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The night before Beliung left to fight Retak'ka, something was clearly wrong.

Helios couldn't remember the details, but something had definitely happened on the night of the eclipse.

That day, the sky was in the late afternoon when it suddenly darkened, and strange colored streaks appeared faintly. Rimba tried to raise his head to look, but immediately squinted, muttering that everyone should not look.

Helios's eyes weren't that sensitive, so he quickly knew what was happening: up above, a dark shadow appeared on one edge of the Sun. He recognized it as the eclipse his grandfather often told him about.

Geode also wanted to look up, but Blizzard reminded him that this type of eclipse was strange, and that people shouldn't stare directly at it.

Speaking of eclipses reminded Helios of his grandfather's advice, that sometimes it could have strange effects on light elements. It made them do things they wouldn't normally do.

Helios thought, it was simply a lack of light.

Sure enough, it got dark faster than expected, and this eclipse lasted for a long time, it felt like it would last for several hours. So, in just an hour, the Sun was completely covered in darkness.

Even though he had learned about this, seeing it for the first time, feeling how he was suddenly cut off from his direct source of power made Helios restless, even feeling a little cold, like his bones were being worn down from being in an eternal darkness for too long.

The Sun had always been like an invincible armor for Helios, an endless battery that he could always use in emergencies and that would never run out. Helios needed it to maintain his protection, just like the Sun protected all life on the planet.

As long as its light shines on him, Helios will feel reassured, relieved that today is another beautiful day, a new day to start. Those light molecules were sent from far away in space to reach here, warming and illuminating parts of his body.

But now it is being obscured.

Helios wants the eclipse to end quickly, but a total eclipse can last as long as it wants, he also doesn't know the specific time, nor can he use his power to pull the Sun back like the gods in folklore often do.

A moment later, Nova lit a fire, it was too dark to see anything. The forest was like a black veil with a white dot.

Beliung was still sitting on a high rock since the morning, not saying anything. He just quietly observed the sky, his eyes only half open, Zephyr didn't appear clearly. His hand held the Retak Bell carelessly.

The surface of the bell was engraved with strange patterns of Stonehenge culture, usually if there was light shining on it, those patterns would be highlighted; but at this moment, in the dark, it was just a cold block of iron, not looking like the thing that was holding an ocean of negative emotions of Sinclair.

Everyone sat by the fire, not saying anything for a long time. This morning, Rimba had overheard somewhere from the visitors that aliens had invaded Earth through a fugitive from the "largest prison in the universe". Helios didn't think he needed to know these things, but Rimba said that some visitors from large organizations out there had a lot of information.

It was said that the alien had come to Earth to find treasures. Among them, there were the seven Elemental.

Seeing Nova shiver slightly, Blizzard consoled him by giving him more marshmallows.

In the middle of the night, telling a story about the danger of being hunted by a mutant was really not funny at all. Helios almost thought that Rimba was telling a horror-tinged urban legend to liven up the gloomy atmosphere, but it seemed that it was not a joke.

While Rimba was telling the story, Helios caught a glimpse of Beliung occasionally turning his head to listen a little, but he still did not leave his old position. He was not interested in unverified rumors, nor did he want to join the group of people gathered around the fire to chat.

Helios was feeling a bit cold, so he had to sit so close to Nova, but in fact he did not need or want to sit next to him. The two of them had not talked clearly about the conflicts since being kicked out of Stonehert, and they had also limited their eyes on each other, and rarely worked or supported each other in their daily activities.

Just being a little closer to Nova, Helios could feel the unexplained hatred that was secretly eating away at him, or was aimed directly at him; so he had to be very suffocated to dare to sit here elegantly.

Helios's muscles began to tense up, not knowing if it was because the weather was getting colder or because he was nervous that he would accidentally anger Nova. If he started a fight now, Helios would be at a disadvantage, the eclipse had already consumed all of his stored energy.

Actually, not just Nova, he knew that no one in this group liked him. Geode, who didn't care about anything, was one thing.

