AN: I'm back, this chapter is a bit shorter than what you've had so far, but we're easing into this new part, I suppose. There are a few small graphic descriptions without being too gruesome. I hope you've also enjoyed ABD, our adventure continues!
Chapter 21: What will become of us ?
Roppo straightened up, stretching one shoulder and then the other, cracking them with a fluid motion. Before him stood an imposing door, concealing a figure of utmost importance. His loyal Navi, Judgeman, stood behind him, ready to provide unwavering support. He swallowed hard, aware of the significance of the report he had to present, which was starting to cause him slight stress. Fortunately, he felt no apprehension about meeting the person behind that door.
The prosecutor turned his head one last time, cracking his neck, then took a deep breath. He opened the door and finally stepped into a narrow, dark corridor that led him to a vast room tinted in blue and shrouded in darkness. Across from him, a grand staircase rose, and at the top stood an intimidating silhouette dressed in black, draped in a long cape with hues of blue and purple, adorned with pointed shoulder pads. Out of respect, Roppo approached and knelt before him, head bowed, imitated by Judgeman.
"Darkman-sama," he murmured in a humble voice.
The towering Navi turned toward him, his head resembling a bulb emitting a green glow symbolizing his eyes, rendering his facial expression indecipherable. He descended a few steps while Roppo still didn't avert his gaze, awaiting silent permission.
"I'm listening," the Navi responded in a somber voice, showing little interest in prolonging the conversation.
Roppo lifted his head, fearlessly meeting Darkman's gaze, even though it could cost him dearly. He clenched his fists and finally stood up, wearing a serious expression.
"As you probably know, we recently spotted a Navi resembling Gregar. Unfortunately, he eluded us, and we've mobilized our forces to find him," he began, tightening his fists before uttering the next words. "His presence was reported in Gohaya. During our investigation, we discovered the decomposed body of Chirol... She fell victim to a death so violent that it cannot be attributed to the Beast Virus. The most plausible theory is that she crossed paths with Gregar's Navi and was ruthlessly attacked."
Darkman remained silent, his expression as neutral as usual. Roppo hoped to hear at least a word from him, but instead, he perceived a sound akin to a sarcastic chuckle. He quickly turned his head towards the source of the sound, shocked to realize they were not alone.
"Cold-blooded?" he heard once again, his eyes widening as he recognized that familiar voice. He saw a young girl emerge from the shadows, dressed in a uniform reminiscent of a schoolgirl's, but in a serious shade of red. Her blonde hair was tied up with a strange artifact, while her piercing blue eyes could kill someone like sniper bullets. This young girl was none other than Sherrice, the adopted daughter of the "High Master."
Roppo felt anger welling up within him, convinced that the presence of the girl meant that the High Master was up to something or that he didn't trust him, despite what he had shown during their last encounter.
"Why is she here?" Roppo asked, once again fixing his gaze on the towering, dark Navi.
"Because it's information of utmost importance, and she has the right to know," Darkman retorted.
The prosecutor gritted his teeth, furrowing his one visible eye.
"He thinks I'm incapable of handling things on my own?!" he exclaimed, his voice growing louder.
"No. I simply believe that this matter is far too significant for you to be involved in," another voice replied, causing the man to gasp.
Roppo widened his eyes upon hearing this third voice seemingly emerge from nowhere, a voice that made sweat trickle down his face. Behind Darkman, a large screen lit up, revealing a man dressed in white, his face completely concealed by a helmet emitting a cross-shaped blue light. The man appeared to be in a much brighter room.
The prosecutor almost recoiled as Sherrice stepped forward, placing a foot on one of the steps of the staircase. She observed the scene with an icy gaze while Darkman bowed towards the screen.
"M-Master!" Roppo stammered, "I didn't know you were here... I wanted to deliver this report to Darkman-sama to spare you..."
"Now, now, Roppo, do you truly believe that the matter of the Cybeasts is a secondary affair?" the Master asked, his voice almost amused.
Roppo didn't reply, his sweat continuing to trickle down.
"Could it be true, then?" Darkman began, fixing his gaze on the screen. "Is Gregar back?"
"We might believe so, but I prefer to think that he is still incomplete," the Master replied.
