As everyone got away from the body. It was coming back to life. It made everyone uneasy, but concerned. The only ones that understand this process are Dennis and Dj. They witnessed it before during their fight against Rampage, but for the others, it only struck fear into their minds.
"Dennis, is that part of the shadow mode?"
Dj asked.
"No, it is not. Something else brought him back, and I think I know what it is..."
Dennis said. He then looked up and saw the black orb still getting bigger. Suddenly it cracked slowly, releasing a slight purple light. Sending out a force that was inflicting pressure.
"That's not good..."
Dennis then took a step back to think of a plan. By simply looking at the orb. It made him think they should keep a close eye on it while the others attack.
"Spike, Owen, keep an eye out for the orb! Dj, Donte, holds the enemy as much as possible. I need time to come up with a plan."
As Dennis gave an order. Everyone else got focused on the task at hand.
"You got it!"
They all said. As Owen and Spike monitored the orb. Dj and Donte were going in for the assault while the future version of Dj was still coming back to life. His body was already at full strength. He opened his eyes and saw that Dj and Donte were charging at him.
"It already over for you all."
The future version of Dj said. He gave out an icy stare that made Dj and Donte stop. Then he looked over at Dennis and preceded to walk towards him.
"Dennis, give up now or die. You don't want to face what's in that thing."
The future Dj said as a warning. Dennis didn't understand what he meant until he heard the orb crack again. The pressure was getting even stronger; it was making it harder to ignore. They got affected by it except for the future version of Dj. It even forced them to kneel.
"I'm sorry, but giving up isn't on my agenda today..."
Dennis said. He then got up and took off his coat and putted it on properly. He then walked towards the future Dj with determination. Nothing couldn't stop him from what he wanted to do, not even his friends.
"Guys, no matter what happens here. We will always have each other's backs."
Dennis said to his friends. They all then smiled and prepared themselves for what the future awaits.
"So be it..."
The future Dj said. Suddenly, his eyes glowed as bright as red. Making him focus on his opponents. Then he took the first move and ran at Dennis. Charging in with a right fist. As Dennis saw this, he took a step back and moved to his left to counter. He spun around while raising his right leg that ended hitting the future Dj's face. Stumbling him back, but he gets up and continues his charge. As he gets close, his younger self steps in and lower kicks his legs, but he jumps over it.
"Dennis heads up!"
Dj said. Dennis heard him and he reacted by doing a crouch spin, followed up by getting himself up by doing an upper cut. He had the perfect position to send a hard blow to the chin, but his opponent knew his move all too well.
The future Dj then stops it with a hand grab and pulls Dennis on top of him. He was about to throw him hard on the ground, but Spike came in by flying and grabs Dennis to prepare him for another attack.
"Get back here!!"
The future Dj said. He then chased Spike and Dennis. As he ran towards them, Owen saw an opening to intercept.
"Oh no you don't!!"
Owen said as he takes aim and shoots at the future version of Dj. He shot three times, but his opponent dodged it.
"You must understand by now that your shots won't work on me!"
"I wasn't aiming at you, I was aiming at him!"
Owen said. He pointed at Dennis and the future version of Dj turned around and saw that Dennis had his left eye glowing, that nullified the incoming shot.
"Shadow mode..."
Dennis said in a low tone of voice. His body got covered by his own shadow. It created a black mist that made it hard to see his body.
"You think that's going to stop me!?!"
"No... But this is..."
Dennis then extended his left hand and walked towards his enemy. Everyone else walked away to avoid any confrontation.
"Black ice... Frozen edge..."
While Dennis's hand turned into black ice, it extended into a long sword's blade made of ice. He then points it out on the future Dj and walked towards him.
"I see you know how to use the darker element of magic. I'm surprised that you can even endure it."
The future Dj said. Dennis was confused by what he said, but he stopped moving after sensing another presence growing nearby. He looked around until he looked up and soon realized what was inside.
"That's no simple orb... That's a nest!?!"
Dennis asked out loud. After realizing what it was, it was only a matter of time before it hatches.
"Finally!! You know, understand the danger you are in. Now I will say it again, surrender now or die here!!"
"Never!!"
Dennis then ran towards the future Dj. As he got close, the nest was slowly hatching. Everyone else paying attention to it, they forgot about their enemy.
"Wait, Dennis, get away from him!"
Spike said. He then went to Dennis, but as soon as he tries to stop him. The nest finally hatches, revealing a shadowed figure and sees Spike. It then lands on him and renders his movements. Dennis then stops and turns around and sees Spike on the ground.
