Saigo No Yami!

- "Guided by the charismatic Allivy, Mitsuki discovers more about the Eternalis Hotel, a luxurious hotel on the mythical floating island of Ectiviland. What begins as a dazzling tour turns into a series of unconventional tests, designed by Allivy and her apprentice Alaska, to measure his strength and skills. Amidst laughter and challenges, Mitsuki begins to glimpse that his destiny is much greater than he ever imagined." -

After the strange conversation and bewilderment at the cafeteria, Allivy smiled at Mitsuki with an enigmatic expression, as if she was preparing to change the boy's perspective.

—"Come, I'll give you a tour of the hotel. I think it's about time I show you a little more of the place," she said with a playful smile. She stood up from her seat, moving gracefully towards the door, while Mitsuki watched her, still with some disbelief on her face.

Mitsuki followed her, speechless, but his curious eyes couldn't stop studying every corner of that strange place. As they walked towards the exit of the cafeteria, Mitsuki couldn't help but feel calmer, as if this activity offered him a distraction from his confused thoughts.

After they walked through the door, Hitomi, the waitress, appeared with two cups of steaming coffee in her hands. Her eyes lit up when she saw the table was empty, but as she looked around, her gaze fell on a note Allivy had left on the table.

"We were in a bit of a hurry, here's your tip :D!" the note read, accompanied by a 5,000 yen bill. Hitomi smiled in surprise and sighed with a mix of gratitude and surprise. It was a generous tip, and something about it made her think of what a quality of person Allivy is. She pocketed the money with a knowing smile.

Mitsuki and Allivy walked through the hotel hallways, Allivy leading the way in an almost theatrical manner, as if each step was part of a private tour. Mitsuki no longer felt so out of place; calm had slowly returned to his body, and, although there were still many unanswered questions, something in the atmosphere made him feel more comfortable.

—"Well, well... Here we have the hotel's art area, where the most exclusive visitors enjoy private exhibitions," Allivy said enthusiastically, pointing to a series of modernist sculptures that seemed almost out of place, yet perfectly aligned with the hotel's atmosphere.

—"Wow, that looks amazing," Mitsuki murmured, looking at the pieces with a mixture of fascination and bewilderment. That hotel was like a little universe in itself. And he, a mere stranger in the middle of it all.

Shortly after, they arrived at a spacious hall. Mitsuki couldn't help but notice the difference in the type of people around: all elegant looking, with expensive suits, luxurious accessories. There was an atmosphere of wealth, power and sophistication that made him feel even more out of place.

—"Why is everything here so... luxurious?" Mitsuki asked, almost instinctively, looking around in wonder. "Why do all these people seem... so important?"

Allivy smiled quietly, as if she had anticipated the question.

—"Because we're in a very exclusive place, Mitsuki. This is the Eternalis, one of the most important hotels in the world. It's not just a hotel... it's a meeting point for the upper class. This place attracts powerful people from all over the planet. But there's something else, something that might surprise you even more," he said with a gleam in his eyes.

Mitsuki looked at her curiously, not quite understanding what she meant. Was there something else she didn't know?

Allivy led him towards the elevator, which was decorated in a futuristic design that revealed a stunning view of the city through the glass windows in the hallway. When the elevator doors opened, Mitsuki stepped inside, looking around in wonder.

—"This elevator has an incredible view," he commented, touching the glass windows, which offered a unique panoramic view of the city. But something was not right... at the end of the view, everything seemed to... crumble into an abyss and fog, as if the city extended to the edge of a cliff.

—"What is that?" he asked, frowning and pointing at the strange abyss. The city seemed to fade away into nothingness.

Allivy looked at him with a playful smile and replied:

—"Ah, that's something that will surprise you even more. You're on Ectiviland, the floating island where I live. I don't know if you knew, but... this is a very important place for the planet. This island floats in the sky, suspended by forces that are still a mystery to many. And the city you see... is just a small fraction of what this place represents."

Mitsuki was silent for a moment, processing the information. He hadn't seen anything so... strange, at least on this level. The floating island, the city suspended in the air, looked like something out of a science fiction movie. He looked out the window, and for the first time, a faint glint of wonder flashed across his eyes.

