Epsilon raised his staff up high, a purple shockwave emerging from the top. As he released the energy, it expanded rapidly, reaching out and slamming into several of the trees nearby. As the trees fell down, one by one, the air filled with dust as they crashed to the ground. A large crater was formed in their midst.

In the center of this, Epsilon hovered a few feet away, holding the staff aloft in both hands. The blast had pushed him back a fair distance, but he did not seem perturbed. He merely smirked at the destroyed tree stump in front of him, before turning to look around the area. After scanning the landscape for a few seconds, he finally found what he was looking for.

A black-purple slimelike substance bubbled in a pool. The Dark Matter.

From a distance, in a vengestone cage, Shiren and Kymika could see it all go down.

"Where's dad?" Kymika whispered, her hands gripping the bars, her voice shaky.

"I don't know…" Shiren mumbled, staring at the scene. "He must have been hiding or something. He must have been heartbroken when he found out we were taken hostage. Devastated even. This is probably one of the most painful things he's ever felt. Your father, Xenudah, has always been so emotionally driven. It's likely that he just…couldn't handle it, you know? I think he had some sort of breakdown when we got captured.

Epsilon scowled at the two women in the cage. "You are his leverage. You have no idea how much he values you, and how he would never forgive himself if anything happened to you. But your little scheme to get him off our tail worked! And now, you can never get him back." He turned to face Shiren again, an evil smirk on his face. "This is your only chance. We have what we want now. Do you surrender?"

Shiren looked back at her daughter in the cage. She knew the answer she wanted to give him, but she didn't dare do it. Forcing her to say those words, however, would be too cruel. "No."

With a laugh, Epsilon snapped his fingers and sent another explosion toward them, sending them flying further back in the forest. "Fine then. I guess I will have to take care of these two myself. It's not like we need them anyway. They will die sooner or later." With another snap of his fingers, Epsilon disappeared. When he reappeared beside Shiren and Kymika, his eyes glinted with anger. "But first...the humans are going to pay for taking what was rightfully ours!" And with that, Epsilon grabbed ahold of the cage and teleported the both of them away with a snap of his fingers.

Xenudah shrieked, a loud, piercing cry. He could still channel Epsilon's thoughts, but couldn't use any power. Instead, he was completely helpless to stop what had happened. Tears spilled from his eyes, staining his cheeks.

"Xenu, what's the matter?" Yakunan asked, his voice laced with worry for his only child.

Xenudah shook his head, unable to speak. He just cried harder.

Yakunan sat on the floor next to Xenudah, placing a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked gently.

Xenudah sniffled, wiping a stray tear from his cheek. "No," he replied. "Nothing. Everything feels hopeless right now. It hurts. Everything hurts."

Yakunan nodded understandingly. "Come here." With that, the former Overlord pulled his son onto his lap and wrapped his arms tightly around him. "Everything's gonna be alright," he assured.

"No it's not!" Xenudah snapped back, tears falling from his eyes once more. His shoulders heaved with silent crying. "They took my wife and child! I'm just supposed to sit here and wait while the Oni torture them?!"

"Xenudah, I know that this is hard. But I promise that you're going to be okay." Yakunan tried desperately to calm his son. He rubbed his hands up and down his son's spine, hoping to offer any kind of comfort he could.

"How can you possibly know?!" Xenudah shrieked. His voice rose in volume and pitch with every syllable until he was screaming at Yakunan. "Don't act as though you know what it's like to lose someone you love so dearly because I've been through this more than enough times!"

"Xenu," Yakunan sighed, reaching to brush his son's hair, "I know how painful and agonizing loss can feel, and believe me, I was driven to madness because of it. So please, let me help. Let me make sure you won't fall apart like I did," he said softly. "I know how badly you want to do whatever it takes to help your family." Yakunan tightened his hold on the younger. "Let me help you."

"I…" Xenudah choked out, his voice quieting slightly. "I just…I just can't. I can't stand the thought of being in a situation like this again. First you, now them… It hurts!" He wiped the tears from his cheeks with his sleeve, breathing heavily for a few moments. Then he spoke again in a soft voice, his voice cracking slightly with emotion. "Why do things have to be this way? Why does this have to happen?!" It was clear in his tone that he was close to breaking down and sobbing once more. "Why must I keep losing everyone I love?! WHY?!"

