#Fact 13: In the real world, one of Travis' favorite activity to pass time was to read books at a library. Indeed, this is what motivated Travis the most to pursue his dream of discovering the world.

~Travis's POV~

...

...

...

'What happened to me ?...'

'Am I asleep ?...'

It had all happened so fast...

My chest still hurt me a bit since the yellow helmet hit me there, and I really thought I died...

But without I understood how, I was able to get up and grab him, this time.

I didn't know how, but it was like I was so angry towards the yellow helmet man that I didn't stop to electrocute him, and then... I went back to space.

Well, it's not really space like where astronauts would go, but it was so similar and we could breathe.

In fact, that was just the place I went through each time I was teleported from a place to another all these times...

And once again, I didn't mean to go back there: I just wanted to stop the yellow helmet man and the first thing that came in mind was to grab him...

Then, we found ourselves at going to random places, and even in the sky !

Though, it looked like I had trouble with my superpowers: they looked well different since I woke up after being hit in the heart, and they were hurting me after using them for a small while...

Or maybe because I was tired, I don't know...

All I remember is to have released him and fell asleep...

'By the way... Where am I ?'

I couldn't hear anything around me besides my breath, and I felt like I was lying on the ground.

Wasn't I supposed to be flying ?

"..."

I slowly opened my eyes...

"!!!..."

'I'm still in space !'

'Where are the others ?!... Where is the castle ?!... And where is the Sacred Flame ?!'

That's what I was thinking about: I teleported again and found myself in that weird blue place again...

Something was wrong: each time I passed here, I was used to fly around...

But actually... I wasn't flying around !

"..."

'What's going on ?...'

I could still see the tornados, the wind blowing at a high speed in that blue void, and I could even notice a few white vortexes a bit far away from me !

But the thing was... everything was silent.

The place was quite cold, and the sound of the blowing wind wasn't there anymore although I could only hear that each time I passed here !

"H-hello ?"

Thankfully, I could still hear myself.

But I was kinda scared: I was truly alone in the blue space and it reminded me of the bad dream I had a while ago.

"... HA !"

What I looked down made me jump : just below my feet, there were still tornados and the blue space ! I really thought I would fall !

"?!..."

But strangely... I didn't.

I might be sitting on the ground, but I couldn't see it.

"..."

'But... how ?!...'

I slowly decided to stand up and looked down at my feet: there was this blue deep void which seemed to be so deep that I couldn't see the end, and watching this made me uncomfortable.

However, I could still walk in... like the ground was invisible.

"..."

I walked slowly, like I was used to, but I didn't fall and each of my steps were emitting a quiet but deep echo.

Finding myself in such an empty place gave me a strange feeling. It was like I was walking on a large glass plate...

I already told the Professor about that strange place, but he told me that he has never heard about it. Though, he was still very interested to learn more in addition to the world I lived, and maybe he will have a lot of work at searching more information !

In fact, me too I was curious: I somehow wanted to explore that place. Maybe I'll discover something interesting...

"..."

I continued to walk slowly when I noticed a shiny light appearing around each step I did.

I have no idea why it appeared, but I'm sure it will really useful to help me walking.

Poc !

"?..."

My foot slightly bunked something I couldn't see, but I could still see a light appearing around the impact.

Thanks to that light, I could figure out that it seemed like I was a front of a small wall...

Or...

"..."

I decided to raise my feet a bit higher and stepped on it...

"Wow..."

A light appeared !

'They are just... invisible stairs !'

I continued to climb them, with each stairs emitting a white light when I stepped on them.

Thankfully that light was there to help me see them !

Anyway, I continued to climb them when I finally reached an upper place where I walked quietly.

We could still see the tornados twisting at several tens of meters from here, and even a few white vortexes shining like stars from space.

Now, the light emitted were much larger. I didn't know why, but I still walked anyway.

Though, I feel still quite worried: I needed to go back at the castle and break the Sacred Flame's shrine to prevent the ritual...

Indeed, if I didn't hurry, the flame will explode and it will be the end of the world !

"..."

On the left, I noticed the blue smoke of the space being illuminated by a white light.

I decided to approach it quietly, when the radius of light emitting around my feet was suddenly cut in half.

"!!!..."

'Stop !'

'If I continue to go further, I will fall deep down the space !...'

However, I was still intrigued about that light and advanced very carefully, helping myself with the light to make sure I didn't fall.

Then I looked down.

'!!!... Is that ?!...'

...

These were a dozen of white vortexes which spined at the same place without colliding !

'Wow...'

I knew that we could move from a place to another if we pass there, but I've never seen so many gathered together at the same place !

A white pure light appeared at around the vortexes and were illuminating in the void of this soundless space. They looked as big as me, but 4 of them looked bigger and shinier.

There was also a light blue mist surrounding all of them, which looked like a large cloud filled of small stars.

'Woah !...'

I was very speechless: it was so beautiful that I couldn't turn away my eyes from these things. Indeed, I never had the occasion to contemplate them for so long before when I was flying in space !

"?..."

Without hearing anything, I saw the blue mist slightly moving around the smallest vortexes when the white light became less brighter !

I curiously looked inside them and... I was amazed.

Inside one of the vortexes... I could see a forest. A beautiful forest in the middle of the night which was shined by a soft light.

But this light didn't seem to come from the white vortex... It looked like it was bathed by the light of the moon.

It looked like the forest around S'warkii, but it was slightly different: there was a small clearing with a few high trees which was beautifully illuminated. I could even notices there was a small wind with the leaves of the trees which were peacefully moving.

'It's so beautiful...'

I looked inside another vortex and this time, I saw an ocean.

A deep blue ocean at night, but this time, there were waves breaking on what seemed to be a beach. The water looked still beautiful with the light of the moon, and even the waves themselves were wonderful !

Even at night, it gave me the envy to swim in the sea !

Anyway, I was pretty sure it looked like one of the beaches next to Rippletide where I slept.

"Oh !"

I saw a few fishes jumping out of the water !

'Flying fishes ! I've heard about them !'

There were many of them which were jumping above the wave !

They looked quite different with their purple tails and their spikes on their backs, but they had still amazing wings !

'Nature is so beautiful !'

'Let's see another one !'

I looked more one the left and saw a vortex showing a view of mountains.

It was still the night, but the landscape was astonishing: these mountains looked so high and so impressive, and there were countless stars which were shining in the night sky.

Indeed, I recognized that place: those were the same mountains I saw when I was at Cobblestone.

'The Thunder mountains !...'

I continued to watch these 3 vortexes in particular, as the others were still shining too much to see clearly, including the 4 biggest ones.

By watching these places, I felt like I was in a fairy tale.

Well, I wasn't really in a fairy tale since I was just watching through the vortexes like how I would watch something on TV, but still...

Though, these vortexes and the places they were showing were so beautiful that I could watch this for hours. Indeed, as I think about it, I couldn't still believe that I was able to visit all those various places in such a short time.

To be honest, if I haven't teleported each time, I wouldn't be able to see all of them...

And I wouldn't have met so much people...

Right now, I felt so peaceful...

'If only everyone could see this as well...'

'Maybe I will see another place inside these...'

"?!..."

Fshhhhhh...

'Did I just heard... something ?!'

I went back from my thoughts as I noticed something inside those vortexes.

There was a sort of dark red smoke, which suddenly started to surround the group of vortexes !

Fssssshhhhhhhhh !!!

This red smoke looked so menacing, and it really reminded me of Primrose's darkness magic... Except that it was much more frightening.

Fsssssssshhhhhh !!!

At a fast speed, this smoke tried to penetrate inside the vortexes, blocking all the light, but it didn't succeed.