—"Really... This is incredible," he murmured, his voice filled with fascination. The view was breathtaking. The waterfalls falling from above, the bustle of the city in the distance, everything seemed to belong to another world.

—"It's a unique place, Mitsuki. Ectiviland... it's the heart of many of the forces that control this world. And you, even if you don't know it yet, are an important part of this," Allivy said with a look that revealed deep knowledge.

As the elevator slowly ascended, Mitsuki and Allivy reached the top floor. The 33rd floor. Allivy led him down a long, elegant hallway until they reached a door that, when opened, revealed a hotel room even more luxurious than Mitsuki had imagined. A giant bed, a floor-to-ceiling window with a panoramic view of the city and the sea that stretched as far as the eye could see.

—"This will be your place until you can and want to move. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me," Allivy said with a kind smile. She pulled out her phone and looked at it. "Here's my number," she said, handing him a card with her contact information. "If you can't find me, I'm always a text away."

Mitsuki looked at her, still not entirely sure of everything that was happening. But a part of him, the more curious part, couldn't help but be drawn to the idea of ​​finding out more about this strange world and the mysterious forces at play.

—"Thanks, Allivy. I feel a little... out of place, but I guess that's something I'll have to get used to," he said, a slight smile on his face.

Allivy smiled sympathetically, touching his shoulder in a friendly manner.

—"Don't worry, Mitsuki. This is just the beginning. Here, with us, you will find something greater than anything you've ever known. And believe me, what's to come... will change you."

Mitsuki, although still surrounded by uncertainty, began to feel that his life was about to take a turn that until then he would never have imagined.

And with that feeling that something important was about to happen, the chapter came to an end, with Mitsuki in a hotel room on a floating island, a whole new world beginning to unfold before him.

Mitsuki dropped onto the bed after Allivy left the room, exhausted from waking up early. He hadn't slept well the night before, and now, the comfort of the mattress and the warmth of the sheets seemed more than irresistible.

—"I'll just close my eyes for a moment... just a little rest," he murmured, his eyelids drooping heavily.

The clock on his bed read 9:30 in the morning, but for Mitsuki, the accumulated tiredness quickly pushed him into a deep sleep.

Once in his dream, he found himself in a vast desert, surrounded by endless sand dunes. However, instead of scorching heat, everything was surprisingly cool, and in the distance he could see an oasis.

With the typical optimism of dreams, Mitsuki decided to approach.

—"Water... I need water," he muttered as he walked toward the oasis.

But when he arrived, he discovered something unexpected: this was no ordinary oasis. Instead of palm trees and a crystal-clear lake, there was a fast-food restaurant floating on the water. A large neon sign flashed: "Elyria Burger."

-"What the devil?"

He walked in out of curiosity, and inside, the place seemed to be filled with animals dressed as waiters. A panda bear handed him a menu, while a penguin behind the counter took orders with a microphone.

Mitsuki flipped through the menu, filled with options like "Cloud Shake" and "Fries from Beyond." Not knowing what else to do, she raised her hand.

—"Hey... can someone explain to me what all this is?"

Suddenly, the restaurant doors swung open, and a familiar figure walked dramatically in. It was Allivy, dressed in an apron and chef's cap.

—"Welcome to my restaurant! How about it, huh?" he said with a triumphant smile.

—"You again? Are you a chef now?"

—"Not just a chef, I'm the owner of this place. Here we serve dreams come true... literally."

Mitsuki looked around, noticing that the tables were occupied by people he had recently met: Alaska, Aura, and even a stray dog ​​that was always barking at him.

—"I don't understand shit, what's going on here?"

Allivy snapped his fingers, and a giant burger appeared floating in front of him.

—"Try this, it's our daily special: the Cosmic Burger. It's made with ingredients from the universe itself."

Mitsuki looked at the burger, which was shining as if it had stars embedded in it.

—"Cosmic burger? Do you smoke or something?"

Allivy sighed, crossing her arms.

—"Always so complicated! Look, if you don't eat, you can't wake up. Those are the rules."

—"The rules of what?"

Suddenly, the penguin at the counter spoke.

—"From the dream, obviously."

—"Why is a penguin talking now?!"

Allivy shrugged.

—"Have you never seen a humanized animal?"

Before Mitsuki could protest further, the burger began to float towards him, as if it had a life of its own.

