PRESENT DAY
I speak, my tone calm but heavy. "Now you understand why Erebus is the way he is. He carries more than a scar—he carries a storm."
Michael tilts his head. "So what now?"
Belteshazzar stands from the table and strolls a few steps toward the pilot chairs. His tone is calm but purposeful.
"Now," he says, glancing back at us, "is to take your pod."
"You do have one, don't you?"
"We do," Conner replies, stepping forward with a stiff expression—and a noticeably deeper voice. "But you're not taking it."
I squint at him. "Wait… are you making your voice deeper on purpose?"
"No." He holds the same ridiculous pitch, clearly trying to sound tougher.
"You are," I say, trying not to laugh.
"It's weird when you mimic the god-man," I add.
"I'm not mimicking anyone," Conner insists, his voice still in that same low register.
Emma raises an eyebrow. "You just did it again."
Conner folds his arms. "You guys just don't know I've always had this voice."
Belteshazzar narrows his eyes and walks up to Conner, stopping just inches from his face.
"Are you mocking me?" he asks, not blinking.
"Why would I do that?" Conner replies, still in his 'hero' voice.
"Stop playing games," Belteshazzar says, now frowning.
"Oh, I see what's happening," Conner says, turning to the rest of us. "He's trying to sound like me."
"I said stop," Belteshazzar snaps, eyes sharp now.
"Enough!" Charlotte's voice slices through the tension like a whip.
Belteshazzar looks to her. "Tell him to stop."
"We don't have time for this," Charlotte says firmly. "We need to figure out where Erebus is heading next."
Belteshazzar's shoulders drop slightly. "I don't know."
"If we don't know where he's going, how are we supposed to stop him?" Emma asks.
"He might be headed to Neverland," I say quietly, stepping forward.
"Neverland?" Emma asks, confused. "Wasn't that the place we were already going?"
"Yeah," I nod. "I read about it while researching planetary routes. It's not just a myth—it's real."
Charlotte tilts her head. "Why would Erebus go there?"
I look over at Belteshazzar.
"My father once told me," he begins, "that Erebus was sent to steal the Infinite Weapons—to deliver them to his master."
"Why?" Charlotte presses. "Why does his master need them?"
Belteshazzar hesitates. "I… I can't recall his reasons."
"What happened to your memory?" Emma asks.
"I told you," he says quietly. "When I woke up, everything was destroyed. Buildings—gone. Weapons scattered. Everyone slaughtered. The sky was nothing but black ash. Silent… empty."
He pauses, glancing down. "The Amulet, Time Rock, and Quiver—those are safe. They're on Earth. With the Ultimate Ventures."
"Who are the Ventures?" I ask.
"Earth's strongest heroes," he replies.
Emma shakes her head. "We're the only heroes on Earth."
Belteshazzar looks straight at her. "You're the only heroes on your Earth."
"What do you mean?" Conner asks.
"There are many Earths," he says. "Across the multiverse. Different versions. Different heroes."
That hits like a punch to the gut.
"What?!" Emma, Charlotte, Conner, and Michael say at once.
"He's right," I say, walking over to the pilot chair. "But this isn't the time for multiverse theories."
"What are you doing?" Charlotte asks.
"I'm setting a course for Neverland."
"No. That's not where we're going," Belteshazzar says, stepping closer. "We're going to the Sun."
I freeze. "Seriously? The one place no one's ever returned from?"
"I've been there," Belteshazzar says. "Twice."
Conner scoffs. "You're joking."
Belteshazzar stares him down. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
We all fall silent. The Sun? That's a suicide mission. Scientists haven't even scratched the surface—no ship has.
"So," Belteshazzar says calmly, "who's coming with me?"
Silence. None of us move. I glance around. Not a single hand goes up.
Then Conner steps forward. "I am."
Michael gapes. "Are you trying to die?"
"I'm invincible, remember?" Conner grins.
I take a breath and step forward too. "I'm coming with you."
Emma steps toward me. "Why? Are you insane?"
I smile at her. "Because I'm the captain."
She frowns. "This isn't a joke, Christian."
"I know," I say, meeting her eyes. "If Conner's indestructible, then so am I."
Belteshazzar nods. "Good. Let's go."
"Wait," Charlotte says, holding something in her hands. She walks up to him and hands him a folded black outfit—something sleek and reinforced. "Put this on."
He takes it and studies the fabric with quiet appreciation. "Thank you."
We enter the pod—Belteshazzar, Conner, and I. I settle into the pilot seat while they strap in behind me. My hands move across the controls with practiced ease, and within seconds, we're in the air, hurtling toward a star no one dares to face.
Hours later, we hover in space, still far from the surface of the Sun, yet the light scorches through the cockpit, and the heat presses against the ship like a furnace breathing on us.
Belteshazzar rises from his seat. Without a word, he exits the pod and floats slowly toward the blazing star.
"Is he gonna survive that?" Conner asks, shielding his eyes.
"He'll be fine," I say, though even I'm not sure.
The clothes burn off instantly as he draws closer to the Sun. But instead of turning to ash, his wounds begin to close. The heat doesn't kill him—it heals him. The longer he stays, the more his body changes.
Five minutes pass. He turns to face us. His skin now glows with a deep, molten gold. His entire body pulses with raw energy. When he opens his eyes, they shine brighter than anything I've ever seen.
And in that moment… we know he's become something more.
Something unstoppable.
Chapter 5 coming soon....