However, it continued again, especially around the 4 largest ones ! This red smoke wasn't normal at all: it really acted like a person who wanted to enter in these places aggressively !

'I... I don't like that red smoke...'

'What would happen if that thing... manage to enter here ?!...'

There, I started to become worried... but very very worried.

"First time you this that thing ?", a voice told me.

"!!!..."

I flinched, as I really thought I was alone.

I turned to see the person who speak to me: the yellow helmet man !

"!!!..."

He was standing next to the edge while watching the red dark smoke !

A bit panicked, I prepared myself to fight him again and wanted to cross my fingers.

"...There is no point in fighting anymore. Don't you think you didn't have enough ?", he told me calmly before he added. "But if you want, you can still remain on guards, if you don't believe me."

"..."

I watched at him carefully: he was just watching down at the vortexes, and seemed like he wanted to take a break.

Indeed, he looked to be in such a bad state, with his uniform being damaged, his helmet being broken, and even his black coat was missing...

But of course, after everything he did to me and to the he others, I was still mistrustful...

Honestly, I really wanted to hit him again, to make him pay of everything he has done to the others and for wanting to destroy the world...

"..."

But... maybe that sounds crazy, but seeing him being so peaceful and exhausted made me feel bad. He looked as calm as he was when he saved me and Primrose in that desert from that red explosion made by her old boss.

Indeed, when I grabbed him and flew in space with him, I had to electrocute him to make sure he didn't leave. At this moment, I was so angry towards him that I couldn't stop to attack him with my lightnings and keep harming him more. I really thought I would have badly hurt him if I continued...

And even if he was bad, that didn't feel right to me.

"..."

So, I sighed while feeling ashamed about what I did.

Instead, I decided to speak to him... about something that made me wondering for a while.

"... Do you know what is that place ?"

"...Well. If you must ask...", he walked a little and raised his head while contemplating what we could call the sky, and answered. "We call this place the Blue Hell."

"The Blue H-hell ?"

"Yeah...", he nodded as he continued. "Maybe this doesn't look so hellish, but this place is stranger than you can ever imagine. In fact, this dimension represents the transition between the real world... and the virtual one."

"!!!..."

I didn't really think about that !

The yellow helmet man continued.

"That's right: if the real world and the virtual world were 2 train station, we could say that this dimension is the train itself. Me, I consider it like a form of interdimensional travel where we always need to get through to go from a world to another.", he then watched far away in the blue space and added. "We say that it is limitless."

"..."

I couldn't believe what I was listening: so that Blue Hell permitted me to enter inside the game when I was electrocuted !?

But when I teleported each time inside the game, why I didn't go back to the real world ?!

Or maybe it's a bit like the train which started to travel but finally go back to the beginning...

Fssssssssssssshhhhhh !!!

"!!!..."

I saw the red smoke still surrounding the vortexes, still trying to enter inside, but it keeps being repelled each time.

That thing really worried me...

"W-what is that thing ?!"

"...", he stayed calm while contemplating that sinister smoke and finally spoke. "This is the Veil of Darkness."

"The Veil of Darkness ?..."

Fshhhhhhh !

"In reality, we aren't alone in this dimension. Into the very depth of the Blue Hell, there is a maleficent entity trapped there which has been sealed a long time ago... According to a legend from the world of Orsterra, he pretended to be the perfect almighty existence, and his goal was to become the only living thing in existence for all eternity. It was able to consume all life and destroy the humanity, so the 12 gods decided to banish him forever. So, Aelfric, the god Flamebearer, had trapped him inside a dimension that no one could reach... That creature is called by many names, such as "The Fallen" or "The god of the accursed Flame", but it is mostly known as... Galdera."

"!!!... G-galdera ?!"

'That name reminds me of something...'

'!!!... Yes, I remember !'

Ophilia told me a story about the 12 gods of Orsterra who banished another god because he was too evil, and that his name was Galdera !

But... does that red smoke was really Galdera ?! I thought he would look like a person or a monster...

Fssssshhhhh !!!

The yellow helmet man pointed towards the red smoke.

"And what you can see here is a fragment of its power... Despite being trapped in a place even more unavailable to any mortal, Galdera managed to transfer his Veil of Darkness inside the Blue Hell to cause destruction and chaos...", he explained me, as I was truly astonished when he added. "But for now, the magic which sealed him prevents him to continue its road..."

"..."

That Galdera really creeped me out: if it was able to destroy life and humanity, that means that it could kill everyone and I find that very frightening...

Indeed, the way the yellow helmet man told me that story creeped me out, as I thought it was just a legend...

However, even if I disliked the yellow helmet man, I admit he knew a lot about the story of the world, perhaps much enough to interest Cyrus and Ophilia.

Though, something concerned me, and not only about Galdera...

"Why... why are you telling me all these things ?", I asked as I followed him.

"Well, since you arrived inside that game, you must have a lot of questions in mind. Isn't that right ?"

"Mmh... You're not wrong...", I answered calmly, feeling concerned.

He then looked down at me.

"Me too, I have a question to ask you: how did you manage to get stuck in the virtual world ?"

"...", I took my time to answer as I felt quite uncomfortable to remember my old life, but I finally responded in a low tone. "I... I just wanted to hide from people who wanted to harm me... So, I found that white building..."

"..."

"And I remember... That room, with the desk, the computer... And also... that gaming console... You know, the switch..."

"And then, you tried to play with the Nintendo SWITCH and you found yourself inside the game ?", guessed the yellow helmet man.

"...Yeah, that's right !... I just pushed the button A and... Wait !!!", I just figured out something and stopped in place. "You knew there was a portal for going inside the game ?!..."

He also stopped and turned at me.

"Of course, since I'm the one who created it."

"!!!... Seriously ?!!..."

Surprised, the man nodded as I continued to listen to him.

"Actually, I'm not the one who created this video game from scratch, but I do have designed and concepted that "door" leading to the game. It gave me a lot of work with all these many installations, made sure that worked, et caetera, et caetera.... But when I entered it and used it for the first time, I believe I might have destroyed it while entering inside the Blue Hell. I'm pretty sure it could have created a big hole in the wall."

I could say he was right about the big hole, but I was really astonished by his story: the yellow helmet man was the one who created the portal, and so he entered inside the game before me !

"For entering the room, you must have used the duplicate key, right ?", the masked man asked me, but without letting me the time to nod as he continued. "And also, the portal must have been completely destroyed when I used it... Thankfully, it was a miracle the console survived despite it was connected to the portal... But if there was no more "entrance ticket", you must have used an external energy to enter in... like being hit by the thunder, right ?"

"Err... Yeah. But how do you know that ?"

"Oh. Just simple deduction.", he answered me directly while touching the invisible ground with his hand and emitting light while explaining. "I must deduce that instead of using the energy I used for powering the portal for the first time, you were lucky that you were hit by the divine thunder !..."

"..."

'He's right !...'

'There was a storm, outside, when I tried to play the game...'

'And it was thanks to the thunder which hit me that I entered inside...'

'Talking about the game...'

There was something else I wanted to know.

"And you ?... Why did you want to enter inside the game, by the way ?"

"..."

The yellow helmet man stopped to touch the ground, and he was so still that he didn't produce light on the floor which remained transparent.

Without being scared, he observed how deep was the space below our feet as he continued to speak.

"All that universe has been created to realize every child's dream: being inside a video game..."

"!!!..."