The dark Navi nodded, stepping back slightly. Roppo approached the stairs, extending his arms.
"Listen, Master, I'm doing my best to find him. Let me take charge of this mission!" he began, his voice filled with a confidence he tried to reinforce.
"No, Roppo. It is not for you to do, but that doesn't mean you have no role to play," the Master retorted.
Sherrice turned her gaze towards the screen while remaining motionless. "Should the people be informed?"
The helmeted man pondered for a moment as Roppo raised his hand. "I think it's a good idea. People could easily fear him, and we could take responsibility as the Gregar sect."
"Whether they know or not, they will fear him automatically," Darkman replied.
Roppo lowered his hand, biting his lip for having been interrupted. The man on the screen tilted his head and nodded.
"Indeed, whether the people know or not, it will do nothing to help us find this monster," he sighed strangely.
Roppo fell silent, then suddenly remembered a card he had kept hidden. His face lit up with a smile.
"The only way to find him would be to capture the child!" he announced enthusiastically, drawing everyone's attention, including Sherrice, whose expression changed.
"The child?" Darkman repeated.
Roppo nodded, displaying a determined confidence on his face. "The Navi is accompanied by a young boy who appears to be his operator. I don't know how he obtained this Navi, but I know that his PET is not from around here."
The Master brought a hand to his helmet, his finger touching the spot where his mouth should have been. "So, a child is involved with Gregar, that's interesting."
Roppo clenched his fist in his palm. "So the solution is simple: we need to capture this child to lure out that Navi and capture him. I've seen them in action, they seem very close to each other."
Sherrice raised an eyebrow. "And I suppose you have a picture of this child to help us find him?"
Roppo stumbled for a moment. "Well..." He suddenly realized that he hadn't even taken a single picture of that child. He was so confident in being able to capture him that he had completely forgotten.
"Yes, I have at least one," Judgeman intervened, who had remained silent from the beginning.
Roppo looked at him in astonishment, waiting for an explanation. "A Heel Navi took a photo of the boy and that Navi when we found them. It was sent to me in the PET."
Roppo gasped, feeling relieved. He took out his PET and pressed it against a dashboard, displaying the image next to the helmeted man. A boy wearing a bandana could be seen, looking shocked while he was leaning against his Navi, who seemed to be holding back a dormant fury.
Sherrice almost opened her mouth, eyebrow raised as she observed the child, and no one else made a sound. Only the Master let out a strange chuckle that surprised everyone.
"Life is incredibly ironic..." he commented.
Sherrice, concerned, ascended the steps, attempting to maintain her cold expression despite the trembling in her eyes.
"Is there a problem, Father?" she asked.
He took a moment before responding, then brought his hand to his chin, carefully examining what he saw. "This Navi...it is magnificent."
Sherrice glanced disinterestedly at the Navi before furrowing her brow, but she refrained from making any comments. Roppo stepped closer, sharing his satisfaction as well.
"Yes, that's true. To be honest, I've always been an ardent admirer of Gregar," he declared.
Sherrice looked at him with an annoyed eye, finding his comment unnecessary.
"Well, we have found his weakness then," the Master stated, settling comfortably into his chair. "Find this child, and Gregar's Navi will be ours."
The three individuals nodded in agreement.
"But Master..." Darkman began, "Should we continue with the dolls?"
"Of course. There is still one missing, after all," the man on the screen responded soberly.
Darkman nodded.
"And Sherrice, you must first accomplish the next mission, you know how important it is," the helmeted man also added.
She also nodded. "Yes, father."
"As for you, Roppo, continue your work as usual. As long as the soldiers do their part, everything will be fine."
They all nodded once again, then the screen turned off, leaving the three individuals alone. Sherrice quickly turned around and left the room, leaving the two men alone. Once on the other side of the door, she looked on with an expression of anger, clenching her fists as she continued on her way.
Rockman gazed at the house that continued to burn despite the rising daylight. His mood hadn't calmed since he had reverted back to Saito, and once he had managed to bury Meiru's body, he had locked himself inside the small wooden house, overwhelmed by his grief. This time, he was determined to find at least a trace of the children's bodies. However, amidst the flames that had devastated nearly everything, he found nothing. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling his rationality slipping away once again. He circled the house and surveyed the crime scene, the girl's body unrecognizable, shards protruding from her skin. If he could further destroy her, he would do so without hesitation...
