AC: This is the final chapter of the prologue Arc. I hope you like it.

Final chapter: A cursed chat

"A...chat?" Asked Illumina a little afraid.

"Of course a chat. Do you expect me and destroy you already? I like staying in the cliché. Also, it's just too soon for that. Where's the fun in killing everyone without having fun first?" Said the voice of Tenebrae.

"What do you want Tenebrae? You are still trap in this dimension and you will not go out! Cothica defeated you long ago and will once again." Said Ica grunting at it.

"Yes...Cothica defeated me...But it was long ago. Let's not bring the past right now...First...I want to welcome you to Perim Ica. You sure have slept for a long time." Said Tenebrae with a scary voice. It was gentle, in a scary way.

"Long time. I am not interested in this." Replied Ica.

"How long did he slept?" Asked Illumina.

"That is a good question Miss Illumina. It is good to see that you are more interested in Ica than Tigerslash and Ica himself." Tenebrae laughed for a few seconds.

Tigerslash looked at Ica and he grunted. Jealously awoke in him and Tenebrae saw it and the reaction was the one he guessed.

"It is only curiosity." Said Illumina. "I asked much more question to Tigerslash when I met him anyway."

"Grrr...Don't get in my nerve dear Illumina." Said Tenebrae voice a little angry by her replied. It wasn't what he expected. "To answer your question...It was one million solans he was asleep. One million. He sure is a sloth one this bastard. One question... Who's going to tell a secret? Too late for that, the answer is me." Said Tenebrae before chuckling. "I am starting to coming back to Perim. It is only a matter of time now...As always."

"That's not a big secret." Said Ica. "That is why I woke up."

"Tenebrae...Why are you coming back?" Asked Illumina.

"I'm coming back for one reason...But you will not know it now. Haha...Anyway...Let's get back to the topic. You sure want to know what I have done long ago to be here." Said Tenebrae.

"We have done enough talking to you." Said Ica. "Let's go before it is too late."

Illumina hesitated, but Tigerslash took Illumina and they walked away when black thunder stroke in front of them.

"It is very impolite to walk away when someone is talking to you! Especially when this someone is me! You deserve a little punishment Ica." Said the voice of Tenebrae. "I will not punish you now...Just when I will have finish what I came here for. Do not worry...It is too soon to kill you. The killing part is not now." He chuckled again.

"Let us out of here. Illumina...Port out now." Said Tigerslash. "It is too dangerous."

"Alright." Said Illumina listening to him.

She took out her scanner when a black thunder stroke nears her.

"AAAHHH!" She screamed when the lighting stroke. She felt the power and her scanner flew away. Illumina flied and landed on the ground.

"ILLUMINA!" Screamed Tigerslash running by her side. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Said Illumina.

"Good news! For you...I just made her jump far and high. That was pleasant...It would have been more if I hit her right? Maybe I can do it now...No...but the scanner...Is not an option." Said Tenebrae before laughing evilly.

A black dome covered the blue scanner on the ground.

"I'm evil right?" Said Tenebrae.

"LET HER OUT OF HERE!" Ordered Tigerslash screaming at the entity.

"No...Where is the fun when a life is not in danger?" Asked Tenebrae.

Tigerslash grunted when he felt Illumina patting his shoulder.

"Calm down. I don't think we should make him mad...Or saying anything else like that. I mean...I don't like his sadism or something like that." Said Illumina at Tigerslash.

"Listen to her. We must always remain calm against him." Warned Ica.

"Don't tell me what to do Ica." Said Tigerslash.

"There is no fun. Okay...I think we should continue the talk now...By that...I mean me talking. My voice is fabulous." Said Tenebrae.

"Meh..." Said Illumina meaning not that much.

"Bad." Said Tigerslash.

"Awful." Said Ica.

"...F*** you. Let's continues now. Time for something important. Ica...I'm sure you want to find something. You are searching for the Cothica right?" Asked Tenebrae.

"I will find Cothica and we will stop you from doing anything bad." Said Ica with resolution.

"Good luck with that. You search for Cothica...But there is one problem. Where can you find Cothica? Hum...Where? Even I don't know where the Cothica is...But you don't know it either. You looked lost and the reaction you have is showing that you indeed ignored the where. Hahahahaha! Without Cothica...You cannot stop me! Worse...NO ONE CAN STOP ME! FEAR MY POWER!"

The ground shook again and they all lost their balance. They felt on the ground and they are suddenly blinding with darkness. After a few seconds, the darkness changed of shape and it turned from dark to shining darkness and purple. They could now see each other's. Tigerslash hung his hand against Illumina and be sure he will not lose her. The place seemed like it is coming from a nightmare.

"This is a more appropriate place to talk Ica. Illumina...I hope you like this place." Said Tenebrae.

"..." Illumina said nothing and she was afraid of it.

"Do not worry. I'll protect you with my life." Said Tigerslash looking at her with a small smile.

"It is time. The clock is starting to tic now Ica. I'm starting to return to Perim. Cothica is nowhere to be found. You'll have to find it to stop me...But can you do it or will you end up failing?" Asked Tenebrae.

"You are starting to repeat yourself Tenebrae. I will find the Cothica and we will stop you from doing your evil desire!" Shouted Ica. "I will do anything to stop you."

"Oh no! I'm so afraid of you. I don't know what I'll do." Said the voice of Tenebrae. It was a mocking and sarcastic voice. "You know I'm sarcastic. I will do anything to be in your way Ica. I intend to be free and do anything I want when I'm out of here! The problem is that you are too much powerful Ica. You will only be in my path and you will pass anything without any trouble. I also have to punish you. Alright...Let me punish you Ica!"

