The Road to Flowerfield

The next morning, Eclipse Zero departed Lunaris Sanctum, setting out on the two-day journey to Flowerfield Village. They traveled quietly at first, the silence heavy with the events of the previous day.

As they walked through the rugged terrain, Hugo remained distant, lost in thought. Stella, equally troubled, trailed behind, hesitant to break the tense silence.

By midday, the group paused at a small clearing to rest. Lena, noticing the lingering tension, sighed quietly, nudging Stella gently.

"Just talk to him," Lena murmured softly. "He's beating himself up more than you know."

Stella hesitated but eventually nodded. Gathering her courage, she slowly approached Hugo, who stood alone at the edge of the clearing, gazing into the distance.

"Hugo," Stella began softly, "Can we talk?"

Hugo turned slightly, eyes reflecting deep regret. "Stella, I—"

"Wait," Stella interrupted gently, stepping closer. "I'm sorry for what I said last night. I was angry and scared, and I let my emotions get the best of me."

Hugo shook his head. "No. You were right. Voltra Mode pushes me toward something dangerous, something I'm not sure I can control."

Stella placed a reassuring hand on his arm, meeting his troubled gaze. "But you did control it. You stopped yourself when it mattered most—because of who you are."

Hugo looked down, still uncertain. "I almost lost myself, Stella. I don't want to hurt anyone—especially not my friends."

She smiled softly, reassuringly. "You won't. We're here for you, Hugo. If Voltra pulls you into darkness, we'll be the ones to pull you back. You don't have to face this alone."

Hugo exhaled slowly, relief washing over his expression. "Thank you, Stella."

She squeezed his arm gently. "We'll get through this—together."

Behind them, Lena smirked softly. Ethan and Darius exchanged amused glances, while Nathan watched curiously, still figuring out their dynamics. Iris observed quietly, smiling subtly.

Feeling lighter, Hugo nodded firmly. "Let's get moving."

With renewed unity, Eclipse Zero continued toward Flowerfield Village, ready to face whatever truth awaited them.

Deep within the Dominion's hidden fortress, in a dimly lit hall lined with obsidian pillars, Saphira stormed toward Xander, fury blazing in her amber eyes. Despite her wounds, pride and anger carried her forward.

"Xander!" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage. "Why didn't you warn me about Hugo's new power? You practically handed him Voltra Mode! He nearly killed me!"

Xander stood unmoved, arms crossed casually, a subtle smirk on his face. His expression was calm—almost amused.

"Oh? I thought the great Crimson Fang could handle herself. Perhaps I overestimated you."

Saphira growled, stepping forward dangerously. "You arrogant—"

Before she could finish, darkness surged through the hall, suffocating and oppressive, silencing both commanders immediately.

From the shadows emerged a tall, imposing figure cloaked in obsidian armor etched with glowing Arcana runes: the Arcane Sovereign, supreme leader of the Neo Arcane Dominion. Their voice echoed darkly, authoritative and chilling.

"Enough."

Both commanders froze instantly, tension filling the air as the Sovereign stepped between them, dark eyes piercing through the shadows.

"You disappoint me," the Sovereign's voice rumbled. "Saphira, your reckless pride led to a humiliating defeat. You underestimated the enemy and ignored your instincts."

Saphira lowered her head bitterly, unable to meet their gaze. "Forgive me, Sovereign."

The Sovereign turned toward Xander, eyes narrowing sharply. "And you, Xander. Your obsession with testing Hugo's limits has endangered our plans. By forcing Voltra Mode upon him, you've awakened a power he may eventually master."

Xander's expression darkened slightly, bowing his head reluctantly. "I believed it was necessary—"

"You acted impulsively," the Sovereign interrupted coldly. "This failure has cost us valuable leverage."

Silence filled the hall once more, the tension thick enough to cut.

"Both of you will rectify your mistakes," the Sovereign continued harshly. "If you fail again, I will personally see to your punishment."

With that final warning, the Arcane Sovereign vanished into the shadows, leaving the commanders alone in heavy silence.

Saphira shot Xander a cold glare. "This isn't over."

Xander smirked, unfazed. "No. It's just beginning."

As the tense silence lingered between Saphira and Xander, footsteps echoed sharply through the shadowed hall. Both commanders turned as Kael, the Arcane Revenant, approached, his pale features and ghostly armor illuminated faintly by dark Arcana.