His attention then turned to the surroundings, and he was surprised to find no trace of the child. He knew the child had left, but he thought he hadn't gone far. He growled, realizing he had a new problem to face, and this time he would be willing to annihilate the entire world if anything had happened to that child.
A brown leaf twirled in the wind before gently landing on Netto's sleeping face. He slowly opened his eyes, realizing he had dozed off against the trunk of a tree, arms crossed on top of it. As he attempted to get up, he felt aches all over his body. His gaze settled on the leaf that had landed on him, and he stared at it for a moment. He then surveyed his surroundings, memories flooding into his mind. His mouth twisted in a pained expression, and his already reddened eyes from the tears he had shed the previous day only intensified his urge to cry once more.
His stomach growled, a clear sign of his hunger. Slowly rising while holding his belly, Netto tried to ignore his environment. He felt like he had come full circle, like he had lost everything, just like when he first arrived here. And Rockman... No, he didn't want to believe that creature could be the beloved Navi he had once operated. Moreover, Saito hadn't helped by yelling at him. Though he understood Saito was also consumed by pain, he could have responded differently...
Netto no longer wanted to see any of these people. He desired to be alone, and if he had to continue his journey in solitude, he would do so.
However, Netto couldn't ignore the faces of Meiru and the other children. He felt abandoned once again. He had no home anymore. His true home was back in his world, with his parents...
Despite it all, he started walking, sniffling softly as the wind made him shiver. He adjusted his cape around him, as if trying to keep warm, but it wasn't enough to shield him from the cold. Netto could hear various sounds, which nearly froze him in place. He didn't know if they were animals or viruses, but in the latter case, he felt a deep fear.
"Hikari Netto," a voice resonated behind him, causing him to startle loudly.
The child turned around, eyes wide, and nearly stumbled backward upon seeing the person who had called out to him. He might have hoped for a joyful reunion, but the face of this person remained dark, almost sinister. They scrutinized him from their imposing stature, further accentuating Netto's small size.
"C-Colonel..." he murmured with a voice filled with sorrow.
The Navi didn't flinch, remaining impassive. The child approached quickly, almost eager to touch him, but he restrained himself, realizing he wasn't allowed to do so.
"Colonel... Please... Help me!" he pleaded with a voice full of despair. "I beg you, take me back home!"
But Colonel still did nothing, merely staring at him. "I cannot take you back home. I have come to ask you to find Rockman, you must stay with him."
Netto stood there speechless, his mouth trembling without making a sound. Instead, he lowered his head, allowing new tears to escape. "I... I don't want to..." he murmured.
"You don't have a choice," Colonel coldly replied in the same tone. "You cannot survive alone in this world."
Strangely, Netto gritted his teeth and scowled as the tears continued to flow. "Then return him to his original form! Give me back the Rockman I know!" he cried out with what remained of his voice.
Colonel didn't respond, still staring at the young boy with his dark eyes. "I don't want to see him," Netto continued, still overwhelmed by sobs. "I'm scared... Please, return him to his original form! I want to talk to him, I want to see his kindness again!"
The Navi remained motionless, opting to speak in a slightly softer voice. "Then you must return to Saito."
Netto's anger grew upon hearing that name. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "No! I don't want to see him either! I don't want to see anyone! I want to go home and find the Navi I had!" he shouted while shaking his head vigorously, filled with rage.
"We cannot restore the appearance you knew," the large black Navi quickly replied.
"Then why did you give him this appearance?" Netto continued shouting.
"Duo didn't give it to him," Colonel replied without flinching.
A silence fell. Netto gasped, taking a step back at those words. "What?"
But Colonel didn't immediately respond, preferring to continue the original conversation. "Netto, the only way for you to understand is to return to them," he added.
"Understand what? What are you hiding from us?" the child asked in a whisper.
"Only Rockman...or Saito, can tell you," was his sole response to the child.
Netto gritted his teeth and shook his head, clenching his fists. "Stop! Stop with your riddles! Tell me! Tell me what's going on, why I'm here, why Saito was chosen too, why are you doing this to us?!"
