Six Hours Later...
"Phewww… That was exhausting," Rio sighed, sprawled beside Nyxara atop a balcony bed woven of crystalline threads. "But hey, it was worth it."
Nyxara, now serene and radiant, gently caressed his face. "You're safe and sound. Thanks to you… I broke through to TIER-9 — safely. That little help..." She smiled, reaching into her violet-hued void. "...was enough."
From the rift in space, she pulled a dark, obsidian token engraved with ancient runes and pressed it into his palm.
"Take this," she said softly. "As long as you hold this, you're a welcomed guest of KAZZARA — and this Eleven-Floored Castle — anytime."
Rio clasped her hand gently, brow furrowed. "Why did you save me?"
Nyxara's smile faded into calm resolve. "Because I know who you are."
She rose to her feet and gazed out toward the violet nebulae.
"You killed Velatore. You carry the anomaly that doomed this star… and nearly created KAZZARA — my birthplace."
Rio blinked, eyes trailing the walls filled with ancient paintings and scattered celestial relics.
"Then… I owe you. Big time. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead."
Nyxara sat beside him again, her gaze landing on a faded portrait — a younger version of herself, barely ten, eyes filled with fire and sorrow.
"You've grown stronger too," she added with a teasing lilt. "Even without the suit, your physical strength... it's approaching TIER-2. For a seventeen-year-old human? That's… fair."
(I almost forgot. After everything… I'm still alive. Somehow.)
She nudged him playfully. "But enough brooding. Your planetary tournament is coming up soon."
Rio raised a brow. "You're reading my mind again, aren't you? You really shouldn't. It's illegal ."
Nyxara chuckled, unbothered. "It's not illegal to me and here."
He smirked and shook his head, activating his suit's interface with a flick.
[SUIT STATUS: Core Sync 91% – Bio-Stability: Recovered]
Then came the voice — that voice again.
[Dense Mysterious Voice]:
"She will be beneficial. Do not lose her. Do not question my words — or return to being the weak lad you once were."
(I can't go back to that… Never again…)
He turned to Nyxara suddenly — and kissed her. Fully. Without hesitation.
She blinked in surprise — then smiled mid-kiss and melted into it, wrapping her arms around him like she'd been waiting for this all along.
Breathless, she whispered against his lips, "Thanks to my TIER-9 breakthrough… I can now open a rift. One that leads back to Earth, or MARU."
She leaned in closer, a playful shimmer in her eyes — though something more dangerous flickered beneath.
"...Or you could invite me to Earth… and let me live with you."
A subtle yandere glint danced in her stare.
Rio laughed nervously, hugging her tighter. "Tempting… and terrifying."
With a gesture, Nyxara activated [Void Raid], and the two were pulled instantly to the 9th Floor of her castle — a rooftop garden of black lotuses beneath a glass dome, where the stars of Kazzara spiraled above them like living runes.
"I want to stay with you," Rio said softly. "But… I can't live here. And you can't come with me. Not yet."
He looked toward the cosmos above.
"You're meant to lead this star… KAZZARA."
He turned to her, more certain now.
"One day, when I reach TIER-11... I'll come find you. On MARU. But until then, I'll have to hide my aura, right?"
Nyxara floated above him, arms crossed, long hair fluttering like smoke in the low gravity.
A smirk touched her lips. "I know you want to stay. But your thoughts are screaming louder than your lips: 'Become stronger. Protect your home. Kill those monsters. And… at last… protect me.'"
> [SUIT: Trajectory and Power Management — Complete.]
Rio clenched his fist, eyes blazing with resolve. "Alright. I'll go. I'll see you again — soon."
"And Zanna?" he added.
"She won't hurt you," Nyxara assured him. "Or your planet. I give you my word. Now go."
She lifted a hand and summoned a space rift — a swirling obsidian vortex surrounded by rings of silver code — high above the castle.
Without hesitation, Rio launched upward and vanished into it.
---
ON PLANET MARU...
In the Sky Hall, Marcus, captain of the House Ryunn guard, bowed deeply.
"Sir. The young master's vitality signature has reconnected to our planetary grid."
Lython Ryunn's eyes widened. "Finally! Where did that brat go? Is he safe? The tournament's near!"
Using a burst of Tech-Up protocols, Lython flew toward the coordinates, his cape flaring with energy.
Just as he arrived — Rio descended.
"Dad…" Rio landed smoothly, then bowed. "I'm sorry. I should've told you before leaving."
Lython marched forward — grabbed him by the shoulders.
"You could've died, fool!" he growled. Then he softened. "Let's go home. Your mother's stress got so high, her Cyber Affinity dropped by 40 points."
Rio winced. "Yikes. Is that… permanent?"
"She nearly launched a drone strike to find you," Lython muttered, patting his son's head. "Let's not test her again."
They boarded a massive, semi-cyber limo-class transport, riding toward the capital under the glowing dusk of MARU.
Neither of them knew yet…
Just how much had changed in those few missing days.