"What is that thing?"
Dennis asks.
"That is the one and only Emperor."
The future Dj said. He then kneels down at him as his presence struck fear into everyone.
"Where am I...?"
The Emperor asked. First, he saw they turned the ground into ice. Then he looked at everyone and saw that Dennis has his shadow still active.
"That does not belong to you anymore..."
The Emperor said. Dennis felt something bad was going to happen. He took a step back, and the Emperor vanished from his eyesight with Spike.
He then reappeared behind Dennis and had his right hand on Dennis's left shoulder while holding Spike on his left arm. He then took away Dennis's shadow mode. It was slowly killing in the process that made him kneel by force.
"Dennis, Spike!!"
Dj screamed. He tried to go help Dennis, but his future self was standing in the way. Owen saw this and took aim, but he lost his will to pull the trigger.
"Let them go!"
Donte said. He went towards the Emperor and stabbed him in the back, but it did nothing to him. The future Dj then moved towards Donte and grabbed to pin him on the ground. Dennis friends couldn't do nothing to save him. As time passed by, he ended up blacking out. He stumbles to the frozen ground with no reaction.
"This can't be happening..."
Dj said to himself. He went to the ground on his knees, unable to believe that Dennis was defeated.
"You have broken their spirits, my lord. What do you want to do now?"
The future Dj asks. As they looked at the Emperor, he was already taking physical form. Snow white skin, silver eyes, two obsidian crystal earrings, light gray hair, wearing a stylish dark gray fur coat with dark blue pants and black glossy shoes.
"This boy I am holding, he seems altered in away. I want to take him with me and turn him into one of my subjects."
The Emperor said. The future Dj understood what he wanted. He then preceded by knocking out Donte.
"Understood my lord."
The future Dj stands up and points towards his younger self with his open left hand to create a portal. It was a white portal. Similar to the one that goes into the simulation.
"After you my lord."
The future Dj bows down to the Emperor, showing the way.
"None of you all follow us, if you know what's good for ya."
The Emperor said. He then went into the portal, followed up by the future Dj going in. The portal then closed moments later from the other side. As the battle ended in a crushing defeat. Dj could get up from his knees to reflect on what happened today, but it didn't last long after remembering that Dennis was still on the ground. Donte then woke up and wondered what happened to everyone. He saw Dj get up, but their friend Spike was missing.
"Hey Dennis, get up. The fight is over."
Dj said, but there was no response. He walked over to Dennis and saw that he was bleeding out from his back.
"Dennis!!"
Dj screamed out Dennis's name out of rage, he then picked up Dennis. Owen and Donte wondered what was going on until they saw a drop of blood land on the ground. With nothing else to be said, they took Dennis back to the house to treat his injuries.
As a few hours pass. Lota was wrapping Dennis with a bandage inside the room he woke up today. They gathered everyone in the same spot, wondering what happened to him.
"So... Can one of you explain what the hell happened?"
Mora asked. It annoyed her that someone could take down Dennis before she could fight him.
"A new enemy came out from a nest and took away Dennis's shadow mode... He and my future self escaped with Spike being their hostage..."
Dj said to Mora. During Dj's talk, Lota finished tending to Dennis's injuries. She tapped Owen's shoulder to simply asking for help to move Dennis.
"I'm going to go after them!"
Yen said. He was standing in front of the door and was ready to go for a fight, but Ace placed a hand on his right shoulder and shook his head. It made Yen stop from taking any unnecessary actions for the moment, such as to go in by himself to get payback for his father.
"Calm down, I know you want to do something, but we need a plan..."
Mora said. As they thought of a plan, Dennis ended up waking up. They were all surprised that he woke up. Lota quickly went over to check on him, but he got out of the bed.
"Dennis, are you okay?"
Owen asked. Dennis didn't respond. He was not in the mood for a conversation and he made it clear by simply giving a face expression of a person who has lost interest. No one dared to do something except for Mora. She went to Dennis and stood in front of him.
"Now listen here... Don't you dare run off to do something stupid like going solo! That's basically suicide!"
Mora said to Dennis. He then sigh and looked at Mora into the eyes. Dennis saw anger, frustration in her that made him apologize to calm her down.
"Sorry about that... I was just tired..."
Dennis then tried to laugh it off, but his left eye glowed and forced him to pass out. After that, they placed Dennis to rest in his room while everyone else planned for away to rescue Spike.