“So, none of you have been in here before?”
Twilight said as she was in front leading the group through the Everfree Forest. Dusk was currently at the rear, checking if anything would come from behind.
“Ugh, heavens no! Just look at it - it's dreadful.” Rarity replied as she observes her surroundings.
“And it ain't natural. Folks say it don't work the same as Equestria.” Applejack followed up as everypony were getting close to a cliff.
However, Twilight remain skeptical what the two meant. “What's that supposed to mean?”
At the same time, a purple aura was seeping into the cracks along the sides of the cliff that the ponies were standing on.
“Nopony knows.” It was then Rainbow Dash entered the conversion. “You know why?”
After seeing that Dash was trying to scare Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, Dusk intervened.
“Dash. Don’t scare them.” However, Dash didn’t seem to hear him.
“Cause everypony who's ever come in… has never come… out!”
After that, everypony heard something crack and were shocked to see the cliff they were on was breaking apart.
‘Not good!’ Dusk thought as he begun to lose his balance.
Soon, a landslide occurred and most of the ponies were caught in it. Only Dash and Fluttershy avoided the slide due to their wings, but the others were skidding down the slope and screaming along the way.
While the pegasuses were able ensure Pinkie’s and Rarity’s safety, Applejack manage to bite on a vine to stop herself.
Twilight was still skidding on her back while Dusk was skidding on his stomach as they were getting close to the edge of a cliff. While the former was able to turn on her stomach and grab onto the edge, the latter wasn’t as lucky.
“Ahhhh!” He yelled as he fell down the cliff.
“Dusk!” Twilight cried.
‘Is this the end?’ Dusk thought as he closed his eyes tightly and waited for the inevitable end.
He felt an impact on his stomach, but it was much less painful than he thought. Especially since he still draws breath, it was clear he was still alive.
When he opened his eyes, Dusk saw that he has yet to hit the ground. He soon realizes that he landed on a branch sticking out from the cliff.
‘Someone must be watching over me from above…’ He thought as sighed in deep relief before he fainted from the experience.
He been like this for a few minutes before he felt something shake him.
“Wake up Dusk!”
“Agh…” Dusk opened his eyes and saw it was Dash’s relieved face, who was currently shaking him before stopping.
As he got back on his hooves, Dusk saw he was on the ground at the base of the cliff. ‘Dash must have brought me down here.’
He soon turned to the rest of the mares, who were also relieved of him being alright. Apparently, Twilight wasn’t the only one who saw Dusk skid off of the edge.
The unicorn then ran towards at him and hugged him. “Thank goodness! When I saw you fell off the cliff, I feared the worse!”
Dusk sighed with a smile as he broke the hug. “I was scared as well, but everything is okay now.”
After reassuring everypony that he was alright, the group continue their way to their destination. However, they didn’t notice a purple aura flying ahead of them.
On the way, Dusk asked Twilight how she manage to avoid falling off the cliff. She explained it was Applejack’s doing. The earth pony managed to grab her hooves, but wasn’t able to pull her up.
It was then Applejack told her to let go, Twilight was shocked. After the earth pony assured her honestly that she would be fine, the unicorn finally relented. She fell towards the ground as expected, but was caught midfall by Dash and Fluttershy.
As Dash described how she done it and picking up Dusk afterwards, the group heard a roar ahead of them.
Dusk was startled when a lion with bat wings and a scorpion tail appeared before them.
“A manticore!” Twilight gasped. “We've to get past him!”
Before Dusk knew, all the mares except for Fluttershy ended fighting against the creature. Knowing his own abilities, he didn’t dare get involve in fighting the manticore.
“This is very different from holograms…” Dusk muttered as he looked at the creature that was supposedly deemed a myth in legends back on Earth.
He watched as Rarity kick it with her hind legs only to back off when the manticore’s roar puffed up her hair. Applejack then jumped on its head and tried to ride like a bull, but she was flung off. Rainbow Dash begun to speed around it at high speeds yet she was battered of by the creature’s tail.
Throughout all this, Fluttershy kept on telling the others to wait. However, her voice was quiet so nopony heard her.
It was only when the rest of mares begun to charge towards the manticore when Fluttershy stepped in.
“Wait!”
Dusk merely smiled as Fluttershy finally build-up her courage to stop the fighting.