Four pyramids appeared. There were gray and seemed like they were empty. They moved around Ica who tried to use his power to push them away. He jumped to the left by the pyramids where too much fast and it trapped him. A gray bubble appeared around Ica.

"Time for the fun." Said Tenebrae.

The gray bubble sent some lighting.

"AAARRRGGGHHH!" Screamed Ica when he felt his power sealed by brutal force. He felt on his knee and he continued screaming.

"LET HIM GO YOU BASTARD!" Screamed Illumina.

She slipped from the grasp of Tigerslash and she ran at the direction of Ica. She then started to his the bubble but nothing happened. It was too much solid for her. She continued hitting even if it was useless.

"Alright. I think it will be enough. Sadly...You will die if I continue...And I want to make you suffer even more and...I don't want to kill you." Said Tenebrae.

The pyramids disappeared and Ica was freed. Illumina moved by the side of the giant knight and she looked at him worried.

"Are you alright?" Asked Illumina. She moved her hand against the back of his helmet.

"I'm fine." Said Ica weakly.

"You are now defenceless Ica. Your power has been sealed by my greater power! On another note Ica, you should know that you cannot kill me. Cothica couldn't...Neither can you. Also, Ica, I will convince you to join my side." Said Tenebrae. He then laughed evilly.

"I will never join your side! It is clear as the blue sky!" Shouted Ica. "You will not make me change my mind!"

"Poor Ica. You are blind to the true...Or maybe you do not remember everything...You overslept after all. Ha ha ha...Ica...Little Ica...You need to remember everything. If you don't...Then you will be caught into the darkness, which I represent ironically since I want you to remember everything. Ica...You are now, but a bug. Travel and search for the Cothica. You will discover...Betrayal! HAHAHAHAHA! I can guarantee you." Said Tenebrae. "Now...I have to make you suffer mentally. It might trigger your memory. I will give something special...A curse that will slowly kill someone you hold dear in your heart Ica."

"...Tenebrae. You are just giving empty threat. They cannot betray me...I do not trust any of them. I'm sure you seal my memories Tenebrae. There are a few things you want to temper with." Said Ica.

Tigerslash walked by the side of Illumina and he held her hand again.

"Also...I hold no one in my heart. I just awoke and I have bound with no one." Said Ica. He said it with confidence.

"...Hahahaha...Hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Screamed Tenebrae laughing powerfully. He laughed like a maniac. "That is soo much funny Ica! I thought I was going to die by laughing! Dear Ica...Dear little...little...LITTLE Ica! You are so blind. You said that you have bound to no one. You meant that you care for no one. It is all but lies. You just woke up...But you already care for someone. You are blind to your own heart. You shook her hand! She was worried for you and in your heart, you felt like someone care for you. You care of Illumina. You want to be sure nothing bad happened to her...So you lie to me! Also...Illumina insulted me...She said that I was a bastard. Ica...It is your fault. Remember it and say that in your mind: «Illumina will suffer and die because of me». Say it in your mind dear little Ica. Illumina...You are now curse by my power Illumina. By now I mean soon. I'm sorry dear Illumina...But you will have to die for me. Too bad." Said Tenebrae chuckling.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Screamed Tigerslash.

"She hasn't done anything to you! Pick me!" Shouted Ica.

"Or me!" Shouted Tigerslash.

A blast of energy stroke and Tigerslash flew away from her. Thunder felt from the dark sky and it hit Illumina.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Screamed Illumina in pain and in fear.

She felt on the ground and the lighting stopped. She breathed heavily and with exhaustion.

"Illumina...You are now merging on the path of death. If it was only that...The scanner will not work for you! You cannot escape from Perim. You cannot return to your world and end the curse. The scanner will not answer to you. There is no escape from this. Ica...The time starts for you before she dies. You have to find a cure, but...Will you find it?" Asked Tenebrae chuckling.

"I will rescue you Illumina. I promise." Said Ica.

"You...You will pay for this!" Shouted Tigerslash. "Illumina...hang in there...Everything will be fine." He took her in his arms and lifted her.

"Anyway...It is time to make my leave. Have fun." Said Tenebrae. "And remember...Time is moving forward and forward only. Hahahahaha!"

The darkness surrounding them disappeared and they were back in the city. Tigerslash looked at Illumina and he comforted her.

"...He is gone. Tenebrae is gone. I think he had finish his business...We are lucky he didn't intent to kill us right now." Said Ica. His voice was calm, but there was a hint of anger and fear.

"You can let me down." Said Illumina. "I can walk you know."

"...Alright." Said Tigerslash.

He putted Illumina down and she was on her feet.

"Illumina...It's all my fault...I'm sorry. If only I had all of my power...I would have broken the curse easily. I...I don't know what I can do anymore." Said Ica. He was now confused about himself. He had lost his power and he doesn't know what he could do.

"What can we do?" Asked Illumina.

"I don't know and...Where's the scanner?" Asked Tigerslash.

"My scanner...I don't know." Said Illumina.

"He brought it with him...Just I case you try anything." Said Ica. "I can only think of that. Illumina...I had to save you...I just need to find a way."

"..." Tigerslash looked at Illumina. "I think I know how."

"You know how?" Asked Illumina.

"We need to find our best muge." Said Tigerslash. "He will find something. I'm sure of it."

"Alright. I'll follow you until she is safe. It is my fault that everything happens to her." Said Ica.

Tigerslash looked at Ica and he said nothing.

"You can come." Said Illumina.

"Thank you Illumina." Said Ica.

They trio walked away at the direction of the Overworlder high muge.

This is the end of the prologue.

Next arc: The cursed human.

Chapter 1: The Overworlder general.