"It is not for me to reveal everything to you," explained the same Navi in a dark voice. "I am but a spectator who has no right to interfere and help you, only to give you advice."
Netto tightened his arms around himself and gritted his teeth. "What did I do to Duo to make him leave me here?"
"You won't understand," Colonel began, "but Duo sees you as nothing more than an anomaly of this world. Prove to him that you deserve to live."
Like a sniper bullet, something pierced through the child's body, instantly paralyzing him. His eyes remained fixed straight ahead, pupils dilated, tears streaming freely. His mouth eventually trembled, and he finally lowered his head, unaware of the softer expression on Colonel's face.
"You encountered someone during your journey," he added gently. "I hope you find her; she might be able to help you."
Netto cared little for what Colonel was saying, refusing to look at him. He stayed motionless, arms crossed against his trembling body, tears flowing without him acknowledging it. When he looked for the Navi once again, he had mysteriously vanished. A grimace distorted his face, and his mouth opened in a scream so powerful that several birds flew away in response. His cries escaped him repeatedly, while he remained firmly curled up, overwhelmed by anger.
"Colonel... Duo..." he articulated between sobs. "I hate you."
A strange shiver ran down his spine, causing Netto to grimace as the wind blew stronger. He stared into emptiness, slowly lifting his head. Then, without considering his destination, he turned around and walked in a direction, indifferent to where he would end up. The wind blew so fiercely that he felt the cold despite everything. Shaking his head, he moved forward without knowing where his steps would lead him.
He heard a noise, an owl. Netto looked up and noticed the bird perched on a branch, staring at him with its round eyes. The owl took flight, moving away from him. Indifferent to the direction of its departure, Netto continued his journey in the opposite direction, pulling the hood over his head. Hunger and thirst gnawed at him. It had been since noon yesterday that he had consumed anything.
In a fleeting moment, he remembered the children and Meiru. Was it his fault? Was it because he had asked Rockman to save those people? If Rockman hadn't left, would they have survived? Another sob escaped his mouth, and he brought the corner of his cape to it, as if it were a comfort item.
The child walked without knowing how long he had been moving forward. Perhaps more than thirty minutes, maybe an hour, and he was already exhausted. As long as he didn't cross paths with Rockman... And yet—as Colonel had told him—he couldn't survive without him, but he didn't want to see him... He now felt immense fear towards him. The image of his face distorted by rage, bloodied after what he had done to that woman... Yes, he hated that person, she had committed the most heinous act, and he would never forgive her... but was it right to punish someone with death?
A noise rang out, interrupting Netto's walk. He stopped abruptly and scanned the surroundings, eyes wide open. His hands gripped his cape tightly, trying to avoid making any noise, not even wishing to interact if someone was there. He took a few steps back, maintaining silence. Then, without a word, a growl was heard. It couldn't be Rockman, he knew the sound of his growls well. Netto realized that if it wasn't Rockman, it could be...another threat. Three Spikeys emerged from their hiding place, two blue and one pink.
Netto stiffened as he saw them, hearing their growls. He also noticed the Gregar-like aspect of their appearance, revealing their fusion with the Beast Factor. The child instinctively stepped back as the three viruses growled like wolves ready to attack. Feeling the tension rise, he turned around and started running at full speed. The virus-wolves chased after him, letting out a shrill cry.
Netto didn't know where he was going, but he had to find a place that would offer him some semblance of safety...if he could find one. His first thought was to climb a tree, but being fire viruses, they could easily reach him from up there. As he continued to run, he eventually arrived at a vast lake of vibrant green. With no other choice, quickly glancing back to spot the wolves, he took a deep breath and plunged his feet into the water, wading until he was waist-deep in the almost icy, muddy water. Then he swam away from the shore.
Behind him, Netto heard the viruses making strange noises. When he turned around, he noticed that the wolves dared not set a paw in the water. They waited for a few moments, but seeing that the child didn't move, they wandered off in a direction, losing all interest in him. The boy let out a long sigh of relief.