The pegasus then turned towards the manticore and approached him. While worried what may happened, everypony was surprised of how cooperative the manticore was being to Fluttershy.
When Fluttershy pulled out a thorn from one of the manticore’s paw, it begun to quickly show much affection by licking her. Dusk and the rest of mare were able to get pass it without difficulty.
“How did you know about the thorn?” Twilight questioned Fluttershy.
"Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness." She replied before turning to Dusk. “At least Dusk was considerate enough not to hurt the poor thing.”
Dusk laugh sheepishly after hearing the pegasus words, though he was embarrassed since he was actually afraid at that time.
The ponies continued their way until they entered a darkened part of the forest. They are unaware of a purple aura moving close to their hooves and going ahead of them.
As everypony carefully move through the darkness, Dusk then heard Fluttershy screamed. When he was about to ask, Applejack then screamed as well.
‘What is going…’ He stopped talking when he noticed the trees were glowing red, had scary faces and were growling.
Despite being startled at first, he quickly recovered and kept his cool. Due to playing Duel Monsters for a long time and seeing Monsters with horrifying appearances, he doesn't get scared based on appearances alone.
However, the rest of the mares didn’t share his bravery and were screaming loudly.
“Wait. Where’s Pinkie?” Dusk said as he looked around for her.
When he caught sight of her, she was apparently making funny faces to one of the trees.
“Bleh! Ooo!”
Unlike the others, Pinkie was laughing instead screaming her head off.
“You are handling this quite well Pinkie.” Dusk said to her just as the rest of mares notice Pinkie not being scared.
“Pinkie, what are you doing?! Run!” Twilight said hastily, but Pinkie didn’t listen while Dusk merely shook his head.
Much to Dusk surprise, Pinkie begun to sing about how to fight their fears by laughing. While skeptical, Twilight, Applejack, Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy soon ended up calming down and begun to laugh at the trees.
Dusk soon notice that the trees were returning to normal. He made a laugh of his own upon seeing that everypony were on the ground laughing.
“Are you all alright now?” Dusk asked the ponies.
“We are Dusk.” Twilight answered as she and the other got up. “I am amazed that you didn’t get scared back there.”
He merely laughed. “You think those trees were scary… Wait till you see some of the Monsters played in Duel Monsters.”
They continue on their way until the group found themselves in a snag. They were standing before a raging river.
“How are we going to cross this?” Pinkie asked.
“Swimming isn’t an option here.” Dusk stated. “And unlike Dash and Fluttershy, we can’t fly across.” He referred to himself, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie.
As the ponies were trying to think of a solution, they then heard a cry from the distance. When they went to check, they saw it was a purple scaled large sea serpent. He had orange hair and a mustache. However, the right part of the mustache was torn off.
While Dusk felt intimidated, he had a feeling the situation was similar to the manticore.
It was then he decided to build up his courage and talk to the creature.
“Excuse me, but why are you crying?”
The sea serpent approached and explained what happened. He was minding his own business when a purple cloud whisked passed him. However, it torn off the part of the mustache in the process and in an outburst, the sea serpent claimed he looked horrible now.
At the end of the outburst, he then slammed his head chin-first on the edge of the river in front of the ponies. The group ended up getting splashed with water and were now completely soaked.
‘Good thing my backpack is water-proof.” Dusk muttered as he took it off to check its contents before putting it back on.
“Oh, give me a break.”
“That's what all the fuss is about?”
Dash and Applejack apparently were not amused that the sea serpent was making a big deal about his mustache.
However, Rarity disagreed. “Why, of course it is. How can you be so insensitive?”
She then approached the sea serpent and patted his scales. “Oh, just look at him. Such lovely luminescent scales.”
‘She does operate a boutique, so she would obviously care for one’s appearance.’ Dusk thought as he and the others watched the unicorn continue compliment the sea serpent. As expected, the sea serpent cried when Rarity noted his ruined mustache.
“I simply cannot let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected.” Rarity declared as she suddenly bites onto one of the sea serpent’s scales and pulled it off.
“What did you do that for?” The sea serpent yelp from pain.
Dusk and the others was about to speak against her action, but was surprised when Rarity used the scale she pulled off to cut off much of her tail. She then used the tail to repair the sea serpent’s mustache much to his happiness.
Twilight then approached Rarity with a worried expression as she pointed to the latter’s shortened tail.
