The citizen's excited faces and hopeful yells echoed in his ears as the first ones reached him five minutes later. Their cheerful voices pierced him like thousands of icy needles, contrasting with their hopeful mood. But he had to cast his grief aside and show them that they were safe now.
When the crowd grew too big, he climbed on a roof before raising his hand. Instantly, the boisterous chatter died down, and everyone's eyes sparkled in anticipation.
"I know I'm asking for a lot after what you endured in my absence, but I need you to move to the same district. If you do, I promise no creature will ever reach you."
His solemn voice echoed in the deafening silence. He didn't know if his choice was correct, but instead of appeasing, empty words, they needed concrete actions. So, he went straight to the point, showcasing assurance to break their incertitudes.
A moment later, the crowd finally reacted.
"Of course! You'll protect us better if we all live together!"
"We'll move! Praise Prometheus' sharp mind!"
"Please, say the sentence when you vaporise those invaders!"
"Prometheus! Prometheus! Prometheus!"
Their voices rang out, filled with relief and enthusiasm. Without wasting time, many scrambled to their habitations to move their belongings while others stayed to offer their encouragement.
After a dozen minutes, he excused himself, picked up Atlas' corpse, and left for what was once Tethys and Demeter's fields.
On his way, he witnessed the destroyed pipes leaking noxious natural gas into the air and the artificial sun flickering like a dying candle. With so few humans left, he knew they couldn't manage what was left of the city like before. But it didn't matter. With each step, new thoughts collided in his mind, forming ideas that, in turn, formed plans.
He also pondered about Luna. What compelled her to abandon humanity? Many more questions followed this one. How did she become the city's unofficial leader? After all, he had never received any order from anyone else.
The more he recalled her words, the wider his eyes grew, realising she had never vowed to protect humanity.
'Yes, the closest thing she said was: we all want to protect humanity. But the rest of the time? She only spoke about Earth...'
An icy shiver ran down his spine as he stepped onto the soft soil. Then, as he dug, his mind kept racing, each realisation striking his beliefs like a merciless hammer.
The truth had always been there in her words, yet they were too blind to perceive it. Or perhaps, deep down, they simply chose not to see it.
"Was everything a lie? Did you just manipulate us?"
He smiled bitterly, gently placing Atlas into the freshly dug hole before closing it.
"I didn't!" Luna exclaimed, flashing before him like a fleeting dream.
Surprised, he gazed at her alabaster skin, colorful hair glistening so elegantly, then at her sparkling eyes. He had missed her so much during his exile. Yet, he didn't know what to think now...
Noticing his doubtful eyes, she snorted in disappointment.
"Every choice I made converged toward the same outcome: Earth's survival. You can't blame me if a few humans die in the process!"
He remained silent for a moment, his hand trembling as he removed his mask. Then he peered into her eyes, face naked for the first time.
"What is your code name, Luna?" He asked, narrowing his eyes dangerously. He didn't want his earlier deduction to be true. But he had to ask.
"What do you mean? Why would I need one when you all already knew my name?"
She narrowed her eyes back, glaring at him.
"Indeed. We all knew your code name Luna... Or should I call you by your real name, Gaia?"
A tense silence followed as his words reverberated in the devastated fields.
That's what he suspected. Luna had never been created. She was Earth herself, slowly awakening and gaining power. That's also how she closed the vortex after Andreas stepped into their world. She had opened it herself and thus held authority over it.
An icy gale blew his vine-like hair back as the face-off continued until she finally answered.
"What does it change? Our situation is the same. The threat remains, and your death is still set in stone. Don't break your head over useless concerns! Just listen to me, and we'll save Earth together!"
"Earth but not humanity?" He asked, raising his brow.
"Humanity, too! But listen, if they reach my core, the planet will die! How will humanity survive on a dead rock? The answer is simple. It can't. On the other hand, with my growing strength, I'll be able to create humans in a century or two!" She explained, clenching her fists into a ball.
Everything she said was logical, but humans were not. They had emotions driving them. That's why she never shared her plans.
"I see... They were a sacrifice for the greater good, then..." he muttered, lowering his eyes on Atlas' grave and biting his lips. "I'll listen to you for now."
"Great! I knew Earth's champion would listen to reason!" Luna exclaimed, her tense features relaxing and her bright smile stretching her lips.
"Take this. It'll prolong your life for a month and increase your strength to the archmage level, perhaps even the magus!" she said, throwing a flask shimmering a scarlet color. Then, she continued, her voice cracking in worry. "Sharpen your skills with the help of Andreas and be ready to fight at any moment because they are gathering en masse... right above my core."
As he caught the flask, a sensation of profound disgust assaulted his entire being. He didn't know why but felt that its content was an aberration.
Still, he forced his face to show no reaction and nodded.
Pleased by the answer, Luna's smile broadened to reach her ears before she disappeared, leaving him alone in the bleak field.
"I'll be ready to protect humanity and offer it a future!" he declared, clenching Atlas' eyes tightly. Even if he didn't want to, he would drink this liquid -no, this poison- to become humanity's monster.
A deadly glint flashed in his eye as he turned and left to sharpen his claws.