Chapter 411: A Dream 4 (2/2)

"Oh, you-," Elaine playfully punched the Hero's shoulder She motioned doards to the peaceful streets far below "You know, before all of this, you used to always be serious

You always had to work toward so even if it meant you had to skip a h, you're so ed with the world"

"Sorry I catfished you Thought you were shacking up with the serious, brooding type, huh?" said the Hero

"No" Elaine smiled "I always knew you were like this Deep, deep down Plus, the other alternative was Adam And, well, that wouldn't have worked at all"

"I can't ile person at all," said Krysa, shuddering "He has a different girl by his side like, every week"

"He was always the greedy type," said the Hero "One of the first things he told ers Because as a street rat, he'd never gotten to try one that wasn't fished out of a dumpster"

"It really is crazy how ed since your time," said Krysa

"Yeah, it really is Almost…unbelievable Almost too perfect," said the Hero He put his hand out, reaching towards the streets "It almost feels…unreal"

"Stop that," said Elaine She put a gentle hand on the Hero's shoulder "All the blood that was spilled, all the tiot back up after we knocked down - all of it built this up

If our struggles were real, then so is this"

"You're right," said the Hero, nodding

Elaine nodded with the Hero "You always need so you can reach out to and overco whether you really can enjoy the good around you, whether there isn't soht to be had somewhere else you don't know about"

Elaine stood on her tiptoes and kissed the Hero's cheek "But it's time to rest now, honey You've earned it You more than anyone else"

"Hold up…" said Krysa She squinted her eyes, looking out to the distance "You guys see that?"

The Hero's eyes widened In the clear blue sky, a color that the Hero never wanted to see again manifested

Grey

Grey that swirled around in a circular, spiral arrange away at space as it leeched color from the deep blue sky and its pure white clouds

It was…a Rift?

"What is that?" wondered Krysa She had never personally encountered this, but the Hero knew better than anyone else what this was

An invasion

"Elaine, check with the Panopticon Our planetary dimensional shi+eld should still be stable!" said the Hero

"I' She furrowed her brows "The shi+eld is still up and stable"

"Then how…" The Hero shook his head "No, this isn't the ti these types of questions I have to deal with that now, before the Rift opens up anymore than it already has"

He put a stern hand on Krysa's shoulder "Krysa, go with your e planetary defenses I'll handle that"

"But dad, I can help-," began Krya

The Hero shook his head "No This…is too dangerous for you And ed to shut down a Rift before It can do it again Stay with your mother and protect her

I can trust you on this, right?"

Krysa nodded "I got it, dad"

"Good" The Hero broke his seriousness for a briefat his wife and child "I'll be back soon, alright?"

With that, the Hero pushed off the rooftop, soaring toward the Rift as his dark green cape billowed behind him

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