Chapter 36: Let’s Free Mondunion

I found myself back in the castle of Mondunion. I didn’t know why. Honestly, I’m getting tired being sent to place without my consent, almost like someone has total control over me.

The Grand Hall stretched out before me, but the thrones stood empty. Not a single soul lingered in the vast silence.

Sunlight spilled through the tall windows, painting the marble floor in gold. It struck me as strange, under Niobeorth’s rule, there was never sunlight. This was the first time I’d seen it.

Then I heard it, the sound of children’s laughter.

I turned. At the entrance, a small figure peeked through the doorway. I couldn’t make out the face before the child pulled back, laughing, and darted away.

Without thinking, I chased after him.

It was a boy with long purple hair. The only person who has purple hair that I know is Adrian. But this wasn’t my memory, I realized I was watching someone else’s. It was clearly his.

He ran down the corridor, and two girls suddenly joined him, appearing at his side as if from nowhere. They laughed and shouted as they sprinted together, full of life.

But somewhere it felt like I do recognize them.
They have to Alina and Carmilla, before Carmilla had been reborn as Katarina.
Because Katarina told me her childhood and that she, her sister and Adrian grew up together.

Their joy echoed through the hall. Then, just as suddenly, Carmilla split away, veering off while Alina and Adrian dashed into the Hall of Embers.

I followed, stepping into the hall after them.

Suddenly, Adrian attacked.

I barely managed to dodge in time.

Seriously? I’m fighting Adrian inside his own head? Can I even take a break to process what is going on now?

We stood on opposite sides of the room, blades drawn. Adrian’s eyes locked on mine as he said,
"Let’s make this quick. Remember your mistakes."

“That’s easy to say, I don’t even know what mistakes I made.”
We circled each other, weapons raised, waiting.

I made the first move, lunging forward, but just like back in the Hall of Embers, he struck me without even moving.

I hit the ground hard, forced to rise again as he calmly resumed his stance.

What is this? What am I doing wrong?

This time, I tried slipping behind him, but the result was the same. He sent me crashing to the floor.

Frustrated, I stood and circled once more.
I don’t get it…

Adrian finally spoke, "I see you’re struggling. Well then, let me give you a hint."

Then he charged.

"What kind of hint is that?!" I snapped, bracing myself.

But this time, I parried. My footing held. The impact didn’t topple me, Adrian staggered instead, losing his balance.

This was my chance. My blade was ready. I struck, only for him to vanish like smoke.

"What the—?"

He appeared behind me, smiling.

Confused, I aimed my Dangatana at him. But Adrian simply turned away and walked toward the exit.

"Hey! HEY! Get back here!" I shouted, running after him.

I pushed through the door, only to find myself back in the Hall of Embers. The same place. The same room. But Adrian was gone.

Instead, the children from before stood before me, grown now, clad in their battle armor. Yet they weren’t fighting. They held each other tenderly, gazing into one another’s eyes with longing and love.
That’s Adrian and Alina.

Then a voice came from beside me,
"Did you finally understand what I wanted to teach you? Or are you still clueless?"

He caught me by surprise, especially because he was standing beside me, smiling at his own memory, he talked to me with a tone of respect, something that he never done before, mainly because it was Talas controlling him.
I thought back to every clash, every fall. The truth had always been there, I just hadn’t seen it.

"Is it… because I made the first move?" I asked.

"Indeed," the voice replied. "The moment you strike first, the outcome is already decided.
If someone dares to make the first move… know this—you’ll make the last.
That’s how I fight."

All this time… it was because I was the one who struck first.

"Patience," he said. "Let your opponent come to you. Then, when the moment is right, you strike with everything. That is what I wanted to teach you… at least, before I die."

"What?"

"Please… take care of her. Promise me you’ll protect her."

"Time out, What? No—I came here to save you."

"Save me? I tried to kill you. You barely even know me, and you still want to save a stranger?"

"Does it matter? I’ll save anyone, even if I don’t know them. I already lost a friend… losing you would only hurt more people."

"I don’t think many would care if I were gone."

"Don’t say that, you know it’s not true. You matter. To your allies, to your friends, to the king and queen… to the whole kingdom. And especially to Katarina and Alina."

Adrian’s eyes softened. "Alina definitely matters to me. But Katarina?"

Oh right, no one but me and Durgan knows that Carmilla reincarnated into Katarina. I stumbled for words.
"I mean… you know what I mean. Everyone knows—"

"Yeah. I know." He gave me a sharp look.
"You know what?" I asked.

"That Carmilla is Katarina."

"You knew?" I blurted. "Does anyone else know? Why didn’t you say anything? And how—how did you figure it out?"

"It was obvious. From the start, being near Katarina felt like Carmilla was still there. Then I overheard her with Durgan. I was waiting for her to tell me herself… but I guess she had her reasons."

