Cosmic Dominion: Rise Beyond Realms

The clash between the angel and Dark Shin went on. The force of their blows tore through the remains of space like jagged shards of glass.

Amidst the chaos, Joseph stood on a massive piece of debris. He planted his feet firmly on the massive debris., His heart was racing. Every punch, every blast of energy, shook the void. Joseph clenched his fists and stared at his best buddy. The sight of Shin's twisted form tore at his soul.

"I have to do something," he muttered to himself. "I can't just stand here."

Suddenly, a voice rang in his mind, calm but filled with urgency. "Who are you?"

Joseph froze and started looking around wildly.

"What the hell… Who said that?"

The voice spoke again, this time more insistent.

"Who are you? Where did you come from? How are you alive?"

Joseph staggered backwards, his mind racing.

"Where is this coming from? Who's talking to me?!"

"I am the one fighting him." The voice was sharp but clear, resonating deep within his thoughts. "Answer me quickly, before it's too late!"

Joseph's jaw tightened as he processed the realization.

"Wait, you're… the girl with the wings?! The one fighting Shin?"

"Yes." Her voice was clipped but held a tone of exhaustion, as though every word was a struggle amidst the chaos of battle. "Answer my questions."

Joseph closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Alright… My name is Joseph. I'm… I'm human. I came here on a ship—a fucking miracle, really. And as for how I'm alive… I don't know. I survived, just barely, after everything fell apart."

There was a pause, and then the voice came again, this time softer but tinged with surprise.

"You're human? A survivor? Impossible... The destruction I've seen should have left none alive."

Joseph shook his head, still speaking telepathically.

"Well, I'm here, aren't I? Look, I don't have time for an interrogation. That guy you're fighting—he's my best friend. Or at least… he used to be. Whatever he's become now… that's not him."

The angel's voice faltered for a moment, as though caught off guard. "He is your… friend?"

"Yes," Joseph replied, his voice firm.

"His name is Shin Takamiya. And I don't know what the hell happened to him, but I know that's not the man I knew. Please… Tell me there's something I can do to help."

There was a brief silence as the angel processed his words, then she spoke again, this time with a spark of determination. "There may be a way. I have an idea, but it's risky… I will bring him closer to you."

"What?" Joseph blurted out. "Are you insane? You're barely holding your ground against him as it is!!!"

"Listen to me," the angel snapped. "I will use all my power to bind him, but I can't hold him for long. When I do, you must try to reach him. Use whatever memories you have—anything that might bring him back. Do you understand?"

Joseph hesitated, his mind spinning. "Reach him? You're talking about the guy who's currently blowing up galaxies like it's a damn firework show! How the hell am I supposed to get through to that?"

"He may be lost, but you are his anchor," the angel said, her voice firm but tinged with urgency. "You said he was your friend. If there's even a fragment of that left in him, you're the only one who can bring it out."

Joseph swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling over him. "Alright… Alright, I'll try. Just… don't get yourself killed doing this."

"It is my duty," she replied, her voice resolute. "Prepare yourself. I am bringing him to you now."

Joseph took a shaky breath. His hands were trembling slightly as he stared up at the raging battle. "Goddamn it, Shin," he muttered under his breath. "You better still be in there, buddy."

High above, the angel redirected her focus. Her spear was glowing with an intensity that rivalled a dying star. She lunged at Dark Shin with renewed vigour, and her attacks became precise and unrelenting. With every strike, she began to push him, not only just in combat, but also physically, dragging him closer to where Joseph waited below.

Dark Shin let out a guttural laugh, his voice dripping with malice.

 "I'll tear you apart, piece by piece."

The angel gritted her teeth, ignoring his taunts as she thrust her spear forward, driving him back further. "I will not let you destroy everything," she said, her voice steady despite the strain in her movements. "You will not have your way."

As they descended closer to Joseph, the angel's aura flared brighter, and a divine light started emanating from her very being. She could feel the strain on her power. She was pushing herself to her absolute limit. But she pressed on, pouring everything she had into one final effort.

When they were mere miles above the debris-strewn surface, the angel raised her spear and let out a fierce cry. A massive ring of light erupted from her weapon, encircling Dark Shin in a binding field of divine energy. He thrashed and roared, his dark aura clashing violently against the angel's light, but for the moment, he was held in place.

The angel's voice echoed in Joseph's mind once more, strained but determined. "Now! He's bound, but I can't hold him for long. Do what you must—quickly!"

Joseph took a step forward, his heart pounding as he stared at the dark, monstrous form of his best friend. "Buddy…" he muttered, his voice trembling. "Please… Please still be in there."