"Primarily, this video game has been created with the sole purpose to create a new form of playing games, where instead of playing the hero... we are the hero.", he explained to me as I felt concerned and listened. "However, its goal wasn't only limited to this... As I already told you, we need to go through the Blue Hell to reach the virtual world, but being exposed in this transitional dimension may sometimes grant us considerable powers. When you did your world tour down there, you must have known people using some forms of magic such as Fire, Ice, Lightning, Wind, Darkness, and Light..."

He then slowly stood up and raised his hand towards the sky, like he wanted to reach something.

"But here... The powers we get are more powerful, more versatile, and they share the same blue color."

"!!!..."

'Don't tell me !...'

"You learn fast, young boy. This is where your powers came from. And this is also where mine came from. You have the ability to manipulate lightnings which came from this dimension, but you can also use them in the virtual one. As for me, I learned how to control the fire magic from the Blue Hell when I started tempering with the magical bombs and the Sacred Flame...", the Yellow helmet explained to me and continued. "What is impressive with these similar powers is that they could give you the ability to teleport yourself and to travel from a place of the game to another by going through the Blue Hell, and they can even destroy normal spells... Indeed, the reason I wear this helmet is to help me control mine. It is able to synchronize with the magical atmosphere from here and from the virtual world, and this is how I was sometimes able to locate you."

"To locate me ?... What do you mean ?"

"Well, I also recently discovered that our magics, which share the same source of power from the Blue Hell, emit the same magical frequence each time we use them. Each time you hardly used your powers to teleport from a place to another, it wasn't difficult for me, to detect your presence in the Blue Hell, and so I could communicate with you."

"!!!..."

I remember, now !

Every time I found myself inside the Blue Hell, I would often hear his voice speaking to me and telling me weird things like the fact I would know nothing.

He then added.

"Sorry if I might have disturbed you, sometimes... I just hope you have well listened to my advice, right ?", he asked me, but I didn't answer when he replied. "Anyway. You should be aware that these particular powers are heavily convicted by the one who lead the organization with which I worked for."

"The organization ?!... Do you mean the guy with the crow mark and the people in red who looked like you ?!", I asked him, terribly concerned by this news.

I reminded when I spied one of the men which Primrose wanted to kill. It was the one who speak about the plan to the red masked men before he knocked me down !...

The masked man took his time before answering.

"Hmm... Yes. He was a bit what I would call a colleague from work... But there is someone again who is behind all that plot... Someone who remain on top of the Pyramid... Figuratively, of course."

"W-who are you talking about ?!..."

"..."

I saw the yellow helmet man taking something from inside the pocket of his suit... a magic ball.

He was holding on the palm of his hand a blue magic ball filled of mist... Wasn't it that thing where he talked to someone, the other day in that cavern of crystals ?!

He then stared at it.

"With this orb, I was able to communicate with the leader... The one, responsible, who is behind the emergence of the pillars of light and tasked me to provoke them. For that, I was provided with bigger spheres containing enough power from the Blue Hell to create the explosion and connect the 4 pillars to this dimension via the vortexes leading to these locations. You can see them back there.", he showed me the group of vortexes.

So... the 4 bigger vortexes led to the places where the explosions have occurred ?!

I heard the masked man again.

"All I did was following the instructions... And normally, my next task would have to bring you to the organization so they could experiment your powers..."

"!!!..."

As I stayed on my guards, I watched carefully at the yellow helmet man who stared at his magic ball.

"However..."

CRACK !"

"?!!!"

He just broke his magic ball with his hand !

But why ?!

As he dropped all the crystal pieces, he added.

"... in this dimension, no one can hear us nor see us..."

Once again, I was really surprised: I thought he would try to kidnap me again and bring him to the bad guys !

But what does he really want ?!

He then watched at me.

"You, Travis, have really drawn my attention. Just like me, you have received phenomenal powers which came from this dimension... But despite your young age, you already manage to use them at their true potential, even if you still have a lot to learn..."

"..."

"Indeed, you seems to be well aware of the importance of your blue magic. You already started to focus on your feelings when you wanted to defeat your enemies with such creative ways..."

"...but what tells me that you aren't among them, even though you don't work with these people anymore ?", I asked, feeling quite suspicious.

"Well, when I joined the organization, I was more working for myself than for them... So, I did some personal research about the Blue Hell and the 2 worlds which are connected. When I arrived inside that game, I studied a lot about magic, especially about the ritual you and your friends wanted to stop...", he then watched again at the vortexes, still surrounding by that intimidating red smoke as he added. "To tell the trust, if the ritual occurs, it will not only destroy the virtual world... But also, the real one."

"!!!...", I was shocked to hear this as I told him. "Do you mean that it will kill everyone from both worlds ?!"

The yellow helmet man calmly sighed and answered.

"If the pillars of light connect with the real world, the explosion will make the Blue Hell spreading across the 2 universes, engulfing each living beings, and the worlds will become one. The organization is persuaded that once they are part of the Blue Hell, they could use the powers residing there to create a brand-new universe, like some kind of utopian world..."

"...but it will also kill everyone from the old worlds.", I answered coldly, feeling well angry.

I just couldn't understand how that organization was ready to kill many innocents just to create a stupid world where everyone will be happy !

It's not like we should easily ignore them like that !

Fsssssssshhhhhh !!!

I heard Galdera again which keep trying to go in Orsterra as I tried to gather all the information.

Honestly, I wanted to know more about this.

"But if the people who want to explode the pillars of light manage to destroy the 2 worlds, they won't have any place to live anymore ! And there is that thing right there which could kill them !", I protested while pointing towards Galdera's smoke.

"You're right...", answered me coldly the masked man when he explained. "In fact, in the virtual world, there are people worshipping for Galdera the Fallen because he was known to give dark powers to its believers... But the organization is aware of that knowledge as well, so they want to exploit Galdera's powers for achieving their goals... And also... the leader seems to have a plan for this..."

"!!!..."

That was so hard to believe this story...

So, that was the goal of the bad people ?! Destroying the worlds for creating a new world and getting new superpowers from a monster ?!...

How could these people be so mad at this point ?! Haven't they thought about everyone who could disappear ?!

The yellow helmet man continued.

"In other terms, the organization want to use Galdera as a way to destroy the 2 worlds, and for that, they want to use the ritual to let the pillar of lights tear down the barrier between the worlds and the Blue Hell... And then, it will allow Galdera's veil to enter inside the vortexes and spread throughout the universes."

"!!!...", I flinched a bit as I became pissed. "But how could you be so sure that this thing will destroy Orsterra ?!"

"Watching it wasn't a sufficient proof for you ?"

"!!!..."

Fssssssshhhhhhh !!!

I watched again Galdera's smoke which continued to force the entrance inside the vortexes, without success. But he became more violent than before...

Honestly, that thing was truly scaring me: I'm not sure if what the yellow helmet man told me was true or wrong, but if ever that red thing enters inside the virtual world...

It could be the end of everyone...

And all those I knew...

All my friends...

I didn't want that to happen, and I was still angry towards the yellow helmet man. If that thing manages to destroy Orsterra, it will be all his fault.

I glared menacingly towards him as he didn't seem to care...

FLAASHH !!!...

FLAAAASH !!!...

FLAASHH !!!...

FLAASHH !!!...

"!!!..."

Suddenly, the 4 white giant vortexes shined in such a deep purple light !

That was the same colour as the pillars of light !

I became shocked when the yellow helmet man spoke again.

"It's starting... There is nothing we can do to stop it anymore..."

~Meanwhile, inside Atlasdam's royal Palace...~

~Cyrus' POV~

"Ha... Ha..."

My limbs were weary, and I exhausted all my magic flows after so many battles.

The sacred Flame was burning softly, so quietly that it gave me a bad feeling.