Blizzard was close to Nova (those two were born at the same time, like to fight together and like to talk bad about each other), so no matter how neutral Blizzard is, if he has to choose, he will prioritize Nova's opinion and think Helios is talking nonsense (in the nicest way). Blizzard doesn't confront Helios, nor does he cause conflict with anyone, but he also doesn't defend anyone except Nova. Those two always give off the feeling that they should split up and go alone, maybe to avoid the trouble caused by the Elementals they're not close to.

Similarly, Lilin seems to care about Beliung, just like Helios. But not in the same way. Lilin pays attention to Beliung's behavior and occasionally reminds him not to do anything too much. Like the kind of caring of a sensible person.

If Helios remembered correctly, Lilin was not born according to Sinclair's wishes, but because Behemoth needed the Lightning Element to awaken early, so he used some tricks to oppress Sinclair's spirit "a little" and forced the Power Watch to create Lilin.

At first, that Lightning Element didn't have a name, and when asked by Beliung who was the representative of the Link, he also refused to name it; so Lilin was just called Lilin. He was a bit difficult, but very good. Probably the best in this group.

Or was it because the predecessors like Helios took away all the bad things? Whatever. Helios was glad that Lilin didn't follow in Beliung's footsteps, not losing his mind out of anger.

If Geode and Beliung had conflicts over trivial matters, Lilin would always volunteer to stand up and stop them, unlike Helios who just stuck his feet in one place, not knowing what to say.

He knew Lilin didn't hate people for no reason, but if he saw Helios just letting this go on and not stopping it, Lilin would definitely classify Helios as someone who couldn't be trusted. As far as Helios knew, if the Lightning Elementals had lost trust in anyone since ancient times, it would be very difficult to convince them.

Rimba loves everyone, but that was only as long as they showed him interest in doing so. This personality had been there since he was born, always sticking around those who liked to listen to stories and supported his stance (without being too obvious).

Sometimes, Rimba seemed very interested in Helios, like asking what herbs he picked, if they were edible, or if this or that mushroom was delicious when roasted, or if Helios still kept the books his grandfather used to read.

Helios thought Rimba was genuinely interested, so he always patiently answered each question, extremely devoted.

But as soon as Helios said something he didn't like, Rimba would pout and say, "Fine, I won't bother Helios anymore."

Rimba was very good at avoiding heavy issues, so he wasn't sure if he wanted to be Beliung's ally.

So today, when everyone was busy, Helios asked directly:

"Rimba, do you support me?"

Rimba was confused for a moment by the meaning of the question, then smiled slightly, "But Helios will follow Beliung anyway. What use is it for me to support your opinions; because if it's for Beliung, you'll just abandon your own opinions if they don't fit."

Helios lowered his head, "Do I look like that to you?"

Rimba's eyes widened a little, "Wow, you're still aware. No matter how nice the words are, they can't hide the look in your eyes. Helios, I don't know what's making you so obsessed with Beliung, but you should stop before it's too late."

"Stop what?"

"You know what I mean. Beliung is cold towards you because he's not comfortable with your behavior either. Otherwise, why would he keep avoiding you?"

Isn't it because of Zephyr? But... but is that the only reason?

Rimba sighed, looking straight into Helios' eyes, "If you were really Beliung's priority, you would always be ready to jump in and separate him from those disastrous arguments with Geode. But all I see is you standing there like a statue, every time you have to let Lilin take action. You can't protect Beliung from the problems that give him headaches, let alone the upcoming distant battles... If Beliung is not good, he will say that you are just a shield or follow him around without doing anything. If Beliung is a little good, he will say that he wants to let you have a good time without having to worry about him. Look, they all mean the same thing."

Helios didn't know why if someone else said these words, his heart would have been broken, but Rimba was straightforward, in a very gentle way, so he didn't get angry.

Instead, Helios was just sad:

"Beliung seems to confide in you a lot?"

