Chapter 82

“I can feel the Rust-Eater spores returning. If we combine our powers, we might…” “We might be able to save one of us?” “Yeah.” Milo peered into Bisco’s bright eyes and nodded. Then the two huddled around Tirol. They concentrated their power into her sleeping form, shrinking the barrier so that it protected only her. Outside, the blistering wind scorched their skin, slowly charring it black. Milo shouted something to Bisco, but by now he was completely impossible to hear over the rumbling air. Bisco simply closed his eyes and thought of the past as his body was blasted away. “Bisco.” “Bisco. “Bisco, get up!” “…Hmm?!” Bisco was surprised to find himself not burned up into a small lump of carbon at all, and he opened his eyes to see that he was still falling. His partner, charred black from head to toe, fell headfirst alongside him, coughing. Just as Bisco began looking himself over in wonder, he heard a voice. “I’m so glad you’re okay, boys! Looks like I made it just in time!” Falling ahead of them was Tirol, her four long braids shaking violently in the wind. She looked back at Bisco and Milo with bright-red eyes, her entire body covered in a crimson aura. “…Hope!” “Apollo and Domino used the last of their consciousness to send me back here. I’m sure they wanted me to save you!” The large barrier Hope projected from Tirol’s hands was big enough to enshroud all three of them. It had most likely saved their lives at the very last moment. “You dumbass! Where the hell were you five minutes ago? Look at my hair now! It’s all black!” “Don’t be like that, Bisco! He saved our lives!” Hope smiled and squinted as he watched them. “You’re so bright, Bisco. Milo. I’m so glad I got to travel with you. This is my thanks. The last of my power…” Then he closed his eyes, and his small red cube left Tirol’s brow and flew over to Bisco, attaching itself to his severed shoulder. In a second, Bisco’s powerful arm was whole once more. “Holy shit! M-my arm!” There on his shoulder was Hope’s red mark. Bisco heard his voice echoing in his mind. “You’ll get used to it. It’s an honor, Bisco, to be a part of you.” “What about you, Hope? What’ll happen to you?!” “Apollo and the rest of 2028 are gone. Thus, I must leave also. But I couldn’t ask for a happier way to go, truly. To think that I could become the foundation of your hope from now on…” “Hope!” “Bisco, Milo! This is where it all begins! The walls of the past have come tumbling down, and all that remains is a vast, infinite future! You must be the ones to take that perilous first step into a shining tomorrow!”