"..."

Therese was lying on her knees, also exhausted after using her lightnings spells.

I must say I was pretty caught off guard when I discovered that she was able to use magic.

Indeed, she must have learned them with one of tomes relating basics of magical arts. But reading one of them wasn't enough and it would require a lot of experience and training to master the easiest spells !

However, she truly surprised me as she was able to summon such a decent amount of electricity without almost any imperfections !

Honestly, I believe I could have underestimated her learning skills...

I must also admit that if she didn't come back here, Travis would have never been reanimated...

"..."

Actually, I was wondering where he was now, as he disappeared in front of our eyes by taking with him the man with the yellow helmet.

But the way they have both disappeared reminded me of something...

'Was it the teleporting power Travis told me about ?'

'The one with what he used each time before travelling from a region to another ?'

'Does he find himself in that "strange blue dimension" he told me about ?'

'And now... in which new location has he landed ?'

For now, I cannot answer that mystery.

And I was also concerned about the ritual...

If we don't do anything...

FIIIIIIIIIIIZZZZZZZZZLEEEEE !!!

FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAASHHHHH !!!!!

"!!!"

Suddenly, a bright purple and blue light appeared around the Sacred Flame, which burned more violently than never !

The phenomenon was so powerful that it instantly destroyed the ceiling !

FLAAAAAAAAAAASSSSHHH !!!

It was filled of blue magic, and it even managed the sky !

FLAAAAAASH !

The light keep illuminating and going up, as Therese and I were very shocked !

'So... Is that one of these famous pillars of light which appeared in different locations ?'

'The ones the Professor Felix told me about ?!'

'May the Flame takes me...'

"Oh no... Are we too late ?...', mumbled Therese worryingly.

"..."

I didn't even answer to her, too shocked to witness such a thing...

~At the same time, somewhere in the Riverlands~

~3rd POV~

FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASHHHH !!!

A bright purple pillar of light appeared somewhere near a cave, illuminating the darkness of the night and reaching the clouds !

~Meanwhile, in the mountains~

FLAAAAAAAAAAAASHHH !!!

Another purple pillar of light suddenly appeared out from the mountains !

"!!!"

The explosion of light was seen a few miles away from there, witnessed by a group of shocked people from a certain village.

"LOOK AT THIS !", yelled someone in the crowd.

Most villagers went outside while observing the purple light which reached the sky as well, even passing through the clouds !

"!!..."

A boy among the crowd was speechless, but also concerned, and it was no other than Philip.

It was actually the second time he was witnessing such an event...

~Somewhere in a forest~

FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASHHH !!

A bright purple light appeared suddenly from nowhere in the Woodlands !

Most trees were wiped out by the explosion, and many scared animals were fleeing the scene !

Right now, around the world of Orsterra, the 4 pillars of light started to be connected, and the ritual entered in its final phase.

~Back to the Blue Hell~

~Travis' POV~

"!!!..."

'No way !...'

'The 4 lights have appeared again at the places the Professor told me about !...'

FLAAAAASHHH !

Then, I saw the 4 giant vortexes shining a brighter light, as they seemed to be hit by each of the light beams !...

'If I don't do anything...'

'The world will explose and...'

FLAAAAAAAASHH !!

FLAAAAAAAAAASHH !!

FLAAAAAAAAAASHH !!

FLAAAAAAAAAASHH !!

Suddenly, each of the vortex shoot a purple light beams as well which went upwards, through the Blue Hell !!

Fssssssssshhhhhhhhhh !!!

The red smoke still spun like a tornado around the vortexes as it tried to enter inside one of them !

FSSSSHHH !!!

I watched it getting closer and closer inside one of them, trying to enter and

FLAAAASH !!!

"??!..."

The vortexes stopped to shoot their light beams !...

And instead... they went back to normal, but they still were shining a purple light... which repelled the red smoke !

Fffffssssshhhhh !!!!!

"???!!!..."

I became so confused right now...

Was it normal ?!

Or did the ritual has actually failed ?!

I was just expecting some kind of... explosion...

I heard the yellow helmet man sighing as he spoke.

"Oh. I didn't tell you yet but... when I was tasked to plant the bombs for the ritual... I manage to sabotage them."

"W-what ?!"

Then, I watched him walking in the middle of the room, or whatever we could call it, and raise his hands.

Concerned, I wanted some answers from him.

"Hey !... What are you talking ab..."

FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH !!!

"!!!"

Suddenly, a bright blue light was summoned by the yellow helmet man !

It was going high, so high that we couldn't see the top, and incredibly impressive !...

The masked man then stood a front of the light and told me.

"This is our last chance, for both of us, to escape this place... Our "train" to reach the real world..."

'The real world ?!'

Did he just create a new portal to go back to the real world ?

The man explained to me.

"In reality, the reason I wanted to infiltrate the group was to make the ritual fail. While I was working for them, they explained me how the ritual would work and what they were expecting me to do.", he explained to me as he watched at the light beam that he created. "However, I also made a lot of personal research and experimentations about the pillar of light before summoning them... With the help of the blue magic I gained when I entered inside the game, I managed to modify the magic filled inside the bomb to connect them with only the virtual world... And now, look."

He pointed his fingers towards the vortexes.

FSSSSSHHH !!

FLAAASH !

I witnessed the red smoke of that Galdera god which tried again to enter inside one of them...

But each time it did, the vortexes were shining and repelling him, as they seemed to hurt him.

'That's... incredible !...'

Now, the portals were preventing that thing to go in the virtual world !

I heard the yellow helmet man speaking again.

"Now, the magic filled by the pillars of light permit to provide the necessary amount of power to counter the veil of darkness... and to destroy it for good."

"!!!..."

"I guess you weren't expecting such a twist, don't you ?"

Still speechless, I turned towards the yellow helmet man.

Right now, I learned so many things, but it was difficult to admit all of them.

In fact, I didn't know what to think about the yellow helmet man right now... I believed he was the one which I thought was really evil... The one who wanted to destroy the world to create another world...

But he wasn't really alone: it was that damn organization who asked him to place all these bombs.

So... Could he really be a nice person instead ?

"You mean... You pretended to be a bad person since all this time ?", I asked him curiously.

"Hu hu...", the man quietly smirked before he told me. "We could say that if you want. But let me give you a pitch, little guy: the good and the evil don't exist, each one of us has his own allies and his own enemies. This is the hard law of any world."

'His own allies ?...'

'His own enemies ?...'

I was pretty concerned by what he just told me.

"What do you mean by that ?"

The yellow helmet man sighed before continuing.

"... Maybe you might start believing that I can have good intentions, but I never wanted to be considered like a hero, or some kind of model for people. Even if sometimes people are doing good actions, I believe it would be better, for them, if they didn't expect to be always granted by success and fame. Me, I always lived in the belief that I wouldn't be rewarded for my actions.", he then stared to the 4 portals repelling the red smoke. "In any case, I already committed so much dirty works to reach that point. And I'm not the only one: everyone can change in term of personality. No matter how gentle are people towards others, no matter how helpful and smiling they are... they will always keep a part of darkness in them. No matter how nice they pretend to be..."

"..."

I felt quite disturbed by his speech, but I was so concerned about why this man think so much that people can all be evil when they want to...

He then turned at me.

"And this is also the same for you, Travis..."

"!!!... What are you talking about ?! What do you think I can also act badly?!", I shouted to him.

"Call me liar as much as you want... But don't you remember, once in your life, a moment where you let your feelings, especially your anger, taking over yourself ?"

"!!!..."

'BRRRRAAAAAAAAAAOOOMMM !!!'