"It's just something from two years ago. He said that he felt like if he let you get too close, the two of you would drag each other down, sinking into a pit that no one could pull up. Just like if Beliung accidentally fell into a trap, instead of saving him, you would probably just crazily jump in and die with him, Helios. You just don't want him to suffer, but you ignore the important issue that Beliung also needs to be saved."

But, is it necessary to save?

If Beliung is stuck in the trap, then he would never be able to run away. That wind would forever be within Helios' reach.

That way of thinking was also quite good...

Helios slapped himself.

What the hell was good!!! Was he crazy to come up with such ideas?!

After saying such a long sentence, Helios finally replied, "Why didn't he just tell me straight?"

This time, Rimba didn't look at Helios anymore, "Because to Helios, your own freedom will forever be tied to Beliung. Even if you have freedom, as long as that person is unhappy, no place you step foot in can turn into Utopia."

Yes, even though he now in a vast, airy place, free to do whatever he like; but what Helios cares about is still his obsession with the old house. He tries to please everyone, but because everyone is still something to Beliung, he has to be like this. If they were just ordinary Elementals or if Beliung had abandoned them, he wouldn't have cared whether they, include Rimba, lived or died.

Even though Geode was emotionless, Beliung always found a way to make Geode surrender and follow him, not simply cutting ties like Helios always said.

Helios couldn't escape the visions of when they were young; that Sinclair would have died if he had never been to Stonehert. He felt that he should make it up to Beliung since he was the reason they all had to leave their only home.

Also, thinking that Beliung might have talked to the other Elementals without him made Helios shiver.

What? Talking behind my back...

The person I've been following for so long... always telling him everything I feel...

Secret words that Helios would never know.

He had touched Beliung, listened to his stories, watched him fight, walked with him, watched him sleep

Helios had bathed him, had applied medicine and bandaged his wounds, had touched his most private places, both outside and inside his mind. There was nothing on his body that Helios had not—

Oh right, his eyes.

Helios now had some doubts whether he was the only one who couldn't see them. Sometimes Beliung would open his eyes and talk to the others normally, but was it Helios who always made Zephyr agitated?

Or was there some hidden meaning behind it? Or was it all just Helios's imagination?

It sounded so unresonable, there was no way it could be.

But Helios' damn smart brain found it so damn reasonable.

Just thinking about it, it was like a terrible storm had formed in his head, making Helios lose his breath.

It was like seeing others touching something he had owned for so long, he felt nauseous.

Helios was the Sun of this world. The Sun was unique in the entire Solar System. He was unique.

His light and healing were inescapable. His care and love were inescapable.

He could not be ignored.

After Rimba left and helped everyone prepare for bed early, Helios raised his hand to his mouth, trying to stop the vomit that was about to rise up his throat.

It was so uncomfortable.

It had been almost half a day, and the eclipse had not ended yet.

Helios felt his mind suddenly become hazy, it was definitely due to the lack of light that weakened him.

Strangely, his body was not exactly drained of strength, but it was like... like something was forming inside him, draining all of his nutrients and strength.

As if deep inside the skeleton, an egg formed, the egg hatched a monster, slowly eating away all the organs in his body.

Helios gritted his teeth, he had tried eating quite a few fresh fruits but still did not feel better.

No matter how much he ate, the monster swallowed it all.

After a while, Helios could not bear it anymore, "I'm going to sleep. Wake me up when you want to continue."

He whispered to Rimba, the other smiled, and raised his hand to say ok.

*

Another six hours passed, the eclipse still showed no signs of disappearing.

Beliung sat leaning against a rock, checking the situation around him. Now judging by the time, it was exactly midnight, it was time to go to bed; but after a whole day like this, he did not feel sleepy at all.

The other Elementals were also starting to feel tired, so they went into tents or climbed up to tree houses, sleeping or lying down to talk. But now, seeing how quiet everything was, everyone must have fallen asleep.