Heading in the opposite direction, he reached the edge of the lake and knelt down. He was now soaked and even colder than before... Who knows, he might get sick and have to seek shelter with a girl he knew in his world, only to see her get killed again... He shook his head, wondering when he had become so sarcastic. Standing up, he decided to continue his journey. His wet cape felt so heavy, his white sweater had taken on a dark hue, and his boots were filled with water. And to think Meiru had cleaned all his clothes for them to end up like this, just after her death...
Netto continued walking, the urge to burst into tears becoming stronger with each passing moment. And what a piercing cold... He kicked a stone, sniffled repeatedly, and eventually sneezed. He quickly covered his mouth with his hands, hoping no one had heard.
He heard noise again, probably the same viruses that had chased him. He started running again, but the barking continued to track him. Couldn't he just have some peace, even for a moment? He kept running, even as hope began to fade.
Netto didn't expect to trip over a root and fall violently to the ground, the viruses catching up to him. Terrified, the child scooted back while remaining on the ground. He let out repeated whimpers, and his chest heaved frantically, his breathing becoming too rapid. He felt like he was about to faint. The wolves rushed towards him, and Netto turned around, hoping to simply vanish into the ground.
Yet, nothing happened.
In an instant, another creature intervened, charging towards the virus-wolves. Netto abruptly raised his head upon hearing the strange noises emitted by the viruses. They were all struggling while a furious Rockman brought one of the three viruses down, cleaving it in two. Netto was still terrified, nothing had changed since yesterday. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to him, he quickly stood up and walked away.
Rockman ruthlessly eliminated the last virus, then turned his head towards the child. His red eyes were monstrously distorted, just like before. His mouth resembled that of a tiger, wide open, and with a growl, he rushed towards Netto at a frantic speed, forcefully pinning him to the ground.
Netto screamed as he was pressed to the ground, feeling Rockman's hand forcing him against his back, the claws almost penetrating his skin. He cried out repeatedly, desperately struggling to free himself. "Let go of me, Rockman!"
The child tried to get up, but the Navi's strength was too powerful. He fought as much as he could, but to no avail. "Please, let me go!" he continued to plead.
Finally, the powerful hand released its grip from his back, and Netto quickly turned around, crawling backward on the ground, but he felt something wrapped around his ankle. Looking down, he realized it was Rockman's tail that had caught him, preventing his escape.
The child tried to control his breathing while Rockman stared at him with his terrifying eyes. "Rockman, let go of me..." he quickly said, fearing suffocation at any moment. "Let go of me."
Rockman didn't move but began to growl softly. Losing patience with this response, Netto finally closed his eyes and shouted once again, desperate. "Let go of me, Rockman!"
Rockman's eyes slowly widened as Netto's face turned red with emotion. He could see the boy breathing rapidly, on the verge of a panic attack, paying no attention to the Navi. Swallowing hard, the child abruptly lowered his head, his mouth twisted.
"Don't kill me, please..." he murmured, accompanied by a small sob.
A shiver ran down Rockman's spine, his mouth wide open and trembling slowly. His red eyes narrowed as he stared at Netto. The tail released the child's leg, setting him free. The Navi stepped back and leaped onto a tree, gripping one of the branches while keeping his eyes fixed on the little boy. Netto stood up as he felt his freedom regained, clutching his cape tightly around him. He looked at Rockman with eyes filled with sadness.
"I'm sorry, Rockman..." he murmured.
Without even waiting for the Navi to respond, Netto quickly turned around and heard a growl. However, he started running as fast as he could, not wanting to be caught up. He couldn't bear to see him...not in that state. He just wanted to escape. If he was being watched from afar by Rockman, it didn't bother him, but he didn't want to see him...at least not for the moment.
As he ran without looking where he was stepping, he stumbled again on a root and fell once more. This time, his head hit a hard object violently, plunging him into darkness.
Netto slowly opened his eyes, plagued by a throbbing headache and a hungry stomach. The darkness was gradually settling in, making him wonder how long he had been unconscious. Struggling to sit up, his gaze landed on the kneeling figure of Saito, who was clumsily attempting to start a fire with his obvious lack of experience. Netto's eyes widened, flashbacks from the previous day flooded his mind, evoking a sinister foreboding. Whether it was Rockman or now Saito...
He quickly stood up but unintentionally made noise, catching the attention of the older boy who called out to him. Without exchanging a word, Netto grabbed the bag he was on and dashed off in a direction, running as if he were being pursued by virus-wolves once again.