“Oh, Rarity, your beautiful tail...”
“Oh. It's fine, my dear. Short tails are in this season.” Rarity said unfazed. “Besides, it'll grow back.”
“So would the mustache.” Dash stated, but Dusk then put his hoof on her back.
“Easy now Dash. Rarity was just being generous.” Twilight can’t help but nod in agreement to Dusk’s words.
“Besides…” Dusk followed up. “The river is connected to the sea serpent’s mood. Look.”
The mares looked at the river saw it was now calm. Out of gratitude for Rarity’s help, the sea serpent also offered his assistance in helping the ponies cross the river.
Using his body as a bridge, the ponies reach the other side of the river and continued their journey to the ancient castle.
Passing through the trees, the group saw an opening and soon, they gazed upon the ruins of a castle as the moon illuminate the area. Dusk however notice another obstacle in the way.
“There it is, the ruin that holds The Elements of Harmony.” Twilight said in joy. “We made it!”
She was to rush towards the ruins, but was held back by Dusk.
“Dusk! What are you doing?!”
“You can’t just blindly rush in Twilight. Take a closer look.”
He then showed her the obstacle he noticed, which was a deep chasm and the bridge to take across was broken.
“Oh...” Twilight said, feeling embarrassed that she almost gets herself in trouble.
As the ponies reached the edge of their side of chasm, Pinkie sighed. “What now?”
“Luckily for us, the bridge is hanging on our side.” Dusk then turned towards Dash. “Can you get the broken end and tie it at the other side?”
“Duh.” The pegasus replied as she flew down the chasm to grab the other end of the bridge. Everypony watched as she flew back up with the ropes in her mouth and landed on the opposite side of the chasm.
However, the fog at the other side was quite thick and made it difficult to see what Dash was doing.
A few minutes have passed and there was still no progress on the bridge.
“What is taking her so long?” Dusk asked Twilight.
“I am not sure… Wait.” She replied before she notice the fog on the other side was lifting and Dash was now in sight. “Rainbow, what's taking so long?”
Yet, the group notice that Dash wasn’t alone for in front of her were a trio of pegasuses wearing dark coloured bodysuits and goggles.
“Oh no. Rainbow! Don't listen to them!” Twilight pleaded to Dash, but the fog suddenly grew in both size and intensity. Soon, it was impossible to see what was going on at the other side.
Dusk quickly put his hoof on Twilight’s back to ease her. “I have faith in her. I know she would make the right choice.”
As the unicorn continues to gaze at the fog in worry, Dusk held his breath in anticipation of Dash’s choice.
It was then the fog died down and reveal Dash right in front of them. Behind her was the repaired bridge and none of the unknown pegasuses were in sight.
“See? I'd never leave my friends hangin'.” Dash said to Twilight just as everypony begun to cross the bridge.
“She may be bold, but she is loyal.” Dusk commented about the pegasus, which Twilight heard and smiled.
After reaching the other side, the group soon entered a ruined structure and found themselves in a large chamber. The ceiling was long gone, the windows were shattered and the broken columns were covered with overgrowth.
In the center of the chamber was pedestal with large stone orb with an array of smaller orbs surrounding it. The smaller orbs each have a different shape carved into it.
“Twilight, is this really the…” Dusk asked her.
“The Elements of Harmony, we've found them!” She answered in joy.
Dash and Fluttershy then flew to the pedestal and carefully place each of the orbs on the floor.
“One, two, three, four... There's only five!” Pinkie quickly noted after counting.
“Wait… There is supposed to be six elements.” Dusk stated, remembering what the book said when they were back at the library.
“The book said: when the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed.” Said Twilight as she kneeled down to the orbs.
While the rest of the ponies were confused what it meant, they chose to leave the chamber to give Twilight privacy as she was channeling her magic into the orbs.
Dusk however stayed close to the door just in case something may happen to Twilight and needed help.
It paid off for in a few moments, Dusk heard Twilight gasp and he rushed back into the chamber. The others outside followed him and there they saw a purple vortex in front of the unicorn and the elements were caught in it.
“Twilight wait!” Before he could do anything, Twilight jumped into the vortex and after that, the vortex itself vanish in a flash of light.
Everypony were in utter shock what happened as they cried out for Twilight. As Dusk was trying to calm his nerves, he then notice a bright light coming emitting from the windows of a nearby ruin.
