Tsugi No Level

Chapter 4: Stitches closes it

A computerized voice bellows through the hallway of a dark spaceship.

"Arriving at our destination."

Near the gate that was forced open by Demo's arrival a horizontally lined crack in space appears. The crack seems to divide itself into several layers that are stacked on each other as if time and space have been compressed like a paper folded upon itself. The layers of cracks in space spread themselves out until at its core a portal can be seen and from that portal, the dark spaceship with the word STITCHES on it emerges.

Once the ship has safely emerged from the portal, the layers are folded back into a single line and the line then collapses in on itself and disappears. The ship is facing the interdimensional gate. Then a door opens up on the spaceship and 7 figures dressed in all-black space suits emerge.

They carry with them 6 huge black rectangles and a single red one that are almost the same size as the men themselves. They bring the big rectangles in front of them and each one puts a single hand on their rectangle. Six of the figures start a mathematical chant. The big rectangles start to glow but unlike with Ten, these rectangles are surrounded by a wide array of numbers and equations as well. The rectangles start to disintegrate and mix with the numbers that surround them and then recombine.

Two of the rectangles turned into huge needles, and the other 4 turned into black ropes with several big knots on them. Once the 6 were finished the figure with the red rectangle placed his hand on his shape and started his chant. His rectangle turned into what can only be described as a huge red demon. With wings that seemed to hide millions of stars. The figure with the red demon raises his hand.

"Let's begin."

The 4 with the ropes take their sides next to the two with the needles and push their rope through the holes in the needle. The two with the needles then make their way to opposite sides of the gate. They gently control the needles with their hands. They point the tip of the needle towards the gate, and then slightly pull the needle back like an arrow on a bow. With the force of a star exploding, they throw their needles through the gate. The hole created gets plugged up by one of the knots on the rope. The two-needle wielders continue this process until the entire gate is covered with the rope and each side is riddled with knots.

Once completed the giant red demon glides over to the gate and places its hands on the two top knots that are connected to each other. A blinding light spawned from its hands and the explosion that followed swallowed up not only the knots but all seemed to close the gate in between the two knots he consumed. The demon proceeds to do this for the next 2 knots and those after it.

Everything seems to be going according to plan. An alarm goes off in the helmets of the Stitches crew as a storm of space debris is about to hit them. All 7 of them go into their pockets and take out a small cube. They then quickly chant to transform the cube into a shield capable of withstanding the storm. The crew and the ship survive without a hitch. But one of the pieces of debris hits the demon's hand as it's about to consume another knot. Slightly knocking the hand to the side a little. The red demon smiles as he followed his orders perfectly but this small thing could usher in chaos. He quickly stops smiling so as to not warn the crew something happened. After the debris passed, the shields went down and the focus was back on the gate. After a while, the gate closes as the demon touches the last 2 knots.

The needles and ropes as well as the demon disintegrate and return to their rectangle forms again. The Stitches crew looked at the space where the gate used to be, as if to do a final check, and then turned around went back into their ship, and flew away.

Tranquility fell back over the space above the planet.

Back on the planet, Demo stands with a sorrowful face as he again looks at Ten's body on the ground. He turns away from Ten as if turning his back on him would allow him to ignore what he has just done. As he is about to walk away.