Within the confines of the usurped zone, Micheal's silhouette was visible, perched upon the towering walls that encircled the area. On either side of the walls, thick, concentrated, and blazing flames were visible, preventing the undead from advancing.
Micheal sat quietly, watching the scene unfold. Moments later, his brother emerged from one side of the wall, making his way toward him. Upon his arrival, he took a seat beside his brother. For a moment, silence enveloped them until Micheal finally spoke up.
"How do you think mom would respond if she were here right now?" Micheal turned to his brother and asked, a sorrowful expression crossing his face.
"I believe she would take great pride in the fine gentleman you have become. By the way, I apologize for..."
"Hold on, before you go on, I need to express my apologies for my actions in the past. Discovering the sacrifices you made truly opened my eyes. I came to understand that I was responsible for many things; I wasn't thinking clearly. I simply wanted to engage in anything that would help me forget that my mom was gone. I regret not taking your feelings and state of mind into account. I apologize." Micheal interrupted his brother, his expression shifting to one of guilt as he conveyed his thoughts. In the presence of others, he consistently had to project strength and toughness, yet in the company of his brother, he could easily revert to that 15-year-old who perpetually found himself in trouble. This was due to his awareness that his brother consistently supported him, even during his time in the military, as he continued to safeguard Micheal's reputation despite understanding the potential repercussions. This was the sibling he recognized.
"I would hug you, but I'm lacking a few arms." Liam's joke landed perfectly, prompting Michael to erupt in laughter.
"I am also sorry; when Grey infused that mind-controlling bug in me, I should have resisted. Perhaps, just perhaps I could have refrained from committing all those harsh and brutal acts against these individuals," Liam sighed, casting his gaze towards the sky, which was adorned with stars illuminating the enchanting night."
"I believe you; I truly do. You are the most determined person I've ever met, if someone could have resisted and succeeded, it would be you. I don't hold it against you, and I'm sure the team won't either when they discover the truth," Michael said with a smile, giving his brother a reassuring pat on the back.
"Do you believe they will forgive me?" Liam inquired.
"It may take a while, but ultimately, they will relent." Micheal nodded, then his expression shifted to a frown as he turned towards a specific direction. His gaze was fixed on a building in the distance, where Dr. Grey's figure loomed. His clothes were tattered in multiple spots, and his red eyes shone ominously with fury.
"Isn't this a lovely family reunion? Why wasn't I invited?" Dr. Grey roared while chuckling, his body sparkling with lightning.
"Are you ready?" Micheal turned to his brother and inquired, rising to his feet and grasping Liam's sword.
"Are you serious? I was born ready," Yoshi said, rising to his feet with a smirk.
"Hahaha, I thought so. See you soon" Michael grinned, tossing the sword to his brother before turning right and heading off toward the research base.
His brother skilfully caught the sword at the hilt with his teeth. After taking one last glance at Dr. Grey, he turned to the left and dashed away, lightning sparkling beneath him.
"Tssk, these stubborn kids," Dr. Grey gritted his teeth in frustration, contemplating whom he should pursue. His gaze shifted to the left, the direction in which Michael had disappeared. With his decision made, he pivoted and sprinted after him.
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"The heart of the area? I can't help but chuckle as I ponder the devious scheme you might be concocting for me." Dr. Grey finally paused at the center of the zone where Michael stood waiting for him; it was clear he had brought him here with a purpose in mind. They found themselves on a wide street, where buildings blazed with flames, and bodies lay scattered across the pavement.
"Not today, I'm just here to talk" Michael replied calmly, his eyes showing no trace of fear. He seemed unafraid of death.
"I find that somewhat hard to believe; where are your friends?" Dr. Grey replied, a sense of unease arose from observing Michael's expression; he did not interpret that as a positive sign.
"Our current focus should be on the Hunter. Your actions have caused the chaos index to reach its peak, and you are aware of the consequences that follow, Gravix." Micheal spoke, his words leaving Dr. Grey stunned, prompting him to take a step back in shock. This reaction seemed uncharacteristic for someone as cunning as Dr. Grey, who typically had a plan for nearly every situation. Yet, this moment was one he had not anticipated.
"What do you know about the hunter? And how is it that you know my true name? What occurred while you were unconscious?" Dr. Grey, whose true Valerian name was now revealed to be Gravix, asked curiously, his suspicion heightened after sensing Michael's confidence; he appeared to know that what he was saying was true.
"The way I know that is, once again, not significant. Consider the danger that you have placed the entire planet in. You are aware of the threat posed by the hunter, as you have firsthand experience with the very same hunter who decimated your people." Micheal continued to speak, lifting a bloodied chair before calmly taking a seat, seemingly indifferent to the arm resting beside it or the blood smeared across the chair.
"You're mistaken; my actions were aimed at preventing the Hunter from arriving. I'm not sure how you obtained this information, but you should verify your sources. Attempting to deceive me with this excuse is futile," Gravix scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. He was sure that Micheal's strategy was to deceive him into thinking he was pursuing the contrary of his true objective.
"It's quite amusing how you genuinely believe you are in the right here, unaware that you've deceived yourself to the point of conviction. I reflected on your earlier statement about my mother having the power to intervene but choosing not to. I spent considerable time trying to rationalize her actions or questioning the truth of your words. I found myself in a similar situation as you. I attempted to justify my thoughts to such an extent that I began deceiving myself, even though I was aware that I might be mistaken. I struggled to accept that my mother might have played an indirect role in everything that unfolded; she had the power to prevent it, yet chose not to. The thought was unbearable, and the guilt felt like a betrayal. You feel some guilt too, don't you?" Micheal leaned back and glanced at the sky, admiring the beauty of the stars. As he reached the latter part, he shifted his gaze to Gravix, who flinched at the sound of his words.