That sound... I still remember it so well...

It was like how sounded my thunders... but it was scarier.

'EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHH !!!'

And that angry scream...

I could still remember it so well that it was like I was hearing right now...

It was frightening so much, but I do remember so well to who belonged that scream...

'EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHH !!!'

It belonged to me...

What happened right there in the desert... Right after Yusufa has been killed in front of my eyes...

I was so sad, so desperate, so shameful that I couldn't control myself...

That time, it's like I really want to get angry over something... Not only to the one who killed her...

But also to myself... who I was never able to save her.

My powers also appeared again... But they weren't the same...

All I could see was dark, and I couldn't control myself...

I was just thinking about destroying everything which made me angry... Everything which proved me that I was powerless...

'!!!...'

I just had a huge goosebump...

"I...", I barely started to speech, still disturbed, as I looked down. "I don't know what it really took me... But I don't want this to happen anymore."

"I see... Don't you really want to know ?"

"NO !...", I shouted angrily as I exclaimed. "AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN I WANT TO BECOME SOMEONE BAD !"

"Perhaps, but you shouldn't ignore what's bad in you like that..."

"YES, I COULD !!"

"'NO, YOU SHOULDN'T !...'", he answered coldly with a different voice !

"!!!..."

I felt surprised as I noticed there was a blue smoke on its helmet, around the area where should be his mouth !

'That voice !...'

FSSSSSSSHHHH !!!

Suddenly, the blue smoke became bigger covered his entire body, from the helmet to the boots, until he became entirely blue.

Then, it started to disappear again, but instead of the yellow helmet man...

The blue smoke revealed another person !

"'Haven't you forgot about him ?'"

"!!!..."

That person he turned was... Therion !

He was just a front of me, with his white shaggy hair, his purple scarf, his poncho hiding his shirt, and also his green eyes !...

'T-therion !'

As much as I relieved to see him again after being separated by such a long while... I knew he wasn't the true Therion.

Of course, I want to jump in his arms...but it hurts to think that it was just magic.

I felt so shocked right now and stepped back.

"N-no !... You're not the real Therion !...", I mumbled to him as I tried to regain my senses. "JUST STOP TO BE LIKE HIM !!"

Though, he was just so real... It was like he was truly here, with me, in that blue hell...

"I might not be the real one...", spoke the yellow helmet man with Therion's voice, making me relieved but frightened as he continued. "But no matter how much he was nice with you, he still remains a thief, and a criminal... Indeed, I'm quite worried for you, who has no fear to befriend with such a man you barely knew the first day you meet him..."

"A-and so ?..."

"When you hang out with such a stranger, especially one who didn't want to speak so much about himself... haven't you doubted that he was hiding more secrets that you ever imagined ?"

"..."

'He... he's right...'

I knew Therion didn't speak to me so much, but I just didn't want to disturb him more about his past.

He just told me that he had a friend named Darius who was his partner in stealing... but he didn't tell me more about him...

The yellow helmet man continued to speak with Therion's appearance.

"What do you think, after all this time, what he must have done before and after you meet him ?... Are you sure that he still cares about you ? That he would try to look for you throughout the country ?"

"YOU CAN'T JUST SPEAK ABOUT HIM LIKE THAT ! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HIM !!", I shouted angrily towards him, but I was still nervous.

"I don't need to know someone by heart to discern their worst side. Just because of experience.", he told me coldly when he added. "Indeed, if you really care for him so much, why haven't you tried to find him again ?... Don't you think that he will believe that you let him down ?"

"!!!..."

Right now, I just remembered the promise I made with Therion.

That I will help him steal those magic balls and help him get rid of the bracelet around his wrist.

And there, I just noticed that I made this promise... at least 2 weeks ago.

Though, I did nothing to help him since...

"..."

I felt so ashamed: what could have happened to him while I wasn't there since all this time ?...

All I wanted to do, was to help people near me, and then I could try finding the time to help the others but...

I have never expected that letting down someone for a while... would be so shameful to me.

I heard Therion's voice judging me again.

"Maybe you couldn't be everywhere because you wanted to help someone else, but believe me, people never care about excuses. No matter how convincing they are... And you are too naive, young boy, if you believe this man will forgive you as easily."

"!!!..."

"That's why I think everyone keep a worse side in them... Humans will always need to hide dark thoughts to the depths of their beings, and whatever they do, there will be always someone to think they are selfish...", he explained me as he walked closer to me, making me stepping back. "And some of them could finish to be tired by limits to keep everything for themselves... So, what happens, next ?... They finish to let their feelings making them taking bad decisions, even if it means hurting people around them... And you are one of them, TRAVIS !", he pointed towards me.

'...'

What he talking about really made me unsettled...

And the fact he took Therion's appearance made me even more disturbed !...

In fact... It really felt like the true Therion was blaming me...

Therion's voice raised louder as he continued to speak to me.

"You can never deny that you will always have selfish tendencies !... When I joined that organization, I had to gain their trust by playing the bad guy with people like you... But that was also to see how much you could use your powers by using your feelings ! To see how much you can be influenced by them !", he pointed towards me as he added. "And me too, if I wanted to, I could even let my feelings overtaking me !... At any time, I could take his appearance, go commit some crimes, and dirtying his reputation ! And if he got arrested, I don't believe he would be judged as nicely as someone would be in the real world !"

"!!!..."

My heart was beating faster than before...

I was so scared, right now.

Scared for Therion, scared by the fact I let him down for 2 weeks without giving him any news !

If I was still with him, maybe I could help him better !

Maybe I could even protect him like how he would protect me ! And prevent the yellow helmet man to disguise as him !

"..."

'If ever... he dares doing that to him...'

My fear slowly turned into an anger.

Now, all I just want against that lemon head was to cross my damn fingers and...

FSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH !!!

The blue smoke came back around "Therion", surrounding from head to toes...

And then, it disappeared until I saw the yellow helmet man again.

"..."

'!!!...'

As soon as the fake Therion disappeared, I slowly calmed myself, feeling less angry and quieter...

He too, he was breathing calmly, sighing, after being so angry towards me... He seemed quite regretful...

"Lucky for you... I have no more reason to do such things anymore.", he mumbled.

"..."

FLAAAASH !!

FSSSSSSHHHH !!!

I turned again to see Galdera' smoke, who was trying to penetrate inside all those portals...

But they keep repelling it again and again, emitting some purple light each time they did...

"In fact, I am not here to spread evil... I'm here to stop it...", said quietly the yellow helmet man when he added. "And sometimes, I can still be nice with others if I wanted to."

FSSSSSHHH !...

"?..."

I watched him summoning a puff of blue smoke a front of him.

Then, I saw something appearing from it, and landing on the ground.

"!!!...", I recognized it quickly. "Hey !... That's my bag !"

It was the satchel that Alfyn gave to me which contained all my stuff: my axe, my magic stone, my black feather, my training sword, my money, my compass...

I really thought I lost it forever when that crow stole it from me !

"H-how did you ?!..."

"One of my colleagues, the one with the mark of the crow on his hand, wanted to get rid of that bag after retrieving the crystals... He threw it inside the shifting sands, but I managed to save it before it was buried... Sorry if there is still a little bit of sand inside..."

I stared at my bag quietly.

Of course, I was well happy that someone found it for me. But I was still hesitant to take it because I still didn't really trust that man like that....

"..."

Though, I still decided to check inside, while still watching at him carefully.

I opened it, and all my stuff was there. Thanks the 12 gods, like how would say the others !

All that stuff means a lot for me: they reminded me of my friends and everything they did for me !

I just didn't want to lose them again !

