Inside the blazing heart of the dormant volcano, Colt pounded away with his hammer, shaping the Chaos Scepter over the pool of molten magma. Each strike echoed like thunder, sparks scattering, as the red-hot metal took shape. But outside the physical world, within Rei's mind, a different battle was unfolding.
Trapped in the recesses of his consciousness, Rei floated in a formless prison of darkness. His body had changed, aged, his eyes dull and lifeless as if his soul had been drained. Shadows curled around him, licking his feet and whispering doubts. He looked like a weary old man, defeated, broken.
Before him stood a humanoid figure, composed entirely of violet, glowing liquid. The form shimmered with malevolent energy, its shape shifting subtly as if it was struggling to maintain cohesion. It let out a manic laugh, echoing like a twisted melody through the prison.
"Hahaha! Do you now see your worth?" the creature mocked. "This is your place—your real place. Alone, defeated, broken. Nothing more than a relic of failure. But let's see how your precious friend responds."
The entity—Chaos, it called itself—extended a tendril of its violet fluid, which shifted and molded itself into a familiar form. Rei gasped.
Hayate.
His childhood friend stood there, whole and young, holding a screwdriver in one hand and a nostalgic smile on his face. Rei staggered backward in fear.
"No... not you... You're not real," Rei whispered.
Chaos grinned maliciously and internally commanded the conjured Hayate to insult Rei, to break him further. But instead, the familiar voice rang out, soft and kind.
"I know you're sad," Hayate said gently. "I know you blame yourself. But none of this was your fault."
Rei's eyes widened. "Hayate...?"
Hayate smiled, nodding. "Please, Rei. Live your future to the fullest. Don't let anyone dictate who you are."
Chaos recoiled in confusion. "I am not making you talk. Who are you?!"
Hayate turned, now glowing faintly. "I'm not yours to command."
He stepped forward and placed a hand on the prison bars. "Show him what you can do, Rei. I know you can break through this."
Rei felt a spark in his chest—the smallest ember of hope. It flickered, then flared to life. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
"Yes," he muttered.
His body surged with energy. Violet lightning crackled around him, his form shifting back from the worn, aged figure into his younger self. He roared, slamming a fist wreathed in lightning into the prison walls. The cell shattered in a cascade of sparks.
He stepped out, walking toward Hayate.
"You can do this," Hayate said, smiling.
Rei smirked. "Now, I'm going to show you everything I've learned."
Hayate chuckled. "Show-off."
Chaos snarled and unleashed a barrage of violet liquid, twisting like serpents toward Rei. Rei countered with his own violet lightning, each bolt slicing through the chaotic tendrils. He charged forward and delivered a thunderous punch, shattering Chaos's form into a puddle of liquid.
But then, in a desperate move, Chaos surged forward and invaded Hayate's body.
"No! Hayate!" Rei cried.
Hayate convulsed, but to Chaos's horror, he managed to contain the corruption. His eyes glowed with defiance.
"Don't worry about me," Hayate said, his voice steady. "You have other people to worry about."
Rei began to hear the distant voices of his companions.
"Rei...!"
"Wake up... please!"
Emilia... Ben... Luc... Levi... Arizona... Alya... Their voices reached through the void.
Hayate turned to him, smiling one last time. "Our chapter is over, my friend. It's time for you to start another."
Tears welled in Rei's eyes as he embraced Hayate. "Thank you... Thank you for everything. I was so lucky to have you as my friend."
Rei turned and began running toward the light.
Meanwhile, in the physical realm, Colt was focused, sweat dripping down his face as he neared the final phase of reforging the Chaos Scepter. A magic circle flared to life under his feet as he prepared to suppress the chaotic soul within the weapon.
Within Hayate's now-corrupted form, Chaos roared.
"What are you doing?! You'll trap us both!"
Hayate's voice rang with resolve. "I don't care."
A glowing prison materialized, etched in runes, reinforced by Colt's forging magic. Hayate, now glowing blindingly, raised his hands and channeled all his energy.
He released Chaos.
The moment Chaos detached, Hayate's body glowed violently. His form cracked, split, and shimmered until it revealed a different figure—tall, regal, eyes filled with unimaginable wisdom.
"You're... you're Rei?" Chaos gasped.
The figure nodded. "I am Rei Alenshade. The strongest there is. I leave everything to my other half."
And then, Rei Alenshade faded into stardust.
Back in the physical world, Rei's consciousness stirred. His mind felt twisted, bent by surreal visions, but clarity slowly returned.
He blinked open his eyes.
"He's waking up!" Emilia exclaimed.
Alya knelt beside him. "Do you think he remembers us?"
Rei's vision cleared. He remembered. Everything. Hayate's final smile, his friends' voices, the battle within.
He sat up slowly and whispered, "Thank you... my friends."
Ben raised an eyebrow. "What's there to thank us for?"
Emilia wiped a tear from her eye. "We were scared you wouldn't wake up."
Arizona folded her arms. "I knew he'd make it."
"Yep," Alya added. "Me too."
Luc gave a small smirk. "Looks like you had one long dream."
Levi nodded. "Yeah... you seem exhausted."
Rei smiled. "A long, but necessary sleep."
He stood, still a bit shaky, and walked over to Colt.
"So," he asked, "is it finished?"
Colt grinned, wiping soot from his brow. "Damn right it is. Take a look."
The Chaos Scepter lay before them, gleaming with raw power. It didn't look much different, but the aura was stable, contained.
Rei reached toward it.
"Can I touch it now?"
"Still too hot," Colt warned. "Give it a minute."
Rei nodded. "Sure."
Moments later, after the scepter cooled, Colt gave him the nod.
Rei picked it up, the familiar weight comforting in his hands. He turned to the group.
"You know what this means... we leave in just a few days."
Levi, Luc, Emilia, and Ben all looked at each other, then back at Rei.
They nodded.
The next chapter of their journey was about to begin.