The angel's grip faltered slightly, and she winced in pain.

"Hurry… He's breaking free…"

Joseph clenched his fists, steeling himself for what was to come. "I'm coming, Shin. Hang on, buddy."

Small cracks started forming in her restraints. Every second felt like an eternity as she poured her power into holding him. Her voice rang out in Joseph's mind, strained but urgent. "I can't hold him for much longer!!"

Joseph rushed near the dark Shin. He stood just a few feet away. His heart was pounding, his palms were sweaty, and he was trembling from head to toe—not from fear, but from the sheer weight of the moment. He knew this was his last chance. His voice was raw, breaking with emotion as he shouted, "Shin! It's me, damn it! Don't you remember? It's Joseph! Your best friend!"

Dark Shin's head tilted slightly, a flicker of hesitation in his glowing crimson eyes, but his sinister grin didn't waver. His voice, distorted and dripping with malice, growled, "Joseph... The name means nothing!!!"

Joseph took a shaky step closer, ignoring the intense waves of pressure radiating from Shin. "Don't give me that bullshit!" he yelled, his voice cracking. "You're not some monster. You're Shin Takamiya! You're my best friend, damn it! Don't you remember all the shit we went through together?!"

The angel groaned, her bindings glowing brighter for a moment as she reinforced them. "Hurry!!!"

Joseph's mind raced as he struggled to think of something—anything—that could reach Shin. He clenched his fists and shouted, "What about Abdul, huh?! Don't you remember him? He was part of our trio! The three of us, always causing trouble, always pushing each other to be better! Do you remember the Kepler mission? "

For a brief moment, the crimson glow in Dark Shin's eyes dimmed slightly, and the cracks in the bindings seemed to halt their spread. Joseph saw it—the tiniest flicker of recognition—but it wasn't enough. Shin snarled, his voice a guttural growl. "Abdul… Joseph… Meaningless! All of it is meaningless now!"

Joseph's heart sank, but he refused to give up. He stepped even closer, his voice growing softer, trembling with desperation. "And what about Maki…?"

The mention of her name sent a tremor through Shin's body. His glowing crimson eyes faltered, the malevolent grin slipping from his face for the first time. "Maki…" he muttered, the word escaping him like a ghost.

"Yes, Maki!" Joseph pressed on, his voice shaking with both hope and anguish. "Your wife. The love of your life. Would she want to see you like this? Would she want you to become this… this monster? This isn't you, Shin. This isn't who you are!"

Shin's entire body tensed. The crimson energy coursing through his armour started flickering erratically. His breathing grew heavier, his voice breaking into a guttural growl.

"No… No, no, no! I will kill them all!"

The angel gasped as the bindings began to fracture, light bursting from the cracks as Dark Shin's power surged. He let out a blood-curdling roar, his voice shaking the very fabric of space. The divine bindings shattered into a thousand shards of light, and the sheer force of his energy sent the angel hurtling backwards.

"Shin, stop!" Joseph screamed, but it was too late.

Dark Shin lunged toward the angel, his crimson aura blazing as his clawed hand extended to strike. The angel's eyes widened in shock, her spear rising too slowly to defend herself. In that moment, Joseph didn't hesitate. His body moved on pure instinct, his legs launching him forward.

"NO!" he shouted as he threw himself in front of the angel.

Dark Shin's hand pierced through Joseph's chest with sickening force, the jagged edges of his armour slicing through flesh and bone like paper. Joseph's eyes widened, his mouth falling open in shock as blood spilt from his lips to the inside of his helmet. His body trembled, but he didn't back away. Instead, he grabbed Shin's arm with both hands, forcing himself to stay upright.

"Joseph!" the angel cried, her voice filled with horror as she reached out to him.

Joseph coughed violently, blood dripping down his chin as he looked up at Shin's glowing eyes. His voice was weak, but it carried an unshakable resolve. "This time… I'll save you, my friend…"

Dark Shin's glowing crimson eyes flickered, the malevolent energy dimming as something shifted within him. His hand, still impaled through Joseph's chest, began to tremble. The flicker grew stronger, and the crimson glow was replaced by something else…

Shin's true eyes, wide with shock and confusion.

Joseph's lips curled into a faint, bittersweet smile as he looked into those eyes. "Welcome back… buddy," he whispered before his body went limp, slumping forward against Shin.

Shin's arm remained frozen in place, Joseph's blood dripping from his gauntlet. His entire body shuddered, and his glowing crimson aura began to fade. The cracks in his armour pulsed with dim light as the monstrous form he had taken faltered.

TO BE CONTINUED