—"No, no, no! Get away!" Mitsuki tried to get away, but the burger chased him as if it intended to force-feed him.

Suddenly, the burger hit his face and the impact woke him up.

She opened her eyes abruptly, her heart racing.

—"What the fuck..." he muttered as he sat up in bed, still half confused.

—"What happened, Mitsu? Wasn't that fun?" said a voice from the corner of the room.

Mitsuki turned his head quickly and saw Allivy, sitting on an armchair with a cup of tea in her hand, looking at him in an amused manner.

—"What are you doing here? How long have you been there?"

—"Long enough to watch you sleep talk over a giant hamburger."

Mitsuki dropped his head into his hands.

—"Perfect. Now not even dreams are private."

Allivy laughed as she stood up.

—"Come on, sleepyhead. You've got things to do. Stop worrying about burgers and get ready!"

Mitsuki sighed, resigned.

—"I'm going to need therapy after this..."

—"At least you have a better alarm now," Allivy said, mockingly heading for the door excitedly.

The next scene opens with Allivy and Alaska, both dressed in boxing gear, sitting casually in a ring lit by bright lights.

Alaska restlessly swings her legs while playing with her boxing gloves, while Allivy, with her characteristic air of calm, adjusts a bandage on her hand.

Mitsuki enters the ring with an expression of disbelief, wearing casual clothes, and stops when he sees them.

"Why did you bring me into the ring?" Mitsuki asked dryly, looking around as if it were all a bad joke.

Allivy jumped up, pointing dramatically.

—"It would be very boring to give you the typical strength tests! So, to make sure you are ready for your test mission, I thought of something more fun."

Mitsuki raised an eyebrow.

—"The Original Lady..."

The comment caused Alaska to cover her mouth, but her laughter inevitably escaped in small gasps until it burst out completely.

—"Hey! Be respectful!" Allivy exclaimed, crossing her arms and wearing an exaggerated expression of indignation. "I'm only 5,000 years old! I'm still a young girl!"

Mitsuki sighed as Alaska laughed non-stop, leaning forward in an attempt to regain her composure.

—"Very well, Young Lady," Mitsuki said with a slight mocking tone. "What is your brilliant plan for these 'fun tests'?"

Allivy smiled, walking to a secluded area of ​​the ring where there was a row of punching bags, each one larger than the last.

—"It's simple: bag test. For each bag you break, you move on to the next. The goal is to break them all."

Mitsuki looked at the sacks and then at Allivy.

—"What if I don't want to break your gym equipment?"

—"Gym equipment? These are premium training devices from Ectiviland! Also, don't worry, they're made to withstand... well, almost anything."

Alaska, still with a slight laugh on her lips, stood up, encouraging him with a gesture.

—"Come on, Mitsu. Let's see if you're that good!"

Mitsuki sighed and walked over to the first bag. With a relaxed attitude, he positioned himself and prepared his fist.

—"I hope this isn't another one of your tricks..."

With a quick movement, he delivered a direct punch to the first bag.

CRACK!

The bag exploded in a cloud of white dust that filled the ring instantly. Mitsuki coughed and stepped back, as he heard the continuous sound of other bags falling to the ground. Opening his eyes, he saw that not only had he broken the first bag, but the impact had caused a chain reaction, destroying all the others.

The dust slowly settled, revealing Allivy and Alaska completely covered in white, their faces frozen in a mix of shock and comical embarrassment.

—"Second time I got dirty in one day," Allivy said with her eyes closed but keeping a smile.

—"Eh...? That's all?" Mitsuki asked, looking at his hands as if he was evaluating his own strength.

Allivy, after a second, regained her composure and smiled widely.

—"Well, I guess the premium training equipment wasn't that premium"

Alaska, now laughing out loud, wiped some dust from her face.

—"That was amazing! Although maybe you should have warned us before destroying the entire inventory."

Mitsuki shrugged.

—"You told me to break the bag, so... I did."

Allivy put her hands on her hips, shaking her head as she smiled.

—"Okay, okay. But get ready, because what's coming next is more challenging."

Mitsuki sighed, as Alaska patted him on the back.

Allivy was determined not to make life easy for Mitsuki. After the first test, which had turned out to be a complete walk in the park for him, she led him to the next one.

