Day 6.
The last hours of the night were the hardest to endure.
The silence had lost its tranquility, transforming into a lurking threat in his mind. Every creak of the settling pyramid felt like a monster trying to invade his space. Kaito found himself conversing with Auri, his voice a strained whisper amid the stillness.
"Are you certain this is the final day, girl?" he asked for what felt like the tenth time. "The timer indicates so, right?"
Auri responded with a soft chirp, nuzzling his neck, her warmth providing a small comfort in the overwhelming darkness. He had checked the LuminaDrive's countdown so frequently that the numbers were etched in his memory. Less than an hour. Thirty minutes. Ten.
He was ready. His small supply of Lumen-melons was gone, and his water bottle was empty. Positioned by the enormous pyramid door, he rested his hand on the manual release lever. He had gone over his plan countless times: open the door just a crack, observe, don't step out, and be prepared to close it quickly.
Yet, as the final moments approached, his strategy began to unravel. The darkness felt like a poison, infiltrating his thoughts. He started to see shapes in the blackness of the security office window, distorted shadows flickering at the edge of his vision. He knew they weren't real, but his heart raced nonetheless.
"Almost there," he whispered to Auri, more to reassure himself than her. "Just a little longer. Then we'll finally see the sun."
He had never yearned for anything so deeply in his life—not for a tournament victory or his parents' praise, but simply for the warm, tangible touch of sunlight on his skin.
And then it happened.
It wasn't gradual; it was an instant transformation.
In one moment, the world was a stifling, silent void. In the next, a wave of brilliant blue radiated across everything.
The abruptness felt like a physical impact. Kaito staggered back, shielding his eyes as the air vibrated with energy. The suffocating silence shattered into a cacophony of sounds—the buzzing of insects, distant animal calls, and the rustling of a breeze through dried leaves.
He stood there, blinking, struggling to process the overwhelming surge of sensations. After six days in utter darkness, the world seemed to explode around him.
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, he realized it was time.
His hand trembled as he clutched the cold metal lever and pulled.
With a groan of ancient machinery, the giant door creaked open, revealing a narrowing beam of blinding light. Kaito shielded his eyes and peeked through his fingers.
He anticipated a wasteland, expecting to see the aftermath of the six-day darkness—scorched ground, lifeless Lumenkins, remnants of a desperate struggle for survival.
But that wasn't the reality.
The world outside was teeming with life.
The sky was a striking, cloudless blue, more vivid and breathtaking than any he had seen in Tokyo. The sun shone like a warm, golden orb, casting a gentle, nurturing glow over everything.
And the Lumenkins? They were everywhere.
It wasn't just a few survivors; it was a vibrant explosion of life. Tiny Flitlings, as small as his thumb, glimmered on dewdrops, their glowing bodies pulsing in a captivating rhythm. Flocks of Chirruns, formed from light membranes, soared overhead, their echoing calls creating a symphony of sound. A herd of Pebblepuffs, their mossy bodies and sparkling eyes shimmering in the bright light, rolled across a nearby plaza like living tumbleweeds.
This was not a world that had endured a nightmare; it was a world joyfully celebrating its revival.
Kaito stood still in the doorway, astonished. His analytical mind attempted to process the diversity before him, but it was quickly overwhelmed by an overwhelming wave of emotion.
Relief, so profound it nearly made him collapse.
Wonder, so intense it felt like his heart would burst.
He stumbled out of the pyramid, his dress shoes crunching on the gravel. The sun's warmth on his skin was the most exhilarating sensation he had ever experienced. He closed his eyes, allowing it to wash away the lingering shadows within.
Auri took off from his shoulder, soaring joyfully into the blue sky. She performed loops and dives, her golden light a brilliant spark against the vast blue.
Kaito laughed—a raw, hoarse sound that felt unfamiliar. He watched her dance in the sky, a single, radiant point of light in a renewed world.
He gazed around at the lively, bustling ruins, the endless blue sky, and the sun that had finally returned. For the first time since arriving in this world, a glimmer of hope flickered within him. Perhaps, just perhaps, he could find a way to survive this after all.