Chapter 352: Blackout State

"Kyle.. Kyle.." A soft voice called out in a soothing tone.

The presence of what looked like a shadowy figure, rather than a silhouette in black cloak stood still. Besides an unconscious young man with dark hair reaching his neck region.

"Kyle~ Remember what you’ve just been shown, you need it for what’s about to come." The feminine voice uttered in a low setting, with a bitter conflicted tone.

"I’m sorry I can’t be with you for a while, but I promise we’ll be together again. Someday." The voice concluded with a light gasp, her essence dismantling into tiny black fragments. Disintegrating into the atmosphere, carried out the windows by the wind.

"Li-lith?" He muttered without much strength, the name naturally coming out.

His eyeballs twitched under his eyelids, along with a sharp grunt escaping his mouth. Struggling with whatever was being pictured in his dreams.

....

Outside the room stood two guards in a sleek black battle suit, both holding a set of oddly shaped guns. Having a distinct futuristic design, with a set of three small glowing blue stones.

"Did you feel that?" Layla uttered with a feeling of unease, sensing a change in the atmosphere.

"I did. It might just be he’s finally waking up." Lucias calmly replied with a steady expression, but the slight trembling of his fingers wrapped around the energy blaster gun gave him away.

"What should we do? The king needs to be aware of this development." She issued feeling the rising of the energy coming from the room behind her.

It wasn’t like the normal release of aura’s like the king’s or any powerful individual, but a more wild and ominous discharge. Like corroded air filling the atmosphere with toxic pollution.

’The air has gotten more thinner.’ Lucias slightly frowned, noticing the shift in the atmosphere.

"Protocols are to inspect if he’s truly awakened first, then report to the king immediately." He blurted out, making layla’s pupil shrunk a bit.

’Not good. I didn’t actually think he’d go with that crap.’ She inwardly grumbled, dissatisfied at Lucias conclusion.

Clank! Clank!

The soft thudding of heels resounded in the narrow corridor, alerting their gazes towards the figure approaching.

"Princess Lumia! W-what are you doing here? It’s not safe to be this exposed." Lucias hastingly spoke, checking the surroundings for any other unfamiliar sights.

"I appreciate your concern Lucias, but I can take care of myself." Lumia boldly responded, stopping in front of the two.

"And besides~ I sensed a change in surrounding while passing by." She paused, a conflicted expression written on her face.

"Could it be he’s finally awake?" She asked, causing Layla to gulp a bit.

’Dammit this is bad. We can’t possibly give her such information or the king will have our heads beheaded.’ The innocent beauty reasoned, death the was the viable answer for disobeying the king commands.

"I’m afraid not princess." Lucias broke the ice, snapping both women’s gazes to him.

’This isn’t right, but I can’t risk our safety or her’s. We still don’t know what changes the world tears had on him.’ He thought, placing the safety of the inquisitive princess in his hands.

"You’re lying, the look in your eyes says it all." Ignoring the two, Lumia proceeded towards the door only to be blocked by Lucias.

"What are you doing?" She demanded, a bit infuriated by his actions. Clearly stating he’s hiding something.

"Forgive me princess, but I’m afraid no one is permitted inside this room. Except the king and miss Reze." Lucias calmly relayed, his mind made up.

"Really? Then riddle me this.. What’s the punishment for a space guard obstructing the orders of the next heir to the kingdom?"

"According to article 8, sector 9 of the constitution. Such act is regarded as treason and insubordination, punishable by torture, exile or death." He recited, prompting Layla to freak out more. Certainly not a fan how this conversation was escalating, between the future heir and a team leader of the 12 division of royal guards.

"I know you pledged your loyalty to my father, but you also swore an oath protect this kingdom. While I’m aware of the fact he’s considered a threat to the kingdom, he also saved a lot of lives willingly." Placing her hand on his shoulder, Lumia could literally feel lucias unsteady breathing.

"I’m sorry princess, but we can’t." This time it was Layla that spoke.

’I’ll have to just lie to her, but that could betray the trust she has in me when she eventually finds out. Still it’s better than getting beheaded.’ Layla inwardly contemplated, choosing the better option of lying.