But Beliung didn't feel tired. Because his eyes were half closed all the time, he couldn't tell the difference between being asleep and being awake. He only looked at the sky, which had been filled with dim stars, until now, when there was almost only the deep darkness. Even the treetops too far away could no longer be seen clearly, and the wind had stopped blowing. Everything was eerily quiet.

Beliung stroked the bell again, and began to think about tomorrow's journey.

From now on, collecting the Lulapis was the group's number one priority. That was the only way to end this mess: he would wish for what he wanted. Even if he didn't know what it was, he still had to get his hands on those magical stones.

Right now, Beliung still didn't know how to convince Geode to accept his offer. voluntarily, and also heard that there was a high possibility that his group would have to face dangerous elements from outer space who had just come to the area around here.

Beliung did not know the exact location of each Lulapis, so somehow the whole group had to spread out to search, otherwise if they continued to go together like this, they would not be able to see each other, and who knew what the future would be like-

Swish.

The sound came from behind. It was clearly the sound of leaves being lifted along with very light footsteps.

Beliung was not startled, he often closed his eyes so he could always hear the movement in the air, partly due to the wind. This kind of slow and peaceful footsteps... Helios? Why isn't he asleep yet?

It was highly likely that he wanted to talk privately. Helios probably only needed a few short words of advice and he wouldn't bother him anymore, he was always obedient.

Beliung slowly turned his head, intending to say that he was tired tonight (even though he wasn't), and that he wasn't interested—

Then a hand rushed over and grabbed his neck.

"!"

Usually, the process would go like this, people would be stunned for a few seconds until they screamed. But Beliung couldn't even scream, that hand, although it didn't squeeze his neck tightly, emitted a terrifying heat, as if it wanted to melt his skin into wax. Just touching the surface created a terrible burn like being splashed with acid.

Beliung intended to call out "Helios", but realized that the person in front of him wasn't him.

Strictly speaking, it was still Helios, but something was very wrong... his appearance had changed significantly, and even the tattoo had spread to his forehead.

He recognized that it was Gamma Ray, the next form of Helios.

Helios already had Tier 3, but due to the nature of the Red Giants transformation, Helios's body aged too quickly, so he usually didn't stay in this form unless it was necessary (and actually, he never needed it, Helios himself was already very strong).

Now, he suddenly pulling it out here, and in the middle of an eclipse that consumed his body's strength, was Helios trying to die?

Last time, Helios almost had all his bones melted because he was in this form for too long.

Gamma standing up and taking a few steps was already miraculous, how could he be able to control Beliung? Without the Sun, it was impossible—

But wait...

Eclipse.

Could it be that because it was an eclipse, Gamma voluntarily came out? Because Helios was weakened...?

Did Beliung misunderstand something?

"It's always like that."

Hearing Gamma open his mouth to say the first few sentences, Beliung raised his eyes, but his mouth still couldn't move.

His neck was still being squeezed by that terrifying radioactive gas, almost crushing it into bran.

"What do you think I am? Your foothold of power? Since birth, I have worked hard and spared nothing to satisfy your towering ego. And now you are secretly doing those things behind my back. Do you want to separate me from your group so easily?"

Beliung had been half-closing his eyes, but this time he had to close them tightly because he started to feel the pain only increasing exponentially instead of decreasing. This Gamma always took the opportunity to appear when Helios lost his temper, he was truly a dirty person.

He guessed that Helios depended on the Sun, but it seemed that Gamma did not. The type of gamma rays that his name refers to are the rays that come from stellar explosions, formed from the death of other stars - the Sun's kind, a metaphor for Helios's fall.

Actually, the Heliosphere also protects the Earth from such gamma rays.

Gamma is Helios' opposite, Helios' enemy.

But what a fool. What's the matter if Gamma knows this truth? As if Beliung can make Helios suddenly awaken and reform and stop this action.

Helios has long wanted to sell his soul to anything as long as it can protect Beliung, this is the obvious truth, who can't see it?

Killing Gamma is also considered killing Helios, and to Helios, his death simply speeds up the process of Red Giant.