“Over there!” He called for the rest of the mares and pointed them to what he saw.
“Come on!” Applejack said as she took the lead as everypony rush their way to the nearby ruin and help Twilight.
Upon entering the ruin, the group soon heard voices coming from the top of the ruins.
“Twilight!” Dusk said as he recognize one of the voices, but his eyes widen when he identified the other one. “And Nightmare Moon is with her!”
With that, they climbed up a long spiral staircase to reach the top. As they were getting close, the ponies were calling for Twilight and saying they would be there soon.
Dusk could hear Twilight talk as he and the other made their way up. While he was shocked that Nightmare Moon supposedly destroyed the Elements, it soon learned it wasn’t the case.
Upon reaching Twilight, they saw her standing up to Nightmare Moon in a chamber, where pieces of stone were beneath the latter’s hooves and behind her was a torn throne.
As Applejack, Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie went to unicorn’s side, Twilight stated that the spirits of The Elements of Harmony are already here.
Dusk stood behind them when he realize what Twilight meant.
It was then Nightmare Moon notice the shards beneath her begun to levitate just as Twilight begun to explain how each pony by her side represents a specific Element.
“Honesty…” Dusk muttered as he looked at Applejack, remembering what Twilight said and what she did for her at the cliffs.
“Kindness…” He turned to Fluttershy and recalled how she tamed the manticore with compassion.
“Laughter…” Turning to Pinkie Pie next, he called to mind how she taught everypony to relieve their fears by laughing.
“Generosity…” Looking towards Rarity now, he looked at her short tail and thought how she willing cut it off to repair the sea serpent’s torn mustache.
“And Loyalty…” Finally gazing at Rainbow Dash, who could left him and the others behind at the other side of the chasm, but ultimately stayed true them.
Dusk watched the shards approached the mares and everypony except for Twilight have the shards circling around their bodies.
However, the dark alicorn remain defiant. “You still don't have the sixth Element! The spark didn't work!”
“But it did! A different kind of spark…” Twilight rebuffed as she explained what the spark actually was. She stated that the spark was her heart telling her that Applejack, Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie are her friends.
Dusk smiled as Twilight also acknowledge him as a friend and appreciates his attempts to get her to open up to making friends back then.
It was then a flash of light appeared above the ponies and there appeared a stone orb with a six-pointed star.
“You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the...” Twilight stated as the orb hovered above her head. “…the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth Element… The Element of... Magic!”
Before Dusk knew, he was almost blinded when the orb glowed brightly. When he recovered, saw that the mares were all surrounding by a bright light and ascending from it was a rainbow-coloured double helix.
While it was hard to see, he could the helix then struck Nightmare Moon as it enveloped her.
As Dusk felt that dark alicorn was about to be defeated, his eyes widened as he remembered what she had. ‘Wait! She still has that card!’
“No! I will not be defeated!” Nightmare Moon screamed out as a black aura started to surrounded her body.
Dusk took off his backpack and tried to grab his duel disk, but blacked out when the light surrounding the mares filled the chamber.
“Dusk, get up.”
“Ugh…”
Dusk opened his eyes as he felt his head being prodded. He saw it was Twilight and was surprised to see her wearing a golden crown with the jewel matching her cutie mark.
He then saw Applejack, Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie behind her and they had all golden necklaces; the jewels were shaped like the wearer’s cutie mark. He also noted that Rarity’s tail somehow returned.
“Are those the…” He said as he gazes upon Twilight’s crown and the others’ necklaces.
“Yes Dusk! These are the Elements of Harmony and with them, we have defeated Nightmare Moon!” Twilight replied with joy in her voice as she pointed to the throne.
“I got to also tell you, I think we really do represent the elements of friendship after all we been through.” Applejack said.
Dusk gazed upon an unconscious alicorn, but he saw it wasn’t Nightmare Moon. She had a dark blue coat with a sapphire blue mane and near her were pieces of the armor once worn by the dark alicorn.
“Nightmare Moon…” Dusk muttered before his eyes widen once more much to the surprise of the mares.
“Are you okay?” Applejack questioned.
“It is not over yet!” Dusk yelled out.
“What do you mean…” Twilight was then interrupted when a black aura suddenly struck her from behind.