"No need to thank me, by the way.", told me coldly the yellow helmet man.

"But... but why did you do this for me ?...", I asked him, still concerned about what he had mind.

"After observing for so long... It just made me feel bad to see you fending for yourself by knowing so many issues..."

"..."

His voice looked pretty calm, and he never really acted like this before.

I never thought he would betray the people who wanted to explode the world with those magic bombs, and that he refused to bring me to them...

Honestly... maybe this guy isn't so bad finally...

FLAAASH !!!

FSSSSSHHHHH !!!

I watched again at Galdera's smoke who was unable to enter inside of these vortexes.

These things were truly preventing to enter inside the virtual one and kill everyone, and it somehow relived me.

Even though it was a video game, I didn't expect that the gods like him had really existed, as I thought they were just legends according to Ophilia's story.

But technically, if it's a video game, everything could be possible, right ?

FLAAAASH !!!

FSSSHHHH !!!

It really look like the red smoke wasn't happy to enter inside those portals !

As I thought about it, I was supposed to stop the yellow helmet man and prevent him to explode the world.

But then... I guess it was finally him who truly prevented that world to explode from that expansion thing...

I didn't really understand how it worked, but if those portals prevented Galdera to attack the virtual world, that was fine for me !

'But now... How will I do to join the Professor ?'

Indeed, I have no idea what the yellow helmet man was up to....

Will he return to the real world with that white light which goes up? Where he came from like I did ?

I continued to watch the white vortexes shining a purple light, as they looked still beautiful in the middle of the Blue Hell...

FLAAAAAAASHH !!

"?..."

I watched carefully the purple magic protecting the portals, and strangely...

'It is me or...'

'The portals look smaller than before ?...'

'... WAIT A MINUTE !!!'

FLAAAAAAASH !

The purple magic surrounding the portals started to definitely make them smaller ! I wasn't wrong !

"Is... is this normal, that purple thing, which is closing them ?!", I asked, very concerned.

"...", the yellow helmet man also noticed as well. "Oh yeah, I didn't tell you. The blue magic from the pillars is now making the portals closing. It's the only way to stop Galdera."

"!!!...", I became worried as I told him. "B-but if we close them... !!!"

"They will disappear forever... So, the Fallen God won't go inside one of them anymore... but it will now be impossible to go in the virtual world anymore...", he answered me coldly.

FLAAAAAAASHH !!!

FSSSSHHHH !!!

"!!!..."

All the vortexes were slowly closing due to that purple light !!!

'No way !...'

As I started to panic, the yellow helmet man advised me coldly.

"Now, come on ! It will be useless to stay here."

He went towards the light which led to the real world when I protested.

"BUT WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ?!! I DON'T WANT TO RETURN TO THE REAL WORLD !!!... I WANT TO REMAIN IN THAT ONE !!! JUST STOP MAKING THEM CLOSE !!!"

"!!!..."

The yellow helmet man was quite surprised by my decision.

'No way...'

'No way I leave that place !...'

That's right... I didn't want to return to the world where I came from...

I want to stay inside the video game !

I want to be with all my friends !

Fwiii !!!

"!!!..."

Suddenly, the yellow helmet man gripped my arm, preventing me to escape !

"Don't tell such silly things ! I told you there are no other way to destroy that thing !", he shouted to me.

"LET ME GO !!!"

"There is no time to think about those who live down there ! You have well seen from your own eyes what Galdera was capable for ! You have well observed how dangerous was this organization worshipping the expansion ritual !... So, stop being a child for once and come with me !"

"BUT I WANT TO STAY INSIDE THE VIDEO GAME !", I exclaimed to him while trying to let go of his grip and feeling upset. "IN ANY CASE, I'VE NEVER BEEN HAPPY IN THE REAL WORLD !!... NO ONE EVER HELPED ME OR CARED FOR ME !!!..."

I felt so sad about remembering my past once again, and I didn't want to come back in that world.

FLAAASH !

FSSSSSHHHHH !!!

I looked down desperately to the vortexes which were slowly closing as I revealed in a low tone.

"...Down there, I've never been so happy than everyone else... I got so many friends who were nice with me... It's with them whose I want to stay with... Not with some kind of lemon head like you I barely know !!"

"Me too, I understand !!!", he shouted surprisingly.

"?!!..."

"Me too, I knew a family, once... a family I loved... and which I lost... So, I understand how much you care for those you knew inside the virtual world..."

"..."

His voice looked so honest that he made me feel bad.

While I was still trying to let go of his grip, he then told me.

"But think about it... Do you really think you are the only one who care for people ?!"

"!!!..."

He then pointed his fingers upwards, towards the light leading to the real world.

"How many people do you think are living up there ?!... Maybe you weren't happy in that one, but there are still billions of people who are right now ! Including millions of children around your age, or even younger than you, who are happy with their families !", he shouted at me while he continued. "If you prevent the closing of this video game world, and let Galdera's veil invading it... What do you think will happen if he also reaches the real one ?!... All I imagine is chaos and destruction... what happened in the legends involving Galdera will really happen to both world !"

FLAAAAASH !!

FSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH !!

Galdera's smoke frightening noise could be heard, making me concerned, as the yellow helmet man warned me again.

"So, Travis !... Do you really wish to sacrifice the happiness of billions of people for your own ?! Do you really want to be selfish at this point ?!"

"..."

I became thoughtful for a while, not wanting to say anything, as the yellow helmet man told me.

"I feel sorry, for you, you know... But sometimes, we have to make huge sacrifices for the sake of others... You know, I won't let you down, when we will be up there !... I promise I'll help you start a new life, and get a new family that you deserve..."

"..."

I stopped to attempt letting go of hiS grasp, and became silent.

The yellow helmet man became concerned about me, as he now wanted me to be happy.

In fact, that was he was thinking.

"Starting... a new life ?...", I mumbled coldly.

"... That's right.", he quietly answered.

He looked down at me, and even if I couldn't see his face, I was sure he was sure about everything he wanted me to put aside.

FLAAAASH !!!

The portals were still emitting purple energy which were slowly closing them, as they were already half-closed.

Finally, I decided to speak as I looked up, pensive.

"...When I lived up there... I was already interested by video games, even if I didn't have enough money to buy one... I saw people playing them and being happy... Some played alone at an adventure game, and other played in groups with games which they could play together at once...". I explained calmly as I continued. "But I also heard that we shouldn't play video games too much... Cause it's bad for health, it makes people angry and all alone. And so, adults told us to more play outside, in the real world, for being really happy..."

"..."

As the yellow helmet man seemed to listen to me, I looked down at my feet and felt a bit hurt.

"But me... I have never known how to be happy in the real world like other kids, no matter how hard I tried... I mostly spent my life alone, living in the trash of the real world, and I always felt so unhappy and alone... I was always scared to go towards others, like a policeman, to help me, and only my dream to explore the world give me the will to be strong... Though, I had never been able to explore it...", I then stared towards the vortexes leading to Orsterra. "...But I was able to explore another one. When I first played this game, I would have never imagined that my life will became so fun !... In that game, I think I was able to find something which I lost in the real world... It is there where I can feel better... where I can breathe for real..."

I breathed quietly, feeling so nostalgic.

All I wanted know was to speak, to say everything I had deep in my heart.

So, I spoke.

"Maybe it will be too weird for you... In any case, I have never made only good things in my life... But it's just feel so good, for me... And that's why I've never wanted to go towards others before, to ask them if they could be friends with me, to help them when they have problems, and count on them when I had problems... I just wanted to be sure I would feel happy, that I could laugh, have fun with others and doing many cool things !...", I smiled a little bit before I added. "And I did... Down there, I met so many friends who were so nice with me, and I'm so proud to have met all of them... Thanks to them, even if some bad things happened... I managed to become happy again !... When I was living up there, in the real world, I couldn't count on anyone... But here, everything is different: it's like I totally felt at home with all of them."

