Old friend

"We are enemies? Don't joke around… We're friends. I'm sorry that I didn't recognize you--"

Right before Noah's friendly approach, Noah's cheeks were slit by the invisible blade that just passed by. Surprise, Noah staggered back.

Seth's serious expression explains a lot already. He wasn't here for the heartwarming reunion. He's here to kill the man who ambushed his current comrades.

"Why Seth? Why join the bad guys?" Asked Noah while his head lowered down.

The man in question paused at first but then gave Noah the most genuine answer he could.

"Lots of things already change Noah. From the time, we are all disposed of by the facility after the cosmic war. All of those shitheads living life comfortably while running and fleeing like cowards… Noah, you should understand me more than anyone because you're like me. I don't want those guys to live an easy life. For that reason, I joined the "Ash terrorists"… I questioned their actions at first, but eventually I understood them… I don't want to fight you, Noah. For the sake of the old days. I think you should get away with your girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?!" Lumine cuts in.

"Hmmm… You two are not lovers."

"Noah is my knight. Nothing more nothing less."

Lumne replied with her face flustered red. Usually, in exchange for this Noah will say something, but his mind is consumed by his memories from the past.

He gripped his fist and glared at Seth.

"Choosing violence or peace… We are created to bring peace to everyone! There is no room for revenge for people like us. I disagree with their methods of how we are disposed of. My big brother died and we are all separated after running and running. We made an oath that we're going to run away from violence didn't we."

"I'm done running away Noah… Those weak must look up to the strong…"

"Looks like there is nothing to talk about anymore… Seth, this place was a bad location for us. Could we bring this fight outside." said Noah turning his back and walking steadily to the tunnel leading to the exit.

Seth didn't say anything, his action showed his agreement, and he followed Noah silently.

"Miss… Not girldfriend… You should get out with us too."

Lumine was back to herself. Her body was trembling and distrusted Seth because who knew what he could do while they were walking side by side.

"Don't worry, Lumine, Seth is a man of his word. We'll settle this outside fair and square."

Noah said.

Lumine dashed next to Noah and hugged Noah's arms.

"You're scaring me, Noah…" Lumine whispered. She lifted her face to Noah and saw tears dripping from his eyes to his cheeks.

Seeing one of his friends turning to the dark side must've hurt him so much. The past of the 13 cosmic weapons running fleeing from danger. Their promise of living together in peace in a place without violence.

All of those painful days. Seth was the same, his difference is that he cried too much already and nothing but despair was left inside his heart. This despair pushes him to the dark side and he takes revenge on the higher-ups that disposed of them.

"Hey, Are you two going to kill each other? You two are friends, right? Can we just settle this with a talk?"

Lumine suggested.

"There is nothing to talk about anymore… Man's last resort was to talk with their fist." Say, Noah.

"... Don't worry, Not girlfriend… Cosmic weapons don't kill each other. I'll just beat him up to a pulp."

Seth said casually.

Lumine was relieved but still, she was anxious about how this fight would go. Two cosmic weapons wielding terrifying power that could destroy the world. Of course, this event will only lead to unsightly things.

Eventually, a light shone ahead of the path leading the three outside the mines.

♦♦♦♦♦

In an open area, Noah and Seth stand opposite to one another. Lumine distances herself away in safety watching and praying that nothing bad will happen. This is not what she wished for.

"My ability is still far superior to you. You are nothing but a fish in my chopping board right now Noah."

"I've been looking forward to facing you again."

A heavy gust of wind blows toward their direction and just after the wind stops. Both men vanished from the ground their standing. Noah blasted himself high up, meanwhile, Seth charged at jet-like speed.

"Gravity Zone: Epicenter!"

"Spatial force: Absolute Barrier!"

Noah's gravitational force was canceled and Seth continued his way toward Noah and successfully delivered a solid punch to Noah's right cheek.

"Spatial Push!"

Noah was sent down but before crashing. He pulls himself and changes his gravity center upward, which results in his body being pulled high up again back to Seth for come back.

"Gravity-heavy fist!"

Noah's fist stopped from pressing forward. Seth floats still and looks at Noah with disappointed eyes. "Seems like you're still unable to break through my Spacial Margin… There is no way of winning for you, Noah."

Seth's eyes widened when he felt Naoh's hand just pressed forward.

"We're just like magnets with the same polar points. However, if I pushed with more strength. It's not impossible for my gravity to surpass your margin."

"But still you're gravity fist has its power decrease dramatically. With a punch as strong as a baby punch. How'd you win?"

"How about this? Gravity Retract!"

Seth's body sticks with Noah's fist and after that, he repulces Seth away in maximum output.

"Not done yet! Gravity zone: Full output! Epicenter!"

A far stronger version of Epicenter tried to pull Seth, but still, it didn't work. Seth was separated from the space around him because of his Spatial Margin.

"This is pitiful… You're wasting your energy."

Noah was still high up in the sky and pulled another technique.

"Change Gravity point!"

The earth rose up high and surrounded Seth.

"I understand now… You use your epicenter to soften the earth on the ground so that you can easily lift up with the Gravity change point… You're getting serious, Noah… I thought you were not going to kill me."