"Netto!" Saito cried out from behind him, abandoning the fire he had failed to ignite and giving chase. He repeated Netto's name several times, desperate to convince him to stay by his side, while Netto wanted nothing more than to not see him at all.
Netto arrived at a wide river and spotted a tree trunk serving as a makeshift bridge. Despite his small legs, he managed to climb onto it without slipping. Saito joined him with apprehension, hesitating to walk on the log. Swallowing his saliva, he finally decided to follow Netto, who had already reached the other end. Just as Netto was about to leave, Saito called out his name again. In his haste, Saito tried to speed up, but his foot slipped, and he fell violently into the water, carried away by the powerful current.
Hearing the cries for help, Netto abruptly stopped and turned around. He saw the poor boy struggling in the water, suddenly remembering that he couldn't swim. His widened eyes watched Saito desperately cling to an emergent rock as if his life depended on it. Without wasting a second, Netto approached the river, removed his cape and bag, then plunged into the icy water. He swiftly swam towards Saito, who hadn't noticed him yet, too preoccupied with fighting against the current and the water splashing his face.
Firmly gripping Saito's arm, Netto pulled him along. When the former Navi opened his eyes, he saw the little boy beside him, doing his best to swim towards the riverbank despite the force of the water. Saito tried to kick to assist, and finally, both of them reached the shore, placing their hands on solid ground and catching their breath loudly.
Netto straightened up, using his bag and cape as a makeshift blanket to warm himself. Saito looked up at him, but the child remained still, turning his back to the preteen who was slowly getting up, a faint smile on his lips.
"Thank you... Netto..." Saito murmured softly.
Netto slightly turned his head and nodded.
They ended up finding themselves in a corner, and it was Netto who took care of making the campfire. The young boy no longer felt like running away, although he remained uncomfortable in Saito's presence. As long as they stayed in their own corners, it suited him. The older boy reached out his hands toward the fire to warm himself, then looked up at Netto, who had folded his legs against his body, arms wrapped around them, paying him no attention. Saito lowered his gaze with shame, aware of the tension that now lingered between them.
"Forgive me...for last night," he murmured.
He noticed a slight movement of Netto's shoulders as his lips slowly parted, but he said nothing.
"I shouldn't have yelled at you... I wasn't myself...and then..." Saito paused, reflecting for a moment. "No, I'm sorry."
Netto didn't respond verbally but made a slow nod, accepting Saito's apologies. The latter didn't expect Netto to speak again.
"Actually... You were right to yell at me..." Netto declared, surprising Saito, who raised his head in astonishment. "If I hadn't pushed Rockman to go, to go save those people, they would still be alive..."
Saito opened his mouth wide, shocked by Netto's words. It wasn't like him to admit fault, especially saying something like that.
"I pushed Rockman to save people who never showed him any gratitude..." Netto continued in a softer voice. "I hate them..."
The preteen was even more surprised by Netto's words. He had never been the type to hate anyone, and uttering such words was unusual for him. Saito twisted his mouth, almost frowning.
"Don't say that, Netto. What happened wasn't your fault. You didn't know, no one knew she was there. The only one responsible is that woman," Saito replied with seriousness.
Netto didn't respond. His lips slowly tightened. Observing this expression, Saito approached slowly and positioned himself at his side. The child raised his head, his gaze almost freezing the preteen. He seemed both devastated and icy.
"I suppose...you won't tell me your secret," he said in a weak voice.
Saito opened his mouth to take a breath, then averted his gaze, no longer wanting to confront Netto's eyes.
"Not for now... Not after what happened... I can't," he simply replied, his voice tinged with sadness.
"Meiru told me...it was good news," Netto added in a softer voice.
"I suppose...it can depend on one's perspective," he concluded.
Netto took a deep breath while staring at the fire.
"Alright... You'll tell me when you're ready, once again," he said.
Saito sighed, feeling somewhat relieved. He observed Netto and noticed a gaze so cold. "But I don't like waiting," he added.
"I..." Saito began softly. "I would have told you if none of this had happened."
"I believe you... But I just want you to tell me... To be sure that...you trust me," Netto replied.
Saito widened his eyes. "But I trust you, Netto!"
