Report and Setting Up The Next Phase

Pale moonlight freshly arose in Teldrium's midnight sky alongside the army of stars brimming the glimmering lights. Most citizens were already rested or spent their remaining time in their homes after the exhaustion of conducting several activities consumed them despite no fearsome supervillain invasion.

Gilbron was also one of the citizens who stood in front of his hotel room's windows, pondering at the brimming moon above. The longer he centered his sight toward the moon, the brighter the orange light glistened through his eyes. The flow of orange energies bound on the back of his neck, inhaling a riveting sense as he widened his grin.

"I cannot wait tomorrow to test my current power," The Young Man uttered, moving his hand to the pendulum necklace. "Especially facing the Nightmare of Anthonian's himself, Don Golzulin."

"His infamous reputation is the most thrilling thing I ever heard," Gilbron stated, rubbing his chin

"I believe Casmine already completed the mission I assigned," The Young Man added, rotating his intrigued sight to the right.

A pair of the solidified bright blue holographic projections of the small glasses stood on the top of the table, becoming the main interest of The Young Man's eyes. Gilbron's sharp sight was also scanned at the tall transparent green bottle containing the ghastly yellow tequila, broadening his smirk.

Pondering time for The Young Man was concluded when the thumping noise of the door being slid entered his ears. He swiftly turned his stare toward the door and dropped his delightful smile with the guest. A close companion, Casmine walked into the room, greeting Gilbron with a cheerful grin.

"Great, you are finally here, Casmine," The Young Man said gladly, focusing his sight at his close companion who stepped closer to the table.

"How's The Nightmare of Anthonian?" Gilbron asked curiously, grabbing the bottle and pouring the two glasses. "Does he want to cooperate with you?"

Casmine sighed in relief, "Luckily, yes, Gilbron. He was sure ready to create havoc in Teldrium."

"Excellent news," The Young Man praised, putting the bottle and gently giving the filled glasses to Casmine.

"Luckily, it went smoothly," Casmine replied, accepting the offer from The Young Man and sipping the glasses briefly. 

The Young Man drank a little drop of the tequila and smiled curiously, "How do you convince him?"

Casmine exhaled a burdensome air from her throat as she moved closer to the tequila glass and placed it on the table. She repeatedly scratched her left arm before switching her assertive glare toward The Young Man, convincing him to raise his captivated eyebrows and departing the orange energy on his back.

"Simply framing you the killer of his close friend," Casmine confirmed, closing her eyes shortly. 

Gilbron snapped his fingers, "Is it the man who was turned into your first victim, Galerior Tremerior?"

"That one. Whenever I killed my victims, I stole their memories too," Casmine said, licking the left side of her lip. "And of course, I obtained more detailed information about Don Golzulim from his memory."

"Seducing him will not work because he is not a man who can be easily consumed by lust, Because of it, I chose to lie as Galerior lover and frame you as his killer," Casmine explained letting out an apology by bowing her head. "I'm sorry Gilbron."

Gilbron drank all the remaining tequila and put it onto the table, surging the embarking orange energy throughout his back. Instead of falling into resentment, The Young Man widened his thrilled smile and proudly tapped his close companion's shoulder, firing up the challenging spirit

"No need to worry, Casmine," The Young Man said, vanishing the orange energy after he pointed his thankful smile toward his close companion and stepped forward. 

"I can easily adapt to the situation," The Young Man added, rotating his fascinated stare to Casmmine who raised her impressed eyebrows.

"Besides, Don Golzulin is easier to let loose his full power especially with him having a personal grudge against me," Gilbron speculated. 

"Usually, human emotions such as rage allow them to go all out in a fight," The Young Man proclaimed

Casmine giggled, "You're not wrong."

"Are you ready to face The Nightmare of Anthonian tomorrow?" Casmine asked, expressing her amazement toward The Young Man. "From what I see now, you sure ready to pummel him."

"Not just ready, I was born to prepare to challenge him," The Young Man remarked confidently. 

Casmine clapped her hand, "Good to hear that, Gilbron."

Afterward, The Young Man grabbed the pendulum necklace, closing his eyes shortly as he grasped the enthralling sensation. A sensation of challenging The Nightmare of Anthonian the next day had fueled Gilbron's enthusiasm, luring his close companion to open her grin proudly.

…

***

On the upper side of Langorold presented a horde of colossal gray rocks floated on almost every area of the violaceous cloudy sky. Each of the rocks contained the giant green gems planted below and a small island being carried on its upper part, blistering the bone-chilling gales as the smaller rocks were shelled by ice.

Lifeforms such as animals or even plants might not appeared on the islands, but an echoing noise of the vortex dancing occurred. More specifically, a rectangular-shaped colossal rock on the edge right of the space showed a massive building neatly planted in the middle of the island.

A glassy and shimmering magenta building taking the shape closely resembling the head of the man showing his prideful smirk, mostly occupied the island spaces. Jade and amber sprightly gleams illuminated within the building's eyes, producing the vortex bolts that roam on above.

Two dark poles tightly latched on the top of the building's head, fulminating the pitch-black smoke and broadcasting throughout the cloudy sky. A forging activity currently occurred as the loud noise of mashing fire, electrocuting zaps, and the slamming steel, echoed from the building.