I wanted to explain why Katarina had stayed silent and that she didn’t want to destroy what life they were building together, but Adrian cut me off.

"Listen. You don’t have enough time. I’ve trapped Talas in a deep corner of my subconscious. I can’t hold him forever. You have to kill me now."

"What? No. I told you, I came here to save you. I’m inside your head—maybe I can find a way!"

"And let Talas take another host?" His voice hardened. "Either you kill me… or someone else pays the price."

Takayuki’s words echoed in my mind. To kill Talas, you have to kill the host. But if Takayuki was right, I could separate them, only Talas would just latch onto someone else.

Adrian placed a firm hand on my shoulder.
"I trust you. Right now, your hand is gripping Talas’s core. You can end this. Activate your Magime—end it here."

I closed my eyes.
"I’m holding on because I need to hear this from you."

He nodded once, resolute.
"Then listen. Please—save Mondunion. Save Ashalondaria. Stop Niobeorth. And also…take care of Alina and Carmilla."

I swallowed hard and nodded.

The walls thundered, two heavy knocks. Talas was breaking through.

Adrian pointed toward the doors. "Go. I’ll hold him back. Leave."

"Leave? I don’t understand—I’m just inside your subconscious, how can I even leave?"

"Not just mine. Talas’s too. If he catches you here, he’ll take your body. I’m already dead no matter what, so I won’t let that happen to you now. That’s why you need to leave. Follow the light. Today, only three will die—Talas, Niobeorth… and me."

I hesitated at the door. "Adrian!"

He turned.

I held out my fist.

"…What are you doing?"

"It’s a culture thing. From my world. A way to say goodbye to a friend."

Adrian smiled faintly and bumped my fist with his.
"You know, if all this hadn’t happened… maybe we could’ve been rivals."

"Stop with the drama. Friends, not rivals."

He chuckled. "Whatever you say, Glitchwalker."

I turned and ran through the door and in the other side, there was the light, I hesitated for a moment I then I step one foot forward and then the rest.

The next instant, I was back in reality, pinned under Talas, Adrian’s body strangling the life out of me. But my hand was still inside the core.

I activated my Magime. Nova Bloom.

I met Adrian’s eyes, I closed my eyes and then I whispered to him, hoping that behind the control he could hear me, "I’m sorry."

I closed my fist. Light erupted. And his core shattered.

Talas’s health bar plummeted to zero.

Adrian’s body collapsed on top of me. I eased him aside, staring down at him.

I didn’t know how to feel. Relief? Grief? Both? In the end… it was my hand that ended him.

And I couldn’t help but to feel remorse, I really hoped there could have been another way.

After Talas’s defeat, the floating cages lowered to the ground, dissolving into nothing and setting everyone free.

Lady Merewyn, Serana, and Galtor approached me.
"You have defeated Talas, the Iron Titan," Merewyn said.

I lowered my head. "Yeah… but I also had to take Adrian’s life."

Galtor placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Listen, kid. Don’t let this break you. Adrian knew his fate—he embraced it. You didn’t just kill him. You freed him. Talas can never defile his body again."

"What about Princess Alina?" I asked quietly. "What do we even say to her?"

Serana’s eyes softened. "She’ll know he died for the right cause. But for now, she deserves to mourn."

Durgan arrived. "Alina is still unconscious."

Lady Merewyn explained, "She won’t awaken until Niobeorth is defeated."

"That’s why I’m here," I said firmly. "It’s time to settle this, once and for all."

Durgan frowned. "And the others? Where are they?"

I explained, "Every player was forced to log out after Takayuki destroyed the Everett Stone. Only two of us remain here. My Stone survived because of my glitching abilities."

"So you plan to fight alone?" Galtor asked.

I nodded. "But I need your help to save the hostages in Mondunion."

Durgan shook his head. "Even with us, it won’t be enough."

Galtor pressed, "What about your brothers-in-arms? Can they be brought here?"

"They can’t. All their Everett Stones were destroyed."

Lady Merewyn stepped forward. "Do you want me to summon your friends? I know a spell that can call heroes from another world."

"But they don’t have Everett Stones," I argued.

"They don’t need one. My spell works differently."

That made me pause. "Wait. I need to ask them first."

I opened the communication HUD. "Takayuki, patch me through."

"Go ahead," Takayuki replied.

Everyone appeared on the channel. I hesitated, then spoke,
"I don’t want to risk your lives… but will you come, if it means saving Ashalondaria and Omnikuro?"

Their response was immediate, every single one said yes.

I turned back to Lady Merewyn. "Do it. Summon them."

But before she began, she caught my arm.
"Before I do, I need a word in private," she said softly.

Merewyn placed her hands on my shoulders and leaned forward, pressing her forehead gently against mine.