“Twilight!” Everypony cried as the black aura flew into the air with the unicorn in tow.
It then flew to the right side of the chamber and attached itself of the wall. With black tendrils wrapped around her stomach and neck, Twilight tried to use her magic to escape.
However, the black aura seems to anticipated her move. More tendrils appeared from the aura, wrapping around the unicorn’s horn and Element.
Soon, the same occurred to the rest of the mares. More black auras struck them one by one and brought them to the air. Applejack and Fluttershy joined Twilight on the right side of the chamber while Dash, Rarity and Pinkie ended at the left side; all entangled in the same fashion and covering their respective Elements as well.
“Dusk! Help us!” Dash cried out as she tried to break free, but the tendrils refuse to yield.
He was about to move when he notice a black card appeared above the alicorn on the ground.
Dusk and the entangled mares watch in utter shock as large amount of the black aura erupted from the card. The aura then formed a large humanoid wraith with a twisted-looking left wing as he gazes upon everypony with dark orange eyes.
“What… is that?” Fluttershy said in fear upon seeing its appearance.
Raising upon raising its arms, black auras suddenly formed at the windows and the chamber’s entrance. Becoming into barriers, the auras ensured nothing could ever get in or out of the chamber.
Much to everypony’s surprise, the wraith then spoke. “I must admit… You all proved to be useful…”
“What do you mean?!” Rarity yelled. “What are you?!”
“I am a Number.” It said as its eyes glowed brightly. “I felt incredible power coming from this pony, but her mind proved to be much stronger than I anticipated…”
It then gazed upon the unconscious alicorn. “Number 22 tried to do the same, but as I expected... More brawns than willpower… Ended up being dominated and decided to submit to her.”
The Number then turned to the mares entangled to the walls with a dark smile. “Then you six used that strange magic on her. She tried to use me to protect herself, but she didn’t do it in time. Apparently, what you all did merely expel what darkness out of her…
It then patted its chest as it laughed darkly. “I merely absorb the darkness and with it, gained enough power to fully manifest myself to the physical plane. Imagine what I could become when I drain the magic out of those Elements of yours…”
The mares were in complete shock upon hearing the Number’s plan and begun to struggle more than ever to break free. However, nothing happened and they merely tired themselves.
“Before I can do that…” The Number then turn his attention to Dusk. “The Number Hunter…”
“What?” Dusk said in confusion what it called him.
“Don’t play coy with me. I know you defeated Number 24 and Number 22.” The Number spoke.
“Number 24?” Twilight questioned. She knew what happened during his duel with Lyra, but she knows nothing about Number 24.
“Number 24 was once in Grey Wing’s possession, but he didn’t play it during our duel.” Dusk answered before turning back to the Number before him. “You! What do you Numbers gain from possessing ponies?”
The Number merely chuckled. “We Numbers have our own ambitions and I seek to physically manifest myself.”
“What do you mean?”
“While Nightmare’s power did grant me a stable form, it still isn’t enough for him. But with the Elements… I would not only manifest my true form, but it would be permanent.” The Number then waved his hand at Dusk’s direction.
Dusk then heard something fumble behind him and stare that black tendrils was holding his backpack. Much to his surprise, they passed his duel disk and his deck pouches; three that he came to Equestria with and the one he taken after defeating Lyra.
“Very well. Let us duel.” He said as prepared to put it his duel disk, but a tendril stopped him.
“What? I thought…”
The Number laughed. “We Numbers are compelled to duel when the opportunity comes. While Number 24 and 22 couldn’t resist, I was able to thanks to the power I absorbed previously.”
“There will be no duel, but I do want you to make choice.” Dusk was in completely caught of guard of what the Number said as it continues on.
“I seen everything through Nightmare’s eyes.” The Number smiled darkly at the mares. “She thrown many obstacles in your way, but you all overcome them.”
“But…” It maintains his attention on Dusk. “You have yet to have a trial of his own…”
The Number then pointed its finger at him.
“Know this Number Hunter, I can tell you don’t belong to this world.” Dusk’s eye widened as the Number continued on. “I only interested gaining a physical form. These ponies however don’t interest me.”
The Number continued on talking. “Once I get what I want, I will let you all go. However, you must destroy your duel disk and give me your decks Number Hunter.”
“You can’t be serious!” Applejack yelled out in anger.