Kael paused calmly, his cold eyes briefly assessing the tension between them. Without waiting for acknowledgment, he spoke, voice smooth and emotionless.

"My spies have confirmed Eclipse Zero's movements. They're headed to Flowerfield Village."

Xander's expression immediately shifted into a dangerous grin, eyes flashing eagerly. He chuckled softly, his amusement echoing coldly through the hall.

"Well, isn't this perfect," Xander said, voice dripping with dark anticipation. "Hugo's finally ready to face his past—and test his newfound power. This couldn't have worked out better."

Kael tilted his head slightly, calculating. "Shall I arrange an ambush?"

Xander shook his head decisively. "No. This is something I must do myself."

Saphira narrowed her eyes skeptically. "You'll face Eclipse Zero alone?"

Xander's grin widened dangerously, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Of course. Hugo's strength will only reach its potential through me. It's time we settle things personally."

Kael watched carefully, unreadable. "Very well. I will inform the Sovereign of your decision."

Xander nodded confidently, darkness rippling gently around him. "Tell them this will end one way or another. Flowerfield Village will be our final battlefield."

With that, Xander strode confidently from the hall, leaving Kael and Saphira behind in uneasy silence, both fully aware of the stakes now set in motion.

Night settled quietly over the camp. The gentle crackle of the fire blended with the soft breathing of their sleeping companions. Everyone was exhausted from the journey—everyone except Hugo and Iris.

Hugo sat near the fire, gazing thoughtfully into the flickering flames, lost in his thoughts. Iris, sensing his troubled state, approached quietly, taking a seat beside him.

"You can't sleep either, huh?" Iris asked softly.

Hugo shook his head slightly, giving her a small smile. "Too much on my mind."

Iris tilted her head, her silver eyes studying him carefully. "Worried about Flowerfield Village?"

He nodded slowly. "Partially. Facing the past isn't easy, even after a thousand years."

She paused thoughtfully, then gently shifted the conversation. "And Stella?"

Hugo glanced up sharply, slightly caught off guard. "Stella?"

Iris smiled faintly, reading his expression clearly. "Yes, Stella. What do you think about her?"

Hugo hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "She's strong. A determined fighter and valuable friend."

Iris chuckled softly, shaking her head. "That's not what I meant, Hugo."

He glanced away awkwardly, feeling oddly vulnerable. "Then...what did you mean?"

Iris's voice softened, filled with gentle patience. "How do you feel about her?"

Hugo stared silently into the fire for a long moment, clearly conflicted. When he finally spoke, his voice was uncertain—almost fragile.

"Honestly, I don't know."

Iris smiled softly, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "That's alright. Just don't forget—immortal or not, your heart deserves to feel. Don't push away those who care for you."

He exhaled slowly, nodding quietly. "I'll try."

They sat together in comfortable silence, both reassured by the quiet honesty shared beneath the stars, as the journey toward the truth continued.

The sun rose softly, casting warm golden hues over the quiet countryside as Eclipse Zero resumed their journey to Flowerfield Village. The tension from the previous day had eased, replaced by a comfortable silence as they walked.

Ethan, curious and wanting to break the lingering quiet, glanced toward Hugo. "Hey, Hugo—you mentioned your master before. What was Albert like?"

Hugo chuckled softly, a fond smirk crossing his face. "Albert? He was... something else."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Hugo shook his head, smiling wryly. "He was cocky, always boasting about his skills—especially around women. He never let an opportunity pass without flirting. Honestly, calling him perverted would be an understatement."

Lena laughed lightly. "Seriously? That's who trained the legendary Hero of the Eclipse?"

Hugo nodded, amusement flickering in his eyes. "It's true. He was also convinced that he was destined for greatness, constantly calling himself the 'Rising Star' for reasons none of us ever understood."

Nathan grinned, entertained. "He sounds nothing like how you described him at Lunaris Sanctum."

Hugo sighed, shaking his head with a fond smile. "He had his quirks, but behind all that bravado was someone brilliant and caring. He was a good teacher—when he wasn't distracted by his own ego."

Darius smirked, teasingly nudging Hugo's arm. "Sounds like he rubbed off on you Boss."

Hugo rolled his eyes. "Maybe a little."

The group laughed together, the tension of their upcoming journey momentarily lifted. For a brief moment, they felt more like friends simply traveling together than warriors walking toward their past.

As the laughter faded, Hugo's smile softened, memories of Albert bringing comfort—and strength—as Flowerfield Village drew ever closer.