Gamma took advantage of Helios' weakness, knowing that Helios was very self-conscious, so he couldn't save himself, couldn't save Beliung, then he could only make both of them die.

Rimba was right, if Beliung was in danger, Helios would easily jump in to commit suicide with him. Taking advantage of Helios' weak situation to gain his terrifying strength, this Gamma was truly evil.

Before he could finish thinking, Gamma swung his hand, dragging Beliung's entire body down onto the grass. His other hand tightly held Beliung's two wrists. He had never realized that Gamma- or Helios- had such strong physical strength.

Before, in this position, Beliung was the one who was always in Helios's arms, always protected, even though at times it looked like Helios was forced to do so. A small body but the pressure it emitted was enough to cover the Sun.

But now, all that covered the space between the two was hatred, and Gamma seemed to want to kill him for real if he didn't give a reasonable answer.

This position, over time, became Beliung's own obsession.

"Open your eyes."

Beliung listened, but did not answer.

"Open your eyes, let me see it. I always wanted to know what the windows to your soul looked like. I was sick of those people's eyes, always glaring and judging me. I wanted you to look at me, and I wanted to look at you too. The real you. Without Zephyr, what are you? Deep within that hurricane's protective layer, what exists in your eyes?"

Gamma continued to tighten, Beliung realized that he was starting to lose his breath. There was no way he could be this weak, he was clearly very strong.

Sinclair was strong; the potential of the Bond Elemental must be many times stronger!

Why couldn't Beliung's limbs even swing out a decent blow?

"What's wrong? Open your eyes. I... I will burn down all the cities, boil all the oceans, eliminate every lowly life that bothers you. Don't you want to watch that scene with me?"

The lies were unbelievable. It wasn't that Gamma's power couldn't do it; it was that Helios wouldn't want to do it, wouldn't even say such things in front of Beliung.

Or did he really want to?

He knew Helios had an obsession, but it couldn't be that big...

And me? Why didn't I push Gamma away?

"Because you're the only one who loves me. You're... the only one who doesn't doubt me. Even when I wavered and betrayed you and made you leave the place you loved, you didn't abandon me. You didn't destroy my form, even though you knew that one day I would escape again and make you miserable. In those eyes, you were the only one who didn't look at me, but was always closest to me. Always reigning in my mind. Always sweeping my mind. Even if the sun was gone, you wouldn't see me as a star that no longer shines. You don't see me going crazy because of you as something worth leaving you for..."

No, no. Now Beliung began to see it that way.

Beliung realized that his body had also become submissive. He had gotten used to being protected by Helios for so long, he had gotten used to the fact that even if he had to jump over dangerous deep pools, Helios would always run after him and shield him from every injury.

Like snuggling into a warm cage, the little bird was not on guard.

So, he automatically became weak in front of Gamma - in front of Helios' body, by instinct - and Beliung wanted to curse himself for that.

'If the Sun doesn't shine anymore, I'm willing to burn this whole place down to light it up for you.'

"Look at me, Beliung."

This time, Gamma loosened his hand from his neck, enough for Beliung to talk, but if he did something wrong, he might cause something more terrifying.

After his breathing returned to normal, Beliung only wanted to say, "Quickly return to Helios form. If you wait any longer, the Red Giant will eat you."

But it seemed that Gamma didn't want to listen, those words only made him more reckless.

This time, Gamma pulled his hand from Beliung's neck, moved it to the face area, probed from the chin, up to the nose, up to the half-closed eyelids.

There might be some beautiful blue eyes down there, but Helios didn't know. Gamma didn't want to miss this opportunity either.

"Open your eyes!" Gamma pressed on the area between the iris and the eyebrows, trying to stretch it out, causing Beliung to grit his teeth, "Open your eyes now! I'm not afraid of Zephyr, I'm not afraid of you either!" Show me your true nature!"

"Stop!" Beliung shouted, but it was too late, the pressure forced him to open his eyes.