"..."

I could hear the yellow helmet man breathing quietly under his mask, as he seemed calmed down by my words...

I frowned again, as I reminded some particular people I must have known...

"Also, about my parents... I know that for everyone, a mommy and a daddy must all love us all, and that we should love them back... I know that we should be also happy to be in a family together... I... I might not know many things about mine... but... but...", I let some tears dropping from my tears, feeling sad as I have trouble to continue. "I...I thought about it after a certain while... I understood that if my parents... really really cared about me... they wouldn't have died by leaving me alone !..."

"!!..."

More tears fell from my face and landed on the invisible ground, creating some shiny light, while I retained myself to cry...

To be honest, I just really wanted to speak all that to someone... Even though I would have never expected it will be to the yellow helmet man... it still feels reassuring.

FLAAAAASH !!!

I then looked up to him, watching his damaged mask with sad eyes.

"Y-you said that you wanted to save the real world, right ?... I don't have anything against you for that but... I just don't want to ignore the other one so easily because it's just a video game... And I also want help them because... I don't want to let them down like how my parents did with me...", I explained to him quietly, as he was still gripping my arm tightly when I looked back at the portals before I looked at him again. "In fact, I think you were right... Me too, I can be selfish, sometimes."

GZZZZZZZ !!!

I suddenly covered my arm of lightnings, freeing myself from his grip !

"!!!..."

The masked man was surprised, as I now covered my feet of blue lightnings!

GZZZZZZZZZZZZ !!!

SCRAAAAAATCHHH !

I used so much magic in my feet...

That I jumped backwards... my back facing the ground.

When I leaped and fell right towards the vortexes and Galdera's veil...

"N-Oooooooooooooooooo !!!"

The yellow helmet man ran towards the vortexes, pretty worried for me, but I just ignored him.

FLAAAAASSHHH !!!

FSSSSSSSHHHH !!!

I just arrived right between the four giant portals and activated my powers.

SCRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTCHHHHHHHHH !!!!!

I released so many electricity around me that I stopped falling !

I was also trembling in place while floating, but I keep continuing releasing all the electricity I had !

"haaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAA !!!"

FLAAAAAAASHHH !!!

I made sure my lightnings hit the purple light which were closing the vortexes !

I had to stop these lights !!!

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?!!", exclaimed the yellow helmet man, surprised by my act !

He couldn't even try to approach the edge because I was unleashing so many thunders around me !!

'What you should have tried by yourself !'

"aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAHHHH !!!"

SCRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATCHHHH !!!!

I continued to hit these purple lights particularly, preventing them to close the portals !!!

There was no way I would let them being closed, else I would never see everyone again !...

FSSSSHHHHHHH !!!

Suddenly, the red smoke approached me and surrounded me !

FSSSSSHHHHHH !!!

It made a sinister sound and covered me.

'!!!....'

SCRRRRAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTCH !!!

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH !"

I screamed as he hurt me a lot !

I continued to produce many blue lightnings while screaming, but Galdera's smoke was really painful !

It's like it now decided to attack me instead of the portals !!!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH !!!"

Despite my magic protecting my entire body, the veil was hurting me a lot just like I was inside a burning cloud !!!

Also... I could hear some kind of bloodcurdling screams travelling through my ears ! They were so scary, but I continued to unleash so much energy !

SCRRRRRRRRAAAAAAATCHHHH !!

FSSSSSSSSSHHHHHH !!!

It became more violent, continued to spread his read smoke all around the portals and I !

"!!!...."

There were so many lightnings and the veil was getting bigger and bigger !

Not even the yellow helmet man could not do anything but watch !

FSSSSSSHHHHHHH !!

SCRRRRAAAAAATCH !!!!

"!!!!!!...."

That thing continued to attack me, but I keep using my thunders to repeal it !

I could see through the red darkness of the veil my blue lightning destroys it, but more smoke keeps surrounding him again !

'It continues to spread !....'

'But if I keep attacking it, and that I don't do anything to close the portals... I would be alone again !'

FLAAAAASH !!

SCRAAAAAAAAAATCH !!

FSSSSSSHHHHH !!!

I could still hear the portals which were closing, alongside the thunders which are preventing them to let that purple energy closing them !

As I was trying to destroy the veil, I was also using all my effort to prevent these portals to close !

But that wasn't easy to do 2 such things at once !

SCRAAAAAAATCHHH !!!

Somehow, I used a bit more lightnings to hit the purple energy, while trying so much to surmount the pain of the red smoke !

SCRRRRRRAAAATCH !!!

GZZZZZZZZZZZZ !!!

"?!!..."

Strangely, I saw one blue lightning with purple shades hitting the smoke and destroying it partially !!!

FSSSSSSSHHHH !!!

The smoke quickly reformed while I just figured out something !...

'I have to use more lightnings !...'

'Even more !...'

'I just need even more magic !...'

"aAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH !!!!"

I screamed the loudest I could while unleashing so many lightnings !!!

SCRRRAAAAAAAATCHHHHHHH !!!!

GZZZZZZZZZZZZZ !!!

GZZZZZZZZZZZ !!!

More purple lightnings appeared and made big holes inside the red smoke, piercing it several times !

FSSSHHHHHH !!!

SCRAAAAAAAATCHHHH !!!

GZZZZZZZZZ !!! GZZZZZZZZZ !!!

GZZZZZZZZZ !!! GZZZZZZZZZ !!!

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH !!"

More purple lightnings were hitting the cloud, destroying it again and again, as I felt so many power inside me !

Right now, it seemed like I was using all the magic from the pillars of light to get more "battery" inside me !

FSSSSSSSSSHHHHHH !!!

However, Galdera's veil continued to reform itself and surround me, no matter how much my lightnings were destroying it !

In fact, it was like the veil was regenerating as fast as I was destroying it !

Everything was so hard...

Releasing so much lightnings...

Taking the pain...

Destroying that red smoke...

But all that was... for them.

SCRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATCHH !!!

GZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ !!!

'Scream the loudest you can !!!'

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !!!!!!!"

SCRAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTCHHH !!!

GZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ !!

BROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAMMMM !!!!

FSSSSHHH !!!...

The thunders I made became enormous, powerful...

And they were... everywhere.

'!!!...'

I still felt my body covered of electricity, more than before, and I wasn't in the red smoke anymore...

All I heard was just a powerful grounding like the ones my thunders made in the desert... And then, nothing.

Despite my breathing, I couldn't hear anything anymore.

"..."

All I could see, in front of my eyes... was the blue Hell filled of giant blue lightnings with purple shade.

They were everywhere in space... so much that they were illuminating the place... and making it different.

Down there, I saw Galdera's veil, attacked by many of these thunders... There were so many that the red smoke became smaller and smaller, and by the way it moved... it was hurting it.

Have I won against that thing ?... Have I beaten Galdera for good ?

'...'

I also spotted the 4 vortexes, shining a white light, and noticed the purple energy closing them was gone !...

However, I also observed that they were moving away from each other, alongside many other portals...

I looked around me, and it seemed everything was moving in the Blue Hell !...

Me too, I was moving through the Blue Hell, floating in space with all my electricity around, but I couldn't move.

I was instinctively using so much magic that I couldn't stop unleashing thunders, no matter how hard I tried.

'!!!...'

On the left, I spotted something hidden behind a few thunders.

