[ Creators ]

Chapter 44

(...I know we are looking for Zeus, Mistress. But if I may ask..., are you looking to find something for yourself?)

(Just...wondering where we are.)

The party continues forward on their hunt for Zeus. However, after a few days, their search screeches to a sudden halt. The group stumbles upon a new area that they haven't been to. As they begin to make their way in, the sky above begins to gradually turn to a bright, light blue color. Koto rushes to the front of the group and stops. The others watch as she looks around. After a moment, she takes off running, shouting something in her native tongue that they can't quite grasp.

"Eh-!? Koto-!", Straus shouts. "Koto-! Oh, for goodness sakes- follow her!", Pandora orders as she and the others dash after her. Once again, they hear Koto call out,

"HEOHMAEH! EE'MA HEOHMAEH!"

Eventually, Koto finally stops short at a large clearing. In the center of it is what looks to be a giant, thick layer of clouds and stardust, all of the same, light blue color. Koto turns to face the others, exasperated from excitement, "Gahueh-! Ah- erm- Guys!! Everyone, look! Just past here! This is my home! My original home!!" Straus' jaw drops, did they really just happen upon this place they tried to find for years on complete accident?! Koto runs over to him and takes his hand, and begins leading him and the rest of the party inside. The cloud covering is soft, almost relaxing to walk through. Straus blinks, trying not to suddenly fall asleep as Koto happily talks to him, "I can show you what my sky looks like! And you can meet my parents! And we'll have so much fun and-! ...And...and..."

One by one, the group makes their way through the clouds only to be met with an odd sight. What Koto remembers as a bright, vibrant landscape of stars and light has been reduced to a cold, unsaturated shell of its former self. Straus feels Koto's grip loosen as she walks forward, "Koto..."

"This- this isn't right-! None of this is right...! Everything is- supposed to be brighter- and softer... Who... who could've done this-!?"

It was at that moment that a memory, long-buried within Koto's mind, resurfaces. In Koto's mind, the scene shifts to that faithful day: She stands before her parents, who appear to be panicked. Their cosmic auras flicker with anxiety and distress, resisting the urge to unleash their full power in front of their young daughter. Koto's mother turns to her and says,

"We have to send you away!"

"But why?", young Koto looks up at her mother with innocent curiosity.

"There's a bad man. He wants to take you away from us- and do horrible things to you- we have to get you away from here!", Koto's father shouts nervously as he begins forming a barrier around himself and his family. Koto hops with determination on her tiptoes,

"Who is he?! I can help you fight him!", but before she could continue pleading, the three hear a metallic CLANG that rings throughout the area. Koto's parents turn to her and bid their farewells before casting a spell that breaks her down into a cloud of stardust that's sent far, far away from anything that could harm her, severing the bonds she had with her parents in the process.

Koto looks down, her expression goes cold; how could she have forgotten this? How did she not realize it before? All this time, the reason she was sent away- it wasn't her fault! It wasn't even her parents' fault! It was- it was...

"...It was him." Koto's aura springs to life, becoming erratic. "Koto-!? What's wrong!?", Pandora calls out.

"Well, well. Quite the intriguing group we have here..."

Chains formed from Cosmic magic spring up from the ground and grab onto Straus and Red. "Ooh...", Straus sighs, "This is one of those days."

"Reveal yourself at once!", Koto yells as she watches Red and Straus get dragged over to a giant machine, piloted by what looks like a very bad man, with grey-black hair and orange eyes.

"Nice to see you back here, young Koto. I see you decided to try and find your...family. However, they no longer reside here. In fact- I don't even know where they are. But I'm so glad to see your safe return..."

"RELEASE THEM."

"Don't worry, I'll have you over soon. But first I must take these...beasts to quarantine."

Koto growls as she summons her knife and her Cosmic Supernova form completely activates,

"LEAVE MY FAMILY ALONE!!"

The man laughs as his magic-powered mech carries Straus and Red away. Koto goes to give chase, with Pandora and DarkClaw following suit.

"(Mistress! If you keep a level head, I can help you!)"

"(Illumi- this man made me lose my parents! I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE MY FRIEND AND MY BROTHER TO HIM TOO!")

"LET US GO!", Straus roars as he tries to break free. But the man just chuckles to himself,

"... They have no idea how quickly they'll be silenced."

"Hey, Straus...?", asks Red.

"What-?", answers Straus, still trying to free himself.

"Do you feel drowsy?"

"Why...", Straus yawns, "talk about that n-now??"

"I think...these chains...are trying to make us sleep...!"

"Red- stay awake. Don't let it beat you."

"KOTO, PLEASE WAIT FOR US!", Pandora calls out. Koto jumps up, trying to slash the chains that bind her friends.

"GIVE THEM BACK TO ME NOW!"

"Become of use to me and I may consider it!", the man taunts.

"NEVER!", Koto jumps up once more and tries to slash the main body of the mech. As she does, she takes a glance and Straus and Red, who both aren't doing too well.

"Straus...I'm sorry...I...can't...."

"Noooooo...don't sleeeeep...that's baaaaad..."

Seeing this does nothing more than make Koto more upset. She tries one more time to attack the man himself. However, being blinded by rage left her guard down, and the mech hits her away. As she tumbles onto the ground, the mech speeds off as she hears her brother call for help before he also succumbs to the mysterious sleeping spell.

"Hm...that'll slow her down a bit. I need to prepare some things for her arrival anyway. After all this time and searching...she was hanging around these cretins.", the man sighs.

"No...no no NO NO!!!", Koto picks herself up but before she can dash away Pandora runs up behind her and catches her in a hug, "Koto...you have to calm down, ok?" Koto struggles and Pandora can feel the heat radiating off of her but she stays calm, "We won't be able to save Straus and Red if you don't..." Hearing this, Koto stops, and the Cosmic Supernova form fades away.

"What're we supposed to do?"

"I don't know what this guy's deal is...But, if I've learned anything in my years, you've gotta keep it together during a fight...and not become blinded by rage.", Pandora says as she begins forming a red aura around herself. Large, demonic wings and horns form as her body becomes covered in sharp, black markings. "That way, you can show them what your true strengths are! Now then, we're going to take a deep breath...calm down...and kick butt!"

Koto smiles, takes a deep breath and concentrates. "(...Illumi, try to keep this active for as long as you can.)"

"(Your will is our power, Mistress. Just please try not to go overboard!)"

"(Understood!) ... hhAA!", Koto swings her arms down and out, and in a flash of light, Divine Illuminer is activated.

Pandora smiles, "Alright, kiddos. Let's get that mech!"