Alaska was waiting on an ice-covered runway, wearing a padded vest and huge boots that didn't seem very practical for what was coming.

Allivy, meanwhile, in a shiny coat that gleamed with every step, looked more like someone who was going to a gala than an endurance challenge.

"This is the labyrinth?" Mitsuki asked, looking around with a mix of disbelief and calm.

—Yeah, sure! You just have to get through it without falling. You can do it! —Allivy said with a smile, trying to maintain her elegant posture, but her short, clumsy steps in her heels gave it away.

It didn't take Mitsuki a second to slide across the ice, crossing the maze in record time. Meanwhile, Allivy was trying not to fall, but a slip here and there seemed inevitable. Alaska, who had fallen several times before, couldn't help but laugh at the situation, while Mitsuki was already waiting at the finish line.

"How did you do it so fast?" Allivy asked, with a wry smile.

"It's just ice, it's not difficult," Mitsuki replied calmly.

—Bah, this isn't a good challenge! Let's move on to the next one! —Allivy exclaimed, who was ready for the next test.

The next station was even stranger. It was a floating obstacle course in an abyss that seemed to have no end.

Allivy, now changed into a bright tracksuit and even higher heels, tried to move forward gracefully, but clearly it was not the right kind of footwear for this kind of test.

Alaska, who was fully kitted out in athletic gear, seemed to relish the challenge, running nimbly and leaping from platform to platform as Allivy struggled to keep her balance.

—Hurry up, Mitsuki, I'm getting hungry!

—Alaska joked as she jumped onto the next platform, completely effortlessly.

Mitsuki, unhurried, moved forward with confident steps, overcoming the obstacles without much effort, and while Allivy and Alaska struggled to keep up, Mitsuki had already reached the end.

"This is easy," Mitsuki said as she looked at her coaches, who were just calmly making their way through the halfway point.

"That's amazing, you never get tired, do you?!" Allivy complained, trying not to fall again.

The next moment, the scene changed to a puzzle of lights, requiring each piece to fit perfectly.

Allivy, always so elegant, was now wearing a metallic business suit, completely inappropriate for a task like this.

Alaska, in contrast, was wearing a brightly colored shirt, pants with too many pockets, and a cap with an odd design. Both looked funny, but very out of place in this logic test.

"This is like trying to do magic with a kitchen knife," Alaska said as she looked at the pieces.

"It's not that hard! You just have to look at the pieces as if they were pieces of a normal puzzle," Mitsuki joked as he put them together in seconds.

"Oh, great! Another easy test for you," Allivy said, laughing as she watched Mitsuki complete the task without breaking a sweat.

The next test was a shadow fight. Mitsuki found himself facing a series of artificial enemies that appeared out of nowhere.

Allivy, now wearing a cape and striking a dramatic pose, looked more like a heroine from an epic tale than a serious trainer.

Alaska, wearing a wrestling mask and gloves, was ready for a showdown, but when Mitsuki began to defeat the enemies in seconds, they both stared at each other in disbelief.

—It's a joke, right?! —Alaska said with a laugh.

"Don't worry, Alaska, I'll make it harder on the next test," Allivy joked while making a "keep trying" gesture.

The final test was a sprint race, where Mitsuki had to run through a slippery terrain covered in mud.

Allivy, now dressed in a brightly colored tracksuit and wearing sunglasses, seemed determined that Mitsuki would have a tough time, but as always, Mitsuki effortlessly outpaced her. Alaska, at her side, was more interested in watching Allivy try to keep up than in the race itself.

In the end, Mitsuki had passed all the tests with ease, and the two couldn't stop laughing at the situation.

"I expected nothing less!" Allivy exclaimed, flopping down onto the floor with a satisfied smile.

"It was very simple," Mitsuki replied, still with a calm expression.

"And now it's your turn, Mistress Allivy?" Alaska asked, while giving her coach a funny look.

"Well, I guess you'd better get straight to your test mission," Allivy said, standing up with a dramatic flourish.

He left the atmosphere between suspense and silence for a second, leaving Mitsuki intrigued.

— But for now, go get some rest! You have work to do tomorrow!

Where will Mitsuki go and what? Will he have difficulties compared to his old job? We'll see!