BXBX NOVEL Chapter 99 - 98
Chapter 99: Chapter 98
"Noboru-Kun," Ayame\'s soft voice stirred him from his thoughts. He looked at her, finding her disheveled hair endearing, different from her usual appearance.
Smiling, Noboru kissed her gently on the lips. "I\'m awake and glad to see you." Ayame blushed, snuggling closer to him. "I\'m going to miss you so much, Noboru-Kun," she whispered, resting her head on his chest.
Noboru stroked her hair tenderly, sighing. "I\'ll miss you too, Ayame-Chan."
"Hey, Noboru-Kun, I have some important information to share. I wanted to see if you could figure it out, but it seems even the great prodigy couldn\'t," Ayame teased, grinning mischievously.
"What is it? What did I miss?" Noboru asked, curiosity piqued. Ayame giggled, meeting his gaze. "I\'m pregnant with your child, Noboru-Kun," she revealed, her voice filled with emotion.
"WHAT!" Noboru exclaimed, nearly falling off the bed before Ayame caught him.
"Careful there," Ayame chuckled.
"How can that be? We didn\'t use protection, and we were quite... active yesterday," Noboru asked, shocked.
"I\'m joking," Ayame said, her smile widening into laughter. "I know we didn\'t use protection, but it would take time for me to get pregnant, not instant like earthlings."
Relieved, Noboru hugged Ayame tightly. "Thank goodness you had me there for a moment. I thought I\'d have to go and get the milk," he joked, adamant not to be like Hiroshi Chikara or Amaya Chikara, never to neglect his child or Ayame.
"Noboru-Kun, don\'t say stuff like that, even though I said I was joking," Ayame playfully punched him. "I trust you and love you more than anyone. You won\'t let me down, even if we didn\'t use protection," she added softly, kissing him.
Noboru returned the kiss, smiling at Ayame. "You\'re right. I\'m sorry, Ayame-Chan," he apologized. "It\'s okay," Ayame reassured him, sealing their moment with a long kiss.
"I wish you could stay longer," Ayame sighed, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I wish I could, but who knows what will happen to the world if I stay here. What will happen to Sky, Layla, Yumeko, Emiko, and Fire General Kai? That world isn\'t normal; it\'s a prison realm created to hold me. If I\'m out, it might..."
"It will collapse. It\'s centered around you, Noboru. You are needed for it to survive. I fear you are becoming too attached to the people there. Once you complete the story, the world and its people will most likely fade away like a dream or illusion," Ayame interjected, cutting off Noboru\'s thoughts.
"No... It can\'t be so. You\'re telling me it\'s either they collapse now or later? There\'s no way to change their fate," Noboru realized, dismayed.
"The Prison Realm was meant to hold you forever; that\'s the final trial. The Golden Being uses such methods to keep his victims there. He forces bonds on people and makes them choose to be free or stay caged like a bird forever. No matter what, the prisoners will always find a reason to stay," Ayame explained.
"That monster. People call him a god, but he is nothing but a sick man who can\'t accept the fact people aren\'t a threat to him just because they have great power," Noboru exclaimed.
\'It\'s not just that. You are more intertwined with Lady Lucy and him than you think,\' Ayame thought, shaking her head. "You\'re right, but you are my precious Noboru. I know you will find a way to save them and free yourself. Perhaps they can be good members of the Neo-Dragon Kingdom when you rebuild it. However, remember always to stay focused and never let emotions cloud your judgment. You mustn\'t fall into the Golden Being\'s trap; you have to outmaneuver him," Ayame advised.
"You\'re right. I can\'t let emotions cloud my judgment. Thank you for the advice, Ayame-Chan," Noboru said, giving her a kiss.
"Now, back to what I was saying. What I was going to tell you before we got sidetracked was that you are using your transcendent state wrong. It\'s not a form but a state. It\'s a power that those of us who have a high connection to their own Omni Energy are born with. People can train to unlock it, but some, like you, are born with it. What it does is increase your connection to your Omni Energy when you\'re in it," Ayame explained.
"So what I\'m doing wrong is instead of using it as a way to complete my connection to my Omni Energy, I\'m using it as a form," Noboru realized his mistake.
"Yes, you\'re using it like a form, not like a state. It\'s there to slowly get you used to your Omni Energy until you become one with your Omni Energy itself, not just being able to wield it but being able to be it and it be you—complete synchronized union, not just mastering it," Ayame clarified.
"So, the people like you and the Golden Being are not using it like a form but as a way to bridge the gap between synchronization and connection to Omni Energy. That\'s why they are stronger, and they aren\'t just using Omni Energy; they are their Omni Energy," Noboru concluded.
"That\'s correct, my love," Ayame affirmed, kissing Noboru.
"Ayame-Chan, it\'s almost time now," Noboru said as he dressed, equipping his Braveheart shield and Excalibur, and placing his sword on his waist. He also had Poseidon\'s trident with him and wore Gaia\'s armor over his body.
Ayame looked at him, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I\'ll miss you, my king," she said softly, kissing him. "Be careful, and don\'t forget to visit me in your dreams." Noboru kissed her back, smiling. "I\'ll miss you too, Ayame-Chan. I\'ll see you in my dreams," he said before disappearing in a flash of crimson red light.
\'Be safe, my love,\' Ayame thought as she sat on her throne alone, missing her Noboru-Kun. She knew Noboru could visit her now as she broke the binds that prevented him from exiting the Prison Realm and not being able to visit her.