“He needs those to play the game, you meanie!” Pinkie also yelled.
"And what makes you think we would hand the Elements to the likes of you! Twilight stated.
The other ponies then begun to complained about the Number’s unacceptable option to Dusk.
“And what if I don’t?” Dusk narrowed his eyes at it.
It merely smiled while chuckling darkly. “Well, you can then duel me and try to protect those Elements. However…” The Number then snapped his fingers.
Dusk then heard the mares gasp and turned to them. To his horror, their front hooves were desperately trying to grip their necks. Their eyes were closed shut as tears started to build.
“These ponies’ lives are forfeit!”
“No!” Dusk yelled out as the mares entangled on the walls begun to cry out for air. Their bodies became frantic as the tendril around their necks slowly tighten and causing them suffocate.
“Make your choice…” The Number stated to the stallion. “The Elements or them…”
Dusk felt tears run down his cheeks as he looked upon the mares’ faces. Their tearful eyes and their desperate gasps for air were painful for him to see.
“Du…sk…” He heard Twilight cry out his name as best she could. She was looking at him with begging eyes as her face was stained with her tears.
The sight was too much for him to handle. In heart, he knew what was the right choice.
Dusk threw his duel disk on the ground and stomped it repeated with his right hoof. In a few moments, it was nothing was a pile of broken plastic and circuitry. After that, he threw his deck pounches towards the Number.
Upon seeing what he done, the Number snapped his fingers again before taking the decks as his own.
Soon, the tendrils around the ponies’ necks loosen and they were able to finally breath.
As they were taking deep breathes, the mares looked upon Dusk and saw the broken remnants of his duel disk.
“Dusk…” Rarity spoke first in a sad tone. “You…”
“He made his choice. The Number stated.
“You know what you did Dusk?” Applejack said to Dusk as he was wiping his eyes with his hoof.
“I know… I just given the Number the Elements… I have destroyed my duel disk and the given away the cards I treasured.” Dusk yelled.
“Heroes were said to make sacrifices for the better of all… But sacrificing somepony’s life… Especially a friend… Is something I cannot do!”
The mares were startled by his declaration as he continued. “Ever since I came to this world, I thought I was going to be alone… I was after all a stranger in an unknown land...”
He turned turned towards Twilight. “I know when we first, you wouldn’t too interested in friends, but I always viewed you a one. It made me happy when you finally acknowledge your bonds with everypony here…”
He then turn to rest of the mares. “You five… Even when you all learned the truth about me, none of you feared or shunned me…”
Dusk then yelled at the top of his lungs. “I don’t care what everypony would say! I will gladly give up my cards! I’m willing to take all the blame for giving the Number the Elements! I am even willing to give up my own life! All to ensure the safety of those precious to me! To me, the bonds I share with my friends is more precious than any worldly treasure or glory!”
Twilight, Applejack, Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie couldn’t help but shed tears. Dusk was willing to make such personal sacrifices for their safety.
“Even without my decks, I can always build another one.” Dusk then turned his attention to the Number. “I know we will meet again and when we do…”
“If you are done, then I will then take my prize…” It interrupted Dusk before it was then interrupted as well when a golden flash of light appeared before Dusk.
Much to his surprise, it was a card covered in a golden aura. The card then suddenly flew towards him and touched his chest.
“Dusk!” Twilight cried out as the stallion’s body was soon enveloped by the golden aura, which grew into an sphere. Nopony could see or her what was happening inside.
“What is going on!?” Dusk shouted.
He notice that he was still in control of his body and saw the card in his hoof duplicate itself. The duplicated cards glowed as they circled around him before stacking themselves in his right hoof and forming a deck.
In his left hoof, he saw something was materializing on it. Much to his surprise, it was a duel disk similar to his original, but its was white and had both gold and dark blue outlines.
Not only that, Dusk suddenly felt a strange sensation across the body; like he was being imbued with some sort of power.
It was then he heard a calm voice in his head.
‘Brave one… I’ve seen within your heart and I find you worthy… I’ll lend you my power…’
“Who or what are…” Dusk soon received a mental image of a symbol and was shocked to see it was shaped as a number. He could make out what the number was.
“…39?”
‘Not all Numbers have dark intentions… Go now… Defeat Number 40…’
Before Dusk could say anything; physically or mentally, he was then blinded by a golden flash.