He noticed that the child was pursing his lips as if his life depended on it. Saito lowered his gaze, feeling powerless.
"I'm nobody, Netto... The most important thing is for Rockman and you to be together," he murmured.
A shiver ran through Netto's body, which the preteen noticed. He tried to understand what was wrong when terror appeared in the child's eyes. He instantly understood.
"Rockman... Yesterday, he..." Saito looked up at Netto, completely devastated. "I lost Rockman... I thought he was going to kill me too..."
Finally, Netto collapsed against Saito's body, tears flooding his eyes.
"I'm scared..."
Saito remained silent. The situation was far too complex, and it reinforced his choice not to reveal the secret anymore.
"I'm sorry, Meiru... I give up..."
With a strange, slimy sound, Netto felt something wrapping around his arms. He opened his eyes and lifted his head, discovering that he was in a massive muddy tunnel. As he stood up, he examined his arms and the rest of his body to find that he had returned to normal. Unaware that this moment of reverting back to his old form after so long was just a dream, he cautiously gazed towards the end of the tunnel. A powerful gust of wind, or some kind of breathing, could be heard.
With a look of intrigue, Netto began to run in the direction of this strange breathing, eager to understand where he was. Reaching the end of the tunnel, he came upon a strangely devastated temple in the open air. The stars illuminated the sky, and the dimensional area enveloped the surroundings. Facing him were steps leading up to a dilapidated floor, upon which a gigantic creature lay. It breathed heavily, giving the impression of being asleep.
Netto was almost caught off guard when he realized that this creature was none other than Gregar himself, asleep. Despite his terror of being in the presence of this creature, a certain curiosity began to grow within him. He approached slowly, his arms folded across his chest. He was almost stunned by what he saw, thinking that this monster had been destroyed five years ago without him ever having to see it.
Mouth agape, Netto watched attentively, tightening his arms around himself. Then, looking around, he closed his mouth. His face expressed a certain distress as he gazed upon the beast. Hesitant, he raised his hand towards it without touching.
"Rockman?" he murmured in a very soft voice.
To his great surprise, the cybeast ceased its breathing and let out a breath. Netto twisted his mouth, seemingly slowly overwhelmed by this idea that was sprouting in his mind.
"Rockman, is it really you?" he continued.
He heard a growl and instinctively took a step back. That's when Gregar began to move, triggering panic in Netto, who was trying to remain confident.
"Rockman, please..." he stammered, searching for his words to prevent the creature from turning towards him and attacking. "Please, Rockman, explain to me what's happening to you! I want to help you! I'll do anything to prevent you from ending up like this! So let me help you!"
The beast stood up completely, but its head still didn't face him. Netto felt like it had grown taller as it stood up.
"I beg of you! I know you're in there! I won't let you become this monstrosity, I'll support you!" he cried out with even more strength, tears welling up in his eyes.
"You can't help me," came to him almost like telepathy, a voice of unimaginable depth, nothing like Rockman's. "You can't even free yourself from your own curse."
The boy gasped. "What?" He looked down at his body and noticed that he was a child again, with clothes too big for him. His face reflected utter disbelief as he heard Gregar crawl on all fours and move away in one direction, ready to leave.
"Rockman, no, wait!" He reached out his hand towards him, but the creature leaped and moved away so quickly that he heard a sound indicating it had landed far away.
Netto tried to locate him with his eyes, then burst into tears. Was it really supposed to end like this? Shaking his head, he thought back to what had happened the other day. He placed his hands against his eyes, crying into them.
He would have thought the nightmare would end there if it weren't for the high-pitched scream he heard. Netto abruptly lifted his head, searching for the source of the noise. Instead, a single crimson feather fell at his feet. He stared at it for a few seconds, feeling something terrifying coursing through his bones.
The child jumped up, letting out an alarmed cry, covered in sweat. He scanned his surroundings, but Saito was nowhere to be found—probably off doing something, although the fire was still burning. But it wasn't that which deeply troubled him; it was the immense rift shimmering right in front of him.
To be Continued…
AN: Did you like this new chapter? It's a chapter that repeats itself a bit, I admit, but how would you react if you were in Netto's place? Poor him, he's probably the victim here...