But what they were expecting did not come. Instead, Zephyr revealed his true form in an instant. The moment Beliung opened his eyes, his head jerked back painfully.

There was no need to describe Zephyr too much: a long, invisible, pitch-black tornado, like a hurricane's eye that was sucking countless black smoke towards it and forming an endless pit.

Immediately, it engulfed both boys' bodies inside.

Beliung felt dizzy, he had never liked Zephyr always hiding there, now seeing him go crazy made him even more dizzy.

But Gamma did not seem to care that he, or even Beliung, could be harmed by Zephyr. He only said, "Please fuse with me."

Fusion. Beliung was not unaware of this, but none of Sinclair's Elementals had practiced it before.

Fusion had many purposes, but Gamma's intentions seemed deeper than that.

"I'm afraid of losing you. I don't want to suffer because of you anymore. I want to keep you by my side, I want you to be tied to me forever; like us before, it was always just the two of us. As long as we fuse, I will be willing to contribute to your joy, share your sorrow, all your wounds will be instantly healed by the light, all your negative thoughts will be wiped away by me without a trace. As long as we fuse, I will always protect you, like a shadow, anytime, anywhere."

... It was unbelievable that Gamma could still say such words at this critical moment.

Beliung tried to push Gamma away, but it seemed that Zephyr had blocked all the empty space around them.

Beliung shouted, "Find a way to get out of here! Stop talking nonsense!"

And the response was also another foolish smile, "As long as I'm with you, anything can happen."

Helios might have also rushed to his death with Beliung.

Oh my, the light elemental is famous for its rationality, but now it's like this... is it because Beliung is the Bond Element?

He had never felt so regretful for not letting the Retak Bell search Helios's brain and drain any emotional part related to Beliung that existed in it.

He was really careless, he didn't do it only because he felt sorry for Helios and wanted to let Helios decide for himself regarding their shared memories.

"... Enough."

"Enough?"

Beliung looked up, Zephyr was still frantically searching for a gap between him and Gamma to find a way to eliminate the attacker without injuring him.

Beliung sighed, Zephyr was not really a part of his power, but was created by the previous master of the wind element.

The teacher said that although this thing was a bit aggressive, it was very loyal and would always protect him at all times.

It sounded very similar to Helios.

But in the end, both of them made Beliung sad.

Now that he had left Stonehert, Zephyr was the last living being that kept him connected to the previous masters, and now he had to personally put it to rest early.

Beliung felt like he was holding a pair of scissors in his hand, mercilessly cutting all the strings that connected him to the thing he loved in the past.

The more he cut, the more humanity he lost.

The storm would eventually form again, but he didn't know when.

"Hold me."

Gamma tilted his head, hugging Beliung tightly. Gamma's bright hair brushed against the wound on Beliung's neck, causing him to ache, but that wasn't important.

Beliung hugged Gamma back, feeling the burning sensation on his face. This was the last time he would see him, at least that was what he knew.

When the storm cleared, he would definitely not let the eclipse appear next to Helios again, making sure to permanently close Gamma's exit, at least... as long as Beliung was still alive.

Of course, he alone could not stop the Sun, but he could permanently erase Gamma's thoughts from Helios' mind with the Retak Bell, as long as it never belonged to anyone else.

Those plans appeared in Beliung's mind, he whispered in his mind, hoping to return Helios to peace after the horror of tonight.

Gamma did not know what Beliung was planning, only feeling a little refreshed when holding the body- the toy he had always protected in his hands...

And Zephyr...

Beliung looked at it, looked back at the invisible scissors in his hand. Without Zephyr, he was forced to see everything clearly. Beliung was not afraid of anything because he could never see everything around him, because Zephyr had erased it.

But now, for the safety of both himself and Helios, Beliung was forced to destroy it.

He raised his hand, all the strength that had not been used for anything today naturally overflowed and swirled around, forming a wind technique that he didn't even need to remember the name of.

One day, Zephyr would return.

By then, Beliung would no longer be here.

*Tbc*