Chapter 119 — Return of Gaius, The Trial of the Sun

Sakolomé watched the sky, still motionless, as if frozen in anticipation.

— Looks like he's not coming anymore… he murmured, almost to himself.

Rivhiamë, in his thoughts, furrowed her brow slightly.

(I doubt it.)

Sakolomé shrugged.

— Whatever…

He then turned away from the heavens, returning to the group. Barely had he taken a few steps when he felt curious, almost wary eyes fixed on him, as if he had become a stranger among his own.

— What's going on? Why are you staring at me like that? he snapped.

Grafay rushed over, eyes wide.

— Dude… since when are you this strong?

Salomé approached as well, scrutinizing him without shame.

— Are you sure you're my big brother? Maybe some alien took your place or something?

Sally, a bit behind, had straightened up and was silently observing him.

Between Grafay, Salomé, and Sakolomé, the atmosphere had become light again, almost comical.

— Come on, Salomé, stop inspecting me like that, it's weird! protested Sakolomé, laughing.

He looked up… and then met Sally's gaze. She smiled softly at him. He returned the smile, more sincere, calmer.

(He's changed so much…) thought Sally, impressed.

(He's become incredibly strong… It's hard to believe it's the same person. What really happened between him and his brother to bring him here?)

But just as the atmosphere seemed about to become peaceful again, a brilliant light split the horizon.

In the distance, a figure advanced, bathed in a burning aura of rage.

Gaius.

Sakolomé saw him first. His gaze darkened, his smile faded. The others, still caught up in their laughter, had noticed nothing.

— Step aside. Now! he ordered, in a sharp tone.

Grafay blinked, taken aback.

— Huh? What…?

But it was already too late.

With a sudden crash, Gaius appeared directly in front of Sakolomé. The shock of their confrontation was brutal, lightning-fast. The shockwave threw the others to the ground like leaves swept by a storm.

Nairo, mouth agape:

— What speed…!

Grafay, trembling:

— What power…!

The arms of Sakolomé and Gaius collided and remained stuck, frozen in a titanic clash.

Gaius grinned predatorily.

— Not bad… I'll finally be able to unleash on you!

He suddenly stepped back and struck with all his might. Sakolomé dodged with a fluid step and immediately countered, his fist plunging into Gaius's stomach with incredible violence.

— Bouhaaa!!!

Gaius spat a mixture of saliva and blood, staggering under the blow. But Sakolomé gave him no respite.

He charged and unleashed a flurry of blows: left, right, again, again… Gaius bent beneath the storm. He was no longer the same man — his fierce aura seemed to collapse blow after blow.

Sakolomé ended the series with a powerful kick under the chin. Gaius was lifted into the air, spinning on himself.

Without losing a moment, Sakolomé caught him by the throat mid-air and slammed him violently to the ground.

— Listen to me well, Gaius. You have no chance to beat me, do you hear?

Gaius, panting, struggled fiercely.

— Who do you think you are?!

He opened his mouth wide and spat a wave of destructive energy straight at Sakolomé's face. But the latter simply tilted his head, dodging the attack with a sharp movement.

Still in control, he lifted Gaius like a rag doll and threw him into the air with a brutal toss.

Sakolomé immediately followed. He bent his arm, wrapped it with the other hand, and declared:

— Killer Punch!!

BLAAAM!!!

The blow pierced the space. Gaius was propelled so violently he disappeared from the atmosphere, launched far from the planet.

In space, the warrior staggered. He shook his head, enraged.

— No… No… NOOOOOOOO!!!

Unleashed, Gaius stretched out his arm. A black orb appeared in his palm, growing at a terrifying speed. In an instant, it reached the size of the moon.

— You will ALL perish!!!

The orb was launched. It descended slowly toward Earth, but its influence was already palpable: shockwaves shook the entire planet. The raging oceans formed colossal tsunamis, the earth's crust cracked under pressure. The world plunged into chaos.

Salomé, panicked:

— If that orb hits Earth… it will be completely destroyed!!

Sakolomé, still in the air, remained impassive. Then, a calm smile appeared on his face.

— It will never touch Earth.

Like a living javelin, he charged straight into the celestial orbit. With a single motion, he pierced the orb.

In an instant, it was annihilated.

His hand outstretched, Sakolomé continued his course toward Gaius at a lightning speed.

Gaius, eyes wide:

— Wha… What is that?! HOW did he do that?!

