, from my birth in this world to my encounters with siblings, my family, and my companions, flickered like fragmented memories in my fading consciousness. Names faces, and places fluttered through my thoughts, a tapestry of a life rich with encounters and experiences.

Breta, my first friend, the one who had journeyed alongside me for a part of my story, found her place in my recollections. And amidst the shadows, I even spared a thought for Ember, whose fate remained unknown.

As I waded through the fragmented tapestry of my past, I was briefly brought to the time before this draconic existence, my existence as a human. However, the specifics of that life eluded me like a distant dream.

Yet, whenever I ventured into the realm of the battle and its stark culmination, the muted emotions beneath the veil would stir. Anger, shame, regret—they would froth to the surface, roiling within me, threatening to overtake my thoughts. But each time, they would recede, absorbed by the unyielding darkness that enveloped me.

I howled silently, tears flowed without being felt, and my mind screamed in defiance. Yet, these impassioned outbursts amounted to naught. The darkness would eventually reclaim me, subduing my tempestuous emotions.

"Why did I have to play the hero?" I whispered to the abyss. "I could have avoided this war, explored the boundless cosmos in peace." Regret colored my voice, a bitterness of missed opportunities and ill-fated choices.

For the first time since I opened my soul space, I found myself unable to perceive its presence. It was shattered, its components scattered, and the elements that once had danced within it were no more. It was as if my heart ached for the Water elements in particular, their absence an emptiness I could hardly bear.

And yet, in the midst of my turmoil, I pondered my existence here. Had I survived, or was I punished for my failure? The notion of punishment for inadequacy weighed on me, the specter of my perceived shortcomings haunting my silent soul.

The unsettling question echoed in the dark expanse: "Am I truly dead?"

If I was truly dead, why was I still able to feel the cosmic mana?

In fact, if anything, I felt it stronger than ever. I couldn't 'see' it per se, but I could feel it. It was everywhere, the more I focused on it, the more all-encompassing it felt. What is this? Where am I?

Questions kept swirling in my mind, but no answer was to be found.

****

"Bring her back Ynos! I do not give a damn, stay in formation!" Sidus's voice resounded with uncharacteristic rage and desperation, urging his companions onward. The situation had taken a chaotic and treacherous turn, leaving Sidus struggling to maintain his usual composure. He had been striving to emulate his older brother's level-headedness, often concealing his determination to be more rational and calm, even if he wouldn't readily admit it. But the events unfolding around him were pushing his limits.

Dragons attacking other Dragons, and Gods engaged in fierce battles alongside other Dragons against Dragons and Deities had shattered the known order. The realm had descended into madness, leaving Sidus bewildered and furious.

Despite the whirlpool of emotions churning within him, he made a resolute effort to stay rational. His temper simmered beneath the surface, but he tried to maintain his composure. He couldn't comprehend how things had come to this point, and a litany of questions plagued his thoughts.

In the midst of the chaos, Sidus expertly maneuvered to evade a claw strike from a rival Dragon. With precision, he retaliated, closing the opponent's jaws with his own claws, causing a deadly backlash of dragon breath that bathed the ground in gore and brain matter. A brief moment of relief washed over him.

His gaze shifted to Ynos, who was valiantly attempting to restrain a furious Essie. Such a scene had been unimaginable, and it struck a chord of disconcerting realization within Sidus. In this tumultuous moment, his priorities had dramatically shifted.

Breta was entangled in combat against two Deities, her tenacity and the aid provided by Immy kept her standing. Sidus's gaze, however, drifted upward to the sky, where their mother battled against an enigmatic force hidden beyond the veil of clouds.

Exasperated, he muttered a curse under his breath before rushing to join Ynos and Essie.

"Let me go! I can do it!" Essie pleaded, her voice tinged with determination.

Sidus's response was swift, a roar that silenced her and elicited a pitiful expression in return. Inwardly, a pang of empathy tugged at his chest, but this wasn't the time for such sentiments.

"I know you can," he said with firmness, "but look around you! Now isn't the time to prove yourself to us. You need to stay alive. So stick with the group, understood?"

Essie's voice was feeble, but she nodded her agreement.

Ynos's question hung in the air, accompanied by a grave tone. "What do we do? Weren't we supposed to be launching an all-out attack?"

The uncertainty that plagued them was palpable, but Sidus managed to respond through clenched teeth. "I don't know, but for now, stay close and stay together."

He had made a promise to his brother, and he was determined to keep it. With an unspoken vow, he affirmed his resolve. "I'll protect them, all of them—so come back quickly, brother."