Silence reigned in the room for a few seconds.
Seraph's golden aura dimmed further as she absorbed Rey's question, trying her best to ignore his extremely forward tone. She stood in Rey's quarters, her piercing gaze locking with his as she began her explanation.
"The situation on Earth has spiraled out of balance…" She sighed, her tone calm but firm. "I was sent by the higher-ups to correct it. Your presence here, along with the Dragon Emperor's, is causing disruptions that Earth's natural order cannot sustain."
Rey folded his arms and leaned against the wall, his brows furrowed.
"Disruptions? Care to elaborate?"
Seraph nodded, her expression unwavering. "Magic doesn't exist naturally on Earth, at least not in the form it does in H'Trae. The awakening of powers you've observed—humans gaining abilities they shouldn't have—that is a direct result of the Dragon Emperor's presence here. His aura leaks into this world, bending its rules. If left unchecked, the effects will escalate, plunging Earth into chaos."
Rey processed her words, his mind racing. "So, you're saying it's not just the Dragon Emperor. I'm part of the problem, too."
"You are," Seraph confirmed. "Your connection to H'Trae, your powers—they contribute to the disruption, though not to the same extent. The Dragon Emperor's presence is what amplifies the problem. That's why I was sent to ensure both of you are returned to H'Trae."
Rey nodded slowly, the pieces falling into place. "It makes sense. The Dragon Emperor's arrival explains the sudden surge in awakenings. But if that's the case, why not deal with him directly? Why drag me into this?"
Seraph's expression softened slightly, though her tone remained firm. "Because I can't do it alone. I used a significant portion of my power to save the battlefield earlier. I don't have enough strength to face the Dragon Emperor, especially if he resists—and he will resist. He's not as reasonable as you are."
Rey sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Figures. So, what's the plan? Do you know where he is?"
"I do," Seraph admitted. "But confronting him won't be simple. To transport both of you back to H'Trae, I need you in the same place at the same time, and I only have one opportunity to open the portal. The Dragon Emperor isn't likely to cooperate. That means we may have to subdue him—and for that, I'll need your help."
Rey raised an eyebrow.
"My help? I hate to break it to you, but I'm not exactly in the best shape right now. I'm slowly recovering, but nowhere near my full strength, I doubt I can take on someone like him."
"The same could be said about the Emperor. He isn't nearly as strong as he was on H'Trae. Compared to that world, where he spent thousands of years building power, he has barely been here for a year… and it's not like the people of Earth give him sufficient EXP."
"I see. But I'm guessing he's still stronger than I am."
"That's why you need to grow stronger," Seraph said bluntly. "Level up. Train. Do whatever it takes to reach your peak potential as quickly as possible. Only then will we have a chance."
Rey's jaw tightened, but he couldn't argue with her logic.
"Fine," he said after a moment. "But don't expect me to do this out of the goodness of my heart. This is about survival—for me, for Earth, and for everyone involved. I'll help you, but we're in this together, understand?"
Seraph gave a faint smile, a rare crack in her otherwise stoic demeanor.
"A reluctant alliance, then."
Rey shrugged. "Call it whatever you want. Just make sure we're clear on one thing—I'm not doing this blindly. I have questions, and I expect answers."
"I'll answer what I can," Seraph replied, her tone neutral once more. "But some truths are beyond you right to know. My mission comes first."
Rey exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Of course it does."
As silence fell between them, their reluctant alliance was forged, bound by necessity and the looming threat of the Dragon Emperor.
"Ah! Also…"
Seraph's expression turned somber, her piercing gaze fixing on Rey with an intensity that made him uneasy.
"Before we move forward, there's something else you need to know," she said, her voice low but deliberate.
Rey frowned. "What now? Another world-ending threat?"
"Not quite," Seraph replied. "But it's just as dangerous. There's a traitor within The Resistance."
Rey stiffened, his eyes narrowing.
"I know," he said slowly. "It's been obvious for a while. The leaks, the sabotage—it's too precise to be a coincidence. It's someone high up, but I haven't figured out who yet."
Seraph raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And who do you suspect?"
Rey hesitated, his jaw tightening.
"If I had to guess, it's either Admiral Zach or Seth. Zach's always been overly strategic, like he's planning something bigger than he lets on. And Seth..." He trailed off, his voice hardening.
"Well, my family is scum. Betrayal runs in their blood."
Seraph's lips curved into a faint, almost pitying smile.
"You're wrong."
Rey's eyes narrowed further. "Oh? And you know this for sure, how?"
"I have the ability to see through a person's outward self," Seraph explained. "Their intentions, their thoughts—it's as clear to me as the words you're speaking now. It's how I've been able to communicate with you telepathically. And I can assure you, the traitor is neither Admiral Zach nor Seth."
Rey felt a chill creep down his spine. "Then who is it?"
Seraph's gaze didn't waver. "It's Lady A. Angie."
The name hit Rey like a punch to the gut.
His breath caught, and for a moment, he was sure he hadn't heard her right.
"Angie?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "No. That's impossible. You're lying."
Seraph's expression remained calm, unyielding. "I don't lie, Rey. You should know that."
Rey shook his head, his mind racing. "There's no way. Angie's the backbone of The Resistance. She's the one holding everything together. Why would she betray us? What possible reason could she have?"
"That's a question only she can answer," Seraph replied. "But consider this: Lady A has more freedom than any operative in HQ. She's privy to any information she wants, no matter how classified. Her reputation is untouchable—no one would ever suspect her. She's perfectly positioned to feed information to the enemy without anyone noticing."
Rey clenched his fists, his thoughts spiraling.
He replayed every interaction, every moment he'd shared with Angie, searching for something—anything—that could hint at betrayal. But nothing stood out.
"No," he said again, more firmly this time. "There has to be some mistake. Angie wouldn't do this."
"Why don't you ask her yourself," Seraph said simply, a cryptic smile tugging at her lips.
Before Rey could respond, a knock echoed through the room. Both he and Seraph froze, their gazes locking for a tense moment before turning toward the door.
Rey's heart pounded as his mind raced.
Was it her? And if it was, what the hell was he supposed to say?
The knock came again, softer this time.
Seraph stepped back, folding her arms. "Your move, Rey."
He took a deep breath, steeling himself.
"Let's find out."