Sakolomé appeared before him like a specter. He grabbed his face with a full hand.

— You're far too dangerous to keep fighting here.

And without waiting, he rushed through space, dragging Gaius with him, far, ever farther from the blue planet.

— Let me go! LET ME GO, DO YOU HEAR?!! — yelled Gaius, struggling.

But they were already above the Sun.

In a flash, Sakolomé threw Gaius toward the burning star. The latter barely caught himself before plunging in.

— Who do you think you are, you idiot?!

Sakolomé descended slowly, hovering before him, hard gaze.

— Here, I'll be able to attack you with all my strength… without risking turning Earth to dust.

He clenched his fists, a burning light already emanating from his arm.

— I hope you're ready.

As Sakolomé and Gaius disappeared into the blazing skies, a heavy silence settled.

Sally let out a quiet sigh, her gaze lost in the sky.

(Thank goodness he arrived in time… And that he's become so powerful…) she thought. (Otherwise… I would have been forced to use that power again.)

Grafay, suddenly serious, broke the silence.

— Guys… when did Sakolomé become this strong?

The others turned to him, surprised by his serious tone.

Sally, eyebrow raised:

— What do you mean, albino cactus?

Grafay lowered his eyes to his hands, observing them silently.

— That Sakolomé… might be stronger than all of us combined. Look how he humiliates Gaius… The very one who crushed us effortlessly.

He clenched his fists, then raised his head, a new flame in his eyes.

— Sakolomé… You never stop challenging me, even without trying. Huh?

Salomé, touched by his determination, gave a smile. Then she lowered her eyes to the ground, her heart vibrating with hope.

(Go on, big brother… You can change the future. I believe in it… with all my being.)

But suddenly…

— Well, well, well…

A voice echoed from the rubble, chilling, distorted.

Everyone turned toward the source of the sound. A silhouette slowly emerged from the shadows.

A man with long white hair, eyes red as embers, bare-chested, black wings spread on his back. His hands, red and sticky, seemed bathed in blood.

Their eyes widened, tension thickened instantly.

Nairo stepped back slightly, stunned:

— What… is that thing? A demon?

Salomé, squinting:

— Who is…?

The silhouette advanced confidently, a cruel smile on his lips.

— Don't you recognize me? I am Doctor Grijan.

Everyone's eyes widened.

— The… Doctor Grijan? repeated Salomé, shocked.

Sally, troubled:

— What happened to you?

Grafay, instinctively on guard:

— He clearly doesn't look like he's on our side…

Salomé lowered her head, a shadow in her gaze.

— That's right… He's here to eliminate us. Us, the Satsujin Otoko…

But Sally gently grabbed her hand.

Salomé looked up. Sally's confident smile awaited her.

— Don't worry. If Doctor Grijan goes after you… then he goes after us too.

Grafay nodded with conviction.

— The pink thorn is right.

ErMut added firmly:

— We are friends, after all!

A sincere smile returned to Salomé's face.

— You really are… amazing.

But in the distance, Grijan's voice growled again, mocking:

— Kof kof… Don't forget me, huh! I'm still here!

His gaze swept the ruins around him, filled with contempt.

— Pff… Not even capable of doing their job. Gaius, Lazareth, Shirōgane… Good-for-nothings.

He stepped forward. A shiver ran through the assembly.

His gaze fixed on Salomé, and his smile turned into a frightening grimace.

— I'll have to get my hands dirty myself to wipe out this bunch of vermin…

Salomé shuddered. But in her eyes, no more fear. Just a flame.

(I have… no intention… of letting him beat me.)

Grijan was about to leap at Salomé, his dark wings beating the air violently. But at that very moment—

BOOM.

A resounding crash tore the ground in a cloud of smoke.

A silhouette had just fallen from the sky.

Grijan stopped abruptly, eyes narrowed.

— Huh?...

He watched carefully, intrigued, as the smoke slowly cleared… revealing a familiar presence.

Salomé, a smile of relief on her face:

— Big brother…!

It was him.

Sakolomé.

He stood tall, dark gaze, carrying Gaius's inert body in one arm. The latter had regained his human form, unconscious, face covered in blood and sweat.

The wind gently swept Sakolomé's strands. He did not take his eyes off Grijan, his black, sharp gaze full of hostility. In response, Grijan stared back with equal intensity.

Sally, stunned, shouted:

— Sakolomé! What happened?! And why has Gaius returned to human form?!