Inside the building, a mammoth-size maroon metal orb safely constrained by the magenta bubbles levitating in the center of the room. Below part of the orb, a wave of amber lightning bolts folded it and sluggishly generated the piece of the maroon metal part. A pair of crimson flames soared on the side parts of the orb, polishing the metal frame.

Beside the spot for the orb, a floating holographic jade hammer automatically slammed onto the lengthened maroon metal part. Every time the hammer landed, a shrouding jade mist engulfed the frame and hardened the metal. Sprinkling bluish particles constricted the hammer's handler.

The forging activity of the newest weapon was sharply being watched by Viscable who stood on the rectangular hologram of magenta board gliding on the left above. The Ace Duelist crossed his arms and precisely locked his watchful stare toward the magenta orb, tapping his left elbow.

"Although I already spent around three months in Langorold time, the perfecting phase for this weapon might take more than a year," The Ace Duelist mumbled, departing his crossing arms.

"If I released it today, it probably not be enough to pulverize the annoying cosmic being. Even though I added his blood, it's not speeding up the process" Viscable bickered. "I didn't expect the early phase of my journey to encounter a mighty foe such as Pendoswing."

The Ace Duelist brazenly folded his left knuckle and shouted, "Regardless, I, Gdark, always ready for anything that comes to him."

Suddenly, a hesitation fueled his mind when The Ace Duelist steered to the left and pondered at one holographic projection of the photo levitating on the azure blue table. He slowly walked closer, unveiling a picture of his 6-year-old self being cheerfully smiling while carried by his father on the back who also smirked at the camera. Moreover, the photo also displayed his mother standing on the right, chuckling sheepishly. It poured a yearning thought as Viscable heavily panted.

"Apology to you, Mother, I couldn't give up my current path," Viscable spoke reluctantly, hissing in desperation. "Even though I have a semblance of regret for badly treating you, it's only the way severe our attachment."

"The ten years of training I finished must have a fantastic or satisfying result," The Ace Duelist affirmed. "Which is completing to become the best. I even promised never to waste it."

Viscable grunted and steered his sight from glancing at his family picture, "I have to admit this…"

"You all are a good parent. Always care about my wellbeing, and are willing to accept me no matter what I am," The Ace Duelist confessed. "Especially your father. I'm quite thankful that you love to see my newest creation and even support my choice to enter the Superhero world."

"It's just I'm a bad son in both of your eyes. A son who only cares about fulfilling his personal desire," The Ace Duelist added. 

The Ace Duelist inhaled the huge chunk of air from his surroundings and placed his knuckle on the chest. Then, Viscable rotated his watchful stare at another photo gliding on his left, gasping in reluctance the longer he observed it. The holographic photo revealed to record a past moment of young Prila smiling and hugging his younger self who only showed a prideful grin.

"And you're right Prila, I could easily marry you now and become a family man," The Ace Duelist admitted, throwing his face from the photo of his younger self and taking a few steps forward. 

"However, I won't let it happen," Viscable added, emitting the magenta particles throughout his backpack. "I'm not going to let fate determine my life choice."

 "Instead, I'll be the one who does it!!" The Ace Duelist remarked.

More rounds of magenta particles stormed off from the triangular backpack, granting him to hover and sluggishly dash at the newly forged weapon. The two holographic photos of his past were tossed aside by the large wind from the thousand particles on the backpack. Viscable firmly lifted his neck and tilted his head to the right.

"Perhaps there is another reality where I chose to become a family man and a good son," The Ace Duelist remarked, propelling his palm and firing off the gust of magenta particles on the front. 

"Or maybe a reality I became a simple Superhero who only fought bad guys or saved innocent people," The Ace Duelist added.

"I'm sure I will not share the same fate as the others!! The Ace Duelist shouted, flying closer to the orb. 

The Ace Duelist reluctantly sighed and assumed, "I believe there will be time….my humanity or even the heroic reputation can be sacrificed in order to fullfill the requirement of achieving my goal"

Afterward, a new flock of bluish holographic sparkles emerged in front of The Ace Duelist's naked eye, retreating his palm that vanished the particles. The sparkles formed into the holographic board that became the main interest for Viscable darting his observant sight, jiggling his throat in delirium. 

A picture of Pendoswing cosmic form ignited the fiery spirit within with the backpack bestrewing a thousand particles that clouded the elongated board area. The Ace Duelist even raised his opened palm to the side, illuminating the dazzling magenta light through his ensnared eyes.

"If I could beat you at your best, it proves I have a better chance to face all the future challenges awaiting me," The Ace Duelist asserted, gathering the surge of magenta particles on his fingers. 

Viscable pointed his finger to the sky and stated assertively, "God, cosmic being, otherworldly entity, sorcerers, and other superpowered life form you all will soon tremble before my might!!"

A dazzling wave of magenta flashes loomed over the orb as The Ace Duelist hoisted his other hands and withdrew his pointing fingers. The touch of the flashes sped up the motion of the wrapping lightning as it continuously spiked the part below. Even the crimson flames aggressively swarmed the orb, flicking the shining sprinkles from the newest polished part.

"And I, Gdark, would love to topple powerful beings in the past too," Viscable mumbled, tittering.

"Including you, The Legendary Blazing Hero, Sparror!!" The Ace Duelist remarked boldly, announcing his vigorous ambition of one day challenging a living being possessed with incredible feats from the past.

…

***