Chapter 176: The Battle of Norneau - Aftermath

In the gap between two lives, Kir dreamed.

He dreamed of shaking hands with dead men. Men he knew he was about to kill.

And at the end of that line was Noir.

"Hey, Kir... I'm sorry, but this is goodbye..."

Kir shook his hand and it came away bloody.

Panicking, he backed away, and found himself hitting the rail before a window. A window from which he could see a massive, spherical structure, floating in space. And behind it was Earth. The structure began to light. Massive letters spelling out AEDAEB. Then he saw the darkness. A mass of darkness above the structure, curving even light itself... A black hole...

*

Kir gasped awake.

A bird was chirping nearby. It had landed on the edge of a pillar, which had been sheared through by the closing portal.

As soon as he tried to lift himself, he found himself embraced by...

"Kordia..." Kir murmured.

Then he remembered.