'Hmm, I was right,' Michael smiled inwardly, recognizing from Gravix's actions that guilt was indeed a motivation for his behavior.
"You're wrong," Gravix stated, his brow furrowing as irritation began to surface on his face.
"Don't deceive yourself, Gravix. You're far too intelligent to genuinely think that slaughtering millions would prevent the Hunter from arriving here. How naive can you possibly be to hold such a belief? Did you have any involvement with the hunter arriving in Valerion? Is that the reason for the immense guilt you bear, the weight of your people's deaths resting heavily on you? Is that why you convince yourself that you can save Earth through your actions?" Micheal stood up from his seat and walked towards Gravix, his words flowing with each step he took closer. His words proved effective, striking true as he observed Gravix's expression twist with emotion. The guilt he attempted to conceal became clear on his face, which he lowered to the ground.
"No! You're wrong!" Reaching his tipping point, Gravix could endure no longer; his eyes shot upwards, rage radiating from his entire body. Raising his hands toward Michael, lightning shot forward as Michael stood calmly, watching it approach.
"WHOOSH, BOOOM" A figure abruptly appeared before Micheal, swinging a sword at the approaching lightning. The sword deftly captured the lightning strike and subsequently redirected it towards a building, which promptly crumbled under the force of the impact.
"You...traitor, how dare you betray me," Gravix growled in anger, his gaze fixed on Yoshi, who stood before Micheal with a sword clenched between his teeth. Micheal smiled at his brother, signaling that it was alright. He took a slow step forward, remembering James's words.
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"If Grey is able to complete the process, everything is over. We must stop him before he can," James said, gripping Michael's shoulders and emphasizing the urgency in his voice.
"What should I do when I arrive and it's too late?" Micheal inquired, aware that anything was possible.
"If things were to unfold that way, then regardless of the circumstances, the Hunter will arrive. However, should that occur, Insight will illuminate the path; utilize it to perceive what your mother witnessed," James sighed in response. He had contemplated this as well, and there remained only one course of action if such a situation arose.
"Insight?" Micheal echoed the word, attempting to recall if it had crossed his ears at some point in the past.
"It's a skill unique to the Lightning Cat bloodline, allowing the user to glimpse into the past or future, focusing on key events or scenes pertinent to a specific subject, in this instance, the Hunter. Inhale deeply and envision yourself encountering anything associated with the Hunter. Your mother had employed it when Grey approached her before. She perceived something significant, which must have influenced her decision not to intervene. you need to try it, it only activates under specific conditions, if that individual is related to whatever you're trying to see. This could be your only option if the situation escalates."
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"Your earlier speech before my death led me to several conclusions. First, I noticed that although you sounded irrational, you genuinely believed you were right. Second, there was something in the way you spoke; you seemed convinced that your actions would prevent the Hunter from coming, even though they were doing the opposite. All of this made me realize that you're not the true Mastermind. There is someone else behind this, someone who understood your guilt and used it to manipulate you. This person likely knew the truth—that your actions would attract the Hunter—but made you proceed regardless. It indicates that there is someone else out there who intends to destroy the earth. Tell me who it is. Reveal that person's identity." Micheal walked slowly towards Gravix, whose eyes were clouded in thought. He appeared to gradually grasp the truth in Micheal's words, and it weighed heavily upon him, realizing that he had killed millions for nothing.
"Gravix, you know who it is. We can still stop this; I just need to know who that person is," Michael said gently, making an effort not to alarm Gravix, who was likely dealing with a great deal of stress. He soon arrived beside him and slowly extended his hand onto his shoulders. As soon as his hand made contact with Gravix, he felt something surge within him, and his eyes turned blue.
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Micheal opened his blurry eyes, a sense of weakness enveloping his entire body. It was as if he had diminished in size, and all his abilities had inexplicably vanished. His blurry sight soon stabilized, and he found himself wrapped in certain clothes that restricted his movement. He glanced up to meet two bright smiling faces that he recognized instantly. The first was his mother; she looked as beautiful as ever. The second was someone quite shocking: Gravix, with his real face.
"He resembles his Uncle a bit, hahaha," Gravix said with a chuckle, prompting a laugh from Micheal's mother as well.
'I'm a baby,' Michael thought to himself as he recognized his situation.
"You make a valid point; he does possess the valerian blood, much like you, being a noble half-blood." Micheal's mother smiled and turned to Gravix, who returned the gesture with a grin.
"Where is his father?" Gravix inquired.
"He went off to get ice cream with Liam," Michael's mother replied with a sigh, lifting Michael into her arms.
"I had wanted to speak with him. Hmm, I should take my leave now before the others become suspicious. Milena is beginning to have her doubts about me, she is also monitoring Sabrina closely. I don't believe I can meet up with you or the rest again. Please tell the others to stay safe; the plan is already in motion. I would have enjoyed getting to know Micheal better; we share so many common interests. Well, I suppose this is farewell for the time being, Karina." Gravix released a melancholic sigh, taking hold of Micheal's small hand with a gentle smile.
"Stay safe, Grav" Michael's mother, Karina, said as she set him down and then embraced Gravix, who smiled as they parted ways.
"Will do, bye," Gravix said, glancing back at Micheal one last time before departing.