"We didn't ruin anything for you," Youssef stammered, the words choked in his throat. "We didn't know where we were. Leonis just told us everything... It was a huge shock to us, learning we're on another planet."

Akira glared at him with an exaggerated fury and loathing, shouting with raw frustration: "Don't think I'm afraid of you, you scoundrel! You exiled your own people for power... you destroyed their lives... and somehow caused us to be here, suffering because of your damned machines! Don't tell me we ruined anything for you. You look no different from any lowlife on Earth who crushes his people for the sake of authority."

Jaya let out a brief, mocking chuckle at Akira's outburst. Akira's rage intensified, becoming a furious delirium that drove out his fear. He lunged at Jaya, throwing punches. Jaya dodged them with effortless agility. Akira sped up his hand movements using his suit, but Jaya was still far faster, evading every strike without difficulty. Youssef decided he couldn't leave his friend to face the monster alone and joined the attack, launching punches and kicks, but Jaya dodged their combined assault with complete ease, never even needing to raise a hand.

Suddenly, the jewel on Jaya's chest illuminated. Both Akira and Youssef froze instantly, unable to move. A powerful aura pressed down on them, crushing their bodies and forcing them to kneel. They dropped to their knees, drenched in sweat, grinding their teeth in a futile attempt to resist the immense pressure that felt as if gravity had multiplied many times over.

Jaya spoke with a chilling sneer: "Did you honestly think you were my equals? I could have ended you long ago, but I kept you alive... You should thank me for my clemency. Yet, I didn't spare you out of choice. It's because you do not know the truth. Ignorance of the unseen is the worst weapon tyrants use to cast the innocent into ruinous wars for their base material interests. That is what is happening here. No one knows the truth. That is why I am the chief enemy of these people."

Jaya's speech was interrupted by the sound of Leonis lunging at him from behind. Instantly, sharp rock formations burst from the ground, wrapping around Leonis, shackling him tight. He felt all his hope drain away.

Jaya looked at Leonis, speaking with an over-the-top flourish: "You despise me, don't you? You want to kill me and rip this crown from my head. You believe that when that happens, everything will revert to its original state! Atlantis and its people will return to happiness and harmony... everyone will celebrate the tyrant's downfall. And most importantly, I will be restored to my senses once the crown is removed! Isn't that your theory?"

Jaya pulled the crown from his head, his voice turning sharp: "See! I have taken it off. So why haven't I returned to my senses? You must be questioning that now! My foolish son, had you simply asked me why I did all this, I would have told you. But you chose to return after the war had settled, declaring your allegiance to me... You probably thought I fell for that naive trick, but I knew what you were truly aiming for. I allowed it because all your efforts were destined to fail."

Leonis could not contain his grief and fury, shouting: "Then why did you do this?! Why? Why? Do you have any idea how much our people are suffering because of you?"

"Trust me, they would have suffered far more if I hadn't acted," Jaya replied. "I spared them from a greater agony. I took everything upon myself... I took on their entire share of the torment."

Leonis stared at him, bewildered, his eyes flooding with pain and sadness: "I don't understand you... Stop speaking in riddles and tell me what you mean."

"I will show you everything. But once you know the truth, you will swear your loyalty to me."

Akira, his voice strained as he felt his bones grinding, hissed: "I will never swear loyalty to you, you wretch."

Youssef snapped at him, furious and desperate: "Akira, this is not the time to provoke him! I can't take much more!"

Suddenly, the crushing gravity vanished, lifting from them as if a mountain had been rolled off their backs. Youssef realized this was the perfect time to deploy the power he had held in reserve—the power he had taken from Francis, who died fighting Jean in the Death Race. Francis's power was phenomenal speed, which Jean had cleverly exploited to make him crash into a tree. As Francis died, Youssef had seized his power. Youssef's natural ability was healing—to cure wounds and disease by altering the atoms and molecules within a body. But he could also steal a person's power for a few minutes. By touching someone, the skin on his hand would analyze their DNA, discover the genetic blueprint for their ability, and then his own body would begin to change its DNA to match, granting him that person's power for a brief time. Since Youssef had not used Francis's ability yet, it was still available to him.

Youssef moved at a blinding, lightning speed, launching himself to snatch the crown from Jaya's hand. Jaya was clearly startled by the speed, barely perceiving it, but he managed to step back at the last second. Youssef touched Jaya's hand but missed the crown. This worked in his favor, as the touch allowed him to analyze Jaya's DNA and begin replicating it inside himself to gain his abilities. However, he noted that Jaya's power was strangely complex and he couldn't copy it properly. He knew then that he would have to rely on speed alone. He ran circles around Jaya like a blur, moving so fast that no one could possibly track his location, then surged forward to grab the crown. Jaya dodged. Youssef was astonished that he had been seen despite his impossible speed. He launched himself again, but Jaya moved the crown away a split-second before Youssef reached it, as if anticipating his exact movements. As Youssef prepared one final rush from behind, Jaya spun and seized him by the throat. Youssef nearly choked in his grasp before Jaya abruptly released him. He fell to the floor, a searing pain in his neck making movement difficult. He stood up slowly, rubbing his neck, accepting his defeat.

The rocks dissolved back into the floor, freeing Leonis. Jaya walked to the upper floor, motioning for them to follow. They exchanged questioning glances. Leonis said:

"We should follow him and hear what he has to say. Perhaps there is a missing piece to this story."

They agreed, though they were forced to. Fighting this monster was tantamount to suicide.

Youssef studied Leonis. "Are you truly his son? How? You look completely different."

"I am not a robot. I am from Astra, but this is a suit, like yours, only a bit more advanced. That's why some of my facial features are visible."

"I see... Then were the robotic figures in the streets also from Astra?"

"I told you before, Jaya gave them something like life. They are machines, not people."

Youssef sighed, considering this, and followed Jaya.

They ascended to the second floor and walked down a corridor as beautiful as the last. Halfway down, Jaya stopped at a framed painting, shifted it slightly to the right, and a secret door opened, revealing a dark, descending passageway. Leonis was surprised, admitting he hadn't known about the door.

They followed Jaya into the passage, navigating a series of winding hallways and constant turns. After several turns, they emerged into a vast, enormous chamber that resembled a grand theater. Symbols and carvings covered the walls. In front of them was a glass enclosure, but it was empty. Jaya pointed to it:

"The crown was kept here... My father told me its location... Why do you think, Leonis, he told me its location and not my brother, Athenos?"

Leonis shook his head. Jaya continued:

"Athenos would have caused far more destruction than I have. My father told me to take control if Athenos went astray."

Leonis pointed, asking: "How did Athenos go astray, and where did he go?"

"That is a long story, but I promise you, after it, you will see the complete truth. You will know who the villain truly is... But can you handle the truth? Because it will be harsh and utterly terrifying. That's what the truth always is: more frightening than we can imagine. That's why we dismiss it, turn a blind eye to it... and live in comforting fantasies until we end up completely broken. We are always forced to face the truth, no matter how much we run. You can run for a while, but you can never hide from it. It requires a brave and courageous soul to accept the truth and then try to change it. And now, enough talk. Let us begin."

Jaya gestured toward a sealed gateway before them, instructing them to enter. He said with confidence:

"Now you will know the truth. When you emerge, you will be utterly changed. Every concept you've held about life will be altered. Every truth will become fiction, and every fiction will become truth... But are you ready for this?"

"What is this gate we're about to enter?" Akira asked, a chill running through his body.

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