Yakunan hugged his son tighter. "Oh, Xenudah… Shhhh, it's alright. Everything will be alright." He kept repeating that to his son, brushing his hair softly. "I'll never leave your side…"

"How can I be sure?! How can I be sure you'll stay?!" Xenudah yelled, pushing away from Yakunan. "What about when you die, huh?! What happens to me then?! I can't be left alone either!" He stood up quickly, shoving his hand out angrily towards Yakunan. "How am I supposed to trust you after everything you've done?! How could I, when you abandoned me?! How can I trust that you won't leave me once again?!" Xenudah began to pace back and forth across the room.

"Listen to me, Xenudah. Listen to me very carefully. There is nothing I hate more than watching people break in my presence. There is absolutely nothing that I hate more than knowing that if I leave, there would be no one left to watch over you." Yakunan paused. "Xenudah Yamiku Akurai, I love you. More than anything. I'll never leave you behind. No matter what, remember that. You are all I have." Yakunan leaned forward and rested his chin on top of Xenudah's head. "And there is nothing I wouldn't do for you. Nothing that I'd rather die for. Never forget that."

Xenudah froze at his father's words, looking at the man for a moment in silence, a deep frown etched into his face. A slight crease appeared between his brows and he pursed his lips together, biting his lip softly. After a minute passed without any reply coming from Xenudah, Yakunan lifted his head and sat upright once more. A worried look washed over his face as he stared intently at his son. Xenudah's features were pale and drawn, showing signs of extreme distress and frustration. His body trembled slightly as he clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to control his emotions.

"I'm so lost…" Xenudah finally whispered after several minutes of silence. "Please just…don't go…. Don't leave…. Please don't leave me…. Please…" The words seemed to spill from his mouth before he could even stop them. A shudder ran through his whole frame, and a small whimper escaped his throat as he buried his face in his knees, shaking his head violently. "I don't know anymore… I'm afraid of losing you again. Please… Don't make me lose you again!" A single stream of tears slipped free from Xenudah's eyes, rolling down his face silently as he sat slumped on the floor.

Yakunan reached out a hand and lovingly carded his fingers through his son's raven hair. "If you want me to stay, I'll stay. But I don't ever want you to feel unsafe with me. I'm sorry that I hurt you. I should never have done that. You didn't deserve it, nor I. Come here." Without hesitating, Xenudah moved himself into Yakunan's arms. He clung to him fiercely, clinging tightly onto him, his sobs continuing to escape his throat as he fought to get rid of his pain.

Yakunan hugged Xenudah closely, holding him in his arms. As he embraced his son, Yakunan felt tears begin to roll down his own cheeks, tears of anguish and sadness. He hated seeing his son so distraught. Not when he knew exactly what he meant to him, what he had given him. No amount of time would change that fact. If anything, those words would only strengthen the bond between them further. He needed his son to stay with him. To always be by his side. He let out another soft sigh. "You really scared me when you yelled like that."

Xenudah sniffled. "Sorry…" he apologized quietly as he continued to weep into his parent's chest.

"You're scared, little one… But I'll never abandon you," Yakunan reassured him, tightening his hold around his son.

Xenudah nodded weakly into his chest. "I know you won't, Dad…" He sniffled again.

"It's going to be alright…" Yakunan whispered gently. "We'll get through this. We'll find a solution. We always have, haven't we?" He placed a kiss atop his son's head, brushing down the flyaways. "I'm here. Whatever you need, however you need it, I'll give it to you. Always. I promise." The former Overlord's voice broke a bit with his own grief but he ignored it. "I'll do everything within my power to make sure that nothing bad ever happens again. I'll do whatever I have to do to protect you, Xenudah." He swallowed hard, struggling to fight against the lump forming in his throat as his vision blurred. "Nothing else matters…"

There was something comforting and warm inside Yakunan's heart as he held his crying son against him. Something that made him feel as though things would get better, even if they were just temporary, because somehow, someway, they would get through this. Even if they weren't quite able to fix their broken family dynamic at present, they would find a solution to overcome this together. They both loved each other too much not to try. Because after everything they've already gone through, they would never willingly give up on the other again. They would continue to fight together.

Thank you," came the whisper from Xenudah, causing his eyes to flutter closed as a new wave of tears rushed forth, falling from the corners of his eyes to land on the ground.

"I love you, little one," Yakunan said softly, kissing the top of Xenudah's head once more as he pulled the young teen closer against himself, holding him close. "Whatever you need, whenever you want, anything. Just come to me."

"I will…"