"This is nothing… I know… You'll survive." Noah said. "Gravity: Earth shell!"

The earth pieces clasp Seth and are molded into a giant orb. In a few seconds, the earth's shell exploded and turned into tiny little bits of rock.

"Spacial Pop… Now, it's my turn, Noah… Spatial… Huh?"

Noah is nowhere to be found.

And from the thick dust that came from the early shell shattering. Noah appeared right behind Seth at high speed.

"Maximum output: Gravity-heavy fist!"

Noah's fist connected blasting Seth down to the ground. Seth came down rolling and stopped only after crushing on a huge boulder of rock.

Seth's head bleeds and the moth vomits blood. For the very first time, someone was able to give Seth a decent strike. No, it was an incredible strike. This pain Seth feels felt memorable.

"Amazing… Noah… You sure don't slack around… You have my compliment. In my eyes, you truly starting to look like your brother now."

Seth said and stood up.

"I'll punch over and over again to make a sense out of you."

"To all of the remaining cosmic weapons… I was the strongest. I'm always the strongest… Playtime is over… Time to get serious."

Murderous eyes appeared From Seth. He made a gun-like gesture again and pointed it at Noah.

"I guess, I'll just sever all of your limbs."

An invisible blade flies toward Noah, but before it hits. Lumine jumped out of nowhere and stopped the invisible blades. There is no explanation for how she does it.

"Stop! This isn't right?!"

"Lumine…"

"This is not what you're fighting… This is a battle between old friends clashing their ideals."

"What ideas? Could you explain it to me? Also, you Noah what's with that expression? You're planning to kill him right? You two were saying like not killing each other, but you two are ready to do that right?! Friends must not turn against each other!"

"What did you know woman?" Seth realized something about Lumine. "I understand now… Noah, you have gone so low you bowed your head down to royalties. You are a traitor! That royal blood bullshits were the reason we never attained our freedom."

"No! That's not it, Lumine is from the flying kingdom… She's not one of those royalties."

Noah explained, but Seth laughed it off and replied.

"Kingdom? Then, that means she is my enemy… All royalties no matter where they came from are my enemies. I mean, come to think about it, who decided they're royal blood? What does royal blood mean? They're just greedy, perverted, shitty people who enjoy looking down on people like tools. Like how they use us in cosmic war… All royalties… When all of the monarchies were killed. All of us are equal, no more discrimination of blood. No more chosen ones. People can choose what they want in life. Everyone will attain freedom. A world like that is what I wanted to pursue and anyone in my way was enemies."

"I agree," Lumine said and continued. "I agree with what you said. Royal blood is just a lie of greedy people from the past. Someone from a long long time ago was so afraid of losing power and control he created this system. A monarchy. Chosen one. Peasants and royal blood. I despise that concept..."

"Lumine..."

"I live in a castle but have never been free. I want to choose my life according to what I want. I don't want to be a tool… I want you to understand that I'm not your enemy. I'm trying to change the world itself too. I'll become the princess of peace."

"Princess of peace?"

Seth looks directly at Lumine's face. Her determined expression and eyes on fire moved Seth's ideals. Seth took a deep breath and lowered his guard.

"Noah… You got stronger… But the next time I see you. That's the time we're going to kill each other."

"It's not over yet the Adult beasts…"

"About them, it's fine you can save them… It's over already. I took the children and made the beast men work for us to mine deep down reaching the place where the rock-eating worms were. Our plan was to make the rock-eating worm rampage around this area."

"What's the point of this?"

"I don't know… But is essential for killing the system and freeing everyone. Since your girlfriend has the same ideals as me. I think I'll let you two go."

"Where are you going?"

"That's none of you're business Noah… I'll pull some of my relevant comrades and leave this place for good. About the worms, they'll die in a few days. Rock-eating worms have a short life span after all. No need to fight all of them…"

With that said. Seth leaves Lumine and Noah alone. The girl stopped my unseen spatial blade. With her on Noah's side, there is probably a possibility that Noah could beat me down. I hate admitting this, but I could lose. I can't have myself defeated here. There are more important things I should be focusing on than this silly battle. Seth thought.

Noah after using too much energy crumples down on the ground and falls face-first.

"My body… I have to recharge." Noah paused and continued. "Lumine just who are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's like you know this is going to happen… You know that Seth is in the Mines…"

"I don't know anything."

Lumine said.

But Noah think it was a lie. The next instant, Noah lost consciousness.

♦♦♦♦♦

Moments later, the adult Beastmen were saved after the terrorists left the mines. They're all reunited with the kids. While Noah is unconscious, The beasts offer their gratitude by letting out two heroes to rest in the small town nearby. Lumine took the offer and both of them were carried by the beastmen back to their small town.

"My eyes are getting blurry…"

"Are you okay, missy?"

"I'm fine, just exhausted… I think I used too much energy earlier."

"Just rest, we'll lay you two down in a fluffy bed."

They don't look like bad people. Also, I doubt that they'll do bad things to me and Noah after saving them. I should just trust them and close my eyes… I'll leave everything to my tomorrow self.

Lumine thought and fell asleep because of energy exhaustion.