Not responding immediately lumia’s gaze locked on to Layla. Lowering her head a bit, a light chuckle escaped her mouth.

"I see, so that’s how it’s going to be." Using the hand placed on Lucias shoulder, the black battle suit began vibrating.

"P-princess Lumia, you can’t possibly be-"

Lucias was cut off from finishing his words, his body abruptly sent flying by an unseen force.

Crashing into Layla, creating a path for Lumia to head to the door. Typing in a set of commands the door unlocked with a soft hum.

Taking a step forward, the latter’s body suddenly froze. Both red and white blood cells in her body reacting to a strange force, distorting the flow of balance.

"You’re not the only one who awakened an ability princess." Layla puffed her cheeks with a cocky smile.

’I-i can’t believe I’m doing it, this is insane!’ Layla mentally screamed, her body tingling along with beads of sweat dripping down her face.

"We’re sorry princess, but this is only way to ensure your safety." Moving out, there was a pair of blue handcuff, glowing with an ethereal light in his hand.

’Damnit! I didn’t think she could actually use her blood related ability.’ Struggling to break free it was futile, some blood seeping from her nose.

"Don’t try to fight it, it’ll only hurt more." Lucias cautioned, reaching her destination, about placing the cuff on her wrists.

"I see~" Lowering her head, it seemed like she’d accepted defeat and didn’t bother about rebellion anymore.

"Good. Thank you for-" Once again Lucias words were stopped, feeling his body go limp. Lifted in midair like a piece of paper, not flung back like before. Instead staying there, with the familiar bone crushing sound heard.

"W-what are you doing!? You’re killing him, stop it!" Layla yelled, shock evident in her eyes.

"Why should I? When I’m having so much fun." Lumia retorded with a sick smile plastered to her curved lips.

’This is bad, what’s gotten into her all of a sudden?’ Judging from the wild look in lumia’s eyes, it was clear she had no intention of stopping.

"Come on, why isn’t it working?" Layla frowned, feeling the connection with her ability weakening.

Warm blood sliding out from both her nose and ears, causing the beauty with pink hair face go pale.

’I’ve reached my limit.’ There was no doubt about it, prompting the sudden setback in the usage of her ability.

’Who was I kidding? A new awakener going up against a core member of the royal lineage, and future heir.

A weak sigh of acknowledgement settled on layla’s face, presented with the harsh truth of reality. And the fact she was nowhere near a match for Lumia.

"Please, let him go and do as you please with me."

Tilting her head to the side a bit, Lumia pupil widened watching Layla concede defeat this soon. The force compelling her body fading, restoring back full control.

"No." Lumia indifferently replied.

"N-not?! You can’t possibly be serious, he’s done nothing wrong! This was my idea, take me Instead?" Layla yelled, persuading the purple haired beauty which fell to deaf ears.

"Oh don’t worry, I’ll punish you both. But he’s also involved in this whole shenanigan, and even instigated it. Haha~ So sad." Cackling, the sick smile on her lips broadened.

...

Inside the room, a young man with black hair sat up straight on the bed. His eyes taking in his surroundings, accustomed to the room design.

"I’m back at Lumia kingdom, but how?" Kyle wondered.

Though his head slightly hurt, there wasn’t any shortage of memory. Vividly recalling the past events that’d transpired in planet kraken.

[Thank goodness, you’re finally awake.] The familiar soft voice spoke in his head.

’Snow.. I thought you’d chickened out on me and fled with another man.’ Kyle sarcastically replied with a hint of mischievousness. Earning a light chuckle from his system companion.

"Why am I back here? What about kraken and the others?" His eyes turned serious asking that question.

The last thing he remembered was supposedly being possessed, and the next moment he was back here. Without any traces of Yua and the rest, which could only mean one thing.

’They’re still back there.’ There wasn’t any other plausible case he could come up with.

[Huh? Kraken? Yua? What are you talking about?] Snow asked, her tone laced with confusion without a clue what Kyle was rambling on about.

"Are you kidding me? I mean -" His attention was shifted by a slight rumble, the sounds of fighting faintly heard through the walls.

Instinctively approaching the source, the steel door coincidentally opened?

Stepping out, his gaze locked on to the first figure that came into view.

"Lumia?"