It was the yellow helmet man, floating in space, and I watched his helmet being hit by one of my lightnings.

He couldn't do anything, as he might have passed out, and honestly, I felt pretty bad for him.

Then, my body was moving away from him, and he finally disappeared from my view.

Will he be okay ? I don't know...

'...'

My hair was a bit itchy, as I noticed they were covered by many lightnings.

I've never been covered with so many electricity before, and I didn't expect that I could use so much in the Blue Hell.

My body continued to move through space, but the atmosphere was so calm despite everything which was happening in front of my eyes.

I didn't really know what was happening exactly, but I knew I was able to do what I want.

I didn't want these portals to disappear, but I didn't want neither that Galdera attacks Orsterra... That's why I decided to both reopen the vortexes and destroy Galdera for good.

At least, everyone will be safe from both the virtual world and the real one.

Me too, I didn't want the real world to be attacked by Galdera as well. As the yellow helmet man told me, there were also people who were happy down there. In fact, I have never been really jealous towards the people for having a better life than I had before.

If I reopened the portals... is because I wanted to be with my friends again.

In fact, I knew how much it was risky to let these portals opened... I knew how much the yellow helmet man, who was finally a nice guy, wanted so bad to protect the 2 worlds from that Galdera...

But I just didn't want to be separated from any of them. If ever none of them could ever be with me, I don't I would have the strength to support this...

I just didn't want to live in the streets anymore.

I wanted them to love me.

"..."

Indeed, if the problem was really that red smoke which could invade Orsterra when the portals are opened... All I did was destroying it for good with my lightnings powers.

As I think about it, if I failed to destroy it, many people from both worlds would be in danger...

But now that thing was gone, everyone would be safe, right ?

'Guys...'

However, even if there was no Galdera anymore, all of my friends could still have problems at any time. Between Therion who had to steal these magic balls, Primrose wanting to avenge her father or else, I was still worrying for all of them.

Where could they be actually ?

I have no idea, honestly...

'Guys...'

I was still floating through space, still covered of lightnings while seeing many vortexes moving all around, as I felt like I was going up.

I didn't have any strength to go where I want, and using all of my powers made me so tired...

'I don't know if some of you have tried to look for me... or if you have continued on your own....'

'I'm just sorry... if sometimes... I attracted you some problems...'

'All I just wanted... Was to be with people... And I've found all of you...'

'I just hope at least... that you will still remember me...'

'If you do... you will be the very first people to remember me...'

I smiled quietly, as I continued to float higher and higher, going through the thunders I created everywhere.

'If I I managed to help you whenever you were in the need... if I was able to surmount all of my problems... like when I destroyed that red smoke...'

'In fact... it wasn't me who was protecting you... I was just feeling like motivated...'

'It was you, instead... who have protected me.'

"..."

'I want to remain in your world... It's so fun down there with you...'

'I don't really care, now, about being happy in the real world... and about knowing who was my family before... But I just realized that...'

'You were my family, after all.'

"..."

I smiled proudly, as I slowly closed my eyes, and noticed a white light...

~Meanwhile, in the virtual world~

~3rd POV~

FLAAAAAAASHHH !!!!!

The pillar of light disappeared from the sky of Atlasdam.

"HHHHHHHH !!!"

"WATCH OUT !!!"

In the city, some scholars and knights were still fighting the guardians summoned by the yellow helmet man !

They looked to be exhausted, but there were still many guardians rampaging through the city !...

FSSSSSSSHHHH !!!

"HHHHH !!!..."

Suddenly, one guardian started to be covered by a blue mist, and disappeared into ashes.

"???!!!!..."

"By Alephan !... What's going on ?!"

The knights and scholars became visibly confused that he disappeared although he didn't have received a fatal blow.

FSSSSSSSSHHHH !!!

FSSSSSSHHHHH !!

And then, more and more guardians throughout Atlasdam disappeared into blue ashes, one by one, under the gaze of the civilians and those who were fighting them.

Then, they finally have all disappeared, and everyone stopped to fight now they were gone.

"W-what happened...", mumbled a confused soldier.

"It's... a miracle...", said another one.

~Inside the Royal Palace~

"..."

The blue light emitting from the shrine has disappeared, and both Cyrus and Therese were concerned.

Therese helped her teacher to get up as she was also concerned by the situation.

"P-professor ?..."

Cyrus was still exhausted after his fight but managed to speak.

"Has Travis... succeeded ?"

A feeling of hope could be felt from these two, but Cyrus was still worried about Travis.

FLAAASH !

"!!!..."

Suddenly, they both noticed a white vortex appearing in the middle of the room, and something came out before he disappeared.

It was Travis' bag.

"..."

"P-professor !..."

The scholar had the reflex to walk and pick up the satchel. He then examined it quietly.

"!..."

He stayed silent, as he understood to who belong this bag according to Travis' stories.

CLAAAK !

Suddenly, a large door opened behind them !

KLOMP ! KLOMP ! KLOMP ! KLOMP !

Many soldiers and royal guards arrived inside the palace, led by the Princess Mary !

"There they are ! They need medical assistance !", she pointed towards them.

Unlike Therese, she was the only one who decided to take the secret path and return in the city.

She was then found by her army, and now, they were returning inside the castle to lend a helping hand to Cyrus.

"My lady !... Are you sure we should help this scholar as well ?", an unsure royal guard asked her as he added. "He was charged for the murder of..."

"He's not responsible !... It was the professor Albright who saved us !", insisted the young princess.

KLOMP ! KLOMP ! KLOMP !

"Mary !", shouted Therese.

"Are you alright ?!"

Both girls embraced each other, finally relieved that everything was alright.

"The area is clear, your grace ! But the terrorist isn't in the room !", informed a royal guard.

As the guards became cautious, Therese informed her.

"He's gone, Mary...", told her Therese calmly as she became upset. "And also... and also..."

"And also who ?..."

The room was entirely filled of soldiers while Cyrus was still holding Travis' bag.

"You're wrong, your Highness...", he finally spoke.

"?!..."

The Princess became slightly confused by her teacher's words.

Cyrus looked at the shrine and said quietly.

"I wasn't the one who saved us... It was, Travis, who saved us all..."

Everyone then looked at the shrine, and noticed the First Flame was gone for good.

END OF BOOK 1

~

A/N: Hello guys ! How you all doing ?

Actually... I'm very well touched right now.

You know... it's been more than 3 years that I'm writing this story, and I still don't want to stop writing right now.

It's just so special to me... I didn't expect that I would still continue to write again and again, even by often taking huge breaks...

Honestly, I didn't have an easy life since I started my studies after High School, and that was really difficult to deal with this and my passion of writing.

But I'm proud to have reached 46 chapters. I'm proud to have managed to write an amazing story of a little boy named Travis (definitely an Octopath Traveler OC) trapped inside the game and living wild adventures with every travelers.

I was able, after many patience and experience, to manage writing the story I wanted to create from my imagination.

And that won't end here yet... I have still so many things to tell you about Travis' story... This time, I really promise I'll find a way to handle both my new studies and my fanfiction.

Since last month, I started to pursue a new course specialized on informatic and computing. I work to become a software architect to improve my programming skills and my English language, and I could say that I enjoy this new course, more than the previous one.

I'll be there for 3 years, at least, but I don't know what I will do next... Maybe I'll specialize myself in videogame programming ?...

Anyway, I believe this course could help me write my bilingual fanfic better, as I well progressed since the first chapter !

And I would like to thank all those, whoever you are, to read this amazing masterpiece of mine.

This concludes... the End of the BOOK 1.

Or...